Miracle in the Pacific: The Polynesian Cultural Center

by Laura F. Willes

Twirling knives of fire, coconut tree climbing, steamed pork fresh from the imu, and dancers as graceful and hypnotic as the ocean waves are all just small parts woven into the intricate tapestry that makes up the Polynesian Cultural Center. From its humble beginnings in 1963 as a way to preserve the many Polynesian cultures and provide employment opportunities for university students living in La'ie, the PCC has grown to be one of the top paid attractions in the islands today. As a stunning, photo-rich volume commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the Center in 2013, Miracle in the Pacific is a luau for the eyes. This beautiful keepsake book celebrates the Center's remarkable history and its inspired mission to preserve the best of Polynesia. It shares stories about the vision and determination that has made the Polynesian Cultural Center not only a world-renowned tourist experience but also perhaps the most famous example of the Hawaiian spirit of aloha. Includes bonus DVD, Rainbows of Paradise, featuring the Polynesian Cultural Center's colorful canoe pageant.

Hardcover

First published October 1, 2012

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book. Feels incomplete though. Some inaccuracies. I am looking forward to reading the definitive history of the PCC, now available. It was written by David Hanneman and Lanier Britsch and it should be more substantive and thorough. This book felt a bit like a publicity tract than a history.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great back story of how the PCC was created. Helpful for preparing for an upcoming trip.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fascinating book about the history and development of the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) in Laie, on the island of Ohau, in Hawaii. The book also relates the history of both the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Hawaii and the Church College of Hawaii (now BYU-Hawaii).

At the PCC there are six villages, each representing one of the islands of Polynesia: Fiji, Tahiti, Aotearoa (New Zealand/Maori), Hawai'i, Samoa, and Tonga.

The book is filled with pictures, both historical and more recent, is well written and documented. I read much of it prior to my first trip to Hawaii (Oahu, Nov 2016) where Bart and I spent a week in Laie. All that I read really enhanced my visit and experiences in Laie and at the PCC. I finished the book upon returning home. It was a nice conclusion to a truly culturally rich experience.