On the Northeastern shore of Oahu Island, Hawaii, is Laie, a small town with a strong spirit and enormous potential, home to just over 6,000 people. It is 61 kilometres from Honolulu with a predominantly Mormon population and a rich cultural history. There is an abundance of natural beauty in the clear blue waters of the Pacific Ocean and dramatic surrounding mountains, not to mention the pleasant climate and beautiful native vegetation.
Hawaiian people know Laie for its fertile soil and consequent beautiful vegetation, which it naturally displays by allowing the plant life to decorate its parks and town buildings, including The Polynesian Cultural Centre. This hub of heritage is an open-air museum exhibiting the diversity and traditions of Hawaiian culture in educational and entertaining ways. One of the oldest Mormon Temples in the world called the Laie Hawaii Temple, is in the town, along with Brigham Young University, one of the best institutes in Hawaii. Laie Point is a spot of stunning beauty, a lithified dune protruding into the ocean, with magnificent and immersive views of the island.
It is a 53-kilometre drive to Laie from Honolulu, up to the North shore and along the coast on Route 83, past beautiful natural forests and parks. There are no trains on Oahu, but the local bus drives all around the island from Honolulu and takes approximately 90 minutes to reach Laie.
Laie established itself initially as a fugitive sanctuary during the tyrannical reign of King Kamehameha. In the 19th Century, it became a gathering place of saints, from which a community of people serving God emerged, one which still bases itself in the town today. World War II severely damaged the community and destroyed the sugar production industry, however, the residents worked together to reignite life into this historic and beautiful place.