Cultures and Dances of the Polynesian Islands

One of the biggest attractions in Oahu is the Polynesian Culture Center located in the small town of La'ie, on the north side Oahu. This center was created by the Mormon church to attract visitors and help subsided Brigham Young University students from all over the Pacific Islands . They do a recreation of island life from around Polynesia. This is not a Disneyland. This is a laid-back collection of recreations from various island villages from around Polynesia. We learned a lot about the culture of the islands.

At one of the ceremonies from a tribe of New Zealand, Gordon was chosen as the chief to represent the group of people that were there, in a ceremony customary of peace welcoming. He had to pickup some green leaves (he is holding in his hands) as a symbol that he and his people are coming in peace. There is a formal ceremonial greeting where they had to shake hands and touch heads and nose. He then had come down to where I was seated in the front row and do the formal head and nose formal greeting with me too. It was very interesting.

New Zealand girls doing ceremonial singing

There was a parade of dances from the different Polynesian cultures at the canal.

There were different shows that explained about the cultures and customs of the villages of the different islands

We took a boat ride on the main canal

We were seating on the second row at the two hour evening show.
This show summarises all the cultural costumes that we had learned as we walked and did the different activities during the day. They do dances from the different Polynesian islands.
A very lively and colorful presentation.

The Valley of the Temples

We visited the Valley of the Temples located on the east side of the island of Oahu. This is a cemetery. There are various small temples there scatted around the area. In the back is the largest temple of them all. The Byodo-In is a replica of a 950 year old Buddhist temple in Uji, Japan. It was built here in the 1960s to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the arrival of Japanese immigrant workers to Hawaii. Backed by the gorgeous Ko'olau mountain range and by a pond in front filled with Koi fish and swans. It's impossible not to feel peaceful here. This temple is still in used today by worshipers.


It is customary to ring this richly toned bell before entering the temple.


Inside the Temple.

Beautiful place! Awesome mountains!
There is a atmosphere of complete serenity here. I wanted to stay here forever.

When talking and singing in the middle of this gazebo, my voice sounded loud. It was like magic!
I wished the sound of my voice was normally like this all the time. It was a little taste of how my voice could be like in heaven some day.

Kio fish and swans

Gordon relaxing in this place. It is impossible not to feel relax here.

Visiting Historical Places of Oahu

We visited some of Oahu's historical sites. We visited The U.S.S. Arizona Memorial National Park in Pearl Harbor. The line to get the tickets was long and there was a long wait, but there is a lot to see. Here we visited the U.S.S. Bowfin submarine, visited two of the museums there, viewed the dramatic film of the attack on Pearl Harbor of December 7, 1941, boarded a navy boat to the Arizona memorial, and visited the U.S.S. Missouri battleship. We ended up being here all day.
We also visited the Punchbowl National Cementary of the Pacific.

We visited the Punchbowl National Cemetery of the Pacific.
This cemetary is built on one of the volcanic craters of the island.
This picture does not show it well but it you look carefully it is the shape of a bowl, or the crater of the volcano. To learn more about this cemetary click HERE

Gordon reading the historical information by the stairs

Gordon going up the stairs of the memorial at the cemetery.
There are a lot of steps up.

All the fern trees along both sides of the stairs of the monument are shaped as a Punchbowl

Gordon enjoying the exhibit of the Pacific War here. Very educational.
They have great detailed maps that tell the history from the beginning to the end of the war.

Me at the top of the stais of the Punchbown Memorial.
There is a small chapel behind this statute use to pay tribute by visitors.
People are completely silent here.

We took an audio tour of the U.S.S. Bowfin Submarine.
Here I am after the tour with a view of the submarine behind me.

After viewing a dramatic film on the attack on Pearl Harbor of December 7, 1941 we board a navy boat to the Arizona Memorial

Me at the Arizona Memorial. While everyone still has the images from the film presentation in mind, they are completely silent and in deep thought here at the memorial paying tribute to the marines that died and are buried with the ship under the water.

Information about the Arizona battleship that is still under water here under the memorial

The Arizona battleship is visible under the water.

The memorial has a small chapel with the names of the marines buried with the Arizona battleship. Everyone is paying tribute with complete silence.
I learned that this is how Americans are patriotic.

Next we visited the U.S.S. Missouri Battleship.
This was the last battleship built by the United States.
This battleship is famous for many things, but the one that stands out the most is that on this battleship the Japanese signed the formal surrender to end the Pacific War.

The tour the Missouri battleship was very educational.

Here is Gordon at the exact site where the Japanese signed the final surrender on September 2 1945. See the signing HERE

Here are the surrender documents and an actual pen that was used

Aloha Oahu Hawaii !

We arrived Monday. It was a smooth 5 hour flight. The weather here at Oahu Hawaii was nice and clear (about 84F). After we checked into our hotel we looked for a place to eat and walked the Waikiki beach.

Walking the Waikiki beach walkway

Notice the tree behind me. This particular kind of tree are everywhere here in Oahu.

Waikiki and Honolulu look like they had its boom in the 70s since the buildings and hotels have the 70s style.

We also walked in the sandy beach among the busy people enjoying the different activities of the Wakiki beach.




Came across one of the Hawaii famous Luau presented by one of the hotels by the beach




Walked the Wakiki beach until sunset.


After sunset we walked back to our hotel. As we walked back we passed all the restaurants and hotels and discovered there is a crazy night life once the sun goes down in this city.

Scott and Cherline's Wedding

The wedding program was on the chairs for the guests.

The ceremony. Perfect weather for an outdoor wedding.
The wedding took place at the home of the groom's parents property at the outskits of Temecula. They own lots of acres of land with a lot of oak trees, two houses, a creek, a barn, vegetable garden, animals ...

The tables plate setting and program at the reception.
The food was good (sorry no pictures of the food, was too busy eating it)

Gordon having fun at the reception

The cake

The happy newlyweds