This story is part of a series of articles connected with the Polynesian Cultural Center's 60th anniversary
The Polynesian Cultural Center was initially going to be located close to the temple. However, the church leaders suggested moving it to its current location on Kamehameha Highway, says information in the book “Miracle in the Pacific: The Polynesian Cultural Center” written by Laura F. Willes. The information that follows comes from Willes’ book, BYU–Hawaii’s Archive and PCC’s online 60th anniversary timeline.
• The first name for the PCC was the Polynesian Village, but BYUH art faculty member, Wylie Swapp, suggested it to be called the Polynesian Cultural Center.
• The Center opened for regular business on Oct. 14, 1963, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed on Sunday). The first tickets cost $1.50 per adult and 75 cents per child.
• In 1963, the same year the PCC opened, The Pineapple Delight was created.
• In the summer of 1966, PCC opened “Isles of Paradise,” a new night show. Admission, dinner and a show for an adult cost $7.90 while tickets for children under 12 cost $4.60. General admission costs $2.10 for adults and $1.05 for children.
• In 1968, more than 1 million visitors had visited at PCC.
• When PCC first introduced its Lei Alii Seasonal Pass in 1979, the annual pass cost $10 for adults and $5 for children from the ages of 5 to 11.
• The PCC amphitheater seats 2,775.
• About 40 million people visited the PCC between 1963 and 2019.
• About 2,500 people per day visited the PCC in 2019.
• As of 2019, the average age of the 900 students who work at PCC was 20.
• There are 70 nations or countries represented in the PCC workforce.