The March-April 2008 BYU-Hawaii Alumni eNewsletter contains the following:
Reorganization process starts at the top: Soon after President Steven C. Wheelwright took over the leadership of BYU-Hawaii almost one year ago, he began putting initiatives into place to help fulfill the mission and charges the First Presidency had directed him to pursue. One of those included the formation of the Organization Design Team to insure the university was sharply focused on its core processes.
President Wheelwright explained to faculty and staff in a special ohana [family] meeting on April 10 that the Design Team — which consists of Dr. William Neal, Arapata Meha ('83, Alumni Association President), Dr. Susan Barton, Steve Tueller and David Lucero — met with approximately 75% of the departments on campus over the preceding months, and would soon finish meeting with all of them, seeking input.
Based on their findings to that date, the team recommended the President's Council, or BYU-Hawaii's administrative leadership, be reorganized into three major divisions: Academics, Student Support and University Support, with vice presidents over each division, plus an Assistant to the President. "We will transition to the new President's Council over the next two months, so that by the first of June, we will have that level in place," said President Wheelwright.
The president pointed out that Dr. Max L. Checketts has already succeeded Dr. Keith Roberts as the new Vice President of Academics, but that the other two proposed VPs have not yet been named. Until those changes take effect, the President's Council consists of Dr. Checketts; Michael B. Bliss, VP of Administrative Services; Isileli T. Kongaika ('72), VP of Student Affairs, who recently announced he has decided not to apply for the new VP position in order to seek one of the major positions reporting to that position; V. Napua Baker ('59), VP of University Advancement, who will retire at the end of this school year; Jim Nilson, Chief Information Officer; and Dr. William G. Neal, Assistant to the President.
"We're trying to unfreeze people from thinking about the current organization, although Academics is still Academics, but some things have been changed, some added and others moved elsewhere. The Vice President of Student Support is actually a much-expanded role, for example," President Wheelwright said.
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BYUH faculty and staff study the Reorganizational Design Team's proposed changes. See a summary below. |
He added that over the next two months the Design Team and administration will refine the proposals and determine the candidates for the new organization. He also said if those currently holding the positions "are a good match, and the job hasn't changed much, then they're probably going to be by far the best candidates for the job. But, if the job has changed dramatically, they may not be the best candidate."
Referring to a recent talk that Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles gave to members of the BYU-Hawaii/Polynesian Cultural Center Presidents' Council during their semiannual meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah, President Wheelwright said the General Authority cited from the book, Turbulent Times, "the need to periodically reassess an organization and realign it with its primary mission." He said Elder Ballard further compared this process to the need for a ship to occasionally enter dry dock and "scrape off the barnacles."
"That's really the purpose of this effort here," President Wheelwright said, noting that the proposals included consolidating and assigning various "processes and activities" to each vice president. He said the Design Team will also propose realignments of departments, under each of the vice presidents, on June 1, "basically suggesting the right size and focus of each of those parts of the organization." He said at that point the Design Team "will also be looking at physical locations — what ought to be physically located next to what; but we expect that level [or reorganization] will take many months to put into place."
In formulating the recommendations, President Wheelwright said the Design Team followed "guiding principles," including a focus on the needs of student learning and fewer direct reports to him. "The experience of most organizations is the further up something has to go to get resolved, the longer it takes and the more political it becomes, as opposed to fact-based resolution. I would like to have many more of the decisions, the day-to-day kind of things, pushed down in the organization," he said. "That means the organization has to come together at a lower level than it might otherwise do. That's one of the arguments for fewer direct reports at my level."
"The second reason is that I want to be able to spend more time on the initiatives that are most important to the university, going forward; and that's hard to do if you have to spend all your time resolving things that could have been resolved at a lower level, but were not, because the organization wasn't structured that way."
"Part of what we're trying to do is push things down in the organization where people have data, where people know the facts and can make sure they come together. We're going to have councils to help coordinate that, where necessary," he continued, emphasizing that some activities will involve more than one vice president. For example, technology is widely used across the university.
