Golden Jubilee

When President David O. McKay broke ground for the future Church College of Hawaii on February 12, 1955, he indicated the school was being built for two purposes: First, for things "pertaining to God and His kingdom," and second, to help people "develop manhood, character, and make noble men and women."

He went on to say of the university's alumni, The world needs them. One man said that the world needs men who cannot be bought or sold, men who will scorn to violate truth, genuine gold. That is what this school is going to produce. More than that, they'll be leaders. Not leaders only in this island, but everywhere. All the world is hungering for them and, best of all, the world is recognizing them.

Throughout BYU-Hawaii's 2005 Golden Jubilee celebration, various CCH/BYU-Hawaii alumni — the genuine gold President McKay spoke of — will be featured here and also on the Genuine Gold wall of honor on display.

John Aki

('58-61, Education)
Retired school principal and former Hong Kong mission president

I remember taking a recruitment tour, first to the University of Hawaii and then we came here. Dr. Wootton and the faculty came to greet us. The new dorms were coming up. Everything looked beautiful. They stressed the relationship that would last between students and professors. There was something special and unique. I wasn't able to pinpoint it because I wasn't a member, but it was the spirit. There were a few of us who came as non-members and were baptized within a year or two.

When we came the facilities were not finished. Cooper's ranch [in Hauula] was an old restaurant that was converted into dorms. Thirty of us were bussed on campus and ate at the cafeteria. The bus driver, Tex Yamamoto, would take us back around 8 p.m. or so.

We had good, clean fun. Besides student activities, I remember the professors' homes. For example, Bob Laird would take students under his wing. The term now is a PPI, but he would just call us to see how we were doing. He was a wonderful counselor: It was not let's sit down, I am going to counsel you. He would invite us over for dinner with his wife, Myrna, and his children and tell you how special you are.

He helped hundreds. We named our older son, Robert, after him. He would first tell you his own aspirations: He wished he had enough money to run a young men's camp. He would always say you needed to be physically fit to serve the Lord longer; you needed to have a better education, in order to serve the Lord; and then you had to have a good job, so you could serve the Lord.

Several of our Kamehameha alumni group were part of the CCH glee club. One night President Clissold was hosting President McKay. We went over and sang a couple of songs. President McKay was thankful we were there, and that we took time out to perform for him. I remember shaking his hand, which was big. I remember thinking I met a prophet. It felt special, no matter what your religion was. Little things like that make impact on you when it comes time for you to take the discussions or join the Church.

We also enjoyed rich relations with students from all over the world. Ruth Stacy Smith Silvers now lives in Colorado. We just had a little reunion with her. We would go cycling with her; we would get bicycles and started a bicycle club. She is the one responsible for me becoming a member of the Church. She sent over the missionaries. She had the nerve!

CCH was a wonderful learning environment. When I transferred to Provo I didn't feel that I missed a step. Here at CCH we had a saying, "You're a big fish in a small pond. In Provo you are going to be a small fish in a big pond."

You see your friends join the Church one by one, then you see them go on missions and see them having a wonderful time and experience and the changes in their lives. Taking the religion courses helped me. One teacher, I forget his name, was absolutely fabulous. It was his voice: At certain points it would quiver. It was straightforward. You could see and feel what he was saying was true.

I remember the Hiltons, a missionary couple who taught New Testament. He asked me to pray in class. It was the little experiences that helped me gain my testimony. Professors and students who lived their religion, I couldn't help but be influenced by their behavior.

I didn't tell my parents [I was baptized]. When they came home one day, the baptism clothes were in the washer. Mom asked me and then said she was happy. She had two older sisters [who were members] and she told me stories about that. My brother also came here because I was here. After that, we would send the missionaries to my folks every year, once a year.

One of the last sacrament meetings before I went to Vietnam was a missionary presentation. I went off to war and received a letter from my mother telling me that she was getting baptized. No word from my father; [he was] still drinking and smoking. When I came back from the war my father told me he made a promise with the Lord, that if I came back safely he would join the Church. He quit his smoking and drinking, and paid his tithing. My brother baptized him and I confirmed him. I later told him that when I was in Vietnam I was praying: I would give up my life for my family to join the church.

I have counted about 32 people who have joined because of my baptism. [Professor] Bob Laird said by virtue of being the first in your family, you are the patriarch of your family. You remember those words that ring true from professors. Back then it didn't make sense, but now looking back, it does.

The diversity at CCH and attending this school prepares you mentally and physically. The gospel gives you a full understanding. You constantly have to adjust and prepare. When you go out into the real world, it is the same.

I submitted my papers and was called to serve in what was then the Southern Far East Asia Mission. Now, there are individual country missions. In 64-65 the Philippines and Taiwan were slowly opening up.

The mission president sent my companion and I to India, which was opened and dedicated in the 1800s, mainly because of the British troops that were there. When the British left, so did the missionaries. Apparently there was a man named Paul, whose daughter came here. He found a missionary pamphlet about the Church which explained numerous LDS topics, so he wrote the Church and my mission president received the letter. The question was, should he be baptized in Madras State. After a period of time and approval from the First Presidency, my companion and I went and baptized him and his family members. We were there for six months and basically administered the Church there.

It was a joy to go back in 1995 as the Hong Kong mission president. Before then, I was interviewed twice by Elder Oaks, and then by Elder Holland. They both said something may happen or nothing may happen. Then one morning, President Hinckley calls, talking in Chinese, and I am thinking I am probably going to Hong Kong. I didn't know how to talk Chinese. I was flabbergasted.

My wife was also shocked because she's from Hong Kong. When she came here she came with the thought she would return to Hong Kong to help her people. She majored in social work, but when we got married that killed her plans, so she came back and got her teacher's certificate. Going back as the mission president's wife she could speak freely in her own language, and we were there when the temple was dedicated.

I never thought I would be a mission president. In fact, I don't think anyone ever thought I would go forward and be an ambassador to the world. We now realize that if we do our part, being the best we can be, then President McKay's prophecy will come true.

Two of our children also graduated from BYU-Hawaii. Robert is now a podiatrist, and Naomi is a schoolteacher. Jonathan will finish medical school in June. I was a schoolteacher, became a vice principle, then principal. For 15 years I worked at the state DOE office running a family program trying to get the parents involved in the schools.

Submitted November 4, 2004

Bernard 'Kateta' Balibuno

('02, International Business Management)

I can do it, no doubt

Bernard "Kateta" Balibuno's odyssey from the Democratic Republic Congo, through South Africa, Virginia and BYU-Hawaii is filled with courage, faith, hope, and a longing for independence. Fleeing the turmoil of war-torn D.R. Congo under the dictatorship of Mobutu Seseseko Kukungbendo Wazabanga, Bernard found at BYU-H the "I can do it! No doubt" confidence that he will use to serve and lift others.

Bernard expressed his appreciation for the faculty's understanding of international students which is prevalent at BYU-Hawaii. Specifically mentioning the School of Business, Bernard stated, "The teachers help you learn in your own way. They look into your future and help you achieve in your own direction. They don't force their ideas or tell you to follow their way, but give you tools that will enable you to progress in your own way. Looking back from where I came to where I am right now, I am sure the future is bright. I have learned to be positive — to realize I can do it! No doubt!"

As President of the African Club, Bernard already had opportunities to serve, but his most memorable experience, other than meeting and marrying childhood friend and sweetheart, lovely Yaya Cikoma, is his association with faculty and staff at BYUH. President Eric Shumway, and Vice Presidents Isileli Kongaika and Keith Roberts are just like uncles. "I'd stop by their houses and have tapioca. This place is just like a little family to me. The guidance and counsel from professors in the School of Business and the friendships I've developed here with students from all over the world are what I will probably remember and cherish most."

Bernard began his college career in Sud-kivu Province, Bukavu , in the Congo.

At that time, Mobuto's faction began harassing the locals and closing the universities. Bernard knew trouble was brewing, but since there was already civil war in his home state of Sud Kivu, he fled barefoot through Tanzania, traveling in very bad conditions, sleeping sometimes outside and eating once a day, or sometimes once in two days. Bernard covered a distance of a six-hour airplane ride in fourteen days, eventually reaching Durban, South Africa, with two other students.

After two days of no food or refuge, Bernard met two missionaries who were on their P- Day. The English-speaking missionaries obviously wanted to help, but Bernard spoke only French and Zulu. Offering a mission card on which the mission office address was printed and using hand gestures, the missionaries indicated that someone spoke French in that direction. Bernard could read the address. The three refugees found the mission home where they met President Dwayne Stevenson's wife, Carolyn, and her sister, Glenda Sanderson, who spoke French. The sisters fed the refugees and listened to their plight. President Stevenson arrived and took the boys to a hotel where he arranged for food, a room, and telephone service. One of the boys made connection with relatives in Europe and was able to leave, but Bernard and the other young man could not turn to family.

Bernard and his companion lived at the hotel for two weeks. At that time, two missionaries were moving from their apartment, so the two refugees took the apartment for the remaining six months of the lease. They were among the very few black Africans living in that upper-class neighborhood. "South Africa was just coming out of its apartheid system, and the relations between white and blacks were still not good. We were the only two Africans in that apartment, and the white people didn't appreciate our presence there. That caused trouble for the missionaries in the area, but the mission president loved us and the contract was still in place, but they could not renew it after that."

President Stevenson offered to move the two refugees to the mission home in downtown Durban until another apartment could be found. Bernard accepted gratefully, but the other boy went out on his own. Because of the laws of the land, Bernard was not allowed to work, but he did routine chores around the mission office.

Missionaries needed to learn French because Madagascar, Reunion and Mauritius were part of the Durban mission at that time; so Bernard taught "a little" French to missionaries who were assigned to these places.. He also taught Madagascon and Morishush which is spoken on the French Island Reunion. In return, Sisters Stevenson and Sanderson taught Bernard English, using the Book of Mormon and the Children's Friend.

No one pushed Bernard into going to Church. He was impressed with the love these people had and how they cared for him. This prompted him to ask what church they were serving, and they explained that they were missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Bernard asked for the chapel address, found the way, and walked to church at the Durban Berea Ward Chapel. Once he found the Church, someone, especially his "home teacher," Arthur Renold, came to pick him up every Sunday afterwards.

Although there were very few Africans in the ward, Bernard was welcomed by all.

One African lady and her children and one African family especially welcomed Bernard into his "new" ward. It did not take him long before he felt that the ward was his family. "I loved Sundays because at least that was the day I could not miss home, as I was with friends — members of the Church."

Born into a Christian Church Pentecostal, and raised in Catholic schools, Bernard already had studied from the Bible and was receptive to the spirit. One thing that impressed Bernard was the Elders — two young men from Idaho — who left their families and friends and made the great sacrifice of their lives and time to go on a mission!

"It didn't take me long to join the Church. After about four weeks, I asked to be baptized and that the baptism be done in French — the first "French" baptism in that mission"

Soon after Bernard's baptism, President and Sister Stevenson were released from their mission and tried to get temporary papers to take Bernard to the United States to study since Bernard was still not officially allowed to work in South Africa. When their attempts failed, they provided him with food and rent and school tuition for one year in South Africa. The Stevensons continued to try to arrange for a visa for Bernard when they returned to the states.

In the meantime, Bernard visited the American Embassy in South Africa, constantly being interviewed, hoping to obtain his visa. The Stevensons kept in touch with him, and when Bernard successfully obtained a visa, they sent him an airline ticket to Alexandria, Virginia. Although the Stevensons had encouraged Bernard to come to northern Utah where they lived, he did not want to impose on them further. He wanted to make it on his own.

