Nona & Papa's Mission, Polynesian Cultural Center, Laie Hawaii

September 9, 2013

Dear Family, and Friends,

This has been an exciting busy ten days. Thousands of visitors came from all over the world. Many came to participate in the shows and others came back to visit family, friends and remember good times. All good. The Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) was busy every day.

Each morning we had a Flag ceremony.

Song and Devotional

Three couples, Dave and Bonnie Adams from St. George; Don and Charlene Kimball from Sandy; and Marlo and Sherrie Wilcox from Farmington were here. We were able to spend time with each of them. They all served previously here at the PCC and were anxious to renew acquaintance's and do all the things they didn't do when they were here. We decided to take good notes and remember to do and see all they missed and came back for.

Dave and Bonnie Adams took us to dinner at Turtle Bay.

Many of the activities were free and we were able to enjoy. Sunday, September 1, there was a Musical Fireside at the Cannon Center. Every Island from the PCC had a choir. They all sang in their own native language and wore native costumes.

Music and Dancing Concert Daily at 5pm

Musical Fireside

We have a new couple come from Arizona, Elder and Sister Lund. He has been musical director at Eastern College of Arizona. In two practices he had all the missionaries singing like a choir. It was quite an experience to be led by him. We sang like we knew what we were doing! I think we had Divine intervention, maybe the angles were helping because with what he had to work with.... we were good. It was an emotional experience. I'm sure we will have more opportunities to be lead by Elder Lund.

With all the performances and shows the sewing and costume departments were humming. I can't believe how many people came in the day before, the day of or even hours before the performance to have a dress, blouse, or shirts made. Polynesians have faith it can be finished in time and it was!!! I had braided tea leaves, 30 to 40 sets of arm and ankle leggings. They are sprayed and put in the freezer to use in the fire show. The boys wear them on their wrists and ankles. The fire is so close to them they always wear the tea leggings taken right out of the freezer.

Well, it was so busy show nights last week the men were not given the freezer leggings. They used regular tea leaf leggings that had been previously used and not refrigerated. Apparently some of the guys got pretty hot and burned in some cases, but the show went on as usual! Today many funny experiences were exchanged. At one point the stage was so full of people from previous years they could hardly dance. This was a reunion for performers from the beginning 50 years ago to now. You could see in their faces how happy and spiritual they were.

Kathy who is over costumes was sewing her costume just minutes before her performance. That reminded my of when my own mother, EuDora, used to sew dresses for me. She always pulled them off the ironing board just before I left to go to the dances with Ron. I can still feel the warmth of the iron on the dress when I think about it. My family was a bit like the Polynesians, a bit late for everything....Tremea's however, were always prompt and early. Not sure we have that worked out even after 50 years of marriage.

The Alumni Talent Show was the hit of the week for us. It lasted 4 hours, but the finale was awesome. All the PCC Administrative people were in the show. It's amazing to realize everyone here preformed in the shows sometime in their live. They can dance, sing and perform. President Grace and VP Bobby and Logo along with 15 other guys danced the Men in Black Dance. They brought the house down. I hope a video is put out with the best of the week for you to see. Carol Mikida was here and we had comments that between Conferences in October the PCC 50th Anniversary Events would be shown. I hope so, it will be fun to watch.

On Thursday morning I went to a Hukilau at a beach park named Hukilau Beach. A Hukilau is a Hawaiian tradition of native Hawaiians fishing with nets. They row a boat out in the ocean with a long net attached. As the boat goes out the net streams out and trails behind the boat. The boat goes out about 100 yards and makes an arc to another point on the beach. People start pulling the net towards the shore and the fish are trapped and then used by the islanders for food. In the picture you see a man with a fish in his mouth, this was part of the Hukilau celebration to show respect to the Creator for the abundance of fish. The Hukilau became popular to tourists visiting the island and became such an attraction that the locals starting charging for the Hukilau. They then starting feeding the fish to the people for their lunch along with a lot of other foods and it became a money maker.

In 1963 it was decided by the Church to start the Polynesian Culture Center to support young students from various polynesian islands and they used the Hukilau as a pattern. Instead of catching fish they decided to do the pig thing, which is traditional in the Polynesian Islands. They put together a luau with a show and food, it was rough going the first few years until tourism started big in Hawaii. It is now the number one paid tourist attraction in Hawaii.

Elder Tremea and the Luau Photographer

Thursday we worked and took tickets. This was the big night of the Ball. All the yards and yards of chiffon we had sewn together were draped in the Island Buffet and Prime Dinning area. Plants and trees were brought in and lights dimmed. The band was very loud and the music was not my favorite. We didn't buy tickets to go but we saw the decorations and later heard it was standing room only and very very hot inside. There is no central air conditioning in 98% of Laie. So without the trade winds (which have been lame for two months) it was hot.

On Friday Ron and I went to the PCC Journey Theater because they were playing Elvis Presley's "Paradise Hawaiian Style". It was filmed here at the PCC in 1965. The PCC had been opened for two years. The cast were from Laie and worked at the PCC. Many of the people were here last week celebrating and were the moms, dads, and aunties, that were in the show with Elvis. It would be a good family night show for the the kids. We had never seen it.