"We want the core processes to have a single owner at the lowest level possible, who has responsibility," he also, adding the new organization needs to "address the gaps...we hear about all the time from students, staff and faculty."
Design Team member Steve Tueller then outlined how some of the changes under the proposed vice presidential areas line up:
He said, for example, the president would focus on providing leadership for long-range fund raising goals and activities, strategic planning, oversight for internal audit functions, response to compliance with all government and legal expectations, and coordination with campus stakes and wards.
The Assistant to the President would oversee implementing public relations and communications programs, including content media and publications, as well as special events, institutional data and assessment, service missionaries and volunteers and other special projects as assigned.
The responsibilities of the three vice presidents would include, among other things:
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Academics |
Student Support |
University Support |
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• Assimilate students • Facilitate learning and development of leadership • Promote gospel scholarship and discipleship • Develop the qualities, knowledge and skills in a content area to successfully enter a chosen profession • Assure appropriate course content and up-to-date curriculum • Assure excellent classroom instruction • Assure excellent student learning in alternative academic settings • Provide proper student testing and evaluation • Continue to increase the quality of teaching • Provide distributed learning opportunities • Provide service classes for community members • Evaluate teaching • Recruit prospective students •Link with alumni • Identify and allocate financial aid •Assist students in registering for classes • Schedule classes • Provide ongoing academic advising • Provide books and other educational materials for students and faculty • Oversee intercollegiate sports • Support and develop the university web interface • Maintain the computer and campus cable systems • Coordinate information technology • Provide voice, video and data network services |
• Orient new students • Oversee student involvement and development in clubs, student government, activities, service projects, etc. • Support academic programs • Respond to campus informational needs and provide ticketing • Plan and implement a strong intramural program • Develop and manage the student employment services • Connect student jobs with academic learning outcomes • Assist students in preparing for employment • Track returnability and placement data • Assure Honor Code compliance • Provide counseling services for all students • Maintain compliance requirements for international students • Oversee housing, including training of resident leaders, resident activities, cleaning and maintenance • Provide housing for eligible students, faculty and staff • Oversee food services, including vending • Provide medical services for those eligible • Coordinate alumni activities |
• Prepare and maintain the university budget • Assure accurate and timely financial operations and reporting • Provide online payment and cashiering services • Maintain the fixed asset inventory • Assure the appropriate use of investment and endowment operations • Package and disburse student financial aid • Maintain the C.N.A. database • Prepare a long-term physical facilities plan, and submit the plan for the City's Planned Review Use (PRU) • Direct the planning and completion of construction projects • Provide custodial services • Maintain and repair campus facilities and equipment • Maintain the grounds and nursery • Assure the appropriate and effective use of campus facilities • Provide on-campus security • Schedule and maintain the motor pool • Assure compliance with safety requirements, and training • Administer risk management and worker's compensation • Oversee the emergency preparedness program • Provide employee recruitment services • Manage the employee timekeeping program • Provide training and recognition programs • Assist employees with the benefits program • Assist students and employees with travel services • Provide purchasing, receiving and distribution services • Provide mail collection and distribution • Order and sell books, office supplies and similar merchandise • Provide duplication services |
At the end of the meeting, President Wheelwright invited faculty and staff to talk to any member of the Design Team, or submit questions to them by email. He added that focus groups will also discuss the proposed changes.
Those with CES Net IDs can also access the Organizational Design Team's presentations by logging into mybyuh, then go to myTools > Workspaces > Design Team Updates.
Accreditation team gives 'very positive' oral report:
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) accreditation Educational Effectiveness Review team left BYU-Hawaii faculty and administration on March 28 with a "very positive" oral report of several things that "continue to persist wonderfully," including:
For more on the status of BYUH's accreditation...
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BYUH revises Moana St. faculty housing plans, HRI pulls Malaekahana housing project:
Both BYU-Hawaii, which had been planning to demolish its 26 homes and replace them with 52 new units on Moana Street, or "faculty row" in Laie, and Hawaii Reserves, Inc. (HRI) which had proposed building affordable housing on property it owns in Malaekahana (between Laie and Kahuku) have recently decided not to go forward with those projects.