Bernard was active in the Virginia Alexandria Ward. The Stevensons went to visit him during Christmas1999. He was working construction in Washington at that time. Together, they visited the Virginia McClem Ward. President Stevenson talked to George Q. Cannon's great-grandson, Mark, who was in that ward and suggested that BYU-Hawaii might be a good place for Bernard to continue his education. Mark called President Shumway immediately and found that President Shumway and the Polynesian Culture Center President, Lester Moore, were in Washington D.C. and would like Bernard to come and meet with them.

After meeting with President Shumway, Bernard applied to BYUH . . . ."quick, quick and it wasn't long before I was accepted."

Bernard left for BYU-Hawaii on the 28th of August, 1999 after spending three days with President Stevenson and his family in Utah. Bernard later learned that President Stevenson, who had planned to sponsor Bernard and to pay for his tuition, was killed in a car accident the very next day, August 29th. In spite of this tragedy, miracles continued to fall into place for Bernard.

At President Stevenson's funeral, Rebecca Bergman, a sister missionary who served in South Africa under President Stevenson, realized that Sister Stevenson was no longer in a position to help Bernard. Rebecca insisted that Bernard allow her parents to pay his tuition and provide his sponsorship in the absence of President Stevenson. Bernard met Rebecca's parents on his wedding day, February 1, 2001, in the Laie Temple where he and his wife, Yaya, were sealed.

His association with fellow students at BYU-Hawaii and hearing their testimonies has strengthened Bernard's own testimony. He has served as a ward mission leader as an Elder's Quorum teacher. "I would take home the Church spirit which abides here — the Spirit of Aloha." He has thoroughly enjoyed "melting in the pot", working and rubbing shoulders with students and teachers from diverse cultures. "I love bringing people of different tribes and backgrounds together."

Two important events soon occurred in Bernard's life. His baby son, Steven (named after President Stevenson), and Yaya and he were sealed in the Laie Hawaii Temple. He was also accepted in BYU Provo in the Romney School of Public Management and Public Administration, a graduate program that will take him two years to complete.

After that? Bernard hopes to make a difference back home in the Congo. He has already started a non-profit organization for orphans, children who are victims of war, and AIDS-born children. Named "Savers of Hope," the organization was legally incorporated June 15, 2002. Primarily a fund-raising organization, Bernard's "Savers of Hope" offers hope to the young victims caught in the crossfire of power and diplomatic struggles in an emerging country.

A dream of Bernard's is to become President of the Congo. "It's just a dream, really, nothing serious -- because if I were President, I would be shot dead quick, and my wife doesn't like that." The Congo is a democratic country made up of eleven big states, warring tribes, and a collection of people speaking 260 languages.

Financial help from private sources and BYU-Hawaii scholarships made Bernard's education possible. His entire countenance beams as he expresses appreciation for all that he has received. "I am so grateful . . . and appreciate very, very much all those who have made by experience here possible. It is really very much a miracle."

M. Lamar Benavides

('87, Human Resource Management)

(Benavides, who was also known as Kaleo and Kealoha at the Polynesian Cultural Center, is originally from Kaneohe, Hawaii, but now lives in Hamilton, New Zealand with his wife, Moana, and family.)

The best decision I ever made was to attend BYU-Hawaii. After serving my mission in Utah for two years I really thought I was going to attend BYU, the University of Utah or Utah State; but my good friend, Wayne Kimokeo, said I should go see Dr. James Smith at BYU-Hawaii, tell him Kimo sent me, and ask for a scholarship.

Meeting Dr. Smith was one of the highlights of my years at BYUH. He became more than a teacher to me, he became my friend and biggest supporter, a person with whom I could share my good and bad times. Likewise, he shared things about his early days and the time he got cold feet before his wedding day. Sorry, Uncle Jim! He was a true friend and remains so until today.

There were many others friends, including Brian Ludlow, Ron Walk, Mark Loo, Mike Ramsey, Daryn Shaw, the Hawaiian village staff at PCC, Rick Walk, Bobby Akoi, Kaui Alohikea, Lei Cummings, Kalani Kanahele and many, many more at PCC such as Haunani Kaanaana, Logo Apelu, Jack Uale and Sione Pasi. They were all fantastic.

Being from Kaneohe, I never liked going to Laie. I thought it was da pits! But now, be careful of what you say. I have a DEEP and enduring love, respect and yearning for Laie as I now look back.

My university days were filled with the weight room, the beach, more weight room and beach, and the occasional Seasider for grinds; and, oh yea, some class work in between. I also miss those ward competition nights, with the whole stake competing, which was real cool stuff.

Being a part of the choirs was a real treat. Learning how to sing properly was truly an eye opener for me and I find that I am still opening my eyes but opening my ears a little more, ha,ha,ha.

It was at BYUH that I met Ralph Rogers and Newell Dayley. They became good friends, even if Ralph and I didn't always see eye-to-eye. He was too short for starters, oh, and bald (like me right now). Being selected to sing the lead in This is Polynesia was an honor and a huge blessing for me. It is something I will never forget as long as I live. It opened up a few more doors for me; and as long as I kept my mouth from running away, I was all right.

The other BYU-Hawaii professors were also okay, even if they were Boston Celtic fans...how wrong is that! They were always jealous of the only true NBA team, the LAKERS. Chris Carlson (alumni) knows he's a Laker, too.

BYU-Hawaii is where I met my sweetheart and eternal companion, Moana McAneney. And that's after I vowed never to date another New Zealander. Again, be careful what you say. Yikes!

After graduating I worked at PCC with Emosi Damuni and Pulefano Galea'i. What a blast: We hardly worked at all...shhhhhh. Becoming a part of the Theater musicians was fun and another learning curve for me. Dallin Muti is, without question, the best musician I have ever seen or played with. The man is incredible. The best group I ever had the privilege of being a part of was Dallin, his sweetheart Tia, Dofi Faasou, David Huihui and Thomas "Uncle 5 cents" Au; and working with the late Larry Reis was one of the best experiences of my life. President Lester Moore and David Hannemann also played an instrumental role in my career at PCC.

It was great to be a part of and watch the Center grow and develop. Travelling on promotionals was also a nice bonus. I still sell the Center whenever I get the chance. It will always remain in my heart. My two oldest children were born and raised back stage and Lisa (my oldest) still remembers those days.

How I yearn to return to Hawaii again, but for now life in Aotearoa is good. To President Shumway (still pulling down your shorts on the court) to Raymond Mariteragi, Cy Bridges, Delsa Moe, Harry Brown and Jay Akoi, Keith Awai and Benny Kai — my aloha to each of you. To Ellen Gay Dela Rosa (love you Gay), I'm still waiting to be asked if I can make it on the next promo to Japan, ha. To my brothers, Milton Kaka and Kaipo Manoa — also great musicians and two of my best and closest friends — my fond aloha to you and your ohana. Aloha, Kuhio and the promo team! To Moa Mahe who helped me get into Tihati's in Waikiki and to Lloyd Chandler who ALWAYS caught my back...mahalo forever.

As you can tell, I had an AWESOME time at BYUH. Passing my senior English class from Dr. Ned Williams was a highlight...an A- grade! Thanks, Ned. Looking back, I wish I majored in English...or perhaps marketing and strategic planning. Oh yeah, and I would apply myself way more than I did. I would definitely do it all over again. I want my kids to have those kinds of experiences at BYUH/PCC, too.

Joseph S. Berardy

('89, Business Management)
President & CEO, DBI Hawaii

(Joe Berardy, who is originally from San Bernardino, California, first came to BYU-Hawaii in '85 as a freshman after having previously served a mission in Argentina. He met Susan DeLeon of the Philippines his first summer in Laie "and married her that December" when she graduated in travel management.)

I'd just gotten back from Taiwan where I'd spent eight months studying Chinese. A friend of mine there, whose dad was a professor here, suggested I come and check out the school.

I lived on the beach in Ned Williams' house, listening to the sounds of the ocean. Going to school here was a real positive experience. The student body was full of nice people who were very culturally diverse.

I majored in international business and I knew somewhere along the line I wanted to be in business for myself, but the thing that really opened my eyes was when I was the retail manager at the Polynesian Cultural Center.

I had no previous experience and was just thrown into that position. They said, here's your desk and here's your staff. We had great staff, but no one mentored me. I went down and learned first hand on the sales floor. I was very fortunate to work with some very top-notch people. It was kind of like doing different things in a laboratory. They worked, and we were able to do well with the retail.

I graduated in 1989, with a minor in Chinese. Susie and I started DBI Hawaii, a Hawaii corporation, and opened our first retail store as South Seas Mercantile and Trading Company in 1991 at Dole Cannery. I left the [Polynesian Cultural] Center in 1992. From there we opened another store in Waikiki.

Then we were approached by Costco North America in 1994. They asked us to do road shows, and within that year we became so successful that we sold both leases and went into specialty shows with Costco and wholesaling. We manufactured our Hawaiian-style quilting products in the Philippines, produced by hand by as many as 1,200 people.

Our wholesale business grew tremendously once we closed the retail stores. Now we're more diversified. We also produce a variety of gift lines to include home accessories, etched glass, statues, a children's educational line, a collegiate logo program, a hotel amenities program, furniture, and we just recently got back into retail with Hawaii Home Interiors, a furniture business in Honolulu. We import Chinese antique furniture, futons from Malaysia, teak furniture from Indonesia, outdoor furniture from New Zealand, and rugs from Nepal.

We have direct employees who act as our agents, but most of our business is done through partnership agreements with manufacturers in China, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and New Zealand.

Three years ago we decided to set up an endowment for Filipino students under our names, Joe and Susie Berardy. At that point we were invited to be on the President's Advisory Council. At that time, Susie was also invited to be on the alumni board as well. We were given the distinguished alumni award in 2001.

That was a catalyst to being invited back to the campus to speak, mentor students and get involved in the annual business plan competition. At that time, too, because of the endowment, we became the first local founders for the university's Center for International Entrepreneurship. We do a lot of speaking and mentoring with that, and I'm also on the executive board with Greg Gibson. We're also tied into the Philippines through the ACE Foundation — the Academy for Creating Enterprise — where returned missionaries run through an eight-week program to learn how to get into their own businesses.

Deep down, I've always known I would be successful in business, but I didn't know how or what it would be; so it's very interesting to me how things have fallen into place. Doors opened and I've been lucky enough to position myself to take advantage of the many opportunities we've had. We also love Hawaii and the chances we've had to work internationally.

Helping people has got be a focus when you're an entrepreneur. I believe that Heavenly Father uses us through our talents. When we recognize the only reason we're here is to help each other, then He will continue to bless us. The more opportunities we provide, the more He blesses us. The kingdom can be built by successful people giving of their time and their resources. Susie and I have always believed that.

Our BYU-Hawaii/PCC experiences were integrally related. I went to BYU-Hawaii fulltime and worked at PCC fulltime. That left so many wonderful impressions in our lives, and it's one of the reasons we want to come back, and give back. Our experiences have had a direct, profound impact on our personal and business lives.

The alumni who flow through this campus need to return. It is all of our responsibility to perpetuate the "learn, earn and return" concept. It's also our responsibility to help financially secure the future of BYU-Hawaii. Heavenly Father will help us do that. What Susie and I have done so far has been a great blessing in our lives. I encourage other alumni to catch the vision and give back. This is a great opportunity to help others. That's what life's about.

Theresa M. Kalama Bigbie

('58, Education)
Retired Associate Dean, Division of Continuing Education

BYU-Hawaii President Eric B. Shumway and Academic Vice President Keith Roberts presented the university's Distinguished Service Award to Theresa Bigbie on December 11, 2004. The citation read:

The person we honor today has had a long and rich association with this university and the community of Laie.

