[Reprinted from pcc50.com, September 10, 2013; interview and photo by Mike Foley]
Introduction: Tupu Tiave and seven of her family members have shared their talents and left their marks on the Polynesian Cultural Center over the years.
Just a little girl: I knew about the Cultural Center, which had just started when I was a little kid, because every weekend my dad would bring us to Laie. We lived in Honolulu, but I was raised by my grandmother, Maila Kennison, who lived here, and sometimes we would go to my uncle’s house, Miki Ah You.
I started working at the PCC in 1972, right after high school. I worked in the Samoan Village for three days, just until the dining area gave me more hours. I also danced in the night show, until 1976.
I always remember my PCC friends, my coworkers, my bosses, and what I learned about entertaining. That helped me in my life, because I entertained every so often.
Actually, practically my whole family has worked at the PCC. There are 10 of us — and seven of us attended BYU–Hawaii and worked here:
I was the first. My brother, Tiave Tiave, was also here in the early 70s and came again right after his mission later in the 70s; then came my sisters — Taua Kawamoto, Myra Fa‘atea, and my little sister, Jenny Oto; then there are my two little brothers, Robert and David Tiave. He’s still here and has always been interested in dancing.
When I used to dance at the Center, sometimes my dad would bring the other kids. David was around eight years old at that time. He would just sit and watch, and he always tried to follow what the dancers were doing. He was this little kid trying to do all the dances.
Speaking of family, my cousins — Shirley Dela Rosa and Susie [Magalei] Wong — and I always used to hang out together; and we enjoyed eating the food in the dining area. I stayed in the dorms,
but we had good food every night.
When we heard about the 50th reunion, I talked to my brothers and sisters, and my brother, Robert, said, “All of us who worked here, who danced and went to school here, we need to support this celebration.”So many good things in my life came here. The PCC made me grow, and just being here is a very emotional experience for me.
