It was a "chicken skin" moment on a number of levels when William K. "Uncle Bill" Wallace III — filled with emotion and visibly affected by a chemotherapy treatment earlier that day — stepped to the microphone on June 25 for a private dedication ceremony of the new Halau Wa'a O Iosepa in the Polynesian Cultural Center's Hawaiian village and started chanting.

Uncle Bill explained the Hawaiian chant from his birth island of Molokai referred to a rare bird that was leaving "because changes were coming to the island" and a kahuna who told it, "The day will come when you shall be called back to your home. Things will change. Things will not be the same, but your song will continue."

"It's a great metaphor for us to look at who we are and the things we do. I just want to express my deep appreciation for all those who are here, who so willingly gave that we could have what we have now," Wallace said, referring to the new 85-feet long, 43-feet wide and almost 40-feet high A-shaped canoe house that will become the permanent berth for the university's 57-foot traditional twin-hulled voyaging canoe, Iosepa, when it's not sailing.

"This will be the canoe's home, and we're excited about that. We're excited about having our students here and running some of there classes with the Iosepa, and sharing with the visitors who come to the Center. This is a joint effort between BYU-Hawaii and the PCC. The things that we do will strengthen each other, and more people will  

Wallace also explained he was feeling well until this past January, when he came down with lymphoma cancer, but he was optimistic about teaching again in the fall.

During the dedication ceremony, PCC President Von D. Orgill recalled how "people from so many cultures" participated in the process when master carvers Sione Tuione Pulotu, a Tongan and long-time Laie resident, and Kawika Eskaran, a Hawaiian, created the Iosepa from seven large logs imported from Fiji. Over 3,000 Koolauloa residents and others thronged Hukilau Beach when the Iosepa was dedicated on November 1, 2001.

"It was really an incredible experience over all those months. It is our sincere hope and prayer that  feeling of unity, common purpose and love — that special spirit — will be a part of this halau wa'a for everyone who associates with it or comes to visit," President Orgill added.

The Polynesian Cultural Center's Tahiti and other villages
arrived by canoe to honor the new Halau Wa'a O Iosepa
with speeches, gifts and performances.

Mark H. Willes — Chairman of the Polynesian Cultural Center board of directors, a former Latter-day Saint Mission President for Hawaii and a major donor to the project — dedicated the new structure and surrounding grounds: "We bless it as a place of learning, that those who come, as they learn about voyaging canoes, will also gain a greater understanding about the life's voyage that they take, and will have promptings in their minds and hearts to look heavenward to receive the guidance and direction that they need," he said.

"We pray, Heavenly Father, that Thou will bring millions to see, hear and feel what Thou has in store for them, that they might be touched in their minds and in their hearts, that they might feel the brotherhood of those around them and recognize that they are all Thy children."

In his remarks, Willes also described the new canoe house as a "stunning addition to a very special place," and said it was a "evidence of the critical and necessary connection between BYU-Hawaii and the Polynesian Cultural Center."

The PCC put on a second, larger reception for kupuna, community members and others on June 27, and a free "family" day activity surrounding the new Halau Wa'a O Iosepa on June 28. For more information on the dedication… 

(Left): PCC Hawaiiana expert Cy Bridges chants while…
(center): BYUH, PCC, and community representatives
dance hula in honor of the new Halau Wa'a O Iosepa.
(Right): Raymond Mokiao, Hawaiian village manager, said
the PCC and BYUH have been working on the project
for the past two years. Most photos by Mike Foley,
top photo by Monique Saenz, courtesy of BYU-Hawaii

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