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The only remaining kingdom in the Pacific, Tonga has been ruled by the Tupou family since 950. The center’s Tongan Village features drumming, tapa cloth making, and a nose flute demonstration. And you can throw a spear on the village green!

A French territory since 1842, Tahiti is known for, among other things, its incredibly fast, hip-shaking dance, the tamure . You can learn the dance at the village, but if your hips aren’t up to it, you can opt for the coconut bread-making instead.

Made famous by artist Paul Gauguin, who spent his last years in the Marquesas, the culture of these islands is represented at the center through weaving and carving, tattoos, and Marquesan songs and dance.

There is nothing more representative of Hawaiian culture than hula. And this is the place to try the dance for yourself and learn about the symbolism of the moves. You can also play Hawaiian versions of checkers and bowling at the village.

Fiji represents a cross-cultural mix of Polynesia and Melanesia. The center’s Fijian Village features a tribal meeting house and an outrigger canoe, while the House of the Gods is the landmark for the whole center.

Wall carvings conveying ancient stories about these great navigators are on display here, and you can also learn about the fierce-looking Maori facial tattoos and see the famous haka war dance.

Robert Louis Stevenson, known in Samoa as Tusitala (story-teller), loved the people so much that he settled on Western Samoa to live out his days. You can find out how to climb coconut trees and open their husks at the Samoan village.

Each day at 2:30pm, the quiet lagoons come alive. Dozens of Polynesians in traditional costume present an interpretation of 5,000 years of Pacific Island cultural lore in a rousing pageant.

Two films are shown daily. The Living Sea takes you on a wide-ranging deep-sea journey, while Dolphins focuses closely on these complex, graceful, and extraordinarily compelling creatures.

The former is an exuberant Polynesian song and dance revue, featuring more than 100 performers; the latter a feast of traditional foods and contemporary entertainment.