Canceling the Moana Street project caught affected faculty and staff by surprise, since some of them had relocated and demolition had already begun on several of the homes; but BYUH President Steven C. Wheelwright and Michael Bliss, VP of Administrative Services which includes housing, said at a March 25 meeting that the homes would be refurbished as quickly as possible.
President Wheelwright explained BYUH pulled out of the project for three reasons: 1) HRI had cancelled its long-term plans for new housing. "We wanted to make sure we had a long-range plan that we believed in and knew what that was going to cost," he said. 2) The university was concerned about its development partner. 3) "...A number of faculty had never been pleased with the fact that we were doing the project, that it was moving forward."
The president assured those affected that BYUH was still proceeding with its plans to sell the existing townhouse units to interested faculty and staff, and would also develop additional housing after completing appropriate planning. For more information...
Meanwhile, HRI surprised community members on March 6 when the Church-affiliated property management company publicly announced it would pull its long-term plans to build several hundred affordable houses on its property in Malaekahana, mauka of Kamehameha Highway. HRI President and CEO R. Eric Beaver ('87, Business Management) explained "it was a hard decision, because I know of the great need... The economics are very, very difficult."
For more on HRI's decision... and the community's follow-up so far...
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Elder Cowley |
Matthew Cowley Society honors BYUH/PCC donors:
LDS Philanthropies, which coordinates Church fundraising beyond tithing and fast offerings, announced the creation of the new Matthew Cowley Society on March 5 during a special luncheon on campus to honor donors who make estate planning gift contributions to BYU-Hawaii and/or the Polynesian Cultural Center.
Elder Cowley, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles when he passed away in 1953, was sometimes known as the "apostle of the Pacific" because of his long association with the Polynesian Maori of New Zealand and other islanders, including Hawaii. For example, Elder Cowley served his first mission in New Zealand in 1914 and became so proficient in the Maori language that he helped translate the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants into that language. He also dedicated the Laie 1st Ward Chapel, and during a 1951 stake conference in Honolulu outlined his vision of "little villages" in Laie where the Polynesian people could share their culture.
Wally Thiim ('68) LDS Philanthropies' Principal Gift Officer for Hawaii, explained the new society is "for anyone who wants to include BYU-Hawaii or the PCC in their estate planning, trusts or wills. There's no minimum contribution," he said. Read more about the new society...
'New' Media Production Center to train students, enhance outreach:
The "new" Media Production Center (MPC) — oldtimers, think the old video studio in McKay 146 — has recently undergone a complete makeover that ensures the state-of-the-art facility now technically positions BYU-Hawaii to train students in modern in digital media production and distribute new distance-learning and other materials via the Latter-day Saint satellite system to stake centers and Church Educational System locations throughout the university's target areas in Asia and the Pacific.
From the totally revamped studio, plus four editing bays and other offices in the Joseph F. Smith Library, the MPC can now feed live programming and other content via undersea fiber optic cable to the Conference Center technical operations hub in Salt Lake City, Utah, from where in turn it can be broadcast back to Asia and the Pacific. Read more about it...
BYUH Archivist reports updated online files available:
University Archivist Dr. Matt Kester ('99, History) told attendees at the recent Mormon Pacific Historical Society annual conference on campus that hundreds of old photos and other materials have recently been added to the online special collections of the BYU-Hawaii Archives, and invited anyone to browse them.
For example, recent additions include the oral interviews done in Hawaiian (both recordings and transcripts, with English translation) by the late Clinton Kanahele, as well as photos and missionary journals from throughout Hawaii and the Pacific (through links to BYU in Provo). Dr. Kester added that the hundreds of oral interviews done by History Professor emeritus Ken Baldridge are in the process of being added to the online collection.
The Archives, located on the second floor of the Joseph F. Smith Library, will be closed through July for remodeling, but the online collection is still available.
