President David O. McKay Inducted to Hawaii Hospitality Hall of Fame

A little over 100 years ago in Lāʻie, Hawaiʻi, a visionary man foresaw a university that would benefit the multi-ethnic school children who lived in the small village of Lāʻie. 34 years later the then white-haired David O. McKay made sure the university became a reality. By then he was serving as the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But he never forgot Lāʻie. With shovel in hand, he broke ground for the future Church College of Hawaii in 1955 (renamed Brigham Young University–Hawaii in 1974). On that day he foretold that “from this school, I’ll tell you, will go men and women whose influence will be felt for good towards the establishment of peace internationally.”He also predicted that one day “millions of people who will come seeking to know what this town and its significance are.” 

President McKay soon approved the concept for what is perhaps today one of the most successful cultural attraction in the world the Polynesian Cultural Center. While the PCC prominently faces Kamehameha Highway, the back of the Center is adjacent to BYU Hawaii, and boarding students can easily walk to work. 

Read more about it: https://www.thechurchnews.com/members/2023/9/13/23869943/hawaii-hospitality-hall-of-fame-inducts-president-david-o-mckay