Disclaimer..If you are easily bored please skip todays blog, there are about a hundred entries!!

We weren't due at the cultural centre til after noon so we went for a drive, found a souvenir market and a Temple.

We arrived at the centre and as VIP's we went to a reception tent with sofas, snacks and drinks, to await our private tour guide.

We were escorted to our reserved seats at the welcome parade.

This water extravaganza introduces all of the island nations, that feature in the experience.

The centre takes you on a whistle stop tour of the Polynesian Islands, highlighting their unique traditions and talents.

Samoa.. Meet Kap, he entertained us with his witty banter, after the show we watched him climb to the top of a coconut tree.

He's also a talented artist with a gallery on site.

He and his team created fire from 2 sticks, lit some coconut husk & he put it out with bare feet!

Aotearoa, AKA New Zealand..The Maori tell their tales and remember their ancestors through architectural carving.
This building constructed in New Zealand was erected here in 1963.
Much of the carving was done by the the grandfather of the young man who took us round the carving exhibit.

Toi Whakairo Exhibit, The art of carving.
They use many mediums to create their art wood, shells & bone.There was also an interesting showcase on face carving, illustrating both men & women bearing these fearsome scars.

We also tried the art of Poi swinging balls, formerly filled with rocks.

On to a relaxing canoe ride, no life vests needed in the 2 ft deep canal.

Tahiti..A colourful display of local dancing and details of the crafts produced in the various areas. We sampled the delicious coconut bread.

Meet Syamala, from Tesol India, She's studying to be a teacher at the University behind the centre.
She & her family ( Hubby doing business studies, and 2 small children ) live in Hawaii for now, she is having another baby in November.

Pretty much all of the staff and performers are students, the money generated by the centre funds the university and the Students earn money from their jobs.

We visited a wonderful reproduction of Queen Lili'uokalani's hut,
and this is us with a reproduction chief.

Fiji..considered the romantic island.

This gigantic replica of a traditional Fijian ship, used by the students at the University and taken on a trip round the Hawaiian Islands periodically as part of their studies.

Tonga.. A humerous take on traditional drumming, audiance members were selected to assist the cast.

Syamala, helped us to make Hawaiian toys a small windmill from palm leaves.
She also dashed ahead to reserve us front row seats at each of the shows and attractions.

Before saying goodbye to Syamala, we had a short Ukelele lesson from some lovely local ladies, we played an astonishingly bad chorus of " You are my sunshine".

Now to the Lu'au, a grand buffet with Imu Pua'a (roast suckling pig) and a host of other local delicacies, including Hawaiian sweet potatoes, local fish and shrimp cooked in various sauces.

We enjoyed non alcoholic Pina Coladas from hollow pineapples, while watching more dancing, telling the tale of Queen Lili'uokalani, Hawaii's last ruling monarch.

Final step of the journey, the evening show HA:Breath of life, in the pacific theatre on site.

The tale of  a family in the Polynesian Islands, covers an entire lifetime for our hero.
No photos during the show of course, but ample opportunity for some snaps with the cast afterwards, on the actual stage!

The finale features almost the entire cast juggling and spinning fire, quite a spectacular end to a fascinating day.

If any of you have made it this far dear reader, bravo!

Good night, see you on the far side xx