A graduate of Kamehameha School for Girls, Theresa Maunahina Kalama enrolled as a freshman at The Church College of Hawaii in 1956. In 1958 she was awarded an Associate of Arts in education from this campus. In 1960 she married Bruce Kunio Meyers in the Hawaii Temple, and after completing their bachelor s degrees in education at BYU in Provo, they returned to her home island of Molokai where they both worked as teachers. In 1976, at the age of 38, Brother Meyers suddenly passed away, leaving Theresa and five children ages twelve-to-three.

After much prayer and fasting, Theresa moved her family to Laie, "to see if she still had it in her to continue school." She enrolled in classes and in 1979 moved her family to BYU-Provo where she obtained a master's degree in educational administration. There she met Fred Raymond Bigbie and they married in 1983. In 1987, both Fred and Theresa were hired to work at BYU-Hawaii, Fred at the physical plant, and Theresa at Continuing Education as associate dean. Thus began a 23-year career as an administrator with BYU-Hawaii until this year, 2004, when she retired from the university — but not from her many volunteer assignments in the community.

In the past decade, Theresa has served as president of the Laie Community Association (1991-2001); as a member of the Laie Government Relations Committee (1997-present); and the Malama Ohana Council through the Queen Emma Foundation and Hooponopono Koolauloa Foundation (1997-present). She is the founder and president of the Laie Community Foundation, a non-profit organization designed to assist with economic development, community education, and historical preservation. The Foundation works hand-in-hand with the Laie Community Association and today serves as a funding arm of the community.

One of its projects is a Laie beautification program, to which it provides low-interest loans for painting homes in the community. In addition, as chair of the BYU-Hawaii Jubilee Beautification Committee, this year alone Theresa organized the removal of 70 abandoned cars and scrap metal totaling 100,000 tons, from the community. She also organized free professional landscaping consulting services to Laie residents, and more than 50 have benefited from the program this year.

Theresa also serves on the Executive Committee of the Hawaii Reserves, Inc. board of directors, a position which she has held since 2000.

Through the many challenges she has faced in her life, Theresa remembers pledging to the Lord that if she and her young family were blessed to move home to Hawaii, she would "devote all her time and talents to give back what she had so abundantly received from Him."

Shortly after arriving in Laie she became very involved in the development of the community and, for ten years during a volatile period in Laie's history, she labored with her associates on the Laie Community Association board seeking to unify the diversity of views. She remembers that although issues brought to the table were often heavily disputed, in the end there was always trust the "the Lord was looking over us," and that their decisions, though filled with uncertainty, "would be best served by the spirit of unity in striving to accomplish the goals envisioned for Laie."

Theresa is a calm soul in the fiercest storm, a considerate advisor to friend and stranger alike. She leads with quiet humility and moral and ethical strength rooted in the principles of the Restored Gospel. She treats every individual with equal kindness and courtesy, and community members from all walks of life trust both her confidentiality and competency. She is truly a woman of exemplary grace and character.

For her exceptional ability to bring people of diverse views together in accomplishing common goals; for her selfless service in helping others by improving the quality of life; for her great generosity of spirit and remarkable devotion to student and community members alike; and for her generous contribution of her time and talents toward fulfilling the Lord's purposes in this University and the community of Laie; on this day, the 11th of December, Two Thousand and Four, Brigham Young University Hawaii is pleased to bestow its Distinguished Service Award upon Theresa Kalama Bigbie.

Randy Boothe

('75, Music)
BYU Associate Professor of Music, and internationally recognized artistic director

[Most currently, Boothe is directing the upcoming Remembering the Prophet, Joseph production in commemoration of Joseph Smith's 200th birthday, that will be presented in the Marriott Center at BYU in August.]

Millions of people have and will continue to enjoy the creative talents of one of BYU-Hawaii's most distinguished alumni, Randy Boothe. His long list of accomplishments includes:

• Directing the BYU Young Ambassadors since 1978, who have toured over 40 countries.
• Directing Luz de las Naciones in the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City as part of the Church's worldwide Hispanic celebration in 2004.
• Directing Light of the World, the spectacular production put on by the Church in the new LDS Conference Center during the 2002 Winter Olympics.
• Directing other BYU performing groups, including The Lamanite Generation, Curtaintime USA, BYU Sounds, and Sounds of Freedom.
• Directing the Church's 1997 Sesquicentennial Celebration Spectacular, Faith in Every Footstep, featuring a cast of over 6,000 in the BYU Cougar Stadium in Provo, Utah.
• Each summer he is the music director for the Jackson Hole Playhouse. He has also served as an entertainment consultant for the Magic Kingdom in both California and Florida, directed Disney's All American College Singers, Dancers and Show Band, and produced Christmas and summer shows for the Promised Valley Playhouse in Salt Lake City; produced and coached recordings, directed international TV specials, adjudicated numerous competitions, composed or arranged numerous songs, and along the way received many awards and honors.

Of course, all of this was still in the future when Randy, who is from Spanish Fork, Utah, was still an undergraduate and recently returned missionary from Germany who came to Church College of Hawaii in 1972 to direct the Showcase Hawaii student performing group.

"Norm Nielsen, a PR assistant to President Stephen L. Brower, gave me a wonderful opportunity to come over for, I thought, a year. President Brower was really into the idea of entertainment with a message. He wanted to communicate some of the values of our people and our institution."

"I came over with a desire to create a show that would promote family values — a message of peace and world brotherhood. It happened, and the one year stretched into two, three and four. I ended up graduating from BYU-Hawaii in 1975 and working for the university."

"I had some great experiences. There's nothing like living in the dorms. One of the most outstanding experiences was having President [Spencer W.] Kimball come to visit the campus. His wife was with him at the time, and I was the student body president [in 1974-75]. I was privileged to present her with the Na Hoa Pono award. What a great opportunity it was to have him watch the students perform."

"BYU-Hawaii also provided me with so many leadership opportunities. During that time the student body president and other positions were priesthood callings. It was a real experiment in Church leadership and a magnificent experience. President [Dallin H.] Oaks came over and spent time training us. My subsequent experience as a bishop, and in a stake presidency, were tremendously impacted by those years when I was taken under the wing of some powerful priesthood leaders, in the spirit of aloha, and wrapping my arms around people of many different nations. It was a great time."

"As you can see, since then I've traveled all over the world. My comfort level just being able to go into a country, I think, really came from kani ka pila ['playing music'] with a bunch of ukuleles and everybody just singing along. You learned the songs and enjoyed the experience."

"All the things I learned at BYU-Hawaii I've been trying to take with me all over the world. We're in the schools probably every day, just as we were with Showcase Hawaii. We visit hospitals, just like we did Kalaupapa. All of those experiences just really set the pace for what I've been doing worldwide.

The Church began to realize that I had the kind of experience that they wanted, so they invited me to direct the spectaculars at BYU Stadium, during the Olympics, and the Church-wide Spanish conference. In the upcoming Remembering the Prophet, Joseph, which is in commemoration of Joseph Smith's 200th birthday, we're working with about 40,000 youth to highlight all of their efforts in the Marriott Center in early August."

"The BYU-Hawaii experience is unique in all the world. Nowhere else will they be able to come in contact with so many cultures, and people who may have been raised in an environment different from their own, and yet get to know them and get to love them. It is a magnificent place for brothers and sisters in the gospel to try to understand what they need to know to go forth and serve."

"You can come to BYU on the mainland and have a great education, but it's much bigger here and students don't get that one-on-one experience. My experience at BYU-Hawaii is that we were all together in this great adventure.

"When President McKay said that students from this University would influence the world and world peace, there's no question that is happening with our student body, even if it's just beginning in their own homes as they teach the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man."

"Once you have become a part of that 'family of aloha,' it's impossible to disconnect."

Zolijargal Budayev

('05, Accounting)

A hand-made book on Christ

Growing up in what was then known as the Mongolian People's Republic, Zolijargal Budayev learned to make her family meals with weekly rations that included small amounts of rice, meat, vegetable oil, and whatever other luxury was in season. Many trips were taken to the market only to find salt. Tearfully she says, "I remember not having any food"

With only two television stations to choose from, Zolijargal preferred the Russian over the Mongolian station. Through this preference she gained two influential gifts that would change her forever: She became fluent in Russian which led her to understand the scripts that often times would incorporate Christian principles; and as she mimicked the actor's performance of prayers she gained a personal testimony. Through the Russian television station she says, "I gained my testimony of Jesus Christ"

In 1991 when Mongolia became democratic, Christianity was accepted as a form of worship, and Zolijargal's curiosity of Christ turned into a a passion to know more of Him. Living without any religious books, she created one of her own — a hand-made book on Christ that consisted of clippings from Mongolian and Russian journals which were collaged and folded on 96 full pages.

That book kept her faith active until she was introduced to the Book of Mormon. Zolijargal Budayev became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on August 16, 1998. Her gift of learning Russian became an instrument as she served the Russian people in Oklahoma for 6 months.

"If I never believed in Christ and the [self-made] book, I would never have become a member, meaning I wouldn't be attending BYU-Hawaii" she said. "That book was my faith before I was taught"

Arriving at BYU-Hawaii was the result of responding to promptings. The application process was tedious and full of complications. Regardless, she says, "even though I had never been here, I knew it was where I was to be" Zolijargal added she learned many personal lessons from professors, students, and friends — ones she says couldn't have been learned elsewhere.

Zolijargal is no longer haunted by the past but rejoices in the present and the future as she has applied a life-lesson learned at BYU-Hawaii. The aloha spirit reassures her of the true meaning of life. "The spirit of aloha is actually the love of God. As we feel that aloha in our heart, we radiate to people, and that unites us"

Subashini Chandrasekera

('01, International Business Management)

An unlikely desire

Getting a university education was the greatest desire in her life, but Subashini Chandrasekera's dream seemed quite unlikely to come true. Of the 300,000 students who apply annually for admission to the two universities in Sri Lanka, only 50,000 are accepted.

Subashini had never heard of the Church until her best friend, then not a member, introduced her to LDS missionaries Douglas Wood from Boise, and Brad Woodbury of Sugar City, Idaho, and invited Subashini to join with her in the missionary discussions.

When Subi, as she is nicknamed, joined the Church on April 9, 1994, she became the only member in her four-generation Catholic family. After being a member for only one year, she was called to serve in the New Zealand Auckland Mission.

Of course, Subi "fell in love with New Zealand." Her mission president, Richard Hunter, told her about BYU-Hawaii and "almost convinced" her that was where she needed to go next. But Subi loved New Zealand and had an opportunity to work at the MTC in that beautiful land. She was not sure where her future should be.

She presented to the Lord a tentative plan to go to BYU-Hawaii, asking, "Is this a good choice for me?"

Everything started going wrong. There were problems with her BYUH application. Everyone tried to discourage her from leaving home again, telling her that it usually takes a year to a visa to the United States. Subi did not receive the spiritual confirmation she desired, and finished her mission wondering whether she should accept the New Zealand offer or continue her pursuit of getting into BYU-Hawaii.

She returned to Sri Lanka and immediately received three callings in her branch as a Relief Society teacher, first counselor in Young Women's, Primary substitute, and also a teacher of Singalese at the Church building as an additional service. Furthermore, she worked full-time at the bank where she had been employed before her mission. She explained to the manager that her future was uncertain, but he wanted her to work at the bank as long as she could. She was still struggling with the decision between New Zealand and BYU-Hawaii, re-working her application and praying.

At the end of March 1998, Subi received her I-20, a work/study scholarship to BYU-Hawaii, beginning April 24. Knowing that getting a visa usually takes a year, she pled with Heavenly Father, "If I should be at BYU-Hawaii, please help me."

