Twenty-five years ago — at a time when relations between the United States and the People's Republic of China were expanding — six promising young Chinese officials came to Laie to participate in the first BYU-Hawaii/Polynesian Cultural Center Asian Executive Management training program. In the years since then the significance of the program for the participants, the two institutions and their sponsor, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has grown exponentially.
For example, based on the program literally thousands of high-ranking Chinese officials have visited Laie, while under the auspices of the Polynesian Cultural Center Church President Gordon B. Hinckley and other General Authorities as well as BYU-Hawaii and PCC leaders have gone to China and been welcomed with the highest respect. Center officers have also consulted on Chinese Folk Culture Villages, China's own cultural center in Shenzhen, which shares insights with visitors into the country's 50-plus ethnic groups.
One of those officers, John Muaina ('90), Vice President of Human Resources, who has worked at the Polynesian Cultural Center for the past 30 years and is affectionately known as "Uncle John" by every single Asian Executive Management participant, explains the program's genesis developed in 1980 when the U.S. government invited a delegation of high-ranking Chinese military officers to visit the Pacific-wide command center (CINCPAC) at Pearl Harbor.
"The ranking general during their time here had one day where they wanted to go sight-seeing. It just so happened he produced a PCC pamphlet to the Pacific commander, who called the Center and asked if it would be possible for them to come out. Bill Cravens was the general manager at that time," Muaina says.
"I believe there were 11 of them gathered in the old board room, in the old administration building [now the PCC training room], who essentially inquired about the possibility of having some of their brightest people come to study at BYU-Hawaii and work at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Bill thought it was a great idea and invited [BYUH President] Elliot Cameron to come over. An agreement was reached," Muaina continues, noting that every president of BYU-Hawaii and PCC since 1981 have been closely involved with the Asian Executive Management program and approximately 160 participants have now completed it.
Program numbers small but significant
Not a large number, but BYU-Hawaii President Eric B. Shumway, a Tongan language scholar, uses the island proverb Si'i ka e hā — "small but significant" — to put the program's impact into perspective:
"It was never designed to reach large numbers," he says, "but the feeling has always been that somehow the right people would be selected, would come, and have this extraordinary experience of spirituality, culture, business opportunities, learning and all of the other things that BYU-Hawaii and PCC are famous for."
"They have also been touched by some of our leadership philosophies which are different from traditional hierarchical expectations — that the boss never mingles with the workers," President Shumway continues. He said he remembers an early '90s participant who was impressed that "Uncle John" Muaina picked him up at the airport, and another time when he was walking with then-PCC President Lester Moore, "and Les leaned down and picked up some trash. He said, 'My first lesson in America was that vice presidents can be chauffeurs and presidents can be garbage collectors.'"
Interns invited to share feelings about their experience
Polynesian Cultural Center President Von Orgill, who meets periodically with the participants, says similar reactions of the interns impress him. "I always ask them to share what they're learning and how they feel about their experience. They are very open as they describe how being here has changed their view of the world, themselves, their own families and families in general, and how grateful they are for this heightened sensitivity to things that matter."
"They are open and animated while sharing the reality that they now prioritize key areas of their lives differently. It is common for many of them to indicate the gospel and the Church have had a profound impact — an extremely positive influence — upon them," President Orgill continues. He emphasizes that in keeping with Latter-day Saint policy regarding China, which has not officially recognized the Church, no attempts are made to proselytize the management interns. They, however, are apparently free to draw their own conclusions.
"One intern, for example, said how touched he was with the dedication and commitment to family life he's witnessed and experienced here. He said it was commonplace in China for people to devote themselves to their work. Family has clearly been a second priority. He considered it necessarily so if one was to be successful in a career. After he had been here for a time, he saw the commitment in the lives of the people at BYU-Hawaii and the PCC, and particularly in the leaders who have responsible positions and yet are dedicated to their families. He now understands it is possible to be successful in a career and still have a meaningful, rich and rewarding family life."
"The more he thought about that, the more he realized how precious his own family was to him. He realized he didn't need to sacrifice his family in the name of getting ahead in his career. He called his wife to share his new-found understanding. During that conversation, he told her he loved her. He said there was a pause on the other end of the line, and then his wife hesitantly asked, 'Are you all right?' She wasn't used to hearing her husband express his love to her."
"This same intern added that his experience here had so altered his relationship with his family that he was anxiously looking forward to spending more time with them and more openly expressing his love, appreciation and gratitude. He is committed to this change, while being convinced that he can find ways to be just as effective at work and accomplish his professional goals, all without compromising or sacrificing his family."
"To hear him share that heart-felt witness and commitment was one of the more touching experiences I've had with these special people," President Orgill says.
