Tongan royalty have had an association with the Cultural Center since before it opened in October 1963: Approximately 55 years ago Her Majesty the late Queen Salote — who endeared herself to millions around the world during the televised coronation of the U.K.’s Queen Elizabeth II — authorized the construction of a quarter-scale model of her traditional summer palace, the fale fakatu’i, be built as part of the PCC’s Tongan Village. She also sent two skilled envoys to oversee its construction.

Over the more than 50 years since then, various Tongan royalty have visited the Center, including a former king and queen, a princess and crown prince as well as the current queen.

Prepping the Iosepa at Hukilau Beach in 2014

The Iosepa prepares to sail: BYU–Hawaii’s 57-foot traditional twin-hulled Hawaiian sailing canoe Iosepa, which is normally berthed in the PCC’s Hawaiian Village, will undergo periodic ocean tests and training exercises starting in June.

For these tests, the canoe is trucked to nearby Hukilau Beach, where it is provisioned and prepped, then sailed along Windward Oahu. If conditions are favorable, the captain and crew may sail the canoe as far as the Kona Coast of the Island of Hawaii, before returning to Laie.

One of the kukui trees now lining both sides of Kulanui Street in Laie.

Kulanui Street gets ‘Earth Day’ trees: As part of Earth Day in April, Hawaii Reserves, Inc., the Laie-based land management company, began planting 34 kukui (candlenut) trees and other decorative plantings along Kulanui Street, which runs from Laie Elementary School to the entrance of BYU–Hawaii. Kulanui Street is part of the route covered in PCC’s optional, free Laie Tram Tour.

Story by Mike Foley