Laie’s Center Takes In New Breath Of Life
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Del.icio.usAfter three years of preparation, Polynesian Cultural Center debuts its new $3-million show this Friday. Ha: Breath of Life will replace Horizons: Where the Sea Meets the Sky, which has been the park’s showpiece for 15 years.
New costumes, music and a stage redesign are all part of the change for Ha, which had its soft opening July 23 using the renowned animation of BYU-Provo professor Ryan Woodward. It tells the story of Mana, a man who goes through life’s stages as revealed through Polynesian culture.
Committees from each of the PCC cultures contributed to Ha, including employees, cultural leaders and Polynesian show experts. They identified core values for each of the cultures on the theme, “What makes this culture unique?”
“As we looked at those things, all of a sudden these stories started to emerge,” explained producer Delsa Moe, a longtime cultural-presentation director at PCC. A consultant told them that non-Polynesians enjoy the show, but they don’t know what it’s really about. That’s when Moe and the committees put themselves in the seat of the non-Polynesian viewer and asked, “How do we get them to understand who we are without any narration?”
The intent was to present a show any audience member could understand, no matter what language they speak.
“Of course, we wanted it to be something very entertaining,“said Moe, a Laie resident. “And we wanted it to be something that continues to maintain the reputation PCC has of being able to produce a Polynesian spectacular.”
Each section provided feedback for the other cultures in setting up the show, she added. “This was very helpful, because something that was clearly understood by the Maoris per se, maybe the Fijians said, ‘What are you explaining here?’ If we as Polynesians didn’t get it, how could we expect nonPolynesians to get it?”
The show has many great moments, Moe added. “Several times people said they were full-out crying. They came expecting to be entertained; they did not expect to be emotionally affected. So that’s been the surprise.”
BYU-Hawaii students have been rehearsing for the new show as they continue to dance in the Horizons show and maintain their academic work.
Tickets are available at 800-367-7060 or by logging on to http://www.polynesia.com. Cost is $45 for adults and $35 for children ages 5 to 15. Until Aug. 31, in honor of statehood, residents with a valid Hawaii ID can buy kamaaina annual passes for 50 percent off the regular price ($40). Pass holders can call in advance to see if there is any availability to receive free seating at the night show. They also get complimentary parking and free admission to seasonal events and festivals, such as the World Fireknife Championships and Christmas in Polynesia.
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