Over 50 hand-made leis and island music greeted members of the Brigham Young University—Hawaii Concert Choir as they emerged from customs into the waiting area of the Papeete Airport in Tahiti.
Marc Valenza, a local French Polynesian member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was tasked with organizing a large team of volunteers to help with all of the behind-the-scenes preparation for the choir's visit and its four Tahitian concerts.
Marc and his family personally prepared all 50 leis and led the volunteers in the traditional welcome of placing the leis on the visitors from Hawaii.
Choir members invited audience participation as they sang "I'm happy" and "One fine day."
Other crowd favorites included "Oh Susannah" and "Kua Rongo."
Choir members were also featured on French Polynesian television soon after arriving in Tahiti.