The Polynesian Cultural Center is celebrating 12 Days of Christmas with winter-themed events and free concerts by Hawaiian artists in the Hukilau Marketplace Dec.10-23.
“We’ve seen the decorations change over the years, and this year has just the right amount. It seems this year, it’s more centered towards Christ and his birth rather than little elves dancing with Santa. I really like that,” said Emily Wolthuis from Laie who regularly volunteers at the PCC.
According to Pane Meatoga, marketing manager for Asia at the PCC, this year’s Christmas festivities will include a vibrantly decorated Hukilau Marketplace, pictures with Santa, a Christmas-themed canoe ride, a train ride for children and parents around the center, free live entertainment in the marketplace on specific nights, and a free winter wonderland with real snow.
The snow day will only be available on Saturday, Dec. 19 and will be set up in a large designated area of the PCC parking lot for visitors to make snowmen, have snowball fights, and do anything else their hearts desire, explained Meatoga.
One of the biggest attractions the PCC hopes visitors will make time for is the newly decorated canoe ride featuring a live nativity with Hawaiian and traditional renditions of Christmas carols, and “lots and lots and lots of lights,” said Meatoga.
Stuart Wolthuis, a BYU–Hawaii computer science professor, said, “I loved how peaceful and quiet the boat ride was. It was very relaxing and a nice way to escape the hustle and bustle of the commercialism that most people associate with the Christmas holiday. My favorite part was feeling the spirit of Christmas which represents our Savior in the beautiful music shared with us from our friends who are musicians at PCC.”
The canoe rides begin at 6:30 p.m. and continue until 8:45 p.m.
Tickets for the ride can be picked up for free by visitors who display any Pepsi product. Pepsi is the main sponsor for the 12 nights of Christmas event, explained Meatoga.
The PCC has also scheduled several free musical performances for the 12 Days of Christmas including shows by The Makaha Sons: The Legacy Continues, Natalie Ai Kamauu, and more.
On Friday, Dec. 11, the Hukilau Marketplace enjoyed the contemporary Hawaiian stylings of Weldon Kekauoha, a local musician and 2013 Grammy nominee for Best Regional Roots Music Album.
Kekauoha began his performance under the gazebo in the marketplace at 6:15 p.m. where he performed several Hawaiian renditions of Christmas carols both classic and contemporary.
During his show, Kekauoha involved the audience directly by playing songs suggested by attendees and several women came up to hula under the gazebo with him during a couple of his songs.
“[The PCC is] kind of moving with the times to keep people’s attention without getting too crazy. It sort of felt like I was walking through downtown Disney,” said Kekauoha.
“The Hukilau Marketplace is a nice little sidestep from the deep cultural things already at the PCC. They’ve been great at trying to be innovative this Christmas season… I was just happy to be a part of it. I love Christmas.”
Donna Fernandez, who is visiting from Arizona, said she loved how peaceful and relaxing Kekauoha’s show was, mentioning how “you just don’t get to enjoy this kind of stuff on the United States mainland.”
To close his concert, Kekauoha played “The 12 Days of Christmas in Polynesia,” a version of the song that replaces the 12 gifts with items associated with Polynesian culture. The same song served as inspiration for a scavenger hunt the PCC organized throughout the Marketplace where visitors are given a slip of paper at the information desk and need to find all 12 items listed in order to win prizes ranging from carved wooden necklaces, key chains, lanyards, dolls, and more.
All the prizes are provided by Goo’s Plantation Store in the Marketplace, according to Saralyn Lopez, the manager of Marketplace operations.
The items to find are: One mynah bird in a papaya tree, two coconuts, three dried squid, four flower leis, five big fat pigs, six hula, seven shrimps swimming, eight ukuleles, nine pounds of poi, 10 bottles of soda, 11 missionaries, and 12 televisions.
In addition to lights, music, and the scavenger hunt, PCC patrons can get their picture taken with Santa Claus in the market square next to the gazebo.
Lopez said, “I’m really looking forward to our Santa photos taking off. It’s the first time in a long time we’re doing true ‘sit down with Santa’ photos. We’ve created this beautiful backdrop with a plantation style house on the beach with [Santa wearing] swim shorts so it’s like he’s on vacation. We’re really hoping people come out and take some pictures with [him].”
One final way the PCC is celebrating the Christmas season is by holding a friendly Christmas tree decorating contest on Instagram. The PCC has Christmas trees submitted by Armstrong Produce, the Laie branch of American Savings Bank, the PCC Digital Commerce Department, Pepsi, the Hukilau Marketplace Department, the PCC Retail Department, and the PCC Special Events Department.
In order to see which tree reigns supreme, Meatoga said the PCC is asking everyone to visit the Instagram page “hukilaumarketplace” to vote for their favorite tree by “liking” its photo.