• Purpose & History
  • Early History
  • History
  • The Temple
  • The Flagraising
  • The Hukilau
  • Polynesian Villages
  • PCC's Mission Statement
  • CCH/BYU-Hawaii
  • Polynesian Panorama
  • The PCC
  • Joined at the Heart
  • Student Internship Program
• PCC FAQ's
• PCC Park Map
• Multimedia
• Getting Here
  • Transportation
  • Driving Directions
  • Accommodations
  • Oahu Visitor Info
  • Oahu Map
• Resources
  • Travel Agents
  • Groups & Conventions
  • Alumni
  • Links
  • Educational Programs
  • Press Room
  • Newsletters
  • Employment
  • Guest Services
  • Contributions
  • PCC Service Missionaries
• Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy

Serving as a Senior PCC Missionary or Volunteer

Many people are familiar with the sight of young missionary representatives of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (popularly called the Mormons), which founded Brigham Young University Hawaii in Laie, Oahu, in 1955 and the adjacent Polynesian Cultural Center in 1963.

There are thousands of Latter-day Saint missionaries serving in over 150 countries around the world. They normally work in pairs, the young men wearing dark suits and ties (or white shirts and ties in warmer climates) and the young women dressing modestly all the time. Some may be seen riding bicycles between appointments.

They serve voluntarily at their own (or family's) expense, the men for two years and the women for 18 months. Depending on where they serve, they may have to learn another language. They usually spend a half-day a week taking care of personal affairs, including laundry and letter-writing, and another half-day rendering organized community service. The rest of the time they attempt to share their beliefs with those who wish to listen.

"Senior missionaries"

You may be less familiar, however, with the Church's program for "senior missionaries" ó older, retired couples and individuals who also serve voluntarily (i.e. non-paid) at their own expense around the world for periods ranging from six months to two years. Like their younger counterparts, there are thousands of senior Latter-day Saint missionaries currently serving.

Some teach and share their Latter-day Saint beliefs, but many are more appropriately called "service missionaries" because they lend their professional expertise and work experience to a wide variety of Church-affiliated activities, including health care, retired military relations, auditing, education, family history (or genealogy), security, farm management, music, materials management, physical facilities and construction, public affairs, temples, family services, humanitarian services, employment resources, and welfare.

Unlike their younger counterparts, senior service missionaries usually have assigned responsibilities and schedules, with days off in which they are free to enjoy themselves and pursue personal activities.

Senior Missionaries at PCC

There are currently over 30 full-time Latter-day Saint service missionaries at the Polynesian Cultural Center. They are involved in helping with:

There are also about 24 "educational missionaries" and volunteers serving at BYU-Hawaii. For example retired professors teach classes, while others work as administrators, counselors, career placement, office and in other staff positions. There are also service missionaries at the Laie Hawaii Temple, the Laie Hawaii Temple Visitors Center, and the Laie Family History Center. For a list of most of the service missionaries and volunteers in Laie...

A tremendous contribution, a rich heritage

In short, LDS service missionaries make a tremendous contribution wherever they are assigned.

"They add an immense value here at the Polynesian Cultural Center," says President & CEO Von D. Orgill. "These faithful men and women have left behind comfortable retirement and homes, children and grandchildren, so they can come at their own expense and freely share their time and talents with us."

"Is it a sacrifice? Of course, but all of them feel like they've gained much more in return," President Orgill continues. "For example, Polynesians in general revere their kupuna or elders, so our senior missionaries quickly become important members of our larger, extended family and are enveloped in the aloha spirit of our young employees. They often become mentors to these young people, plus they enjoy each other's company and at least weekly meet with all the other senior missionaries in the area."

"Our current service missionaries are continuing a rich tradition at the Polynesian Cultural Center, that started in the South Pacific in the 1950s when our Church called 'labor missionaries' to help build chapels, schools and temples. LDS labor missionaries from throughout the Pacific and the U.S. mainland built BYU-Hawaii [which was called Church College of Hawaii from 1955-74] in two phases from 1955-1961, and then went on to build the Polynesian Cultural Center, which opened in October 1963. Many community members also volunteered their time to help build the PCC."

"We love our service missionaries and warmly appreciate all they do. Many of them tell me they feel this love every day while they're with us, so I know it's a special time and opportunity for them to serve here," President Orgill says. "We're very grateful for all they bring."

