Dear old David O. McKay. February 7, 1921 Elder McKay and Elder Cannon attended a flag raising in La'ie. He felt that here in La'ie there would be a school to be the learning and spiritual place for the Church in the Pacific. On April 9, 1951 he became president of the Church. Almost immediately he began planning the school he had envisioned. This school is BYUH. At the ground breaking he declared, "We dedicate our actions in this service unto thee and unto thy glory and to the salvation of the children of men, 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 it's significance are."
Elder Matthew Cowley. He went on a mission to New Zealand in 1914. He arrived there without a companion, and his mission president was on a different island. His determination to learn the difficult and unexplored Maori language took him only 3 months. Because of his incredible mastery of the Maori language and the closeness he had with the Maori people, his mission was extended 2 years beyond the usual 3 which allowed him to translate the Book of Mormon, D&C and Pearl of Great Price into Maori. Later, in his apostleship he became known as the "Polynesian Apostle" becuase of his love for the islands as well as his exceptional compassion. In a stake conference here in La'ie he expressed his hopes that one day New Zealanders would have a villiage here, as well as Samoans, Tongans, Tahitians... all islanders of the sea. His vision has become what is now the Polynesian Cultural Center.
Joseph F. Smith. This man is the son of Hyrum and was named after our excellent Joseph Smith, and was 10th president of the Church. When Hyrum died, Joseph was only 10 years old, and being the oldest son, it was up to him to take charge and get his family across the plains. His incredible strength in the church allowed him to serve a mission at the age of 15 to the islands which lasted for 4 years. His appreciation and love for the islanders allowed the gospel to spread into their hearts. In a time where the Hawaiian culture was being exterminated, he held an inspired and compassionate love for the people and culture here. He said about his time here, "They [the Hawaiian people] had different habits to anything I had before known, and their food, and dress and houses and everything were new and strange.... For three months this seclusion from the world continued, but the history of that short period of my life never can be told. I had ample time to feel after the Lord and to draw near to him with my whole soul"The fire and life and undescribeable deep love for the islands that permeates every square inch of me is what these men felt times ten. There aren't words possible to describe HOW MUCH being here has changed me, how much of me is here and dedicated and willing to do anything for these cultures. To see my peers take on the duty of upholding their unique and powerful and beautifully joyful cultures and allow the depth of their very soul to be shared with everyone...
I am utterly astounded.