Basic human kindness and concern admired by interns
"Even those who respect our beliefs, but still hold dearly to their own, express admiration for the way our people live and treat one another. They talk about how valuable those basic values of human kindness and concern are, and how needed they are everywhere in the world," President Orgill adds.
"The interns find it difficult to express in words the gratitude each feels for the experiences they've had here and for what they've learned in the process. Those experiences have been replicated over and over again throughout these past 25 years."
Mr. Ma Chang An, a 1997 participant, is a good example. "At that time he was the Chief of Protocol for the Shaanxi Province [in central China]," Muaina recalls. "He, along with some of the others, was actually going to the [Latter-day Saint campus] wards with the students. In fact, this particular environment moved Mr. Ma so much that he invited myself, President Shumway and [then-PCC] President Moore to a luncheon he wanted to give in our behalf in the cafeteria."
"At that luncheon he offered to give the blessing," Muaina says. "He wasn't Christian, but it was one of the most profound and simple prayers I've ever heard. What really moved all three of us was that Mr. Ma was literally talking with the Savior. There are no words to describe what he was uttering, and all of us were touched by the sincerity and the genuine appeal of his prayer. He acknowledged his own weakness and thanked the Lord for blessing him. It brought us all to tears."
Muaina also remembers that after Mr. Ma's prayer, "he mentioned he would very often go to the [Laie] Temple when he had challenges to discuss with Heavenly Father — and he said he got answers. He also indicated he wanted his daughter to come to school here."
Intern's daughter attends BYU-Hawaii through IWES program
Muaina adds that the daughter, Allie Ma, participated in the International Work Experience Study (IWES) program in the early 2000s, "and Mr. Ma is now the deputy director for the Shaanxi Foreign Affairs Ministry. He's a very good friend of both our institutions."
From the beginning, Muaina confirms everyone involved with the Asian Executive Management program knew it was special. "In those early years it was quite intriguing and actually exciting. Our first group arrived in the fall of 1981 and stayed for almost two years. As we were to later find out, one of them — Wang Yannan, who is now an entrepreneur in Beijing — was the daughter of PRC Premier Zhao Ziyang," he says, suggesting this family tie probably led to the premier's historic visit to the Center and BYU-Hawaii on January 7, 1984.
Interns feel like pioneers for their people
"I remember reading in the backgrounds of that first group that all of them had graduated from university and were honor students. One of them, Zhang Zhi Wei, who worked with me in human resources, told me they were so excited about coming to America. They felt like they were pioneers for their people. For all of them, this was a great opportunity to be here. They took the time they were in Hawaii very seriously."
"Many of them had never seen the ocean," Muaina also recalls. "They were surprised at how many cars there were here, too, because very few people in China had cars at that time. But the thing that seemed more impressive to them was the people: They enjoyed the interaction with their fellow students and professors at BYU-Hawaii, and the people at the Polynesian Cultural Center."
"Many of them had never met Americans before. I remember Zhi Wei telling me he felt they were actually like Chinese people."
Today, President Orgill explains that the Asian Executive Management interns usually come in groups of 8–12 people, leaving families behind. They stay in the dormitories for 10 months while they study at BYU-Hawaii and work at the Polynesian Cultural Center. While here, he adds, they observe the Honor Code and blend in very well with BYU-Hawaii's diverse student body.
"At the PCC they shadow the vice presidents and senior management team across all of our major divisions, so they are exposed to the entire operation of the Center. They better understand the issues and challenges we face, and how we address those challenges. They're looking for lessons that can be learned and then transferred to their own roles and responsibilities back home."
He also notes "relatively few of the participants have been directly involved in tourism-related jobs prior to arriving in Hawaii and working at the PCC. Some have had such experience, but most come from a variety of government agencies, government-owned businesses, or universities in different provinces. All have been college graduates and most have been mid-career professionals. Each has indicated the lessons learned here can be applied in their respective work settings back home."
Opportunities to improve English skills a valuable part of internships
"In addition to the work experience they receive at the PCC, they have marvelous opportunities to improve their English skills while taking classes at BYU-Hawaii and interacting with others in and out of the classroom. This is one of the most valuable aspects of their experience. At the end of their program, they march with the other BYU-Hawaii graduates during commencement exercises, and receive a special Asian Executive Management Program diploma."
President Orgill points out many of the participants "are promoted shortly after arriving back in China and resuming their job responsibilities. They are able to contribute so much more as managers and leaders. Their skills, understanding and capacity to lead have all increased dramatically. They better understand what effective leadership and increased productivity look like. They have an increased understanding of what is required as people to work together more effectively."
Muaina also feels the program remains a positive influence on its alumni, who have demonstrated they are willing to assist the Center, University and the Church in any way they can. For example, during his most recent trip to China, he says, "there was a concern about how we're going to handle the logistics of the 2007 BYU-Hawaii Concert Choir tour to China [and Mongolia]. If it hadn't been for our executive management training program, the comfort level wouldn't have been there; but every one of them stepped forward and offered to help."
