By ROSARIO T. GALANG

Should anyone need lessons in tourism, do visit Hawaii where it is the biggest industry and people are warm, welcoming and gracious.

That, cousin—as the tour guides are wont to say, is the first thing that you will feel in Hawaii, the graciousness of the people, honest to admit that tourists make their lives easy and thanks them heartily.

Hawaiians call each other cousin, secure in the knowledge that one is somehow related to the other because the community is close knit.

Alooooha, accent on the second syllable, that means hello, goodbye, how are you, etc, something like our Mabuhay.

Mahalo is thank you.

We were also shown their winning hospitality.

At the same time the natives are relaxed and tourists are given space to enjoy themselves.

We visited the Polynesian Cultural Center, the Arizona Memorial and of course we went to the beach and enjoyed shopping at Ala Moana Shopping Center,

We enjoyed the Polynesian Cultural Center best and rued that Nayong Pilipino came to nothing.

The Polynesian Center is a non-profit organization run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Its goal is to preserve the cultural heritage of Polynesia and at the same time provide scholarships for 200 Polynesian students attending the Brigham Young University-Hawaii.

There were also a sprinkling of Filipino students, around five of them and our tour guide is Medz, a Mormon from Leyte.

Maybe that is the secret why the center is very interesting, students work there and their youth, cheerfulness are contagious.

Maybe it will be a very different matter if tired old men or cynical ladies man the booths. Here at the PCC, students with their strong sense of humor even make their skits interesting.

Our oarsman warned us about a low bridge which he said is a fire hazard—we bump our heads and he gets fired.

Hulking young men, Tongans, in black tapa skirts and grass skirts are a beautiful sight.

There is one thing we all noticed of course, since the place is run by the church, all the ladies are covered, no bare stomachs or navels.

The lack of nudity however did not deter. The ladies were all wearing very colorful sarongs and tank tops.

Everything we were shown were very interesting. The finale, a two-hour stage show of dances, songs and fire play was first class entertainment.

The luau before the show was also delicious and yes they can feed 1,000 people in an amazingly short time. The buffet was very orderly.

Another place we visited is the the Arizona Memorial. It is sad that wars happen. The ship downed by the Japanese during the February 8 attack on Pearl Harbor, is the final resting place of more than 1,200 soldiers.

Our tour guide took us to the Nu’uanu Pali Lookout. This is the part I enjoyed most.

The lookout point is very windy and ladies in skirts are cautioned not to come.

A common sight here, according to the tour guide, are men running after their hats and toupees.

I myself have to tie to my waist my scarf after battling with the wind.

The center is very interesting showcasing seven Pacific Cultures, Hawaiian, Tahitian, Tongan, Samoan, Marquesan , Maori and Rapa Nui or the Easter Islands.

We watched the Maori war dance and was impressed.

The replica of the Easter Islands and the Spirit Temple of the Tongans were something else.

A common practice in these cultures, happily stopped was cannibalism. A trespasser, for example, is eaten in the Easter Islands.

Maoris, the guide laughingly said, throw sticks at each other for relaxation.

Dancing the hula was a breeze but the fast paced Tahitian was literally breath taking.