Tongan Traditions and Customs

One of the beautiful aspects of Tongan Society is their emphasis on sharing. Tongans share stories, they share resources and they share their blessings with joy and thanksgiving.  Everyone has a role to play unique to their individual status in Tongan Society. It is...

Laughing To the Beat: Tongan Drumming

Laughing to the beat: Tongan drumming For many years Polynesian Cultural Center visitors from around the world have been enjoying the humorous attempts by audience “volunteers” to play like islanders do during the Tongan Village’s drumming show: There’s just something...

Tongan Lashing Expert Brings Skills to PCC

Tongan Lashing Expert  As contractors near completing the PCC’s newly renovated Tongan Village, a cultural expert in lalava or traditional sennit-cord lashing has been brought in to add some culturally distinctive finishing touches.  For the many centuries before...

Tonga Tapa

  One of my favorite activities to see at the Polynesian Cultural Center is the tapa making demonstration in Tongan. It’s not only fun to watch but very educational at the same time. I just think it’s amazing that cloth can be made out of the bark of a tree. As I...
Hawaiian Slack-key Guitar

Hawaiian Slack-key Guitar

Listen up for slack key in the Hawaiian Village The popularity of Hawaiian music and instruments such as the steel guitar and ukuleles has spread around the world; and so, rightfully, part of the PCC’s cultural presentation in the village focuses on Hawaiian music...