Elder Ron Haymore, who now lives in Utah was serving full-time in the Sāmoa Apia Mission in the early 1960s, shared the following edited story by email: 
 
One day President [John Phillip] Hanks asked my help. He had received a request acquire ‘afa — the rope or cord Samoans made from coconut husk fiber and used primarily in constructing fale (“houses”) — from someone associated with constructing the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie, Hawaii.

For centuries Sāmoans and other Polynesians, who didn’t have access to metallic screws and nails, had used ‘afa to lash the wooden posts and beams together. 

 Pres. Hanks indicated he had previously talked with a member of the Mission High Council who was a matai (“chief”) about helping to fulfill the request, andhe wanted me to drive him to several villages on Upolu to talk with other village matai about the Church purchasing some ‘afa. 

I don’t remember which villages we visited, but this brother had previously determined which ones he wanted to visit and had in mind who he wanted to see in each one. 

After entering each fale and exchanging traditional Samoan greetings, this brother explained the reason for our visit. In most villages we were able to acquire various amounts of ‘afa. Our trip was very successful and lasted most of the day, and we ended up bringing back coils of the cordage. 

Thus concluded my very minor contribution to the building of the Polynesian Cultural Center.