GRADUATION PARTY FOR PRESIDENT ALFRED GRACE
By Sharla Behan
President and CEO of the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC), Alfred Grace, was honored along with his wife Val on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at a celebratory feast held at the beautiful Ali‘i Aloha on the PCC campus. It was an evening filled with warmth, gratitude, and reflection upon his remarkable 40 years of service, including 13 years as president.
The celebration brought together colleagues, friends, and family in a setting that felt both festive and deeply personal. One of the most memorable moments came as vice-presidents and managers surprised the couple with a lively dance and hula performance. It was especially meaningful given that Alfred himself had once been a student dancer at the Center—a reminder of how far his journey had come.
The feast that followed was a traditional luau, complete with an umu-roasted pig that delighted the grandchildren before being served alongside a full spread of island dishes. Laughter and conversation filled the air as each department took turns expressing and sharing favorite sayings often repeated by President Grace—phrases like “Begin with the End in Mind,” “Control What You Can Control,” and “Good, Better, Best.” These simple expressions, shared with affection, reflected the steady leadership principles that had guided his career.
As the evening continued, heartfelt messages and memories were offered, honoring not just his accomplishments but the way he had influenced the people around him. Guests presented gifts and well wishes as he prepared to enter retirement, marking the close of one chapter and the beginning of another.
A joyful highlight came during the money dance, where Alfred and Val took the stage as friends and colleagues showered them with cash in celebration. Afterward, grandchildren and young attendees eagerly gathered the scattered bills, adding a playful and memorable touch to the night.
Humor also had its place in the program. Jimmy Mapoo, manager of Guest Services and the widely accepted “Governor of the PCC” made a spirited entrance, playfully roasting the incoming president, Jarod Hester, while joking that he himself had hoped to take the role. His remarks soon turned sincere as he paid tribute to Alfred’s leadership and legacy.
One of the most symbolic moments of the evening came as Guest Services presented President Grace with a torch. Young people from various countries stepped forward to light their own torches from it, representing the mission of the PCC—to prepare students to move forward in their lives and careers with confidence and purpose.
Alfred Grace’s journey to this moment began decades earlier at Brigham Young University–Hawaii, where he enrolled as a freshman in 1983. While studying, he worked in many roles at the PCC, from dancer to technician, tour guide, and light operator, eventually moving into sales. After serving a full-time mission and graduating in 1988 with a degree in business and travel management, he continued to build his career, returning to the PCC in 1998 and steadily rising through the organization until becoming president and CEO in 2013—the first BYU–Hawaii graduate to do so.
Throughout his leadership, he remained focused on the Center’s core mission: supporting BYU–Hawaii students by providing meaningful employment and experience. He also emphasized the PCC’s role in the community and as a global ambassador of Polynesian culture and values.
Even during challenging times, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, his leadership helped reshape the Center’s approach. By prioritizing quality over sheer attendance, the PCC improved both guest and employee satisfaction, ensuring a more sustainable and meaningful experience for all.
By the end of the evening, it was clear that the celebration was about more than a career milestone. It was a tribute to a life of service, a legacy of leadership, and the countless individuals whose paths had been shaped by Alfred Grace’s steady guidance and vision.
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Sharla Behan
Sharla Behan is a missionary serving at the PCC, journalist, mother of 7 children, 28 grands finding joy in the journey. Free time is chock full of enjoying paradise — sunsets, beaches, cultural events & the beautiful Polynesian people.
Joy in the journey at the PCC is giving and gathering aloha — sunshine to the soul!