While we observed all of 2013 as our 50th anniversary and President Hugh B. Brown of the First Presidency dedicated the Polynesian Cultural Center on October 12, 1963, we celebrated the “heart” of our golden jubilee over eight special days from September 1-8, 2013. The following folders contain a “cherry-picked” selection of photos and other mementos from that unforgettable occasion.
Day 1 (Sunday, Sept. 1): Alumni, ‘ohana, guests and friends came from the surrounding throughout Hawaii and all over the world to begin the celebration with a special musical “fireside” in the BYU–Hawaii Cannon Activities Center.
In addition to welcoming messages from our then “new” PCC President and CEO P. Alfred Grace, and Chief Operating Officer Leilua Logoitino Apelu, who had already been chairing the 50th anniversary committee for several years, the program featured Hawaiian, Chinese, Tahitian, Filipino, Fijian, Samoan, Korean, Maori, Japanese and Tongan choirs as well as the Koolauloa Children’s Chorus, all dressed in the costumes and clothing of their respective heritages.
Day 2 (Monday, Sept. 2): The historical, cultural and fun parts of the PCC’s 50th anniversary reunion began in earnest, with presentations in the newly renovated Hawaiian Journey Theater on the early beginnings and prophetic nature of the Polynesian Cultural Center. Welcoming activities followed in each of the Center’s villages during the morning, and hundreds of alumni attended the opening social in the newly renovated Hawaiian Village that evening.
Day 3 (Tuesday, Sept. 3): We paid tribute to the labor missionaries — many of whom came from the South Pacific — and more recent senior service missionaries who have so generously donated their time and talents to help maintain and update the Polynesian Cultural Center. On a special note, the former PCC/BYUH Alumni Brass Band, which originally performed in the 1970s-90s, marched through the villages again and played several of their old favorite numbers — something they hadn’t done since 1995.
Day 4 (Wednesday, Sept. 4): SPORTS! were the order of the morning, as hundreds of current employees and more-mobile alumni participated in fun competitions on the BYU–Hawaii soccer field (mauka of the Maintenance Building). That evening we honored our latest “Living Treasures,” and an awesome selection of alumni and current employees put on a spectacular talent show in the BYU–Hawaii Cannon Activities Center.
Day 5(Thursday, Sept. 5): A history conference explored the rich cultural heritage that already existed in Laie and helped put the PCC on the right footing during the daytime; and that evening PCC alumni rocked a beautifully decorated BYUH CAC during the Golden Jubilee Ball.
Day 6 (Friday, Sept. 6): We paid tribute to the Laie Hukilau by teaming up with the Laie Community Association to pull in the nets once again “down at old Laie Bay.”
Otherwise, this was the BIG afternoon and evening: The sold-out alumni luau, followed by the gold” Alumni Evening show (by those who performed from 1963-1987), and the two-hour-plus “silver” show (by alumni from 1988-2013).
Day 7 (Saturday, Sept. 7): A community parade through Laie featured then-Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve, and other activities.
Day 8(Sunday, Sept. 8): Our alumni ‘ohana returned to the BYU–Hawaii Cannon Activities Center to conclude the 50th anniversary golden jubilee celebration with an especially touching testimony meeting, followed by refreshments, more talk-story time on the plaza, and final farewells.
