TALK STORY
Tauamatu Marrero: Full Circle
Born in Samoa on January 30, 1946, Tauamatu Marrero (Matu) was named after her grandmother. She grew up in a large family—one of fourteen siblings, the second oldest
Joe and Millie Tengaio
When Austin TeNgaio opened a box from his grandfather, he discovered photos, stories, and an original Johnny Lingo script. His great-grandparents, Joe and Millie TeNgaio, helped build the Aotearoa Village at the Polynesian Cultural Center and preserve Māori culture. Joe’s unexpected role in Johnny Lingo became part of their legacy of faith, service, and cultural pride.
Timmy Mocodompis
Timmy Mocodompis, from Tangerang, Indonesia, (a city of about 2 million people on the western border of Jakarta), exemplifies resilience and determination.
Hella Lunnen
Senior Polynesian Cultural Center missionary Hella Lunnen—still spry at 89 years old—pulls her weight with the “younger” senior missionaries at the Mission Settlement, an area consisting of three buildings dedicated to honoring contributions of early Christian missionaries to Laʽie.
Tahitian alumnus creates Laie mural
Eriki Marchand, former “chief” of the Polynesian Cultural Center’s Marquesas tohua, recently revisited Laie to install a mural honoring the visit of King Kalākaua to Laie in 1894.
