The Polynesian Cultural Center welcomed guests back with new precautions, attractions, and limited experiences on Monday, Jan. 18, after 10 months of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
President and CEO of the Center, Alfred Grace, expressed in a press release on Jan. 12, “We are extremely excited to begin welcoming back our guests to the Polynesian Cultural Center after being closed since the beginning of the pandemic.”
The press release explains the Center will be allowing visitors to enjoy limited activities in their initial reopening phase including the Hukilau Marketplace, the Samoan village, canoe rides, the “Hā: Breath of Life” evening show and the Ali‘i Lū‘au, featuring Onipa‘a: A Tribute to Queen Lili‘uokalani. As of now, they will not be reopening the Huki canoe show, the other Polynesian villages and other dining revenues.
Celestial Policarpio, a sophomore from the Philippines studying business management, explained, “We are always one ohana, and the PCC aims to deliver that message to the guests. Even though there’s social distancing and a lot of changes, I’m sure that the main goal of the PCC is still the same, to deliver that spirit of aloha to everyone.”New guidelines and improvements
During the Center’s 10-month closure it has renovated and improved its facilities, according to Policarpio. She said, “I worked there as security and witnessed the renovations and cleaning of the PCC. The lagoon was renovated and cleaned. The roads and the islands are in the process of renovation. They are also combining the luau and Prime Dining for now, along with most of the chairs and tables being restored.”
The PCC officials say they are taking every precaution to help prevent the spread of the virus by implementing the official Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines to ensure that all visitors can be safe, responsible and enjoy their experience to the fullest.
Grace adds, “As we take this first step in the process of fully reopening the Polynesian Cultural Center, the health and well-being of our guests, employee ‘ohana and our local community will always be our top priority. It’s why we are asking all of our visitors to follow CDC guidelines upon arrival, including the wearing face coverings and maintaining physical distance while at the Center.”
The press release explains these guidelines include proper social distancing of 6 feet or more, required use of a mask and the regular sanitizing of commonly touched surfaces. These guidelines are to be followed by both visitors and employees.
With limited experiences in their initial reopening phase, the Center’s hours of operations have been cut short from 4-9 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday-Saturday, says the press release. The Hukilau Marketplace will be open from Monday-Saturday from 12-7:30 p.m.
Reopening excitement and precautions
As the Center reopens, Shangjun Yang, a junior from China majoring in hospitality and tourism management, expressed how much the Center means to her. “I feel a sense of home when I am at PCC. I feel like I belong here. People treat me like I’m their ohana member. I feel that here everybody is one big family. I would like others to feel the same.”
Policarpio expressed his excitement about the Center reopening, namely “Hā: Breathe of Life.” He said, “I love the evening show. The evening show is the best place at PCC that I want to open as soon as possible. The [show] is one place that really attracts the visitors and even me, though I’ve watched it several times.”
Night show dancer Penisimani Taumoepeau, a 2020 Pacific Island studies graduate from Tonga, explained the safety precautions they have taken at the Center. He said during the night show rehearsals “we wear masks and dancing and singing with a mask on is really hard, especially when we have been out of action for nine months.”
He explained they also have to check their temperature every day, get weekly testing and clean everything they touched after work, which takes about 10-to-15 minutes extra.
As said in the PCC press release, taking the extra precautions and following the guidelines of the CDC is top priority for the PCC to ensure employees and guests are safe and content. “[The PCC is] committed to carrying out regular sanitization of all highly touched areas, commonly used spaces and other surfaces throughout all of its facilities and public areas. Self-use sanitizing stations will also be made available throughout the center for guests to use.”