A new experience opened at the Polynesian Cultural Center entitled “Hawai‘ian Journey.” Friday, March 15, was the first day the experience was open to visitors. According to the PCC’s Facebook page, “This new experience will take guests on a journey unlike anything offered in the Hawaiian Islands.” The experience is about 14-minutes long and provides sweeping views of the Hawaiian Islands. Special effects enhance the audiences experience by stimulating the senses. Spraying water, seat movement, and aromas envelop the audience and complete the “Hawai‘ian Journey.” Mo Feinga, AV tech for the theatre, said the theater is “no longer an IMAX Theatre.” It is now a Digital 4K cinema, which means it is two times the HD. The theatre is also “no longer the Hukilau theatre, it is now known as the Hawai‘ian Journey theatre.” The showings begin at 1 p.m. and run until the night show. Designers for the whole experience include Mike Lee and Pat Scanlon. Lee, of Mike Lee Design, previously worked at Lucas Entertainment, the company that made “Star Wars.” Scanlon is former vice president of Imagineering at Disney. David Warner, who also worked on the night show, “Ha,” directed the new movie. Delsa Moe, Cultural Presentations director at the PCC, said when Warner was creating the movie, “[He] did not create the script,” but he took it from the kupuna, or the elders of the community. Sam Cardon, Emmy award-winning composer, worked on the score for the movie. The music features the local Koolau Loa Children’s Choir, which is directed by Esther Macy, who works in the BYUH Health Center. On opening day, Moe stood out front and helped direct visitors to the entrance of the new theater. She wore a big smile and provided information of the new experience. She said, “we wanted to do something new.” The experience offers repeat visitors another reason to come back, stated Moe. “It provides a nice break for the cousins,” stated Bryce Karrati, a tour guide and sophomore studying EXS from Utah. Morrell and Barbara Mathis, tourists from Utah, and first timers to Hawaii, stated they would come clear to Hawaii to see the new interactive movie. “Hawai‘ian Journey” provides a new view of Hawaii and allows visitors the opportunity to share in the pleasure. Moe, who is from Samoa, stated, “It makes you proud to be Hawaiian, and I am not even Hawaiian!”
Writer: Tucker Grimshaw~Multimedia Journalist
