[Copied from October 1998 IMUA Polenesia, reprinted in pcc50.com, March 19, 2013]
The PCC played an important role during the historic grand opening of the Hawaii Convention Center in June and as part of Hawaii’s 126th annual King Kamehameha Celebration.
“Building the convention center put Hawaii on the map,” said Lawrence Redrow, planner of the grand opening. He added that before the convention center was built, Hawaii was never considered as a resource for hosting conventions. Although companies wanted to have conventions in Hawaii, there was not a facility suitable for hosting.
To kick off the grand opening on the morning of June 11, the ceremonial untying of the lei and dedication chant at the convention center was sung by Cy Bridges, cultural islands director for the PCC.
Redrow said Bridges was specifically requested by the Convention Center Authority, the committee overseeing the grand opening, because they were impressed by his other work. That night the Promo Team performed at a gala reception and dinner as part of the grand opening festivities.
On the evening of June 12, Bridges and the Promo Team again gave an outstanding performance to 7,500 spectators at the Ala Wai Water Pageant.
During the pageant, Bridges accompanied the Royal Court as King Kamehameha’s chief chanter.
Members of the Promo Team represented the islands of Samoa, Tahiti, Tonga, and New Zealand as they paddled eight double-hulled canoes. Two canoes were used for each island. Chiefs from each culture presented gifts to the king and performers came ashore and danced for the royal court.
Keahi Allen, director of the Water Pageant, said the canoe ceremony was part of the protocol that each culture had when they used to meet each other. “It was a respect you pay to the host culture,” she said. “It taught respect, tolerance, and acceptance.”
On the morning of June 13, the Promo Team and other performers from the Center participated in the King Kamehameha parade, which was televised live on KGMB TV. In the coming months, the parade was also rebroadcast in Oregon, New Mexico, Arizona, Kansas, and Nebraska.
The grand opening ended with the convention center’s open house on the afternoon of June 13. During the open house, the PCC Promo Team entertained all visitors and special guests. All performers from the Center that participated in the King Kamehameha parade and the convention center grand opening did a wonderful job in making the events successful.
