Three tasty additions to PCC’s Hukilau M...

Sign up for our Polynesian Cultural Center newsletters:  Email Sign Up     EATING is a great part of our Hawaii-Polynesian culture. Because it’s almost impossible to understate the appeal of tasty treats and snacks here, the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) recently added three new options at our Hukilau Marketplace that we know you will enjoy: Penny’s Malasadas comes to PCC With the opening of the brightly colored Penny’s Malasadas’ food truck on the Hauula side of the Polynesian Cultural Center’s parking lot, Portuguese-style malasadas are now regularly...

Seamstresses work magic behind the scene...

Sign up for our Polynesian Cultural Center newsletters:  Email Sign Up     Creating thousands of costumes and uniforms Most Polynesian Cultural Center visitors probably don’t realize that behind the scenes over a dozen dedicated ladies create thousands of beautiful costumes and unique uniforms for our employees and replace them from time to time. The hard-working seamstress team works out of an air-conditioned room near the PCC’s back gate. They currently consists of two full-time employees, Seamstress Department supervisor Fatai Feinga and her assistant Elizza...

Tropical Pineapple Upside Down Cake from...

Sign up for our Polynesian Cultural Center newsletters:  Email Sign Up   Pineapple upside down cake is a favorite across the world, but we wanted to put a real island spin on it – and boy is it amazing! Knowing that the crunchy topping is the best part, we’ve doubled the sugar and butter – making it a gooey, yummy treat everyone should enjoy…. Yes, we used a cake mix! One of the beauties of this particular recipe is that it is so easy and incredible to boot! For a wonderful homemade cake recipe click here   INGREDIENTS Topping: 1 ½ sticks...

Koko Rice or Koko Alaisa – No matter how...

Sign up for our Polynesian Cultural Center newsletters:  Email Sign Up   Koko Rice is a staple across Samoa, and in Samoan communities around the world. Genius in its simplicity, many Samoans list it as ‘comfort food’ from their childhood. Family gatherings would always have a big steamy pot of it along with fresh bread loaded with butter. Just ask one of your Samoan friends if they remember koko rice and watch that dreamy look sweep across their face. Now you can enjoy it too – but if you want your dish to be truly traditional, go to your local health food based...

The “new” Polynesian Cultural Center

Sign up for our Polynesian Cultural Center newsletters:  Email Sign Up   …or rather, the re-new-ed PCC   The Polynesian Cultural Center has been open now for 55 years, and in addition to its age and the routine wear-and-tear from working with many millions of visitors, Hawaii’s beautiful natural environment can also wreak havoc on the Center’s upkeep. For example, “the “life cycle of air conditioners is pretty short here,” said Jerome Uluave, PCC vice president of Facilities Management (pictured at left in the photo above). Uluave, a Laie native, first worked at...

Huilua Fishpond in Kahana Bay: Explore t...

Sign up for our Polynesian Cultural Center newsletters:  Email Sign Up         The Huilua Fishpond, is an authentic example of ancient Hawaiian aquaculture. You will find the loko i’a (fishpond in Hawaiian) as you approach the south side of Kahana Bay. The parking just off the highway consists of just a handful of spaces. You will need to take a short walk to get to the ponds, but the effort will be well worth your time.   The pond is not currently in working condition but parts of the wall are still standing, like an ancient jigsaw puzzle left by...

Panikeke: Round Pancakes, Samoan Style

  Sign up for our Polynesian Cultural Center newsletters:  Email Sign Up    Click here to view our TASTE of POLYNESIA recipe video!   I’ve posted a lot of recipes in this blog for dinner and dessert items. Today, however, I’ll be switching gears a bit and talking about breakfast, the most important, and often most delicious part of the day. Few things compare to the lingering feeling of satisfaction that accompanies a good breakfast. Breakfast burritos, omelets, and French toast are all examples of the many foods that can be used to start a day...

Antique pump organ still plays on at the...

Sign up for our Polynesian Cultural Center newsletters:  Email Sign Up     The Polynesian Cultural Center is the proud owner of an 1890 Estey Pump Organ, called a parlor organ. It is about 7.5 feet tall. Isn’t it magnificent? For many years Estey produced more pump organs in the USA than any other manufacturer in its day. This organ was donated and placed here when the Mission Chapel was built in 1984. Although lovingly cared for, it has experienced long periods of disrepair due to humidity, heat, bugs and mice.   The latest refurbish took almost a year to...