Every July the Polynesian Cultural Center teams up with the Laie Community Association to treat our kūpuna or elders to a special Laie Days luncheon. It’s just one of the ways we recognize the sacrifices and contributions of many people who have helped the PCC for more than 53 years. (Photo by Renee Ahuna Cabrinha)

Other PCC and related news

PCC adds extra luau seating to meet summer demand: During peak seasons — summertime and the year-end holidays, the Polynesian Cultural Center’s fabulous Alii Luau is so popular that we normally run three seatings simultaneously in three different venues . . .

… but this summer the demand has been even higher, so after having to turn away too many people who wanted to enjoy the Alii Luau experience, PCC Vice President of Marketing Raymond Magalei said the PCC team came together on short order to work out the already complex logistics to add an additional seating in the Hale Ohana venue [near the Hawaiian Journey Theater], thereby adding capacity for 400 more satisfied customers.

Even so, it’s always a good idea to book our popular Alii Luau as far in advance as possible.

Polynesian Football Hall of Fame, whose permanent display is located near the front entrance of the Polynesian Cultural Center, has announced its 2016 “Polynesian College Football Player of the Year” Award watch list, including:

Ricky Aliifua, senior DL, Utah State; Isaac Asiata, senior Utah OL; Asotui Eli, sophomore Hawaii center; Salesa Farimo, senior Nevada DL; Breiden Fehoko, sophomore Texas Tech DL; Salamo Fiso, senior Arizona State LB; Randall Goforth, sophomore UCLA DB; Cole Hikutini, senior Louisville TE; Nate Iese, senior UCLA TE/FB; Canton Kaumatule, sophomore Oregon DL; Harvey Langi, senior BYU LB; Inoke Langi, sophomore Texas State TE/LS; Ului Lapuaho, junior BYU OL; Darrin Laufasa, senior UTEP FB; Sefo Liufau, senior Colorado QB; Toa Lobendahn, junior USC OL; Tau Lotulelei, senior UNLV LB; Lowell Lotulelei, junior Utah DT; Shalom Luani, senior Washington State safety;

Tueni Lupeamanu, senior Idaho DL; Damien Mama, junior USC OL; Brandon Manosalvas, junior Buffalo OL; Hercules Mata’afa, sophomore Washington State DE; Christian Matau, junior East Carolina OL; Viliami Moeakiola, senior Arizona State LB; Kai Nacua,senior BYU DB; Olive Sagapolu, sophomore Wisconsin DT; Dru Samia, sophomore Oklahoma OL; JuJu Smith-Schuster, junior USC WR; Anu Solomon, junior Arizona QB; Logan Taele, senior BYU DL; Christian Tago, senior San Jose State LB; Pita Taumoepeau, senior Utah DE; Sae Tautu, senior BYU DL; Jahlani Tavai, sophomore Hawaii LB; Maea Teuhema, sophomore LSU OL; Travis Tuiloma, senior BYU DL; and John Tupou, senior Colorado DL.

Five finalists will be unveiled on November 17; and the 2016 winner of the 2016 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award will be announced on December 7. The formal presentation of the award will be held at the Celebration Dinner in Waikiki during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement on January 20, 2017, and at the Polynesian Cultural Center the following morning.

“This award allows us to showcase the tremendous impact that our Polynesian student-athletes are having on the game of football,” said PFHOF chairman and co-founder Jesse Sapolu.

The watch-list candidates have been selected on past performance and future potential. Additions to the list may be made as the 2016-17 season unfolds.

Kamehameha Highway repaved between Laie and Kahuku: Though traffic delays could get tedious, most Laie and Kahuku residents are happy that Kamehameha highway between the two North Shore communities has now been repaved, making for a much smoother ride.

Finding Pokémon at the Polynesian Cultural Center: If you or your kids are players in the popular Pokémon Go game come visit one of our 12 Pokémon Stops and test your skills at our very own Pokémon Gym! Watch our Pokémon Go video.

Story and images by Mike Foley

Mike Foley, who has worked off-and-on

at the Polynesian Cultural Center since

1968,  has been a full-time freelance

writer and digital media specialist since

2002, and had a long career in marketing

communications and PR before that. He

learned to speak fluent Samoan as a

Mormon missionary before moving to Laie

in 1967 — still does, and he has traveled

extensively over the years throughout

Polynesia and other Pacific islands. Foley

is mostly retired now, but continues to

contribute to various PCC and other media.