BYU-Hawaii President Eric B. Shumway and a group of students gathered in the Aloha Center on Feb. 11 to enjoy refreshments and kick off the university's homecoming festivities.
The homecoming gathering marks the 48th anniversary of the fulfillment of President David O. McKay's vision for Laie.
As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on a worldwide tour of church missions, Elder McKay visited the mission school in Laie (now Laie Elementary) on Feb. 7 1921.
Inspired by the patriotism of the multi-ethnic children as they were raising the U.S. flag and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, he envisioned that one day a school of higher learning would be built nearby for the young people of the islands and Asia.
As President of the Church he returned to Laie again on Feb. 12, 1955, and standing in a cleared sugar cane field, he blessed the future site of BYU-Hawaii that ...this college, and the temple, and the town of Laie may become a missionary factor, influencing not thousands, not tens of thousands, but millions of people who will come seeking to know what this town and its significance are.
The Church College of Hawaii, as BYU-Hawaii was known until 1974, started later that same year in temporary facilities while labor missionaries worked on the permanent campus. The labor missionaries also helped build the adjacent Polynesian Cultural Center, which was designed to help provide work opportunities for the BYU-Hawaii students.
Elder Hugh B. Brown dedicated the PCC, which is observing its 40th anniversary this year, on Oct. 12 1963. It has since drawn over 30 million visitors to the community.
Today, BYU-Hawaii continues to follow the prophetic legacy of President David O. McKay as it increases its focus on Asia and the Pacific.
The remainder of this year's Homecoming celebrations includes several activities. See the Alumni page for details.