Current PCC service missionaries

LDS service missionaries currently at the Polynesian Cultural Center include:

Elder Leon and Sister April Bardsley Most recently from St. George, Utah, and previously from Whidby Island, Washington. She is assigned to the Hawaiian Mission Settlement and he is assigned to Physical Facilities in the painting area. Elder Bardsley spent 10 years before he retired in physical facilities management for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and prior to that was involved in building maintenance and painting contracting. Sister Bardsley has been a homemaker.
Sister Helen Bateman From Provo, Utah. She is assigned to the Islands Office and the Hawaiian Mission Settlement. Sister Bateman and her late husband previously served missions Sydney, Australia; Hanoi, Viet Nam; and Honolulu, Hawaii. In between she also serves as a voluntary hostess at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Elder Ronald and Sister Janeal Bottema From Hillsboro, Oregon. They are both assigned to Physical Facilities and the Warehouse. Elder Bottema worked for Reynolds Aluminum for 30 years in Portland, Oregon, before retiring. Sister Bottema spent 28 years as executive secretary and transportation supervisor for 150 drivers in the Hillsboro School District.
Elder Gale and Sister Bonnie Bryce From Orem, Utah. Elder Bryce is assigned to Quality Assurance in Corporate Administration, and Sister Bryce divides her time between the Quality Assurance, Retail, Seamstresses and the Hawaii Mission Settlement. Elder Bryce recently retired as Associate Dean of the College of Physical & Mathematical Sciences at BYU in Provo, Utah. Sister Bryce operated her own residential interior design business and is an experienced quilter.
Elder Clay and Sister Doris Crowley From Bountiful, Utah. He is an internal auditor, and she divides her time between Human Resources and the Hawaii Mission Settlement. Before retiring as the Internet manager in 2003, Elder Crowley worked 28 years for the Church as a computer programmer in 18 different departments and three affiliated corporations.
Elder Bill and Sister Lynne Draney From Washington, Utah. He is assigned to Physical Facilities and she is assigned to Retail Stores. Elder Draney has run several recreational businesses and also worked for Disneyland in the treasury area. He is a CPA and has done various accounting functions such as audit, bookkeeping, tax preparation and systems and procedures. Sister Draney has done interior design work, art, fundraising and operated a deli/bakery store.
Elder Charles and Sister Cheryl Edgington From Glendora, California. He is assigned to Physical Facilities, and she is in the Hawaii Mission Settlement. Elder Edgington worked as a water and power company manager for the City of Los Angeles for 32 years before retiring. He and his wife previously served a proselyting/leadership mission in Baltimore, Maryland.
Elder George and Sister Louann Greenwood From Draper, Utah. He serves in Physical Facilities, and she divides her time between the Administrative Office and the Hawaii Mission Settlement. Elder Greenwood operated his own construction business specializing in retail store development and renovations, and Sister Greenwood is a homemaker who is putting her quilting skills to good use in the Mission Settlement exhibit.
Elder Jerry and Sister Kay Grover From Spanish Fork, Utah. He serves in Physical Facilities, and she is in the Business Office. Elder Grover retired as a professor of technology after 30 years at BYU in Provo, and taught for eight years before that at BYU-Hawaii (which was then known as Church College of Hawaii); and Sister Grover is a homemaker for their blended family of 14 children and 41 grandchildren. The couple previously served a proselyting/leadership mission in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Elder Michael and Sister Camille Huntsman From Ferron, Utah. He is assigned to Physical Facilities and she is in the Human Resource Office. Elder Huntsman has been in the construction and maintenance business all of his life, building and maintaining residential and commercial facilities. Sister Huntsman has experience as an elementary teacher, secretary and is a Registered Nurse.
Elder Bruce and Sister Sally Johnson From Stevensville, Montana. Elder Johnson works in Food Services and Sister Johnson spends her time at the Hawaii Mission Settlement. Before retiring, Elder Johnson operated his own business selling and servicing restaurant equipment, and maintaining medical equipment. Sister Johnson is a professional artist in acrylics and oils, a self-taught chocolatiere, and taught gifted elementary kids in Utah and Montana for 18 years.
Elder Charles and Sister Patricia Johnson From Gold Hill, Oregon. He serves in Physical Facilities, and she is in the Hawaii Mission Settlement. Elder Johnson is a civil engineer who lived on Oahu during World War II as a child. Sister Johnson, who has worked as a TV and movie actress, has taught everything from pre-school to college classes and done a lot of English tutoring for foreign students.
Elder Raymond and Sister Sharol Marchant From Smithfield, Utah. He serves in the Motor Pool, and she divides her time between the Seamstresses and the Hawaiian Mission Settlement. Elder Marchant, who retired as a human resource manager from Hill Air Force Base in northern Utah, said he learned his mechanical skills on his 300-acre "hobby" farm. Sister Marchant worked as a middle school teacher in Cache Valley after their five children were grown.
Elder Moana and Sister Faleola Ofahengaue From nearby Hauula, Hawaii. He serves in Maintenance, and she is assigned to Island Handicrafts. Both Elder and Sister Ofahengaue, who are originally from Tonga, retired after many years of outstanding service at the Polynesian Cultural Center, and have humbly returned to continue giving. Their son, Ma'ake, is a professional football player.
Elder Howard and Sister Jean Okimoto Former Laie residents now living in Kaneohe, Oahu. They are assigned to the Hawaii Mission Settlement. Elder Okimoto is a retired public school principal and Sister Okimoto is a retired public school teacher. Their four children worked at the PCC when they were BYU-Hawaii students.
Elder Steve and Sister Joan Shoemaker From El Cajon, California. He is assigned to Physical Facilities maintenance, and she is in Human Resources. Elder Shoemaker retired after 31 years as a high school industrial arts teacher, and in addition to her homemaking responsibilities, Sister Shoemaker served as mayor of El Cajon for eight-and-a-half years and previously served on the city council and the planning committee.