English language school in Mexico plan tops business competition:
A husband-and-wife TESOL major team from Washington state, plus their consulting classmate from Peru, won the $5,000 grand prize in BYU-Hawaii's latest Center for International Entrepreneurship business plan competition. They will use the money to establish a system of English language schools, starting in Merida, Mexico. Visiting entrepreneurs, who earlier conducted workshops during a two-day conference, also awarded cash prizes to business plans calling for a call center employee transportation service in India, a professional hygiene and restroom supplies company in Mongolia, self-guided audio tour CDs, teaching Japanese through a web-based language learning community, and medical alert bracelets that incorporate data on USB devices. Learn more about the awards...
Coach Porter passes 1,000-win mark:
On March 10 BYU-Hawaii head tennis coach Dr. David Porter joined a very elite group of his peers when the Lady Seasiders tennis team defeated Dixie State, giving him his 1,000th victory against only 128 losses at the time. The BYUH women have won nine national championships and the men two under Coach Porter's tutelage. Read more...
Men's basketball team goes 2-1 in NCAA II regional tournament:
With an 18-7 win-loss record for the past season, the Seasider men's basketball team received an at-large bid to play in the NCAA II West Regional Tournament in Anchorage, Alaska. On March 14 the BYUH team defeated Cal State San Bernardino to, to come up against Pac West rival Chaminade who had previously left the Seasiders behind with a 0-3 record in conference play. But the BYUH men were not to be denied in Alaska, putting the Silverswords away, 83-62, to advance to the semifinals, where they lost a heartbreaker in the final minute to Alaska Anchorage. It was a two-point game down to the final 30 seconds. Read about it...
Alumni among those honored, retiring from BYUH
As it usually does every Spring, BYU-Hawaii honored various faculty and staff for their years of service, marked in five-year increments, and those who have recently or who will soon retire — including a number of our alumni — during the April 2 ho'omaika'i [thankfulness] program and luau at the Polynesian Cultural Center.
The first honor of the evening went to Dr. Keith Roberts, former Vice President of Academics, who joined the administration in 1992. BYU-Hawaii President Steven C. Wheelwright noted Roberts' achievements included "raising the visibility and prestige of the university, both locally and internationally. During his tenure, U.S. News and World Report ranked BYU-Hawaii as a top-tier university for eight consecutive years."
Roberts thanked the university ohana [family] for supporting each other and loving the students. "It's obvious in what you do. I appreciate so much the years that we've had here...and the opportunity that Judy and I have had to live in this community and get to know so many of you as close, close friends. It's been a wonderful time."
The most senior of the employee alumni recognized included Vernelle Arakaki Lakatani ('69, Business Education), 40 years — all in the Registrar's Office; Clarence Ah Quin ('91), Physical Plant, and Charlene Keliiliki ('59), Social Sciences, 30 years; Marynelle Devore Chew ('06), Library, Tesi Faustino ('75, Business Management), Human Resources, Martin Miller ('83), Security, and Dr. S. Wilfred Navalta ('66), EXS, 25 years; and Lauri Munson Abregano ('87, Accounting), Business Office, and Lorraine Matagi ('95), Housing, 20 years.
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President Wheelwright (right) congratulates Rex Frandsen ('68) |
Alumni/retirees included:
Sherrill Erickson, who first ran the beauty salon in the Aloha Center as her own business and later joined the staff to continue operating it, also retired recently.
Register online for the CCH Mega-Reunion:
Interested CCH alumni can register online for the 2008 CCH Mega-Reunion slated for on campus from July 24-27. Events include:
There is also a $25 registration fee for alumni and spouses; and for those who really want to remember the good old days, housing is available in the dorms as part of a three-night package for $105 per person (includes linen, bed pad, light blanket, pillow, towel and washcloth). Souvenir tee shirts are also available for $15.
The deadline to register online is July 1, 2008. Full payments are also due that day. For further information, contact CITO (which was formerly known as Continuing Education) at cito@byuh.edu or call 808-675-3780, or toll free 1-800-217-0656.