On April 18, Subi headed for the United States Embassy but literally became scared sick and had to return home. After fasting and praying, she returned to the Embassy on April 21. She explained to the official that even though she had no money and no assets, she did have her I-20 which established that she would be able to take care of herself. To her astonishment, the agent said, "Okay. Come back at 4:30. Your visa will be ready."

Subi stepped back into the lobby, and tears began streaming down her face. "At that moment it really hit me that I was supposed to go to BYUH!" She felt the strong confirmation that she had desired.

Everyone in the lobby began trying to comfort her, assuring her that they had been rejected many times as well. Through her tears, she explained that she had actually been granted the visa!

Subi arrived at BYU-Hawaii for Spring Term 1998, and "wanted to get my education as fast as I could. I didn't want to waste any time, so I went to school year-round." She graduated in International Business Management with a minor in Economics in December 2001.

Subi worked all three years at the Polynesian Cultural Center reservations office. "I really loved working there so much!" she enthusiastically exclaims.

In her BYU-Hawaii Ward, she was first called to teach the missionary preparation class. She held that calling for two years. Of the 25 members who were in her class, 23 served their own missions. She was also the ward temple coordinator and worked as an ordinance worker in the Laie Hawaii Temple.

Subi expressed her gratitude for the financial assistance she received, for her blessings and opportunities at BYU-Hawaii. "I also thank all of my teachers. They have been the greatest examples in my life. I will be forever grateful for my experiences here."

Interestingly, as a fourth-generation Catholic before her baptism, Subi also gave credit to the nuns who were her teachers from age 6-19. "They showed me how to love, how to be patient, how to really, really serve people." Because of this foundation, she was ready to receive the gospel.

"I learned WHO I AM — what my potential is. I loved the diversity. I learned about and lived with people from many parts of the world I had never heard of before. I learned that I can get along with anyone, and I am no longer afraid to talk to anyone from anywhere."

Where does Subi picture herself in five years? "Wherever the Lord wants or needs me to be," she said.

Jos dos Santos, Ph.D.

('95, English) English professor in Brazil

You don't realize how great it is

On the advice of a missionary companion, Brazilian Jos dos Santos came to study at BYU-Hawaii, ended up living with President Eric Shumway and family, and then spent a decade earning three degrees in English before returning to teach in his home country.

"I enjoyed English in Brazil, and I always wanted to be a teacher," says dos Santos. "I wasn't planning on going all the way with a Ph.D., but I knew that at least I wanted a bachelor's degree."

So when he arrived in Hawaii in the fall of 1992, he wanted to continue studying English. "I lived with President Shumway's family," he recalls. The Shumways had invited his missionary companion, Jason Peery, to live with them and also extended the invitation to him. "With Pres. Shumway being an English professor and my companion being an English major, I was just surrounded by English. So I took up the challenge and I survived."

Talking about what life was like living in the Shumway household, dos Santos says "they made me part of the family," which included doing daily chores and cooking for the family once a week. "Being the only member in my family, I had never been in a Mormon environment. It was really fun, and I learned a lot," he says.

At the Shumway home there was scripture reading in the morning, which dos Santos says, was like being on his mission again. "You won't believe it. We would wake up at a quarter to 6 for devotional. We sang, said a prayer, and then we read; except on Saturday and Sundays when we all slept in. That was every day from Monday through Friday. It was a good exercise and a good time in my life."

Living with the Shumways, he says, "I saw the importance of sticking together as a family, the importance of family values, and lots of love. There was not one day that they weren't smiling and helping people. They would have kids or cousins over that needed help, and they would help them out. They would take people under their wings and help them get over their problems; taking them to counseling. They had the Christian spirit."

Through the help of the Peery Foundation, which is run by his missionary companion's father, dos Santos says he was able to get scholarships to go to college. "All my scholarship money came from the Peery Foundation. It sponsors students from BYU and BYU-Hawaii," he says.

With the financial and other support, dos Santos earned a bachelor's degree in 1995, a master's degree from BYU Provo in 1997 and then received his doctorate degree from Purdue University in Indiana in 2001. "I was exhausted by the end, but I had to do it that way," he says.

Looking back on the time he spent at BYU-Hawaii, dos Santos says his fondest memories are of the campus cultural events, the people he met from many different cultures, and his college professors.

"What I remember most are the cultural experiences like Cultural Night," he says. Hearing people chant in different languages, tasting foods from around the world, and seeing his fellow students wearing their traditional dress of from their various countries made a big impact on dos Santos.

"I never thought I would have the chance to know all these people � like from Kiribati," he continues. "I thought it was wonderful. It taught me tolerance and understanding."

Additionally, he had a job at the Reading and Writing Center at BYUH where he had a chance to work closely with people from different countries to improve their language skills. "I saw how smart they were and that they had the same goal that I had to learn the language and to grow spiritually and professionally. But their main goal was to become better people," he says.

He also appreciated the associations he had with his BYUH professors. "Brothers [Michael] Marler and [Randall] Allred befriended me and helped me become a better person and a better student."

Dos Santos once wrote a literature paper for one of Professor Allred's classes, he says, and got a reprimand from the English professor. "He scolded me a little bit," dos Santos recalls, "and I thought, 'There goes my grade.' But he said take it over the weekend and work on it. Then I turned it in, he gave me all these nice comments, and then he gave me an A."

He also credits Allred for helping him feel confident enough to go to graduate school. "When I was insecure about graduate school, he would encourage me and tell me that I could do it," he says.

Plus when he went on to BYU Provo to work on his master's degree, dos Santos says he kept in touch through e-mail with Allred and another member of the BYU-Hawaii English faculty, Margaret Baker, who continued mentoring him.

At Purdue University where he earned a doctorate, dos Santos says he found a similar supportive environment like he felt at BYUH, in the small LDS Church branch there.

"The program was excellent," he says, about Purdue's English doctoral program. But he says "it took me a while to get use to a non-LDS environment." However, he was able to teach first and second year Portuguese at Purdue, which paid for his tuition and fees, gave him a $1,000 monthly stipend, and even provided him with medical insurance.

After completing his doctorate, dos Santos says he wanted to return to Brazil to be closer to his family and to teach at one of the universities. "I always knew that I wanted to go back to Brazil," he says. "And I haven't regretted it. It has been wonderful."

He returned to Brazil and received an offer for a fulltime teaching position at a university near his family. Later he moved to a bigger college where he now teaches English and literature, he says. "I am working where I wanted to teach my entire life," dos Santos adds.

"My students always ask me, 'Where did you learn English?' I always tell them about my experiences at BYU-Hawaii," he says. "I tell them that I had to study really hard in the library...and writing papers � I took it very seriously."

He also credits BYUH for teaching him the importance of being open and tolerant of other peoples and cultures, which has helped him to become a better university professor. For example, in the classes he teaches, he says he has people from all over Brazil and people who come from rich, poor, and middle class families. "So I have tolerance with what I do and for my profession. I think I can handle situations better. If a student is having difficulties, I know when to be tough but also when to be more lenient and loving. I learned that from BYUH. It is a place where you learn how to deal with all sorts of backgrounds. I never felt discriminated there. But I was respected, loved, and accepted for who I was. . . . I want to be demanding, but I also want to show love."

Living in Laie and studying at BYUH, dos Santos says he gained academic strength, the ability and determination to work seriously in his field, and the importance of being honest. "From the Shumways, I learned how to share," he adds. "Whenever I feel that I am being selfish, I think about them and their love. I learned to give something back and share."

In Brazil, dos Santos says "there are so many that can't afford a good education. So I take my job seriously and give them the best I can give. At this point, I love sharing with people, and doing what I do." He says he wants to be "the cheerleader that people were for me" while he was earning his degrees.

Dos Santos says all the work it takes to study and do well in college is worth it even though students "might not see it now. But if they could only see the blessings that lie ahead of them," he says, it is worth it.

"When you are there, you don't realize how great it is. You don't realize how much you are going to reap from that experience."

Keawe and Millie Enos

1957 CCH graduates

Make wherever you go like Laie

Arthur Keawe Enos and Mildred "Millie" Ah Hee Enos enrolled at Church College of Hawaii in 1955. After earning their associate degrees, going on to BYU in Provo for bachelor's degrees and teaching in California for a number of years, they returned to Laie. They both retired after teaching at Laie Elementary School for a combined total of almost 70 years, and continue to be generous in serving the community and Church.

Millie recalled when she first arrived on the temporary CCH campus, "the excitement was very high, so we didn't even bother to focus on the number of people that were here."

Keawe, a transfer student from Provo, explained all of the buildings were war surplus, and "we had the best dormitory at Kakela — all air condition, no windows. Just a big giant screen that kept the mosquitoes out."

"There was a girls dormitory located at Clissold Beach that was called Laniloa, and then we had the big white house on the top of Lanihuli, which was a former mission home. That was called the Lanihuli Girls Dorm," she added.

"We had two Army trucks. I drove one and John Jensen drove the other," Keawe continued. "I would take the boys from Kakela, and he would pick up the girls from Laniloa and bring them to campus. And at lunch we'd all get up, back on the truck and drive back to Kakela for our lunch. When we finished lunch, those that had afternoon classes, I'd drive them back to the campus and remain here until it was time to go, after the last class. It was quite an experience."

Keawe's mother, "Mom" Enos "did all of the cooking. It was like a big family in each dorm. We, the students, were the children of the dorm parents, so we did the washing of dishes, but not necessarily the cooking. That rested upon the dorm parents, who received the menu from the main cook. We all had the same meal in all the dorms, except the boys always had a little extra."

"After a class we'd all be down in the ocean, swimming and diving. Whatever fish we caught, Mom would cook it. That would be the extra food we'd get other than what the girls would be eating — if we didn't cook it ourselves on the outside barbecue," he added.

Asked about their majors, Keawe said, "I was previously in industrial arts at Brigham Young University Provo, but when I met my wife, she was in education, so I switched to education. Most of the credits that I brought from Provo wouldn't go towards graduating with the first class."

"We only needed on book, because we shared it," Millie said. "We even went as far as sharing homework, so that was real convenient."

She added her favorite teacher was Woody Deem. "He was the oen who taught us Mandarin, not that I remember much. Nephi Georgi was another: He was challenging. So was jerry Loveland: He was my boss. I worked for him for nearly the two years that I spent at Church College."

She also fondly remembers Dr. Billie Hollingshead. "She was my advisor. She was also a person you did not want to do anything contrary to the campus rules or her rules because shewould set you in your place. But I learned tremendously to organize my time and my schedule and my life from her. You didn't dare be five or even one minute late to her class.'

"She would teach you to be punctual. And that's why I'm that way today. I get very upset when my husband is late, so I set the clocks — oh, I better not say it in from of him; too late — about fifteen minutes fast so we'd be where we have to be on time."

Millie recalled the first CCH students "had to set up the constitution for the school. We had to have a legislative body. That in itself was very interesting. We had the Associated Men and the Associated Women Club."

"We also had Botany Club and science clubs that went along with the classes. We had May Day programs," she continued. "Our favorite was the treasure hunt, and the Halloween Dance in the spooky house that was down in Kakela. It was a building that was no longer in use, and looked very spooky. It got decorated to look like a haunted house, and we had our dances in there.

"We also played a lot of sports," Keawe said. "We had a basketball team, but we didn't have a gym. It was done in Laie Park. It's still there today, where the Laie community uses it. That was our basketball court.

"We played Schofield and the University of Hawaii JVs. There were other teams made up of different business affiliated groups, and Brother Young was our coach. Brother Condie was our coach the second year."

"We got married in the Hawaii Temple the summer of the year we received our associate degree, figuring again it would be much more economical, much cheaper, to travel as a married couple to BYU-Provo and get housing.  And again, we only needed to buy one set of books," Millie said.

"I think it was Reuben D. Law who wrote in his memoirs that we were the first graduating students to marry in the temple," Keawe added.

