"BYU-Hawaii: An Institution of Prophetic Destiny" - Cont'd

Third, the north shore of Oahu was not considered a “must see” part of the island by either residents or tourists.  The temple was more often that not a “get out and stretch” stop for the occasional circle island tourist, and, fourth,  the Polynesian Cultural Center had not even been conceived in 1955.

 This, then, was the situation and the setting when a stately, white-haired man stood in the middle of a cane field not more than 100 yards from where we are today, and with shovel in hand, prophesied that the college, the temple, and the community would be a missionary factor in influencing millions of people.

I can imagine that even the most faithful follower and admirer of President David O. McKay must have wondered if he or she heard the prophet correctly.  Satan himself might have even had a few chuckles over it.  “Millions of people coming to Laie?  You must be kidding!”  Nevertheless, construction started immediately on The Church College of Hawaii while the first enrollment of 153 students began classes in temporary barracks.

A few years later, when the labor missionaries commenced carving out the lagoons and constructing the thatched huts for the beginning of the Polynesian Cultural Center, the good folks on Honolulu and Waikiki laughed long and loud at “those crazy Mormons” over at the north shore.  “Who in their right mind would leave Waikiki to go to little Laie for entertainment?”  However, as we move through the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s, we see the prophecy unfold in a most dramatic way.

With modest pomp and ceremony, the Polynesian Cultural Center opened its doors in 1963.. It had a small and humble beginning with students occasionally standing along Kamehameha Highway to flag down the few circle island tourists and invite them to visit the Center.  There were times during those first few years when the performers played to no more than 15-20 individuals.  Fourteen years later, in 1977, the PCC received over one million guests and has accommodated more than 20,000,000 visitors in the past thirty years.  Amazingly, little Laie has become a destination for people worldwide, and by the way, the Center has been the number one paid tourist attraction in Hawaii since the mid 1970’s.

You see, the Polynesian Cultural Center and the sudden popularity of Hawaii as an international tourist destination (currently over 6,000,000 visitors annually) were the two important missing elements in the equation which only the prophet could envision.  Only he could see, through revelation, the interconnectedness of the college, the temple, and the Polynesian Cultural Center.  There are few ancient biblical prophecies which have, in such a compressed period of time, been more dramatically played out than this modern-day miracle.

What has been happening in Laie over the years is exemplified in President Thomas S. Monson’s statement when he said, “Remember that this work is not yours and mine alone, it is the Lord’s work, and when we are on the Lord’s errand, we are entitled to the Lord’s help.  Remember that the Lord will shape the backs to bear the burdens placed upon then.” (Ensign, May ’92)  The histories of BYU-Hawaii, the Hawaii Temple, the Polynesian Cultural Center, and the village of Laie, are testimonies to the fact that the Lord has shaped the backs of those who have borne the burdens of polishing these pearls in the Pacific.

As I have previously stated, I believe that BYU-Hawaii was established in 1955 by a prophet of god in anticipation of and in preparation for the internationalization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  This internationalization did not really gain momentum until the mid 70’s.  I also believe that BYU-Hawaii has the capability t better prepare leaders for the continued internationalization of the Church than any other Church organization.

It is not the destiny of BYU-Hawaii to educate the masses.  Rather, its mission is to educate a select few, who, if they remain true, will be prepared to render uncommon service to the masses as the internationalization of the Church continues and as the stone cut out without hands rolls forth throughout the world.  One has only to travel to the Pacific and Asian countries to witness the leadership being carried out by BYU-Hawaii alumni.

It seems to me that the continued successful internationalization of the Church will depend, to a significant degree, on the ability of the saints to live together, to understand each other, and to respect each other’s culture and heritage.  Clearly, the overriding culture for all of the saints is the gospel culture, but within the gospel culture we must be like a delicious fruit salad; one in purpose and yet distinctly different in so many other ways.  In this cultural and spiritual educational process, BYU-Hawaii has no peers and no equals.  It is, in fact, a model for the Church and even the rest of the world to emulate.  I believe this is what President David McKay intended it to be.  Cont'd next page