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Photos by Mike Foley |
CCNZ alumni hold 'golden' reunion in New Zealand:
Alumni, friends, former labor missionaries and teachers, including CCH and BYU-Hawaii alumni, converged on Temple View, New Zealand, from April 17-23, 2008, to participate in the 50th reunion of "another Church College" — Church College of New Zealand [CCNZ, remember, Kiwi's and others pronounce the letter "Z" as "zed"]. The Golden Jubilee reunion was even more touching for the participants as Church officials have decided to close CCNZ at the end of the 2009 school year.
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Keung |
For almost all of CCNZ's 50 years, the Latter-day Saint high school has been an important source of students for BYU-Hawaii, and a place where a number of our alumni have returned home as faculty and staff. For example, Lloyd Keung ('70, Chemistry) and his wife, Lynette "Dolly" Nin Keung ('70) — who were recently presented the BYU-Hawaii Service to Family Award — were led back by the Spirit soon after graduating from CCH. He taught there for all the years since until he was named principal of CCNZ in 2006.
Since returning, Keung said their lives "revolve around our family, education and the Church, all in one package; and our children have benefited immensely from this [CCNZ] campus, and I've personally had so much enjoyment being associated with the youth who come here. It's been a wonderful journey... There is no substitute for being in a Church school of learning."
Keung said he hopes to teach for a few more years after CCNZ closes, perhaps in a state school with challenged Polynesian students, and then he and Dolly would like to serve a mission. "I'd like to try to give them some of the vision that our youth in a Church school environment received, and those in a state school do not."
Ngatai Smith ('74, Physical Education), currently the Church Educational System Country Director for New Zealand and President of the CCNZ Alumni Association for the past five years, is another CCH graduate who returned home to teach at CCNZ, where his eight other siblings also attended school. After teaching for a few years, Smith attended BYU in Provo where he earned a master's degree, then returned to CCNZ and became head of the school's physical education department.
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Smith |
"As the alumni president, I've been very close to the pending closure of the Church College. I support the Brethren and their decision to close the school, and I'm confident that from this closure good things will happen," Smith said. "CCNZ has been a very strong supporter of BYU-Hawaii, and I know many students who have gone there from here. I'm sad that it's closing, but there are other opportunities for our people here in New Zealand to influence people in their communities and spread the gospel."
"I always had it in my mind to return to my native country, not only to work professionally, but to help build the Church," Smith said. "There's still a lot of work to be done, but I've enjoyed the opportunity to come home and to be of service." He added that his "American degree...opened doors for me and allowed me to find work. It's been wonderful for me, and if I were a young man again, I'd do exactly the same. I've been blessed so much by BYU-Hawaii in everything possible that I can imagine. I love it and will always be a supporter."
Of his years at CCH, Smith remembers "wonderful teachers. I wasn't very academic, but I learned the work ethic while I was there. I had teachers who really cared about me, and it made all the difference to me. I was a young boy away from home for the first time, and I went there and had teachers who really knew me and were interested in my success; and so I worked hard to get through." He added his ultimate experience was "finding my sweetheart, a local girl from the Big Island of Hawaii," Tweetie Calles Smith ('71). "We have five children and are enjoying life."
Moana McAneney Benavides ('89, Travel Management), who is originally from Hastings, New Zealand, enrolled at BYU-Hawaii after graduating from CCNZ in 1983. While here and working at the Polynesian Cultural Center, she met her husband, M. Lamar Kaleo Benavides ('87, Human Resources Development), who now works for the Ministry of Social Development assisting people to find employment and was recently released as a bishop. The couple moved to New Zealand in 1998.
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Kaleo (left) and Moana Benavides |
"It was a hard decision," said Kaleo, who was literally "the voice" — a singer and emcee of the PCC's show, This is Polynesia, in the 1980s. In fact, his mother-in-law told him, "I never thought you would leave Hawaii. I was at the PCC for 16 years...but we came back when Church College was celebrating its 40th anniversary, and we felt a wonderful spirit here." The family decided to move to her homeland. "We weren't sure what we were going to be doing.