Asked what other values they learned at CCH, Millie answered, "For me it was being appreciative of what you have. Most of us came from poor families the first year we attended. Our parents could hardly make tuition, but most of us received a $250 scholarship and that paid for our tuition. Coming from the country, you don't have much, so every little thing means a whole lot to you. And especially knowing when your parents sacrificed so much to be able to have the first child from the family attend a university: It taught me to be appreciative of people as well."

"When we first attended, our mission president was Arthur Haycock," Millie added. "Because he felt responsible for the students who came from the mission, he was always down here in Laie checking up on us; and when he would go to the different islands, you could be sure he reported to each parent who had someone here at Church College. So you see, I felt at that time that I couldn't mess up. I only had one chance, and I had to do good by that one chance. My parents couldn't afford to have me to repeat any years because I had more fun playing. And so all my years in college were spent study, study, studying.

"We came from family that had to struggle a little bit, too," Keawe said. "I had five sisters that attended BYU, three attending BYU-Provo at the same time I was here. Mom and Dad had to make some sacrifices to keep all of us. I was a little more fortunate, because I was a veteran of the Korean War: My G.I. Bill was most helpful towards my education."

Asked what advice they would give to contemporary BYU-Hawaii graduates, Millie responded, "go out and be the best of what you can be. You've received both spiritual training from the university as well as how to survive in our modern day society. Modern technologies can be to your advantage as well as to your disadvantage, so you need to be able to discern using your spiritual knowledge of what the right thing to do, and then you'll be successful."

Keawe's advice: "They always said, 'put your best foot forward.' But there's more to graduating. We always talk about the Aloha Spirit. With all the mixture of nationalities and cultures we have here, it really broadens their understanding of people in general throughout the world. Someone says, 'I could live on the mainland. I could live anywhere.' Yeah, but how can you do that when you don't have the ocean? It's not the ocean. It's the people. The secret is knowing the people you live around. And since they've been to Hawaii and mix with all these different cultures, they pick up a little bit of everything, put it all together, and it comes out the aloha spirit. That's the key."

"Most of the students go back and they can't forget living in Laie," Keawe continued. "It had such an impact on their minds, they just can't forget it. People go away and they still think of Laie. Laie, that place is so choice. To us, there's no place like Laie. But wherever I go, I want to make it like Laie."

Rex Frandsen

('68, Business Management), Associate Chief Information Officer
and Golden Jubilee Steering Committee Co-Chair

[Rex, who was raised in Sandy, Utah, first came to CCH in 1964. He served as the 1965-66 student body president and started working fulltime at the university when he graduated in '68 — the same year he married Linda Poliahu (they have five children, plus adopted one of their 13 foster children). He has since earned a master's degree in Library Science from the University of Hawaii and an Ed.S. degree in media from BYU. He says coming to Laie was...]

The best decision I ever made

It was one of those things where the spirit guided me. When I was little, maybe in the fourth grade, I started having this urge that I wanted to come to Hawaii. For a time, I dismissed that, figuring that was just kind of a dream that would never happen.

The last few weeks of my mission [in northern California], the opportunity came. My companion's sister worked on the Lurline. We just kind of started talking. I'd already been accepted at Provo, but I opted to come over here.

I didn't realize at that time that I would be here for the rest of my life. When I got here I fell in love with the place and the people, and decided this is where the Lord wanted me.

Some of my favorite memories come from my involvement in student government. I got involved right from the beginning, and pretty much stayed involved all the way through. It was the students who inspired me. They treated everyone like brothers or sisters, so you ran almost on a family ticket. It was a wonderful experience to go out and work with the clubs and the different organizations.

I also thoroughly enjoyed religion classes and being able to expand my horizons. Devotionals were important. Another thing that was inspirational to me were some of the dorm and club activities, competitions and assemblies; and certainly, it was inspiration to meet almost on a personal basis many of the General Authorities that came through.

I feel I had as good an education here as anywhere else, as far as secular knowledge goes; but I would say the greatest thing I experienced was the intercultural living with the students. To learn about their countries, and interact with them was worth all the other education I received.

When I graduated in 1968, I didn't have to go look for a job; they came and asked me to work fulltime in the Library. Helen Moffat was the director and my first assignment was in the serials section with periodicals, microfilm and things that came in on a serial basis. From there various opportunities opened up. For example, I worked in technical services and reference services. Then the opportunity came to work with Curt Fawson in media, as we tried to generate a learning resource center concept.

At that time we really emphasized media in the classroom. For example, we put overhead projectors in every classroom and we set up equipment delivery. Of course, at that time it was 16mm and slide projectors. We also changed the projectors in the auditorium to more professional equipment.

It was also in the early 70s that we started our computer automation project, first with the reserve section, using punch cards. The next step up from that, as computers got a little more sophisticated was to input our circulation system so it was computer accessible. From there we started branching out to make it more available to the students across campus.

The biggest push with came in the 90s when we decided we would put a computer lab in the Library. That was a fairly radical idea at the time. It's become the 'new interactive learning center,' whether it's by computer or just visiting with your neighbor and exchanging ideas.

Today, computer technology is moving faster. It won't be long now before we have touch screens in the classrooms, and voice over. We are also beginning the basic design to have video on demand in the classroom.

I would say BYU-Hawaii computer capabilities are right up there on the top compared to other universities, and in some cases we're on the cutting edge. For example, video on demand for classroom instruction: The instructor will be able to bring up any video he wants, when he wants, without having equipment delivered. He will be able to have full control of that media.

Included in that, we can't forget there's always the printed side of information. From all the professional meetings I've been to, it does not look like books will ever go out of style.

I can't say what will happen 10 years from now. The field is changing so fast it's hard to predict, but I think we'll see a lot more cooperative learning among the students, more group work and sharing of ideas.

I also see a time where every student is going to either have a computer, or ready access to one. Currently, we have one of the better ratio of computers on campus with four students to every computer in the lab. Most universities are anywhere from 8-20 students per computer.

Beyond media, I would like to see our students as well as our faculty actually travel to our target areas and experience the culture and lifestyle of the places where our students come from. It was a real eye opener for me to travel through the Pacific and begin to understand where our students come from, why they said and do certain things. I think if all of our faculty could experience that, I think we would have even better rapport with our students.

I've often thought how would we do that: Maybe we ought to organize a couple of fact-finding trips for our faculty. I also think it would be well if the students from the Orient could experience the Pacific cultures, and the Pacific cultures could experience the Orient, and the mainland students could experience them both, and all of the others experience the mainland — even if it was just a quick study tour.

Over the past two years I've felt very honored to be on the [Golden Jubilee Steering] committee and work with Vernice [Wineera, committee co-chair], who is a very detailed organizer. I've enjoyed working with her, and I think we have a great steering committee. We were able to handpick each one of them because we knew they would perform. It's been interesting to see how the entire committee has been able to bring together the vision that President Shumway had for the celebration.

This is an opportunity to reflect on our past, to build on it as we look to the future. We've come a long ways. It's been interesting over the last 41 years to see the 'wheel invented several times,' but in doing so there have been improvements to make it fit the needs of the time at the university.

The Jubilee celebration is going to be a glorious opportunity, not only to celebrate but to learn and grow from the experiences planned. We hope it will be a highlight in the lives of every current student. I think it will also be great for the alumni to come back and see the changes on campus and see the progress we're making.

I would encourage every student, faculty member and staff person to become involved in the Jubilee and understand that we're not only celebrating the past, but we're celebrating the future as well.

John Hester

('86, Business Information Management)
Olysis corporate trainer

"I arrived at the age of 25 with a small family already started. At that time personal computers were fairly new. Bill Neal was brought in to create the [business information] major. I had a lot of experience because before attending BYUH I had been a bookkeeper. Someone directed me to Bill Neal and I told him of my job experiences."

"I was first his student assistant. My second semester I taught several courses. As a sophomore in my third semester I was an instructor teaching nine credits. Together with Bill Neal we created a training company for places like Turtle Bay. We also wrote a textbook together called Microcomputers that assisted students on campus. While I was here I also managed the first student computer lab."

"The great thing was that I graduated but I had lots of teaching experience. I was able to work from home because I forwarded my training materials to companies. During the recession my business suffered so I went to work for Olysis."

"The number-one reason I was hired was the experience I had working with Bill Neal. The second thing was the multicultural aspect of BYU-Hawaii. For example, I always dreaded the first days of class as I had to go down the list of pretty unique names; but soon I will be going to Europe, then to Hong Kong, and then all of Asia."

"Because I was a very gifted test taker I managed my studies, even though it was difficult. I didn�t have much free time. I came with not quite a year of transfer credit but graduated in less than two-and-a-half years. I wanted to finish quickly because of the strain on my family. I was also assistant stake clerk and had other Church callings."

"A time management program for faculty that I attended, instructed by Hyrum Smith (who is a direct descendent of Joseph Smith), is another BYU-Hawaii event that led me to what I am doing today. That was the foundation root of my desire to train. I also knew I wanted to use my computer skills with this type of training."

"I enjoy guiding people to think about core things. I get to teach in a corporate environment and helping leaders look at their legacy. I always get comments like, 'I wish I would have had this 10 years ago.' A woman called me this morning and told that I couldn't imagine the difference it made for her both at work and at home."

"At my job I fulfill a strategic role. Before getting hired, I asked what are the things we need to do, and I told them I wasn't interested if I couldn't be in the classroom; so I teach a couple of workshops throughout the week."

"I speak to all the executives and ask what their needs are. All revolve around the soft skills, a term that relates to leadership, interpersonal communication skills, conflict resolution."

"The legacy I want to leave is a leader who continued to grow and develop, and who helped other individuals grow and develop as people and community citizens."

The opportunities at BYU-Hawaii were tremendous. I had traveled a lot as a young child, but being around and living with people from all over the world in Laie was different.

"BYU-Hawaii is a good teaching college that involves the students. I encourage the students today to really focus on people who are different from themselves. On a core level, I think it makes them better people. It goes well with what Stephen L. Covey says, 'We don't see the world as it is, but as we are.' Diverse perspectives give us a greater understanding of the world."

[John's son, Matt Hester, is currently a BYU-Hawaii freshman.]

Hon. Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin

(1963-65)
Congressional Delegate (D), U.S. House of Representatives, American Samoa

My father was in the Navy. Soon after President Truman transferred control of American Samoa in 1950 from the Navy to the Secretary of the Interior, around 2,000 Samoan Navy men and their dependents came to Hawaii and the mainland. At age 7 I started my schooling at Pearl Harbor Elementary. After a while we moved to Laie, where my mother's uncle had 50 acres of cattle right next to the temple. We learned how to make kulolo [sweet taro] and fish. All of the Samoan and Hawaiian makua [elders] were my teachers. I went to Laie Elementary, then graduated from Kahuku High, spent two years at CCH, and then I went to Provo to see what all the talk about BYU was.

At CCH I was on the honor council and president of our freshman class. When PCC opened in 1963, I was one of the original workers. I did Tongan dancing, Fijian, all of it. I would say that my experience gave me a greater appreciation of the other island cultures. I remember when Elvis came [to film Paradise Hawaiian Style in 1965], he made himself available to the students. It was really funny when he first showed up: We all were, like, how are you doing, Elvis. The night he left we had a luau for him and he cried. He said it was the first time he was treated like a human being. You know, in the islands we don't idolize anyone.

This is part of the future of BYUH that I would love to see. There is so much tremendous potential to reach out, which shows the universality of the Church's principles.

I joined the army to bring my brother [Taulauniu "Tau" Hunkin, who recently passed away] back from the front in Vietnam. I was there for one year, then came back and went to law school in Texas, which at that time had the lowest tuition in the country. After, I felt it was time to go back to America Samoa to contribute in some way.