On Saturday the PCC sponsored a parade thru Laie town. It started at the PCC and then traveled to the Temple and back. Maybe a 2 mile round trip traveling through the homes in Laie.

Walking Polynesian

Small Town Parade but good band!

Just for you Scott

The Maori

Hawaii has horses! Actually the LDS Church has a 6,000 acre ranch north of the town of Laie.

For part of the parade it rained like crazy, in Laie, when it rains it pours but it only lasts for a few minutes then the sun comes out and it is beautiful We found a spot on the side of the road, parked and watched the parade from the car when it was raining, when the sun came out we were outside cheering. It was a small town parade but lots of fun. Elder Russel M Nelson and his wife Wendy were in the parade and they got a lot of cheers from the audience. It was very comforting to have an Apostle of the Lord with us.

Elder and Sister Nelson

Sunday was a busy day for us. We had Sacrament then RS and Priesthood starting at 8:00 am. We were given tickets to be in the Heber J. Grant Building because Ron is on the High Council so we went there at l:00 pm and stayed for both the Church Educational System Devotional Meeting and the Dedication of the new Building. The building was packed and the Aloha Center was also full. Elder and Sister Nelson went to the Aloha Center for the Devotional and then walked over to the new Heber J. Grant Building to do the Dedication. We were able to see President Warner and his wife, our Mission President.

New Chapel and Classrooms for BYU-H Students

This was after 5 hours of Meetings...President and Sister Warner

Elder and Sister Nelson were accompanied by body guards and whisked away promptly. He was asked spontaneously to speak at the night show Friday and we heard he was very nervous and only spoke for a few minutes. We did get to see them at the parade on Saturday and I went to Sister Nelson's Fireside. I was able to talk to her a few minutes before the meeting. She was very kind and commented how grateful she was that the Mangelson Family were safe and protected from their boating accident. I have thought about that too, and I feel so blessed to have children and grandchildren who live so as to have the spirit of the Holy Ghost as their guide and protection.

The Fireside was a spiritual evening. I feel like I'd like to share her thoughts. She first talked about the pre-mortal commitments we made in Heaven. The eons of years we lived before our earthly life. How nice it would be to have a pre-mortal DVD to remind us of our life before we came. She compared life to a spook alley, why we are sometimes drawn to certain people, music, art, earthly things. Certainly we knew and were shown previously what we love and are drawn toward here. Her challenge to each of us was to try to be a Holy Woman for three days. To ask our self each day, "Would a Holy Woman do this, say this, think this? She promised it would change our life. Lets all try it.

The days and weeks are flying by. We were glad to hear Erik had had a better week. Once he gets busy he will be happy. We have been so scheduled everyday. Ron likes to be to work at 8 so we get up dress, eat and pray and he walks to work. I get some wash in and clean and fix something for dinner and leave about 8:45 am. We meet at noon rush home for lunch and back to work at 1:00 pm. If we are taking tickets that night we leave at 4:00 pm, come home change and are back at PCC by 4:30 pm. By the time we finish with tickets and dinner we get home about 8:00 pm. By then we are ready to shower and fall into bed.

Tonight was Family Home Evening. Elder and Sister Palmer spoke to us. They leave for home tomorrow. Elder Palmer was the missionary who talked frequently to us before we came regarding our jobs and housing. They were good to help us. We will miss them. Home for them is Thatcher Arizona. That must be the last town in Arizona...he said to come visit.

Elder and Sister Tremea and Elder and Sister Palmer

These two Elders refuse to wear anything but shorts to Family Home Evening

Today in sewing we learned we have 30 dresses to make by Saturday for the Tahiti Devotional. We still have 12 men's shirts to finish. We will be busy this week. School started today for the students. Kids were everywhere on campus. Keke came to see me because she won't be working in costumes in the mornings now. I am going to miss her. I have been feeding her on game days and trying to educate her on eating lots of carbs before games. She is so cute about it and tells me she feels and plays better when she eats my food, soup etc. Her team played a tournament last weekend.

KeKe is on the left with hair in little bun

Somehow we managed to see every game. They won the tournament. It was so fun to scream and holler again at a game!!! Papa and I fit right in. We now have a Missionary Section and we are drumming up for Missionary support. The team is good. Papa said they haven't played a real tough team, but it has been fun for us to watch. Keke is so grateful we come to support her. She said her parents never watch. I thought the BYU-H team was coming to St George, but just reread the schedule and Dixie is coming here on October 26. I guess you will have to meet Keke another time.

We love all your letters, emails and notes from home. Thank you so much. They keep us going. I think I am feeling more at home here. I realized I haven't stopped to pick a plumaria blossom from the tree for a while. The trees are loaded with blooms and fragrance everyday. I have to remember not to take life for granted. It's so beautiful, and we are blessed to be here to serve the Polynesian people.

I think we have an artist in the family. Maybe Elle will share "Cloe's Adventures". Posting some fun pictures of family. We appreciate the pictures you send us.

We love and miss you all. Haven't heard how the newlyweds are doing? How are you Emily and Derek? School, work and keeping house keeping you busy? Hope to hear from you soon.
Be good,
Love,
Nona & Papa