Moana said after living in Laie for 12 years, she wanted her children to come to Church College, "and have the spiritual experiences that I had. I have wonderful memories of Church College and the time I was here. It's been a blessing to come back." She added that their oldest son graduated from CCNZ, and that if they return to Hawaii some day, they'll miss New Zealand. "They're just two beautiful places that have special meaning in our hearts."
They both said one of the things they miss about Laie is the opportunity to frequently hear from General Authorities. "BYU-Hawaii changed my life in so many ways," Kaleo said. "The conscious choice to go to BYU-Hawaii, other than my mission, was the best decision that I ever made. I don't know of a place quite as unique where you can get education in the classroom setting and get education while working at the Polynesian Cultural Center. The two just complement each other so perfectly."
Moana said she still encourages her countrymen to consider attending BYU-Hawaii. "New Zealand has an excellent educational system, but it's not just about education. It's about the environment and living among people who are LDS and having teachers and everyone feeling of that love of the Savior, and be willing to share their time and talents — not because it's their job, but because they love it and want to see you succeed. I don't think they will get that anywhere else."
Former two-time Alumni Association President Les Steward ('73, Business Management), who is originally from Australia, is another CCNZ "old boy" with strong feelings about the school. "I had never met a Polynesian prior to my experience at the Church College of New Zealand," he recalled. He also said that the leaders he met there — including Nolan Reed, Alton Wade and Larry Oler, all of whom eventually came to BYU-Hawaii — "made a difference in my life, and I wanted to be a better person because of them."
"I have a great love for the Church College of New Zealand, maybe because that place brought together the Temple experience, it brought together the labor missionary experience, it brought an educational experience. That has been part of my life, even up through CCH."
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Like many CCH/BYUH couples, John and Luella Kekaula Muaina ('95) met while working at PCC. |
Alumni deliver devotional addresses on campus:
Three BYU-Hawaii alumni have recently delivered devotional addresses at our alma mater:
Muaina shared a touching story of recruiting an IWES student from Fiji, and helping arrange for the visit of President Gordon B. Hinckley to the People's Republic of China as the "president of the Polynesian Cultural Center." Read more...
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Alaska alumni and the BYUH Seasiders |
Alaska Chapter:
Chapter chair Carolyn Scanlan reported the Alaska alumni took advantage of the Seasider men's basketball team coming for the NCAA II tournament on Sunday, March 16, to hold "an awesome fireside. Even though it was last minute and short notice, we had a great turnout. The youth enjoyed visiting with the team members, and we all had light refreshments. Although they did not win, it was great to connect with the team players and coaches, as well as others who accompanied them to Anchorage." The chapter is also planning to hold luau, with details to come.
American Samoa Chapter:
The American Samoa Chapter will help host BYU-Hawaii President Steven C. Wheelwright who will present a youth/single adult fireside on Friday, May 2 at 7 p.m. in the Malaeimi Stake Center. A reception for the visiting malaga will be held at 5 p.m. For more information, contact chapter chair Mitzi Tuinei Semo ('91) at 733-9330, or email byualumni_as@yahoo.com.
CCHers Network:
Vance Cannon ('59) asks interested CCH alumni to "mark your calendars for the 2009 Las Vegas reunion, 'Slippahs in da Desert," from April 6-8" and let him know of your intentions to attend.
Los Angeles Chapter:
New Los Angeles chapter chairs Vaitu'u and Nora Kaio reported they had a fun potluck activity on April 12 in Westminster, and reminded all L.A.-area alumni that they're planning a "beach party" on June 21, with details to come, and a luau some time in the future. The chapter covers the Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.
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Alumni in San Diego, California |
Utah-Salt Lake City Chapter:
Sita Ah Ching Jasper ('74, TESOL) reported she recently hosted Salei'a Afele Fa'amuli, co-chair along with husband Joe of the Washington DC Chapter, who was in Utah as the keynote speaker for a conference at the Huntsman Cancer Institute. "We are extremely proud of our friend and sister, Dr. Fa'amuli, for her success and for representing our culture and all of us who are the background cheering section."
