When traveling to exotic countries, such as Hawaii for example, where there are still indigenous people, one often encounters indigenous festivals. These are meant to showcase a culture that has existed for thousands of years. Tourists can learn about rituals that they would normally never have heard of.
These all sound good, but the question is what do they really show? The truth is that people are people and change over time. For example, consider whether Christmas or Easter is celebrated the same way it was 200 years ago. Yet the indigenous people show their rituals and festivals as they were. How is this possible?
Simply because they are not. In fact, most of them have lost their original purpose. Today, they are simply a spectacle for tourists, for which, of course, tourists pay. And we must not forget that tourism is the biggest source of income in these countries. Including their history.
Therefore, we should not take them as seriously as they pretend. It is merely a theatrical performance showing us how these events probably took place in the past. It is up to us to decide whether we are willing to indulge in that or whether we truly expect a traditional, authentic experience.
And how do we know if it is a tourist performance? This is because it is somewhat censored compared to the original tradition. For example, there is a custom of sacrificing animals such as chickens, sheep, goats, and dogs. However, such scenes are excluded because they would put off sensitive tourists and they cannot afford them.
Therefore, it is advisable to temper your expectations and realize that what you actually get for your money is as real as the shark teeth you can buy at the aquarium.