Directed by Blair Treu, Sharing Aloha offers a heartfelt look into the lives of BYU–Hawaii students behind the Polynesian Cultural Center’s night show. Premiered at the Zions Indie Film Fest, the documentary highlights their cultural journey, sacrifices, and spirit of aloha.
In June 2024, the Polynesian Cultural Center and BYU–Hawaii worked together to prepare and sail the beautiful 57-foot traditional wooden Hawaiian sailing canoe Iosepa to Kualoa to participate in the Pacific Festival gathering of canoes at Kualoa. On its way back to Laie, the Iosepa circumnavigated Oahu.
Many of the Polynesian Cultural Center students who participated in the 1966 mainland promotion to the Hollywood Bowl and Salt Lake City said their visit with President David O. McKay and his wife, Emma, at their home in Huntsville, Utah, was the highlight of the trip.
Vice President of Human Resources John Muaina recently represented the Polynesian Cultural Center as he and his wife, Luella, toured China with BYU–Hawaii President Eric B. Shumway, his party and the university’s Concert Choir for three weeks to celebrate the successful completion of 25 years of BYUH/PCC’s unique Asian Executive Management (AEM) internship training program.
Vice President of Human Resources John Muaina recently represented the Polynesian Cultural Center as he and his wife, Luella, toured China with BYU–Hawaii President Eric B. Shumway, his party and the university’s Concert Choir for three weeks to celebrate the successful completion of 25 years of BYUH/PCC’s unique Asian Executive Management (AEM) internship training program.
One of the Center’s Japanese-speaking guides discusses the PCC garden’s pineapple patch with a group who came on a circle island tour, arriving about noon. The garden is located on the Hauula side of the Center.
New BYU-Hawaii President Steven C. Wheelwright told the PCC ‘ohana at the September 21, 2007, Team Meeting (in the Center’s large-format theater) that “you can help bless the lives of our students way beyond pay and jobs.”
This latest significant addition to the Center marks a unique level of cooperation between the PCC and BYU–Hawaii that will enable Hawaiian Studies students to continue their work on the Iosepa in an appropriate new learning center while also opening the opportunity for visitors to better understand the voyaging feats of ancient Polynesians and feel the mana or essence of the canoe.
Ellen Gay Dela Rosa, senior manager with the recent PCC performing troupe which put on nearly 40 two-hour shows at the Grand Palace in Branson, Missouri, from June 29 to August 12, reported, “We had a great experience, and we had a standing ovation every night”.
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