Sita also had kind words for Wayne Reis ('72, Sociology) "the outstanding display of music endowment at the recent fireside entitled Preparing for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. What a wonderful and brilliant way to help us all to improve ourselves... Thank you, Wayne, for the great example you have been to all of us and for sharing your God-given talent."
San Diego, California Chapter:
Chapter chairs Kelly Probst ('00, International Business Management) and his wife, Kristy Probst ('98, Psychology), reported that "despite cold, windy weather, we had a really good turnout and a great time" at their March 15 potluck outing. "We had some 'break da mouth ono grinds' and shared some funny memories. Everyone thought it would be a good idea to not wait too long to have another activity."
Washington DC Chapter:
The Washington DC Chapter has a busy schedule of activities planned, including:
Chapter chair Dr. Salei'a Fa'amuli asks those available to email byuhalumdc@yahoo.com. "We especially need to know the availability for the first performance on May 29," she said.
1980s
Stephen Chee Kong Lai ('81), a former chapter chair in Singapore and current Church Educational System Country Director for Singapore, recently succeeded fellow alum Victor Kah Kong Chen ('86, Human Resource Development) as president of the Singapore Stake.
1990s
Jeff Abney ('91, Business Management), a project engineer for Dell Computers, emailed to Alumni Office to say he and his wife, Mercedes Manalang Abney ('86, Communication Studies), have been living in the Austin, Texas, area for the past 11 years, "and have never heard of any BYUH alumni activity, so I would be interested in offering my services. Our TVA baby, Francesca, is actually now a BYUH student herself."
Douglas Grover ('92), the son of BYUH Professor Wells Grover, and his family now live in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he works for the state. He and his siblings are also Kahuku High graduates.
2000s
Wryleigh Haiola ('07, Math Education) and his wife, Stacey Runnels Haiola ('07, Elementary Education), who now live in Pearl City, Oahu, emailed: "We just remember mostly the friends we've made, especially those who supported us through our senior year. The education achieved was a good beginning for our journey. To gain more friendships, we'd do it again."
• Renee-Michelle "Keahi" Poire Allen ('61), 66, passed away April 8 of complications from diabetes. From Laie, Keahi went on to graduate from the University of Hawaii. She worked as the long-time administrator of the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission in Hawaii where she created the annual King Kamehameha Hula Competition in Honolulu, and also organized and the same competition in Japan. She traveled extensively throughout the South Pacific on behalf of Hawaiian cultural issues, and led the Hawaii delegation to the third Pacific Arts Festival in Papua-New Guinea. Keahi was also the Executive Director of the State Council on Hawaiian Heritage, a trustee for the King William Charles Lunalilo Trust Estate, and a noted master pa'u riders decorations dresser
Editor's Note: A special Kia Ora to all the CCNZ-CCH-BYUH alumni who, as the brief article above noted, celebrated the school's golden anniversary this April. I've always had a special feeling for the school: Perhaps because my grandfather, a Brit, lived in New Zealand a century ago; perhaps because my first missionary companion, a Maori, was also a labor missionary who helped build the place, as did some of the other former labor missionaries I knew in Samoa; or probably because of the delightful association many of us have had with CCNZ and our other Kiwi classmates over the years, as well as the outstanding succession of labor missionaries and faculty, PCC friends and associates who have or now live in Laie. I've been fortunate to visit friends and the beautiful CCNZ campus and Temple on a number of occasions since 1971; and while I can hardly imagine that special place without the school in the coming years, I know my life has forever been enriched by my meager connections.
— Mike Foley ('70, TESL), Editor
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The BYU-Hawaii Alumni eNewsletter is published by the University Advancement office, under the direction of Napua Baker ['59-61 and '70-72], Vice President; Dr. Duane Roberts, Director of Communications & Public Relations; and Rowena Reid ['76, Social Work], Alumni Relations Executive Director. Brigham Young University Hawaii is a four-year comprehensive undergraduate institution sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. About 2,400 students from over 70 nations are currently enrolled.
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