Four former presidents who served in Laie — Dan W. Andersen (1974-80) [pictured at left], J. Elliot Cameron (80-86) and Alton L. Wade (86-94) with BYU-Hawaii; and Lester W.B. Moore (91-2000) with the Polynesian Cultural Center — addressed alumni and friends during a special fireside on February 2 in the new Gordon B. Hinckley Alumni building at BYU in Provo.
As the most senior of the presidents, Andersen told the gathering he felt "a little bit like a lynch pin. I was on campus for about 10 months when I received a call that President [Spencer W.] Kimball was to announce that CCH was to become BYU-Hawaii, and that I had been invited to be the first president of this new name-changed college."
"It was obvious that there were some good reasons for that name change, but I reflect very sweetly and dearly on a young student who said, 'This college can find its metaphor in the New Testament,'" referring to John 21 when Peter and the other Disciples had caught nothing but after heeding the Savior their nets could not contain the catch.
"She said, 'In that beginning quarter of CCH there were 158 students, and yet not was the net broke.' I felt gratified that somehow they could see a testimonial to the beginning of the college," Andersen said.
He also recalled that in an early interview, he asked Ke Alaka'i reporter Lynn Jensen why he came to the school. "He said, 'Some day a degree from this university will mean more than any university in the world.' I've come to believe that there's an essence and a truth in that statement," Andersen said.
"There's something so magical about that area," he continued, speaking of the "triangle" of the Laie Hawaii Temple, completed in 1919, the beginning of the university in 1955, and the PCC in 1963. "Those three entities define that area. There's nothing else like it in the world. It is absolutely magnificent that you could bring a spiritual, an educational and a cultural entity together in that very small and, as some would say, insignificant community."
Andersen also praised the modern foresight of Church leaders, recalling that President Thomas S. Monson, then of the Quorum of the Twelve, helped secure a new library for BYU-Hawaii; and President Gordon B. Hinckley, also then of the Twelve, was instrumental in securing the Cannon Activities Center, which at that time had two-and-a-half times more seats than the number of students enrolled.
In those same meetings, Elder Hinckley initiated the idea to "bring BYU-Hawaii and the Polynesian Cultural Center together" in the form of the Snow Administration Building, which "made us one. Our greatest achievement, though, is not our buildings," Andersen said. "It is in our students."
President Wade talked about the spiritual, academic, and intercultural "connections" the alumni and leaders felt at BYUH. "I'd like to suggest, in fact, that BYU-Hawaii is the most unique institution because it brings together those four connections; and everyone in here today, I believe, was touched not just by the academic, not just by the spiritual, not just by the social or the intercultural, but by all four of them. That makes the alumni of BYU-Hawaii very special."
Wade also showed a video clip from his 1992 devotional address when he said, "I believe BYU-Hawaii has the capability to better prepare leaders for the continued internationalization of the Church than any other Church organization. One has only to travel to the Pacific and Asia to see the leadership that is carried out by our alumni on a daily basis. The continued successful internationalization of the Church will depend to a significant degree on the ability of the Saints to live together, to understand each other, and to respect each other's cultures and heritage.
"BYU-Hawaii has no peers and no equals" in creating such understanding, he said. "It is, in fact, a model for the rest of the Church, even the rest of the world, to emulate."
President Cameron outlined how he was aware of CCH from its beginnings and had worked with all of the university's early presidents. He also explained he was surprised to find himself called to take the helm in 1986 — "one of the great blessings of our lives, because it was one of the things that made it possible to have the association of people like you, who were there."
"Every individual has had a special role to play," he continued, identifying one of his roles as going to China, and also participating in the baptism of one of the early students from there — perhaps the first from "behind the Bamboo Curtain."
"I'm grateful for the opportunity that I've had to be a part of the history of the school since the beginning," Cameron said. "I bear you my testimony that it is the work of the Lord."
PCC President Moore indicated he would do his presentation at a future alumni event, but shared his testimony of Laie and the Latter-day Saint institutions: "That little place has had a profound influence on the world and has touched hundreds of millions of lives," he said, adding that the influence will continue to grow.
(Left-right): Alton H. Wade, Lester W.B. Moore, Dan W. Andersen and his wife, Maxine and J. Elliot Cameron
The special four presidents "fireside" helped kick off the organization of the BYU-Hawaii/Church College of Hawaii Alumni Association's new Utah Central chapter, with Christophe ('96) and Laura Malzl ('95) as chapter leaders. The Utah Polynesian Choir, directed by Quincy Matagi, who's originally from Laie, provided the music. Dean Wright of BYU Catering, and formerly with BYU-Hawaii Food Services, helped provide refreshments for the gathering.
— Photos by Eldon McIlwain