Current PCC Service Volunteers

In addition to the fulltime service missionaries, the following volunteers are currently serving at the PCC:

• Norman and Carolyn Faldmo from Orem, Utah: He serves as an architect in Physical Facilities and she serves in the Islands Office.
• John and Tillie Andrade from Laie: They both serve at the Hale Aloha Ali'i Lua
• Keawe and Millie Enos from Laie: They both serve at the Hale Aloha Ali'i Luau
• Cissy Fong from Kahuku, Oahu: She serves at the Hawaii Mission Settlement.
• Joyce Garren from Laie: She serves at the Hawaii Mission Settlement.
• Dionne Fonoti from Hauula, Oahu: She serves at the Hawaii Mission Settlement

Current Openings for Service Missionaries at PCC

Openings for voluntary (non-paid) service missionaries at the Polynesian Cultural Center change from time to time. If you're interested, but don't see anything that fits your qualifications, you may want to check this site occasionally, or contact: Leslie Steward, Assistant to the President of the Center who coordinates the missionary efforts, phone 808-293-3021.

We currently have the following openings:

While the LDS Church Missionary Department reminds full-time service missionary candidates that they "should be willing to serve wherever and in whatever capacity they are called," it is perfectly all right to express interest in any of these and other positions at the Polynesian Cultural Center before submitting your missionary application.

top]

How else can I help?

First, everyone who purchases an admission and show or meal ticket, or anything from our online gift shop, is already helping the Polynesian Cultural Center fulfill our nonprofit purposes of supporting educational opportunities for students at Brigham Young University Hawaii.

Besides being a full-time service missionary, there are also several other possible ways you can help:

Full-time and/or Part-time "Volunteers"

In addition to full-time service missionaries, a number of LDS couples and single women serve at the PCC (or BYU-Hawaii) as either full-time or part-time "volunteers" (and are technically labeled as such, even though all service and other missionaries as well as "volunteers" voluntarily give their time and serve at no pay). While these volunteers are locally treated the same as service missionaries, there are several important distinctions:

If you have particular skills you are willing to share, and you are interested in possibly becoming a "volunteer" at the Polynesian Cultural Center, contact: Leslie Steward, Assistant to the President and Missionary Coordinator, ph. 808-293-3021, for further information.

Make a Financial Contribution

Please consider making a financial contribution of any size to the Polynesian Cultural Center, The PCC is U.S. nonprofit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt institution, and those who file U.S. income tax returns may claim charitable deductions to the Center.

LDS Philanthropies is the LDS Church-affiliated organization that oversees collecting contributions to both the Polynesian Cultural Center and Brigham Young University Hawaii. You can make a contribution online, or work with their staff on special arrangements or programmed giving.

Word-of-Mouth Promotion

If you have enjoyed the Polynesian Cultural Center experience, please recommend us to your friends and relatives who might be planning a vacation to Hawaii. Mahalo (thanks).

Additional information