15 Oct 2009
Pride And Heritage Of Island Culture Comes To Life In Hawaii - The Polynesian Cultural Centre Introduces New Night Show

Hawaii Tourism Europe

The famous Polynesian Cultural Centre on Oahu has opened a spectacular new night show to dazzle its visitors. Debuting in August, the �Ha: Breath of Life�, a USD$3 million show uses innovative new technology to engage, inspire and wow its audience.

The new show uses original costumes with traditional music, chants and dances created by cultural experts from each of the Centre�s island villages. Over 100 performers from different island cultures, take to the stage to create a variety of themes which are based around the Polynesian cultures of Hawaii, Tonga, New Zealand, Samoa, Tahiti and Fiji, relaying the message of family, hope, pride and heritage.

The audience is taken on a journey by the lead character, Mana, as he evolves through boyhood, young love, respect and appreciation for elders and highlights how important community can be for individuals and families.

�Ha: Breath of Life� is performed on a redesigned stage in the Pacific Theatre offering a 360-degree experience and this, along with the unique use of original animation, creates a truly interactive experience. The show replaces the �Horizons: Where the Sea Meets the Sky� night show which has been a visitor favourite since 1996.

Von Orgill, President of the Polynesian Cultural Centre expressed the concept behind the new show: �Our night show has always served as the perfect ending for our guests after spending a day at the Centre. With Ha: Breath of Life, we�ve worked to create an interactive and engaging experience that captivates audiences while it reinforces what they�ve learned about our Polynesian cultures through the telling of one man�s life story. It also allows us to illustrate the storyline in animation, dance and music so that guests no longer require translation to understand what is happening on stage.�

The Polynesian Cultural Centre was founded in 1963 as a non-profit organisation and has entertained more than 33 million visitors whilst preserving and portraying the culture, arts and crafts of Polynesia. All of the Centre�s profits are used for daily operations and to support education. For further information on the new show �Ha: Breath of Life� visit www.polynesia.com -ENDS- Notes to Editors: For more information on Hawaii, please visit www.gohawaii.com/uk For media enquiries in the UK, including support for press trips, images and fact sheets:

Bronwen Batey PR Director - Hawaii Tourism Europe c/o Lemongrass Marketing - A place to grow t: +44 (0)1865 237 990 bronwen@lemongrassmarketing.com www.lemongrassmarketing.com