Article #1:  Introducing Ronald Tina`u Fiaui 

Submitted by: Sister Kristine Saunders, Archives 

Who are the people in your life you trust absolutely, without reservation? The people you entrust with your most sacred secrets and know without a doubt will always be your most loyal friend. A person who will laugh with you when you are happy and will cry with you when you’re sad. It could be said that the heart of the Polynesian Cultural Center, is Ronald Tina`u Fiaui, the Guest Services Guides Manager, overseeing Super Ambassador, Alii Luau, Canoe and Asian Language tours.  

Ron was born in Honolulu at Kaiser Moanalua Hospital and raised in Laie. He attended Laie Elementary and graduated from Kahuku High School.  He was named after Ronald Regan who was the U.S. president at the time and given the name Tina`u after his grandfather. As a Laie native, Ron grew up with all of the local traditions, like the May Day Celebration. Ron remembers watching his siblings, cousins and friends performing in the elementary school May Day celebrations and knew that one day he too would be a May Day dancer. He says he participated “under protest”, but his very first job at the Polynesian Cultural Center was a dancer in the Keiki Luau show. He had fun working with the other kids and loved learning all the dances and especially the dances of his Samoan heritage. 

Ron is a quick learner and seems to know things intuitively. As a first grader, his class was one of the first to receive in-class Macintosh computers from Apple. He didn’t realize he was a “computer whiz” until the adult trainers certified him and designated him as a helper to assist other students in learning how to use the computers.  

Ron is a graduate of Kahuku High School where he played football in his junior and senior years.  He modestly says, “my senior year we took it all and had a perfect season, 13-0.” But football wasn’t the only place he excelled in. Ron grew up in a family who loved music. Singing daily at family prayers and on Sundays the whole family would stay after church for ward choir practice. His parents were passionate about music and as children Ron and his siblings were always singing. Harmonizing became “easy to us” and people would often ask, “how do you do that?” and Ron lovingly says, “We owe it all to Mom and Dad.” 

After high school Ron jokingly says, “I attended the Polynesian Community College, PCC”. However, it’s no joke. Ron has studied hard, practiced hands on learning and gained the knowledge necessary to be successful. As the oldest child, Ron wanted to help his family, so he started working at the PCC right out of high school. His first job was in the kitchen where he helped prepare food for the different restaurants. It was hard work simply because of the volume of food prepared every day. He spent his days lifting heavy boxes and helping prepare food. He is grateful to have learned about working in a large kitchen and how to prepare food. After about seven months, it was time to learn something else, so he transferred to Reservations. He started downstairs in the box office then moved upstairs to work in the call center. Later, Ron became the point of contact for tour groups and buses. During this time, he learned a lot about himself. He loved hands-on learning and was the first to learn a new ticketing system. He always considered himself to be a shy person, but experiences at the PCC forced him to break out of his shell and interact with people. He learned more about himself than he thought possible. 

Ron is grateful to the many people who taught him about work, life and people. In Food and Beverage, he learned about hard work. Aunty Fia in Reservations was a commanding presence who taught Ron about behavior, work and doing things the right way. During his time in Sales and Marketing, Ron learned the importance of promoting to the local market. Tourists may come and go, but the local people will always be here. When he worked security, before the responsibility was turned over to BYU-Hawaii, there was never a break-in at the PCC. At Guests Services, he credits Jimmy Mapu, director of the department, as a friend and mentor who recognized all the things he has learned so far, and has still yet to learn, that has shaped him into the leader he is today.   

Currently, Ron’s team has made company history in breaking records of guest satisfaction scores. The goal for Super Ambassadors is 90% (it isn’t unusual to see 99-100% satisfaction) and 85% for Ali`i Luau tours. Guest satisfaction is important and employee training is continual depending on day-to-day reports.  

The Polynesian Cultural Center is home to Ron. “There is a family legacy here. My mother was a tour guide and father a canoe pusher. Now, two of my sisters work here: Lani Fiaui, a supervisor at Hapa Home in the Marketplace & Nina Fuimaono, Manager of Compensation and Benefits. I owe a lot to this very special place. I’d like to dedicate this article as well as my success thus far to my late parents, Fata Fiaui Sr. & Nina Sese Hunt. This is for you mom and dad. I love and miss you.” 

 

Article #2:  Cultural Beliefs Email Survey 

Submitted by: P. Alfred Grace, President & CEO 

Aloha my PCC Ohana! 

In the next few days, each employee and volunteer at the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) will receive an email invitation to participate in our new Cultural Beliefs Survey. This survey will help us measure how well we are living our Cultural Beliefs.  

Please be on the lookout for this email invitation. You may have to check your SPAM folder to make sure you have received the invitation.  

This invitation will include a link to the online survey. I ask that you help us by taking a few minutes of your time to complete our Cultural Beliefs Survey.  All you have to do is fill out the survey with honest answers about how you feel we are living the Cultural Beliefs. Your answers to the survey will be handled by an independent third party and will be guarded with great confidentiality. No one at the PCC will know your individual answers. 

Please also encourage those you work with at the PCC to participate in this survey. To help us improve as a company, it is very important that we hear everyone’s voice about how we are living our Cultural Beliefs. 

I thank you for your help in advance. Your assistance with this effort will help the PCC become an even more amazing place to work! 

Mahalo nui loa. 

 

Alfred Grace
President & CEO 

 

Article #3:  5 Romantic Activities for Couples at the Polynesian Cultural Center 

Submitted by: Zhanwei Ou (Jovy), Brigham Young University – Hawaii, student and Guest Blogger

Here are 5 Romantic Activities for Couples that you’ll enjoy at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Make memories as you share the love with your sweetheart. Read the full blog here! 

 

Article #4:  Safety Guards: They Protect You and Others

Submitted by: Todd Nicholes, Safety Officer 

When walking around the Polynesian Cultural Center, it is fairly easy to find equipment that has had the safety guard removed. Removing guards is dangerous for you, the operator, and for others around you. In addition, removing a guard is against Federal and State Regulations.