PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Aloha nui, and welcome to the beginnings of celebrating our Polynesian Cultural Center’s 60th anniversary (1963–2023). What an amazing milestone the Center has reached over those years.
Our Alumni ‘ohana includes many thousands of dedicated BYU–Hawaii students who have shared their youthful exuberance and talents, building on the rich legacy of our Polynesian ancestors and cultural experts, the faith and support of our early kūpuna in the community, the sacrifices of our early labor missionaries and skilled supervisors as well as hundreds of more contemporary senior service missionaries who labor among us today, the examples of leadership — many of whom were also BYU–Hawaii students, and of course, the generosity of millions of visitors who have enjoyed the PCC experience ever since.
Thank you for sharing your aloha. None of us would be here today without the inspired plans and combined contributions over the years that have brought us to this point.
We hope many of you can join us in person in Laie at some point during our 2023 celebration. However, we recognize some may still face the aftermath of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, to protect the health and safety of those otherwise unable to return, we plan to livestream and provide other virtual options for participating in as much of the 60th Anniversary celebrations as possible. Please “stay tuned” to this website for additional details.
For example, we ask all those who plan to come or participate virtually to register. This will be one of the ways we can share details of the special events our 60th anniversary committee has been planning.
From our earliest days, the PCC ‘ohana has always shared our “spirit of aloha” not only with visitors, but also each other. Truly, when we do this, we are sharing the Spirit of the Lord.
We have all been blessed by His spirit and nothing really works the way it should without His spirit. We’ve been blessed to be part of what He is doing here and what He has always done here. This is a great undertaking. It is an on-going miracle and we call that on-going miracle the Polynesian Cultural Center.
As we approach our 60th anniversary, we especially honor all those who helped create and establish the PCC. Many of our kupuna are no longer with us, but their legacy lives on . . . and our voyage of faith continues to bless the lives of today’s young PCC employees and all the guests who grace these grounds.
I want to thank all of you for the past 60 years of hard work, humbling sacrifices, and incredible achievements. The PCC has made such a difference in the lives of so many over the years. I express deep gratitude to our Father in Heaven for the blessings He continually pours out upon us, and I express appreciation for all that you have done and continue to do to keep this miracle alive. I know you all strive to carry this same spirit in your hearts and in your lives every day.
The Center is here to accomplish the Lord’s purposes. Mahalo for helping to make that happen . . . wherever you may now be. Thank you for making all the difference.
Now, let us rejoice in the blessings and in the progress of the past 60 years as we look to a bright future.
Me Ke Aloha Pumehana,
Alfred Grace
President & CEO, Polynesian Cultural Center