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LAIE, HAWAII

In 1865, the Church purchased 6,000 acres of barren land — with no known source of fresh water — on the North Shore of the Hawaiian island of Oahu.

The land had been an ancient sanctuary for defeated warriors or fugitives in Hawaii who sought protection and cleansing in the puuhonua or city of refuge.

Now it would be "a gathering place" for pioneer members of the Church in the Pacific.

Early settlers found artisan wells in the mountains, worked on plantations and, in 1919, dedicated a temple to the Lord.

"Laie is a gathering place and has been since the mid-1800s," said Elder Scott D. Whiting, an Area Seventy and coordinator of the local temple committee. "This temple is significant for not only Hawaii, but also for all of the Pacific rim. There are stories of early pioneer families in the Pacific who would scrimp and save for years to make the multi-week voyage here to receive their endowments and be sealed to their families, knowing that they would probably never return to the temple again."

Because of the temple, Laie remains "a draw and compelling place to be for all of us who reside in the islands," Elder Whiting explained.

Photo courtesy Church History Library

Laie Temple and surrounding area photographed around 1930. Prior to the Church purchasing the land the temple was built on, it was believed to be unplantable because of the wind and saline content of the soil. This area was known as "a gathering place."

President Thomas S. Monson rededicated the Laie Hawaii Temple, which has undergone extensive renovations, in three sessions Nov. 21.

The temple was originally dedicated Nov. 27, 1919, by President Heber J. Grant. It was rededicated by President Spencer W. Kimball on June 13, 1978, after additions made the temple about 42,100 square feet.

Elder Whiting said during this renovation the temple was "structurally hardened" and received new wiring, plumbing and electrical work. Further, finishes have been added to give the temple "beauty, elegance and luster."

"The original beauty and structure of the temple has remained intact during the renovation process," he said.

The 1919 murals were preserved in the renovation, for example.

In addition, Elder Whiting said, finishes that include the state flower, the hibiscus, and leaves and nuts from the kukui tree add local significance to the temple's decor. The temple now feels like "an island home," he said.

Between 45,000 and 50,000 people visited the temple during the public open house, commenting on the beautiful edifice and glimpsing the temple's great historical significance.

Eric B. Shumway, former President of BYU- Hawaii, said Laie — and the temple that stands at the heart of the city — bring together people and cultures from around the world.

"The spirit of aloha — that is what this place has," said Carolyn Shumway. "Here people are more interested in each other than things."

Brother Shumway said many who were raised or attended school in the area can't afford to stay in Laie, so they "go abroad, find homes elsewhere and carry the spirit of aloha — the spirit of the gospel — with them."

So the impact of Laie, a temple city and gathering place for early members, is literally felt around the globe, he said.

Flora Kapualahaole Soren's grandfather came to Laie with the first Latter-day Saint missionaries and purchased land when the Church bought property. Her mother became the first Relief Society president in Oahu.

Sister Soren's mother is depicted in the frieze standing outside the temple. Her granddaughter, Tasha Soren, shared the family's story during the youth cultural celebration and represents the sixth generation of the family to live in Laie.

As a child, Sister Soren watched her parents attend the temple every week and now testifies to the great blessings it is in the lives of their posterity. "All my life I knew I would go to the temple too, because that is what my mom and dad did," she said.

Elder Whiting said the temple holds similar significance to all Church members here. In essence, the little town in Hawaii that was once a physical gathering place for early Church members is now a spiritual gathering place for the generations that have come after them.

Today, Elder Whiting explained, the temple "stands as a physical manifestation of all the members' faith, dedication and devotion over the years."

sarah@desnews.com