BYU Hawaii
The Polynesian Cultural Center enjoys a close, symbiotic relationship with Brigham Young University Hawaii, a 2,400-student four-year institution founded by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1955. BYU-Hawaii is located in Laie, Oahu, adjacent to the PCC. Indeed, the presidents of BYU-Hawaii and the PCC like to say, "We are joined at the heart."
More specifically:
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LDS Church and university officials established the PCC in 1963 to help defray educational expenses and provide practical work experience for students at the University. |
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Approximately 700 BYU-Hawaii students currently work at the PCC. |
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More than two-thirds of the current BYU-Hawaii students working at the PCC participate in the International Work Experience Scholarship program, which is jointly sponsored and administered by the two institutions. Under the terms of this program, carefully selected participants agree to work part-time at the Center during school terms and full-time during summer and other breaks, complete their studies in four years, and return home after graduating. In addition, the families of the participants also agree to provide some financial assistance. In return, the University and the Center provide the participants with their jobs, tuition, books, and room and board. The program is also designed so that IWES students will graduate without any student loan debts. |
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Many of the PCC's fulltime staff and managers are alumni of BYU-Hawaii. |
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Your purchase of tickets, food, souvenirs and other items at the Polynesian Cultural Center helps fund these educational/work objectives. |
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Those who might be further interested in supporting the educational objectives of the Polynesian Cultural Center and BYU-Hawaii students are invited to contact the LDS Foundation which oversees tax-deductible contributions to both institutions. |
For more information on BYU-Hawaii, please visit their website.