Our first elected Representative to Washington was Fuimaono, who asked me to work as his administrative assistant. I worked for him for two years. Then the late Congressman from California asked me to join him as a staff council on a Congressional committee that oversaw the U.S. territories. I did that for about six years and returned to Samoa in 1981, where I served as Deputy Attorney General for three years.

Next, one of the high chiefs asked me to join him in the governor's race. We won and I served as Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa for four years. Eventually the traditional leaders and chiefs advised me to run for Congress. I was elected in '89 and have been in Washington D.C. ever since, recently winning my 9th term in office. I am the ranking Democrat on the international Asia sub-committee which oversees all foreign policy and develop legislation. I also serve on the House Resource Committee dealing with the native Hawaiians recognition bill, which we are hopeful will come out this session.

I always ask for the Lord's guidance, but I don't go out and tell the whole world I am LDS. I have teaching moments: For example, I was with other members of Congress, one who is Jewish, and we talked about the Book of Mormon. He was surprised with all of the theology. I have had a lot of opportunities with people of different faiths, where we discuss and find it not only educational for me but a good way to expand understanding and knowledge; and more than anything, to also have a sense of tolerance and understanding why these people think differently than the way we do. There is always an opportunity to share what you believe. I sincerely hope, if the Lord is willing, that I can continue this work.

At a recent Congressional hearing, there was some anti-Mormon sentiment from people who did not want to give over land to the Church. I came right out and said I was a member of the Church and very proud of it, but at the same time I wanted to know from the community how they felt, and wanted to be fair in every way concerning the issue.

I am Samoan and my wife [Hinanui Cave] is Tahitian. Our kids carry two cultures and take it with a tremendous amount of pride. DNA has proven there is very little difference between the races — the only difference is a slight pigmentation, but in the genetic makeup there is no difference. I have become committed to be tolerant of other races

I feel the prayers of my ancestors. When I read about Enos and Nephi, how they would cry in seeing our day, I know they made those prayers on our behalf. Our people pray a lot and I always feel the worth of their prayers, and not only those of our own faith but others as well.

So, what is this islander doing in D.C.? I feel I was somehow being prepared. When I finally was elected after living in Samoa for seven years, I knew exactly what I needed to do and was prepared. I say that education is the salvation of our people, and that to me is the mission of BYU-Hawaii. Probably more than anything else, the spiritual education at BYU-Hawaii is like a little bit of heaven.

George Hunt

('70, TESL)
Teacher, manager, businessman and Member of Parliament

Success in all aspects of life

George Hunt moved from Samoa to Laie in 1962 and graduated from Kahuku High before starting at Church College of Hawaii in 1964 where, he says, he gained the experience, knowledge and skills that have helped him succeed in all aspects of his life.

"I was trained to be a teacher, and I did teach in Hawaii, Australia, and Samoa," says Hunt, who was born and raised in Samoa. "But CCH was so good as a foundation that after teaching I went into airline management."

"I was in the second highest position in the airline. I was the only Samoan; the rest were all palagi from New Zealand and Australia. And even though I was trained as a teacher, that education at CCH enabled me to be able to pick up skills and knowledge in other areas," he says.

Besides being an educator and airline executive, Hunt says he also worked with the Rugby Union in Samoa, operated his own business in the South Pacific, and even participated in politics. He credits the variety of opportunities he had in Laie from studying at the college and working at the Polynesian Cultural Center to playing for the school's rugby team and doing church service for preparing him for a lifetime of successful endeavors.

"I remember the devotional assemblies when the General Authorities would come speak to us," recalls Hunt. "Prior to them it was rare for me, coming from Samoa, to meet General Authorities personally. But at CCH, we had the blessing to hear a good number of them. It strengthened my testimony and made me a better person."

Additionally, Hunt says he played rugby for the college, and the teams he played on won the championship for three-to-four years in a row.

"We beat BYU, UCLA, Stanford, and Loyola universities," he says. "I really looked forward to practicing every day. We had excellent coaches. I think that is probably the best memories: representing the college not only in Hawaii but also on the mainland."

On one trip to the mainland, Hunt says the CCH rugby team beat UCLA. "They became so upset: The party they told us they would have for us afterward disappeared when we beat them," he says. "So the LDS Institute of Religion got together and put on a party for us."

Hunt also worked as a plumber on campus, he says, with his friend, Abe Singh, from Fiji. Hunt says they "went around campus and fixed all the plumbing problems. We kept the grounds really nice and clean, and we learned a trade."

Furthermore, he worked at the PCC and calls himself "a PCC original."

"As a priesthood quorum, we would gather river and beach rocks for the Samoan fale — for the floor," he says. "I actually helped build the PCC. Those are some of the fond memories, too. I was one of the first groups that worked at the Samoan Village, as one of three girls and three boys, as cultural demonstrators in 1963. It opened when I was still at Kahuku High School. We use to have tours, and I remember climbing the coconut tree for every tour; that would be like 10 times a day. We use to climb up with leis and then we would throw them out to the tourists."

After graduating from CCH in 1970, Hunt says he signed a contract with the Board of Education to teach in Kaneohe for six months. "I also taught an English class at CCH. I taught students who needed help with English."

Then, with his family, he returned to his home country to teach at the Church College of Western Samoa. "I was a teacher, then an administrator," he says.

At that time, there were very few Samoan CCH graduates who worked outside of the Church Education System, he says. But eventually he went to work for the government airline, gaining experience as a national airline manager and traffic supervisor. Then Hunt went to the University of the South Pacific, he says, and "was at both places for eight years until 1987 of October when I resigned and went into politics." He was elected to parliament.

"As a member of Parliament, I was on the Public Accounts Committee, looking out on how government funds were spent. I looked at the annual accounts," he says. "We would summon anyone we wanted to question." He also traveled to a conference in Berlin, Germany, with two other parliament members, and says he's "been to Canada and all over the Pacific rim."

"Initially I was nervous," says Hunt about being in politics. "But just like in Church, you have to get up in your wards, and I had held leadership positions in the Church, so you get use to it."

His love of rugby, which grew while playing the sport at CCH, continued after leaving Laie and returning to Samoa. "I was elected the head of the administration of the Rugby Union," he says. "I was in charge of running the Union's activities in Samoa; fundraising and everything else. I was a judge in the South Pacific Games, and I was a member of the management committee for that."

At one point in his career, Hunt was also a TESOL instructor in Australia. "My family and I lived in Australia and I applied for a teaching job," he says. "I must have been the first CCH graduate to apply because it took a while for the department to communicate with CCH. In the end, they found out I had more requirements then they needed. I was then appointed a full-time teacher. I also worked part-time teaching English to migrant workers at Newcastle Technical College." There, he says, he worked with people from all over Europe.

Hunt was also on the Board of Directors and a share holder for 14 years in the first hotel property on the beach in Samoa, the Coconut Beach Club and Resort, he says. Plus he profitably managed for five years a travel company in the Pacific with offices in New Zealand and Samoa.

Speaking about how his experiences as a young man living, working and studying in Laie affected his life, Hunt says: "It was everything for me.... I was able to do not only what I was trained to do, like teaching, but other things that I had not been trained to do. My CCH experience taught me where to go to get or find information so I could become knowledgeable in things I wasn't trained for. As a result, I was able to do a lot of the things: I was in business for myself and I was a director on boards. I wasn't trained for that, but my foundation at CCH taught me to read and study."

Hunt is currently the BYU-Hawaii career services amabassador for Samoa.

Donnette Machado Ah Puck Kekauoha

('63, Elementary Education)

I really enjoyed my teaching career

Donnette Machado Ah Puck Kekauoha — one of the original students at the Church College of Hawaii in 1955 who several generations of school children at Laie Elementary will remember as their teacher — moved to Laie at the start of World War II to live with her grandparents, the late Moke and Susan Hiram.

"We felt the community was the safest place to live. Our doors were all unlocked, and people were very loving and giving. Whenever you went into their homes, they always invited you to eat. That was the first thing they did," she recalled. "My grandfather was a farmer, so we worked in our watermelon field, but the biggest thing for us was to go swimming in Beauty Hole. Everybody learned to swim there. Also where Larry Au lives [Loala Street] was the old social hall and theater. We used to have concerts and dances there.

"What I really liked when I was little, once a year when they had elections they had a political rally here and we met everyone who was running for office. There was big entertainment and lots of food to eat. We looked forward to those things," she continued.

Asked about going to Kahuku High, where she graduated in 1955, Kekauoha said the school was "really small. In my senior class we had only 55 students. Some of the ones still around here are Cecelia Adolpho Fong, Gordon Tashiro, my aunt Thelma Hiram Kamae, Elizabeth Hubbel Haiola and Ramona Dela Cruz whose father was one of the butchers for Kahuku Plantation.
"We had a football team, but they didn't do very well during our year. After I graduated they did very, very well. We also had a good baseball team. All of our dances were held in Kahuku gym. We never went anywhere special, like the kids do today. Everybody was poor, and hardly anybody had cars. My grandfather drove us five girls to school and picked us up every day."

"Before I graduated from high school, I heard them talking about them having a college here," said Kekauoha, who remembers going to the February 12, 1955, ceremony when LDS Church President David O. McKay broke ground for the Church College of Hawai'i. "We all went to the groundbreaking together. My girlfriend, Erna Alapa, said, 'I can't see the prophet,' so I put her on my shoulder. You can see her and my friend, Edna 'Anae, in the pictures, but you can't see me."

"One day my grandmother said, 'I want you girls to go to college.' At that time it was $99 for the year. We thought, wow, that's so much money, but my grandfather paid for Thelma [Kamae] and I to go. Lots of the other families didn't have the $99, so a lot of the boys joined the military and went away instead.

"Where they put they put the temporary campus [on the corner of Naniloa Loop and Lanihuli Street, where the Laie North Stake Center stands] was my grandfather's corn field. Two weeks before harvest, President [Edward L.] Clissold came to my grandfather's house and told him the buildings [they had moved in] were there. We had to go tell everybody to raid our field so the buildings could come in."

Kekau'oha remembered when CCH classes started, "I was scared. I thought I was not smart enough to go to college, and my grandma was going to be so sad. My grandma always wanted to be a schoolteacher, and she kept encouraging us. When we came home, she would ask us what kind of homework we had, and she would help us with our lessons. She was the one who really encouraged Thelma and I to continue with our education.

"When we first began, because we were all new, the teachers were really helpful and encouraged us. They would take us on the side, if we needed help, and talk to us or call us into their offices and counsel us. The college was so small, and we all wanted it to be successful, so that was one of the things they would do to encourage us.

"Most of our dances were held at Kakela [now called Kokololio Beach Park], and everybody went to Goo's store. That was one of the hangouts. When we had our devotionals, the whole community came. My grandma came to every devotional we had. That was one of the neatest things to me; and when we graduated, we had our dance in the old social hall. There were no walls, so you could look out and see the stars."

"I graduated in '57 with an associate's degree in education. At that time CCH was only a two-year college. Then my grandma sent me back to school again and told me to take business courses," Kekau'oha continued, noting that after one semester the late Joseph "Sonny" Ah Puck — who was from Honokaa, but moved to Laie to live with his sister, the late Lanihau Broad, and attend Kahuku High — "proposed to me, and we got married in March 1958. We moved to Michigan, because he was in the military. While I was there, my grandma told me they were going to have a four-year college, 'so when you come back, you go back to school.'

"One day I received a letter from my grandma telling me that one of my friends who had started at Church College with me, Miriam Hanohano — Joseph Whitford's mother, had dropped out of school when her husband, a policeman, was killed. Right then and there I decided I needed to have an education so I would be able to take care of my own children in case anything happened to my husband."

