Every Memorial Day weekend, the abandoned Polynesian settlement of Iosepa on the western side of the Stansbury Mountains comes to life, as the descendants of its founders gather together to remember sacrifices made 100 years ago.

Iosepa, which was settled by Polynesian LDS Church members, only existed from 1889 to 1917. But it has been a gathering place for the settlement’s descendants for many years.

“We hold this event on Memorial Day weekend because we’re celebrating the people who lost their lives in a pioneering effort to tame the desert,” said Cory Hoopiiaina, current treasurer and former president of the Iosepa Historical Association. “Their graves are here and it’s just a nice time to remember people who put forth an effort to make the area work.”

Hoopiiaina’s grandfather belonged to one of two families who remained at Iosepa after it was abandoned when the building of a temple in Hawaii was announced.

Hundreds of people trek out to Skull Valley for the annual celebration, which includes Polynesian music, dancing, food and entertainment.

It’s hard to predict how many people will attend this weekend, as it varies every year and depends heavily upon the weather, Hoopiiaina said. Everyone is welcome to come to the gathering, which runs from Friday to Monday.

“We especially like it when people from Tooele County come because we are part of their history,” Hoopiiaina said. “We want them to understand that we’re part of them and they’re part of us.”

The majority of the festivities will be held on Saturday, beginning at 7 a.m. with the lighting of the fire in an underground oven — imu in Hawaiian — in preparation for the luau that evening. At 8 a.m., there will be a flag ceremony followed by a potluck breakfast.

At 9 a.m. children will clean the Iosepa cemetery and decorate its graves. At 10 a.m. there will be crafts and activities for children, such as lei making. There will also be Hawaiian shave ice and cotton candy.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., local entertainers will perform while classes and demonstrations — including a cooking demonstration and a hula class — are held.

At 4 p.m., George Sadowski, originally from Hawaii and a descendant of some of the original Hawaiian Saints, will be a guest speaker.

In addition, Benjamin Pykles, assistant professor of anthropology at the State University of New York at Potsdam, will speak about the archeological research project he’s doing at Iosepa this summer.

Following that, there will be a graveside presentation.

The luau will begin at 5 p.m. It will be a potluck but pork and chicken will be provided. People are invited to bring side dishes. Entertainment, such as music and a fireknife competition, will be ongoing throughout the evening.

A youth dance will be held from 9:30 p.m. to midnight. Scones will be served afterward.

An LDS sacrament service will be held Sunday at 10 a.m. The format will be like a testimony meeting. A Polynesian choir will also sing, and following the service, a potluck lunch will be served to conclude the weekend’s events.

There are areas for tents, RVs and trailers, with restrooms, water and a dumpster available.

Rain or shine — or even snow, as in years past — Hoopiiaina said the gathering will still take place.

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