Samoan Week

The week of July 8- July 12 my Mom had a great idea to so Samoan Week.  Each day we did an activity that was Samoan.  Now see I took too long to write this down so I am sure I will be off on our actual activities.  One day the boys scrapped the bark of the O'a tree to make the brown base dye for the tapa.  Another day we went down to land grant to get some local trees and then we planted them.  We also helped the boys make tapa boards.  The boys also learned how to husk a coconut.  Another night we paired off and learned Samoan legends and had the boys draw pictures.   It was great.  The other thing we did was make a Samoa dish every night.  The first night the boys made Pai Fala (pineapple pie) with Grammy.  We also made Papa (coconut bread), Faausi (papaya bread in burnt sugar coconut sauce) and Kopai (dumplings in coconut sauce).

On Friday, our last day we put it all together.  With a lot of help from the guys at the warehouse the boys prepared an umu.  Husking coconuts....

Scraping taro, ulu and coconuts.....

 Hmmm.  

Notice Skyler is always walking away from the work?  ;)

Of course when it is something Skyler shouldn't be around he is totally there.  Skyler was all into getting the fire going.

Next they prepared the palusami with the coconut milk from the grated coconut.

By the time the palusami was ready the fire burned down and the umu was ready to load up.  

 and cover up.  

A few hours later the umu was finished.

Here are the Grill masters cooking up Swordfish and teriyaki chicken.  Yummy!

Can't forget the Grill Master's Helpers! 

 Grammy and Vili made all of the Mailos (woven plates from coconut leaves).  The food was delicious....

 and the company even better.  

 Ready for the show.  

 Skyler shared the story about Sina and the Origin of the Coconut Tree.

The eel grew and grew and grew....

 Micah shared the Legend of the Two Brothers: Matafao and Pioa

 Brady shared the Legend of Fire.

 Riley shared a legend with his Dad.  The Legend of the Southern Cross.

 Alec shared the legend of Saia and the Origin of the Taro.

 Here are the Tapa designs the boys helped work on.  

  Grandpa was the chief pate beater.  ;)  He taught the boys the Sasa/Slap dance.  

It was a great week.  Everyone enjoyed their week and learned something new.  Full of fun activities and delicious food.  Thanks for the ideas Grammy.