LA'IE — Informational markers were unveiled yesterday at the sites of the old Mission School and the La'ie Plantation Store, as part of an ongoing "historic trail" project to highlight the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Hawai'i.

The project is co-sponsored by Hawai'i Reserves Inc. and the Mormon Historical Sites Foundation, with additional support from the Mormon Pacific Historical Society and the La'ie Community Association.

The two markers are the second and third to be erected in the Islands, said Eric Beaver, president of Hawai'i Reserves, the land-management arm of the LDS Church in Hawai'i. The first marker is on Lana'i, he said.

La'ie is rich in LDS history, Beaver said, but much of it is on bookshelves and in archives. "We're thinking maybe we can get that off the shelves and pull it out of the ground and bring it to life," he said. "There's talk about putting up a few markers all around Hawai'i."

Each marker has a plaque explaining the significance of the site.

A flag-raising ceremony at the Mission School in 1921 inspired young missionary David McKay to envision the development of an institution of higher learning for the young students at the ceremony, Beaver said.

Some 30 years later, when McKay became president of the church, he supported the construction of Church College of Hawai'i — now Brigham Young University-Hawai'i — at the site of the Mission School, he said.

The plantation store was established by the church in 1913 and was the town center for the community — it had a jukebox, and was where people came to buy a soda pop and hang out, he said. The store closed in 1986.

"It was a happening place for college kids," Beaver said.

The Mormon Historical Sites Foundation, which is not part of the church, is considering other locations in La'ie and Nu'uanu for markers and also looking into constructing replicas, but nothing has been decided yet, he said.

Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com.