All the participants met at a designated spot in the resort, where they were greeted by a Polynesian dancer and escorted up to the convention center rooftop plaza. While awaiting the traditional Polynesian buffet to be ready for our grazing, we were encouraged to wander around and explore the various booths where native woodcarving, hula implement demonstrations, and sundry other craft-work were being displayed. Then, our enigmatic host took the stage and gave us all a quick lesson in hula dancing and divided us into "villages" from which a chief was picked to compete in a humorous conch shell blowing competition. Soon after, the buffet lines were opened for our dining pleasure. Three styles of Polynesian cooking were at hand, and although I can't remember all their names I do remember the most important: kalua, which uses an underground oven to cook very tender meat, usually a pig. I can attest to its excellent flavor and texture.
After we feasted to our palate's content, the real fun began, embodied in a tour of Polynesian island dances, featuring the very lovely hula girls and their four male counterparts. I must take a moment to speak my heart about the one they called Ilikeani, who is unequivocally the most beautiful wahine I've ever had the fortune to witness, perhaps even the most beautiful woman anywhere. I am certain I am not the first man to believe he needs to move to Hawaii, in hopes of meeting such a woman some day :-)
At one point in the evening I even found myself whisked onto the stage by one of these entrancing women to participate in a brief tonga dance lesson and competition. Yes, somewhere out there I am sure there is a photo or home video footage of me shaking my hips in Polynesian style ;-)
The most impressive dance came at the end of the luau, when four Samoan fire knife dancers came onto stage. I managed to capture most of the exciting exhibition of whirling flames and tribal music with my camera's video recorder, just before the battery gave the day's last gasp. I hope it turns out OK, it is definitely amazing; however, nothing will ever beat experiencing the fire knife dance live and in person.
Today has been a long day, nearly 16 hours, so my eyelids are drooping and I feel certain I will sleep well tonight. Tomorrow I wrap up the planned events of my trip with a morning aerial glider tour of the island, and an evening Polynesian dinner cruise. Perhaps there will be another fire dancing exhibition!
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