Kekau'oha said she returned to Laie in '61 and enrolled again at CCH. "I did my student teaching with Viola Kawahigashi. She taught me everything I should know about reading, even more so than college. She was really an inspiring teacher and gave me a love for teaching. She instilled in me how important it was to have an understanding of the children and to know that every child has the right to learn," Kekau'oha said, recalling Kawahigashi also told her to make sure the children had fun. For example, I enjoyed putting on our May Day programs. We're so blessed with talented children. They liked to perform, and I always set my goals high for them."

Kekau'oha graduated in '63 with a degree in elementary education and started teaching that year at Laie under principal Clinton Kanahele. Over the next 32 years she taught from grades K-4, and retired in 1996. "I really enjoyed my teaching career, so much so that after I retired and moved to San Antonio for three years with my second husband, Randolph Kekau'oha, who is also from Laie. I volunteered for three years."

"When Randolph and I got married and moved to San Antonio, I thought that was where I was going to live out the rest of our lives. Three years later he told me he wanted to go home and be with his family. I told him we could go and visit, but he said no: I want to go home and be a Hawaiian. I'm tired of being a Mexican."

Kekau'oha, in the meantime, had transferred the family home on Iosepa Street to her daughter, Josephine Ah Puck, so the couple built a new house behind the old one, and Donnette said, "We're glad to be back."

Her other three children — Barbara Jean Kahawai'i, Sonny Ah Puck and Robert Ah Puck, as well as 24 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren — all live in Ko'olauloa. Randolph also has three children and five grandchildren.

Kekau'oha now spends her time working on a special service project, helps take care of her grandchildren, and "I just put in to become a substitute teacher," she said.

Dale Keli'iliki

(Retired math professor, 1972-97)

Student, labor missionary, professor...

Dale Keli'iliki of Laie had already been in the military, gone to Church College of Hawai'i for two years, had just started his own auto detailing business and was making excellent money when Oahu Stake President Edward L. Clissold asked him to voluntarily serve as a labor missionary to help build the second phase of the campus and also the Polynesian Cultural Center.

Keli'iliki said President Clissold "also told me I had to go back to school. Somehow, he got hold of the registrar and found out I hadn't finished school. At that time, I'd work for half a day, and came home with over $100. My dad told me, listen to your Church leaders. My parents were very definite about the Church."

Keli'iliki said the labor mission was "tapering down" when he started. "I was fortunate that I got switched to a lot of different crews. I went to the carpenters. I went to the electricians, and I learned a lot of stuff. The labor mission was fun, and a really nice experience."

Keli'iliki was born on Moloka'i but grew up in Laie, graduated from Kahuku High in 1958, and said he loves the community. "The only things to do before were beach activities and going into the mountains to pick fruits. We didn't have TV or electronic games, so I treasure all those activities we used to do. My first love was the beach. I loved skin diving."

"When the college came in...it gave me a sense that I better go get educated. When I was in high school we didn't get much counseling along those lines. But when I started taking math from [the late] Richard Coburn, he was on my back to take math as a major. He said, 'You're going to be a math major, too.' I said, oh, we'll see; but as it turned out, that's exactly the way I went."

"Before CCH started, there were some buildings used by the military for training in the area where the college first was. CCH used all of those buildings for classrooms and added one to make the cafeteria. The old Laie Social Hall, right where Larry Au lives right now, was used as a classroom and a wood shop. They were also trying to get an auto shop going, too. We used Laie Park for physical education and basketball. Where Charley Goo is living now used to be the Old Plantation Store. His father had created a soda fountain with a juke box in there. The college kids and the local kids would go over there, having ice cream, soda pop, and even some dancing."

"One year I went up to Provo for one semester to see if there was a difference. My good friend, Vi'i Pita, said he'd come with me. I'm glad I went," Keli'iliki continued. "In my major alone there was a distinct difference in the way mathematics was approached here versus the way it was being presented at the Y. I felt I never had this kind of math before in my life."

Keli'iliki said after graduating from BYU in math, he worked for Lockheed Aircraft in California as a flight test engineer, but soon returned to Laie to help care for his father. His first job back in Ko'olauloa was as the playground director at Hau'ula. "They called me Mister Dale," he said. Soon after he got married. His wife, Sue Stover Keli'iliki ('68), who is a former Kahuku High and LDS Seminary teacher. The couple returned to Provo, Utah, where Keli'iliki earned a master's degree in 1971, and "before the year was over, Dick Coburn was asking for me to come back."

"I started teaching in the fall of 1972 and retired in 1997 because my father was going through a battle with cancer. I was going to work a little bit longer, but I thought I would be missing out if I didn't take time to be with him. He lived six years beyond that point, but I don't regret those years with him. I took him on trips. I was in the hospital with him many times, too. The doctors used to say, I don't know how he's living longer. He was 93 when he passed away in 2003. Since then, I've been fixing up my house and taking care of my sister who stays with us, now."

"Knowing what I know now, I would do it again," Keli'iliki said. "At heart, I'm a country kid. I loved Laie from when I first moved here. There was never any question where I was going to live."

Cindy Keung

('79)

An education in motherhood

"At BYU-Hawaii, I received my education in motherhood," recalls Cindy Keung, who along with her husband, Stephen, attended the university here in Laie when they were new, young parents.

Calling the community of multicultural married students with children "close knit," Cindy says serving in the Relief Society and helping out her neighbors was an important part of her development as a mother.

"I had one sister that didn't speak English," Cindy says. "We communicated with sign language. She was from Mexico, and she ended up serving with me."

"It helped, I suppose, because we were all young mothers and we were away from our own mothers. We were all left to ourselves to sort things out," she says. "We all came from different cultures and backgrounds. But I really appreciated the support of other sisters and mothers who knew what I was going through."

"I remember coming home with my new baby," she continues, "and thought to myself, 'I'm never going to make it!' I never slept that night. No one told me that babies breathe fast anyways." Cindy remembers lying there that first night by her newborn daughter's crib, and when the baby paused longer in her breathing than Cindy thought she should. "This child is not going to make it through her first birthday," she thought; but when she spoke to the other young mothers about her concerns, she found out "I wasn't the only one that felt that way."

"I figured if I didn't know, my husband wouldn't know," she says talking about being a new mother. "I just didn't want to burden him with that.They were tough years, but we all grew together."

"Most of us had a feel for why we were there and what we had to do," says Cindy about her neighbors and fellow sisters in Relief Society. "We knew we had to get our husbands through this [schooling]. We knew that it was tough but there was light at the end of the tunnel."

Talking about the people she knew who were so willing to serve others, Cindy tells of a young mother and her husband who were exhausted because they were taking care of a sick, colicky baby. "We gathered around them and took the baby," she says of herself and her neighbors.

Seeing the selfless service people did for each other and being able to help others, too, made her time here memorable. "As young as we were, they were so unselfish," she says of the young mothers she knew. They helped each other learn how to nurse their children and acted as wet nurses for other mothers who were sick or in need. For example, one sister came to Cindy's home in tears because she couldn't breast feed her child. Her friend had had two babies in one year and had gotten sick. "The baby was hungry," says Cindy. "So between two of us," she continues, "we breastfed that baby for a couple of weeks. It was no big deal. We could help her. We had plenty of milk." She and another mother nursed the child until her own mother was well enough to take her again. Plus "when we would want to go to the temple, we would feed each other's children. It wasn't a big deal for us, and that happened a lot — particularly among the Polynesian sisters."

Cindy also recalls taking on the task of talking to new mothers about what could happen after their babies arrive. "A lot suffered with post-natal depression. What was important for them to know was that it is normal." She experienced this type of depression herself. "I would think, 'Why am I so unhappy when I should be so happy.' I tried desperately not to cry. I really hid that from my husband. I felt inadequate, and I wanted my husband to think everything was fine so he could continue on with his studies."

"I look back on those years, and they were wonderful growing years. If I had to do it all over again, I would do it all over again," Cindy says.

Speaking of her husband, Stephen, she says he is a "wonderful father" who "pines" for his children and is becoming more of a "softie" year after year. "As far as our son is concerned, he couldn't want for a better dad and example of the priesthood." Stephen has always given their children blessings, which has prepared their son, Jacob, to also magnify his priesthood. "Our son grew up seeing our daughters get blessings. Jacob takes his responsibility just as seriously as his father," she says. "Our children we just love and enjoy."

"Hawaii for us was a struggle," Cindy says. "But it was a time when we really grew close together. We wanted to make things work. I think the reason why we are who we are today is because of the experiences we had at BYUH. We had no one at the end of the day to rely on but each other."

"We have now been married for 27 years. We grew up as a couple at BYU-Hawaii through the things that we experienced there and the opportunity to study at BYUH. We learned to serve there as a couple."

"I wouldn't be the type of person I am without him," Cindy says about Stephen. "He draws the very best out of me."

The Keungs continue to serve and work together. Cindy currently is doing LDS Church Public Affairs work in Australia, and Stephen was the chair for the Auckland region. "My first assignment was media. That was 10 years ago. I write for the newspaper and the Ensign."

"While I was in New Zealand, I was called by the Area Presidency to oversee New Zealand. We have in insert for Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea so I was responsible for articles, editing and sending them off for publication. I have no formal training or background. I am just the Lord's vessel. He does all the writing. Thoughts come into my mind," she says. "I am not afraid to do it anymore. Although it is still scary meeting with media people and organizing dignitaries and things like that. I do a lot of that in Australia now. I am director of Public Affairs and Auxiliary President. It is very different set up from Hawaii. Because we have distances, they combine all the auxiliaries together."

Yu-Ning Lai

('75, Elementary Education)
Retired Hong Kong corrections officer

Still very grateful for this school

Before I came to BYU-Hawaii, I was a teacher, but I had never received any proper training. In 1971 I was accepted by this university and majored in elementary education because I loved teaching.

My parents couldn't pay for my studies in the United States. They couldn't even pay for my transportation, but fortunately a very good friend gave me some money and I was able to get here. I remember in 1972, the first summer I was here, I went to Waikiki with some of my Chinese friends, to work in the hotels and restaurants. At that time we were allowed to work off-campus during holidays, and I was able to earn sufficient money to pay back my friend. I felt good about that; but after that experience, I didn’t want to stay away from the campus.

I liked the spiritual environment in Laie. We have a temple and so many good leaders. I always enjoyed attending Sunday services and stake conferences.” I went back home the same year I graduated and thought I could get a job, but at that time there was a surplus of teachers. Even my elder brother, who'd been a teacher for about 20 years, had been laid off and had to find another job. After a year of doing part-time work, because I couldn't get a fulltime teaching post, I finally joined the Hong Kong Correctional Services Department as an officer equivalent to a lieutenant because I had a college degree. My salary at that time was just like a University of Hong Kong graduate who, in those days, got the highest pay.

I did managerial supervisory work in maintaining law enforcement in the prison system. Before I left there were over 10,000 prisoners, and the number is increasing, especially among women who don't have the proper papers [to be in Hong Kong]. I felt this was another way to help people. I tried to set a good example among my colleagues and the prisoners. We used fair but firm tactics with them.

I married a girl from my same ward in the Provo Temple in 1978. At that time we didn't have a temple in Hong Kong, so my stake president arranged for us to go to Provo with four other couples and two other families. [The Lais have two children: a son who graduated from the University of Utah, and a daughter — Rachel Lai — who's a current BYU-Hawaii student.]

Later, I served in the Hong Kong Island Stake presidency. I was first called as the second counselor by Elder John Groberg when he was in our Area Presidency.