Concert Choir Tour to celebrate friendships formed over past 25 years
Of the choir's upcoming tour to China, President Shumway says, "We are leveraging all of our friendships. We want to raise the level of consciousness of the people toward the Church, and capitalize on the Polynesian Cultural Center's name. We want to create an awareness and appreciation, although this is not going to be proselyting. It's going to touch people on the level of friendship, appreciation and understanding."
President Shumway also points out five significant aspects of the program some may not be aware of:
"First, all of the interns went back. There has been 100 percent returnability. Second, as far as we can tell, the participants all remember the experience as one of the greatest in their lives. Third, they are our friends forever. Fourth, they have facilitated many trips and arranged meetings for our people who have gone to China. They've been great resources. Fifth, they're very vocal friends."
"It's very easy for them to talk about, praise and 'bear testimony' about the Church without mentioning the Church," President Shumway continues. "Everybody knows the University and the PCC are the external symbols of what the Church means: Our aloha spirit, closeness and respect among cultures, the coming together as children of God — one blood of all nations, the family of God — that we're all brothers and sisters. These are powerful ideas."
He also believes "a large percentage of them, if not all, gained a great appreciation of the Book of Mormon while they were here. They love the Book of Mormon. In some ways it speaks very powerfully to them, and I think in many ways these people will have a leavening effect for good in China."
With the success of the program proved many times over, and an increasing number of requests to send more participants, what does the future of the Asian Executive Management program hold?
Opportunities to expand program have been considered
President Orgill replies that PCC and BYU-Hawaii have been considering a variety of different ways to possibly expand the program. "BYU-Hawaii and PCC are not large organizations, and our resources are limited, yet we have explored the possibility of having a shorter program, putting more people through and charging to help cover costs. We've also looked at the possibility of offering an executive-level program for two-or-three weeks," he says.
"We continue to examine the implications of such options. We are committed to maintaining and improving the quality of any experience we offer, regardless of length. We don't want to overtax the system that works so well — not just for these interns but for the students from all over the world who come to Laie to study and work. We have to be very careful about how we respond to these requests," he also says, noting that the current group in Laie includes 13 Asian executive interns, which is the largest single group since the program began.
"Previously, it has been more common to have six, seven or eight participants," he says. "In some years there were only four, due primarily to visa-related challenges."
Muaina adds the Tibetan cultural center, which signed an agreement with BYU-Hawaii and PCC last year, is sending "two for now. They're still in their infancy, but they're well aware of the PCC. They said, absolutely, this is what we want."
How ever the program may change in the coming years, those selected to participate will continue to work hard. "The participants work very, very hard," President Orgill says. "I've been impressed with the work habits they bring to bear: They leave family and friends. They're away for 10 months — that's a difficult thing for anyone. While they're here, they dedicate themselves to benefiting from their experience in the most profound of ways. They take full advantage of their time here. I thoroughly enjoy and appreciate the opportunity to be around them."
"I commend the leaders who had the foresight to begin this program," Muaina says. "It's a wonderful influence for good. Those early alumni who came have gone back and planted the seed, and have just taken BYU-Hawaii and PCC to heart."
Spirit of "aloha" remembered by participants
"What they're so grateful for is that we ask literally for nothing, but we offer so much. In many ways they're trying to pay back for the kindness, leadership and instructions they received here. All of them miss Hawaii and wish they could come back and be a part of the environment they remember so well," he continues. "For many of them the memory is vivid and strong, and becomes even stronger when they meet people from here. All of them want their children to come to Hawaii."
"They're all quick to say aloha. They all say they remember the aloha spirit. We had a dinner in Shaanxi [Province] with at least 10 of them there, and all recalled the spirit of aloha. One young lady started breaking down into tears before she could finish her words about how much she loved the University and the Polynesian Cultural Center."
"Afterwards, I asked the young man who was taking us around what he thought when she started to cry. I wanted to know how that played out professionally," Muaina adds. "He said when she started doing that, we all had tears in our eyes. She manifested what we all wanted to say."
Program has had positive impact on many people
Or as President Shumway puts it, the Asian Executive Management program has had "a wonderful impact on many people, because they've been able to see how the Church really is, where the focus has not been on theology but on the lives of people who live the gospel. That is what impressed the participants: The tremendous love, honor, integrity, family fidelity — all those things that are precious in the Chinese tradition — they see present here."
"When you're changing people's lives and their views, purpose and meaning of life, and their roles in their home countries and the world — as well as in their families and communities — in ways that are so healthy and positive, you can't help but feel good about what has happened over the past 25 years," President Orgill says. "You can't help but feel immensely grateful for the privilege of being involved, even in a small way, to help continue the legacy of this program."