Last summer I joined the Point Nemo again. I got on the ship in Honolulu and I was so lucky to get off there too. We completed our project over a month at sea maintaining the NOAA weather buoys in that section of the ocean. It was such a nice change to work somewhere other than the Gulf of Mexico (now called Gulf of America). I am really, really tired of sailing out of Port Fourchon!

One of the main reasons I chose to spend my life working at sea was the chance to travel. The opportunity to sail around the world. To see the sights. To learn about different people, places and things- and get paid for it! Plus plenty of time off and a decent paycheck to enjoy it all.

I didn’t really have time to see much of Hawaii, but what little I did see was just stunning. We docked in Honolulu and I rented a car for crew change. I really only had about a day and a half. Not nearly enough time to spend there, but I was super excited to see and do everything I could.

I decided to check out the Polynesian Cultural Center. It’s in Laie, way up North on the East side of Oahu. I wanted to scope out the beaches, at least get my feet wet in that beautiful blue water. I headed East on the Kalanianalole highway (hwy 72). I love those Hawaiian names ;-). Maunalua Bay Beach Park was my 1st photo stop. From there, I followed the coastline around the island. Every few minutes I couldn’t help commenting to myself on the absolutely gorgeous scenery I was passing by.

I stopped at Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, Lana’i Lookout, Sandy Beach, Kaloko Beach, Makapu’u Point Lighthouse, and just about every other beach or viewpoint along the way. It should only take about 2 hours to drive from Waikiki. If you just drive and don’t stop every few miles like I did.

I got to the Cultural Center around 1000. They have a huge parking lot, so it didn’t seem very crowded. During the buffet lunch, there was a crowd and it seemed a bit rushed. When I left to get dessert, they cleared my table. 🙁 The food was good and there was a huge variety. They had 2 soups and 4-5 fresh baked breads. Green salads, slaw, potato salad, carrot salad, fruit salad and tons of different fruits. Baked ham and roast beef, BBQ and baked chicken, fried and baked fish. Fried and baked potatoes, green beans, broccoli, and more. Once I finished lunch, I was directed toward the little lagoon where they were putting on a welcoming show. The crowds were even more obvious there.

The weather was warm and sunny as we all sat on a low set of bleachers surrounding the ‘lagoon’. Soon we heard drums and music as barges made their way along the waterway. Filled with locals dressed in traditional dress, they welcomed us all to the island. There were crews from many of the different Polynesian cultures showing off examples of their native dress, dance, and music.

After the big welcoming event, we were free to wander the grounds. Each area was dedicated to a different island group: Hawaii, Tonga, Fiji, Tahiti, Samoa and New Zealand (Maori). Each ‘village’ showcased different aspects of their traditional culture.

There were demonstrations and lessons on cooking, dances, music, games, arts like weaving cloths and baskets. The locals working there seemed to really enjoy telling stories and teaching us about their culture. I always love to watch people dancing and they put on a really good show. Each village had their own style. There were a lot of similarities, but differences too. I got a kick out of watching the guys climb the coconut trees to throw down a few. I liked tasting the different foods and learning about how they managed to find it in the first place and then to prepare it. I mean who was the first guy to figure out how to make poi? I especially liked learning about the way they used to navigate using the stars, currents, winds, and other natural phenomena.

At night they put on a big production. A sort of mythical story with dozens of performers involved and afterward we could take pictures with the cast. A story with friends, family, lovers, trials and tribulations, celebrations and songs. With everyone in costume, the dancers and acrobats really put on a fantastic show. The ‘fire-throwers’ were the ‘highlight’ for me. pun intended 😉

If you’re on Oahu, I highly recommend spending a day at the Polynesian Cultural Center. There’s so much to see and do. I wouldn’t mind going back again.