But there was one special missionary reunion Wednesday evening that was 50 years in the making.
This was a different type of reunion: These missionaries built the Polynesian Cultural Center in Hawaii in the 1960s and traveled from all over the world for this gathering.
Those who came together for this reunion were strapping young men 50 years ago. They were strong, skilled workers, called to serve for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
These weren't ordinary Church missions where young men were called to preach the Gospel; these were "labor missions." The men were called for three years, away from their native islands, performing hard, extensive construction work.