A selection of plants for each island village
As we anticipate the soft opening of the center on January 18, 2020, and the grand opening on March 1, 2020, we have witnessed a lot of projects going around the PCC; from changing water lines, cleaning out the lagoon, and removal of over-grown trees posing a threat/hazard to our guests and employees. We also see departments moving offices to different locations who are now busy settling into their new offices. It’s interesting how COVID-19 with its underlying threat to the lives of many has also been a blessing in our work. It has allowed us to attend to some of the things we have long overlooked and not take care of.
In the islands, we are working to make the landscape of each island different from another island with the use of plants and crops. With the time we have been blessed with due to COVID-19, we are now able to move towards making this come to fruition. In the past (before the pandemic), many of our guests would make comments through the Guest Satisfaction Survey about the islands looking the same. Part of the perception, we believe, has to do with the landscape of the islands where one will see the same plants and crops. Consequently, to counter those perceptions, we decided to feature one dominant plant and crop in each village that you wouldn’t see as prevalently in the other villages. Doing this will provide a different landscape and ambiance of one village from the other. For example, if the green ti-leaf plant is the featured plant in Hawaii it means you will not see green ti-leaf plants dominating the landscape of the other islands, especially within the village compound. With that in mind, here is what each island will feature in reference to their featured plant and crop.
SAMOA: Samoa will feature the yellow lily plant and the banana tree as their main plant and crop. You will not find any yellow lily plants in the other villages. The other islands may have banana trees, but they will not dominate their gardens as they will in Samoa.
Bright yellow lily plants adorn the village
Banana trees in the new plantation
AOTEAROA: New Zealand will feature the fern as their main plant and the kumara as their main crop.
A thriving fern patch in Aotearoa
One of several kumara gardens
FIJI: Will feature the vibrant and colorful croton as their main plant and tapioca as their main crop.
Transplanted crotons starting to flourish
Tapioca, or manioca, ready for harvest
HAWAII: The islands of Hawaii will feature the green ti-leaf and the taro as their main plant and crop.
Green ti leaf planted along bridge
Mature Kalo and newly planted Kalo
TAHITI: French Polynesia will feature the tiare and the breadfruit as their main plant and crop.
The Tiare Tahiti is their national flower
The newly transplanted breadfruit trees in Tahiti will eventually look like this
TONGA: The friendly Island Kingdom of Tonga will feature the hibiscus and the kape as their main plant and crop.
Tonga has been propagating and transplanting many hibiscus varieties
You can’t miss seeing the giant taro known as kape in the Tongan village
One of our cultural beliefs is — Wow Customers which states, “I constantly ask myself what else can I do to exceed customer expectations”. This is one of many ways that the Islands is ensuring a memorable and lasting experience for our guests and to provide them with a “wow” experience.
Here in the Islands, we are looking forward with much anticipation to welcome our guests back to the PCC and provide them with an unforgettable visit.
Fa’afetai,
Steve F. La’ulu
Cultural Islands Director