Introducing – Alan Walker

Submitted by: Sister Kristine Saunders, Archives 

Please meet, J. Alan Walker, Executive Manager overseeing Strategic Development and Research, Reservations, and Transportation at the Polynesian Cultural Center. 

If you’re wondering about the J. in Alan Walker’s name, it’s all about history and ancestry. The J stands for James which is a family name. Alan explains, “I’m the first-born son in my family, and was given my father’s first name of James for my first name. My father was the first-born son in his family and was given his father’s first name of James for his first name. My Dad’s father (my grandfather) was the first-born son in his family and received his father’s (my great-grandfather) first name of James for his first name. However, there are no juniors or seniors in our family because we only use the name James every other generation. My great-grandfather went by James, my grandfather went by his middle name Harris, my Dad went by James, and I go by my middle name Alan. I also gave my son the first name of James and he goes by James. We will see if the pattern continues when my son has a son.” 

Alan was born in Provo, Utah, and spent his elementary years in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He then attended secondary school at Kahuku High School where he discovered that he was good at art. Alan has a knack for creating caricatures of people, places, and things. To fit in and make friends at Kahuku High Alan photocopied 8.5X 11 blank copies of football helmets. He would ask kids, “What’s your favorite team?” Then draw the team logo on the helmet and present the drawing to his new friend. He was so successful with the helmet art that kids would ask him to draw pictures of them in athletic poses. Kids loved his drawings of the star football player making the winning touchdown, or stuffing the basketball. Of course, in cartoon style. He soon found himself as the editorial cartoonist for the Kahuku High School newspaper. 

While in high school, Alan was always drawing. He still has notebooks full of doodles of teachers, students, and situations made during class. His notebook drawings were a way of blowing off steam and making sense of life. After graduation, Alan attended BYU-H where, of course, he majored in art. But wait, how does an art major with the all-time favorite job as a canoe guide at the Polynesian Cultural Center end up with an MBA (Masters in Business Administration) degree? 

Alan has worked in various roles at the Polynesian Cultural Center for 32 years. In the beginning, when he was a canoe guide, his plan was to graduate with an art degree and move on to a job somewhere else. During high school, art had kept Alan sane and provided a way for him to center his thoughts and actions. However, once he started taking art classes at BYU-H, he discovered something important. Drawing for fun is a lot different than drawing to meet a class deadline. Something that was fun had become work. He quickly realized that deadlines would be a part of any field involving art. Upon returning home from a mission to Japan, Alan realized that he wanted a career that would help him provide for a family. Business had an appeal because it covers a broad area and he could use art. He also was interested in a field with a wide range of potential employment opportunities. People with a business degree would be “forever in demand.” 

For a time, Alan was both a full-time student and a full-time worker. He was part of the PCC sales team at Waikiki by day and a student at the University of Hawaii at Manoa working on his MBA at night. He was used to being busy and worried that when he graduated, he would have time on his hands. Not to worry. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints soon filled the time that had been dedicated to working on his MBA. Alan Walker and his wife recently returned from serving as mission president and companion of the New Zealand Auckland Mission where he had the opportunity of meeting President Nelson on three separate occasions. 

Alan credits the job as a canoe guide with teaching him to be comfortable talking to people. He was always scared to talk in front of people, but as a canoe guide, you stand behind and speak to people from the back. He discovered he could talk to people, tell jokes, and have a joyful experience. It was a time of self-discovery and growth. He developed an understanding that at the Polynesian Cultural Center you “stand on sacred, hallowed ground.” He has been here for 32 years. 

 

Our new Theater Office Manager

Submitted by: Delsa Moe, VP Cultural Presentations 

We wish to congratulate Timote Faonelua on his promotion to Theater Office Manager. As part of his new assignment, he will also manage the Seamstress and Wardrobe areas. Fatai Feinga remains as the Supervisor for our Seamstress area and Cathy Teriipaia remains as the Supervisor for our Wardrobe area. This realignment will provide improved focus and effectiveness for support in these areas. 

Timote is originally from Ha’apai, Tonga, and came to Laie to attend BYUH. He graduated in 2007 with a degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management. He is now pursuing an MBA online with Western Governors University. 

 

Did You Know?

Submitted by: Delsa Moe, VP Cultural Presentations 

 

Important Information about COVID Regulations at the Center 

Submitted by: Alfred Grace, President & CEO 

Aloha My PCC Ohana! 

We are now one week into Mayor Blangiardi’s order for patrons of restaurants, theaters, and indoor activities, attractions, and so on, to show proof of vaccination or a negative test result taken less than 48 hours prior. 

I want to thank Guest Services for doing an amazing job in checking the vaccination cards and negative test results of PCC guests at the Welcome Center. On several occasions, I have had my vaccination card checked by the airline prior to departing for Hawaii and they have done a great job, but we do it better! Mahalo to Jimmy Mapu and all his team. 

The Nomi Health rapid test program which is also available at the Welcome Center has been much appreciated by many of our guests who would not have been admitted without that negative test result. 

I am also very pleased to inform you that more than 90 percent of all PCC employees will be fully vaccinated by the end of this month. This means the likelihood of viral transmission here at PCC is very unlikely. 

However, just to be sure we are free from the viral transmission, our goal is to have 95 percent of all PCC employees fully vaccinated before the end of this year. To help this happen, effective immediately, all new hires will need to be fully vaccinated, or received their first vaccine shot, or qualify for an exemption. 

Also, effectively immediately, all COVID-related health issues will fall under our current sick leave policy which requires full-time employees to use PTO if they cannot come to work and for part-time employees to take leave without pay. Any employee who has already received approval for time off work with pay due to COVID will not be affected by this change in policy. 

Please don’t hesitate to contact your Director, VP or myself, if you have any questions regarding the above. 

Mahalo Nui Loa 

 Alfred Grace
President & CEO 

 

Elder Tom Davis 

Chemicals 

Most of us know that chemicals can be very dangerous, especially when they aren’t handled safely. This is stuff we might work with day to day, like industrial solvents and product additives, or substances that we may only encounter once in a while, say when cleaning heavy machinery. 

Chemical exposure can cause: 

• Eye
• Skin
• And Lung irritation.

And these are just the short-term effects.  

Sustained exposure can create some very undesirable health issues, like: 

• Asthma
• Cancer
• Respiratory issues
• And other negative health effects.

The best ways to protect against exposure to hazardous chemicals (Hazard Communication) are to: 

• Install protection systems, such as ventilation and detection devices
• Use personal protective equipment like eye protection, respiratory protection, proper clothing, gloves, and foot protection.

What should be done if an accident does result in exposure? 

• Avoid breathing gases or vapors
• Avoid skin contact
• Remove ignition sources; anything that sparks could cause a boom
• Evacuate the area
• Report the emergency to your supervisor

If you get chemicals in your eyes or on your body: 

• Know where eyewash stations and showers are located, and how to use them.
• Remove any clothing splashed with the chemical, including shoes and jewelry
• Flush eyes or shower for a minimum of twenty minutes
• Cover the eye with clean gauze and seek medical attention

It’s important to always be prepared for emergencies through training and becoming familiar with your facility’s emergency response plan