Polynesian Cultural Center launches first mainland show

[Excerpts from a PCC press release by the Center’s PR agency, June 22, 2006]:

Honolulu – Polynesia is moving to the mainland as the Polynesian Cultural Center for the summer with its first long-running show off-island when it opens Fire — The Hawaiian Experience at The Grand Palace in Branson, Missouri.

Following the hour of interactive, cultural fun, they will then enjoy the multimedia spectacular, FIRE. This ninety-minute show has the finest elements from the world-famous Polynesian Cultural Center… They’ll also enjoy the presentation of the Hawaiian Ali‘i Court, Tongan drummers, the world’s finest Hawaiian and Tahitian dancers, the fireknife Dancers from Samoa, and much, much more. Performances will take place every day at 8:00 p.m. except Wednesday and Sunday.

[NOTE: The Center previously presented short-run shows on the mainland. For example, the four-night appearance at the Hollywood Bowl in California that started on August 31, 1966 included over 100 performers — which would make it the largest show (despite what the following story said), but certainly not the longest; and several large appearances on the U.S. mainland in conjunction with the 50th anniversary in July 2013.

The Center’s Promo Team and earlier special groups also appeared in Japan and China on extended schedules.]

The following story subsequently ran in the Center’s newsletter in September 2006 on the Branson promo:

PCC draws standing ovations in Branson, Missouri

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.”

“This is the first time the Center has ever done something this extensive off-site,” Dela Rosa said, explaining the group of 15 performed “evening shows every day except Sunday and Wednesday at 8 o’clock, and sometimes matinees. We didn’t have live musicians — we used CDs, but we did live drumming.”

“The biggest challenge for us was we only had two days to rehearse on their stage. Also, our fireknife dancer, Byron Tenney, got injured in the third week, so Boyd Lauano had to step in. There were only 15 of us, and everyone had to do something.”

When the group wasn’t performing during the first three or four weeks, Dela Rosa said they did “media briefings in the surrounding area to promote the show and the Center. We also attended Branson 2nd Ward: It was fabulous, and they were so kind to us.”

“The town of Branson is really different: It’s bigger than Laie, but everything there is centered around the family — the activities, the attractions. They’ve got quite a few restaurants, hotels and theaters, but it’s nothing like Las Vegas, although the traffic is like there.”

Dela Rosa said besides performing, “one highlight of our trip was driving three-and-a-half hours to Liberty Jail in Independence, and another was going to Nauvoo and seeing the pageant. I think everyone will agree that was the highlight.”

She added the Center is considering sending another troupe to Branson next summer.

Mikaele Foley

Mike Foley, who also goes by his Sāmoan and Hawaiian name Mikaele, first visited the Polynesian Cultural Center on his way home from serving for 2.5 years in the Samoa Mission. A few months later, he returned to Laie to enroll at the Church College of Hawaii, and also got a student-job at the Center. He has worked intermittently at the Center ever since, 60-ish years, including about 25 years full-time in marketing communications, PR and advertising. During the earliest of those years, he met and married Sally Ann McShane, a beautiful young Hawaiian dancer (who came to Laie in 1963). They raised their family in Laie and still live there.