I turned 55 in 2002, and retired the next year. The government policy is that all law enforcement officers and similar personnel are to retire from service at age 55. For the past year I've been enjoying my retirement. Coincidentally, last year I got permanent residency in the U.S., so I came over here to seek job opportunities.

The campus has a lot of new buildings. The newest building when I left was the Aloha Center. We didn't have the new library, the administration building, or the Cannon Activities Center. The physical facilities have changed a lot, but I really like it. I hope the school will keep expanding so enrollment can increase.

Over all these years, I'm still very grateful for this school. Without my education, I would not have had the opportunities I have had. Through the work-study program at that time I could pay for my schooling by myself. My family couldn’t afford to support me. I was a custodian, and after a year I was promoted to student supervisor, where I was able to learn leadership. We had about 50 students from different nations, and that was a great learning opportunity for me.

That's why we sent our daughter here. I would do it again. As a member of the stake presidency I used to tell future students that to have a part-time job and study at the same time is not easy, but their aim should not be on earning money, but achieving high grades and developing good spirituality.

In addition to BYU-Hawaii, I really want to thank the two sister missionaries who were able to teach a young boy in Hong Kong: Sisters Linda Carlson from Idaho Falls and Noa Au from Laie. I’m so grateful that they found me and brought me the gospel. I've lost contact with Sister Carlson, but I talk with Sister Au [who works in the Copy Center] every time I come to Laie. I also want to thank Charles Goo, who was my branch president when I was a young man.

So many people have set good examples.

Christopher Lowe

('01, International Culture Studies)
Teacher, Vaiola, Savaii, Samoa

BYU-Hawaii changed my life

I am originally from Massachusetts but came to Hawaii when I was seven years old. I was adopted by a Hawaiian mother and an African-American father. My biological parents were not members of the church, but my adoptive parents are. My adoptive mother still lives in Kaneohe, but my adoptive father passed away in '94, right before I came to BYU-Hawaii.

My mother was more like a best friend, and well, just special. My father was converted to the Church when he met my mother, even before the blacks were allowed to hold the Priesthood. He had a strong testimony 'til the day he died. He was ordained by Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve. He always knew that the blacks would receive the priesthood. He never doubted. You think about what blacks in the Church were doing at that time -- they were donating money, time, and services in helping to build temples, and for all they knew they maybe would never be able to enter those temples. Donating to ward mission funds and the like...that's faith. That's what I consider to be the history that I come from. It kind of gives me a sense of responsibility to do greater things. Everyone has something that they owe to their parents and what their parents went through, and they want to do greater things. I especially feel that way. I have moments where I need to remind myself, and remember. That sense of commitment seems to guide me in what I do.

Ever since I was 12 years old I wanted to be in the Concert Choir. I saw them perform once in a concert called Celebrations with the Honolulu Symphony, and I just told myself I want to be in that choir -- and I had nothing to do with music, but I eventually got interested. One day Dr. [James A.] Smith came to Kahuku High to help with auditions for the select vocal ensemble there. He sang You'll Never Walk Alone. After, I told him one day I would be in his choir. I went to all their Christmas concerts, and my mother didn’t mind, she figured it was a good place for me to be. I would always remind him, and he came to watch me in a musical that I was in during my senior year. Later he caught me while I was working at McDonald's and mentioned he hadn't seen my application come through. I told him we were low on funds and that I didn't think I would be coming to BYU-Hawaii. He mentioned if I could do my part with the tests, the school could help me out. My brother and I got Seminary scholarships that were good for a year.

When I went to audition for Concert choir the first day of class, he simply told me I was in. He told me I'd been auditioning for the past five years of my life. It was one of the greatest moments of my life. The night I put on that concert choir tuxedo was one of my best.

Since then I've also been involved in the University Chorale, the Jazz Band, and the Pep Band. I play trombone, which was my main instrument. Now, vocal is my main thing. I've been in Concert Choir for six years. Dr. Smith was like my dad: He always had me helping him by giving me his keys and having me retrieve things for him, open things for him. From this they created a job, choir manager, which I loved doing. It was one of the best jobs I ever had.

I went on three neighbor island tours and one international tour. I never served a mission, so the international tour was a missionary opportunity for me. We took a few boxes of Books of Mormon with us for anybody who was interested. In Singapore, there was this outside amphitheatre where they held concerts on Sundays. The grass was slanted down, like a bowl, and thousands of people were there. After singing, we would go out and talk to people who were sitting and picnicking on the grass. A gentleman approached and expressed that he felt a different and nice spirit while we were singing. I offered him a Book of Mormon, which he graciously accepted. I don't know whatever happened to him and his family, but I'll never forget that moment. It helped confirm my faith that when you're on the Lord's errand, He will open up a way for His purposes to happen.

I was at BYU-Hawaii for four years before I got married in '98 to Saofa'i Siaunu'ua, or just Fa'i. That's also about when I became an ICS major. Dr. Compton had to teach me how to comprehend the things I had to read. The major also taught me to be less ethnocentric and look at the world in a different way. It helped to build my thinking. The switch to ICS took a great leap of faith for me, but I now have so many good friends who are professors here. I never want to get out of contact with them. They were all extremely supportive of me going to Samoa where we now reside. It's a whole new world. I teach English, history and music. We actually have a drumline here. I have also helped put together a choir who is doing performances all around.

My hopes for the future are to go to graduate school and study public administration or public policy and apply things I've learned about international cultural studies. I want to go all the way and get a doctorate, a Ph.D. and do whatever I can to help the Lord, wherever He calls me and to do whatever He needs me to do; also, to make sure I have a happy family, of course and that my children do the best that they can and that they are successful.

I really believe BYU-Hawaii has changed my life. I will be eternally grateful for this place.

Khumbulani 'Desmond' Mdletshe

('91, History: Government)
CES Director, Africa

All Chidren of our Heavenly Father

He was an average teenager playing on the streets of Durban, South Africa, in 1980 when LDS Church missionaries first met BYU-Hawaii alum Khumbulani (Desmond) Mdletshe. But after joining the Church at 15, serving a mission in England, being offered the chance to go to BYUH with financial assistance, and eventually earning his doctoral degree, Mdletshe now works in his home country for the Church Educational System and is on a South African board of directors for colleges.

"Since coming home, I have been a teacher, a researcher at a university, and a senior government official," says Mdletshe, who lives in Johannesburg. "When the new government came into power in 1994, I was among the first to help form the Department of Education. I traveled much around the schools helping to train principals and those responsible for quality at the school level."

"Then I was invited by the Church to come and work for the Church Educational System," he continues. "I started as a coordinator and am now the director for CES. I am responsible for 26 countries in Africa, and so I travel throughout the continent."

Mdletshe says the example of equality in education he saw and experienced at BYUH for people of all races and cultures has inspired him to work for that same opportunity for people in South Africa. "Because of separate education in Africa, the quality of education was different," he says. "And so it was our responsibility to bring about equality in education. It was very important that we develop systems and processes to insure that a black kid and a white kid in South Africa were able to receive an equal education."

He says with how he "was treated and addressed in Hawaii, with my BYU-Hawaii experience, I can't help but promote equality in education. It is what I received while at BYUH. It is what I am trying to help establish here in South Africa."

"Being at BYUH was my first introduction to what it means to sit together as equals in one classroom. Regardless of your racial background, regardless of your family background, we are all students together. Above and beyond that, the academic quality that I received at BYUH prepared me to come back to South Africa to see how I could contribute. It helped me to be prepared to debate why it is important to have equal education in South Africa."

"I must add that I am also responsible for governance in South Africa, like a board of directors, of colleges. I am the initial chairperson of that. I prayed for this position so that I could make a contribution of some sort to South Africa."

Twenty-five years ago when Mdletshe joined the Church, it was just two years after the revelation in 1978 that made it possible for all worthy male members to hold the priesthood, he said. "So I was among the first converts to the missionaries in my area," Mdletshe recalls.

"I was not raised up in a Christian family," he says, and at first his family didn't know he had joined the Church. "My parents were not churchgoers, but they believed. However, as a family we did not belong to any church at all. So there were not difficulties there," he says. "They thought it good that people go to church. They supported me in my choice of religion."

But Mdletshe says his conversion into the Church was hard since it wasn't until 1978 that blacks received the priesthood. "It was difficult for me to have white boys and men come and teach us."

"In South Africa, at that time, there was a lot of tension between blacks and whites," he says. "To us there was no distinction between Americans and English; they were all the same as long as they were white." Yet Mdletshe says it was easy to make friendships with the LDS missionaries because they had respect and love for the South African people.

"At the time that I joined the church, I don't think I was touched by the message that they had of the gospel; but by their friendship. And then my conversion followed thereafter."

"We did continue to face questions of belonging to a white man's church," he says, "but it was not a hostile attack." As the church began to further establish itself in South Africa, it was represented as an organization that changes lives of people rather than an organization that represented the oppression of the day, Mdletshe says. "And so that transition, even though it took longer, became a reality as years passed by. It was not an oppression of such, but a transition of something good from a spiritual perspective."

Mdletshe next served an LDS Church mission in England where he met a BYU Provo education leadership professor, Wayne Shute, who was visiting one of the wards in which he was serving. The professor asked him about his opportunities in South Africa after his mission, and Mdletshe says, "at that time, there were very few chances for guys to come back to South Africa and try to make a profound living."

Shute asked him if that he would like to go to the United States to study at a Church university -- not in Provo -- but in Hawaii. Shute told Mdletshe he thought it would be better for him "to go to Hawaii and get adjusted to the American ways of studying there instead of going straight to Provo," says Mdletshe. "And so he and my mission president [Ed J. Pinegar]made arrangements and contacted BYU-Hawaii for me to go there, using a scholarship that BYUH had. My mission president sponsored me, and that's how I got myself to Hawaii. Prior to all of this I had never heard or known of BYUH. It never registered to me that I could find myself as a student there."

At the end of his mission in England, Mdletshe didn't go home to South Africa. "I went straight from my mission to Hawaii because of costs. I took advantage of the church transporting you to your home after the mission, and my home at that time was going to be BYUH where I was determined to get an education."

Upon arriving in Honolulu, Mdletshe says members of the student body greeted him at the airport and took him to the campus. "I was released as a missionary by a BYU-Hawaii stake president when I arrived in Laie," he adds, and then "got started very quickly" and "got a job in two days. Later when school started, I was already adjusted to the way of life at BYUH."

"There were a lot of thoughts and emotions going through my mind when I arrived, coming from parents who had no education, coming from a mission, then arriving on campus," he says. "And more than anything, finally, my dreams were going to come true of getting a higher education. I was very excited and very determined to succeed as a student. I took that as a lifetime opportunity."

His first job on campus was working in the cafeteria washing pots, pans and dishes. "But in my mind I was willing to do anything to pay for my education," he says. "I was there for six months and then I moved to the P.E. cage, issuing clothes for about four months."

"Then right after the student body elections, I became an ombudsman, which was the beginning of a new life for me. I got a scholarship. I got better pay. And it became the beginning of my leadership experience. My first involvement with leadership was on my mission as a district leader, and then this job allowed me to become involved with the student body and student politics. It was exciting, and besides paying well, and it gave me insight in how it felt to be a leader."

"One of my responsibilities was that I had to go and address the administration of the university on issues affecting the students on campus. And many times there were parking issues that were the biggest problem on campus. Discussion of gym hours was another, and the R-rated movies at the theather in the Laie Shopping Center was another issue only because the majority of the clientele were the students from BYUH. I think these experiences prepared me for what was to come in the future."

Mdletshe says he then became the assistant student activities coordinator and was responsible for student orientation. "Every semester I had to plan the orientation for all new students coming to school," he says. "What was done for me in coming to this campus, I then became responsible to share the same thing with those new students coming to school here. And so I did this for three years. These positions helped me and were also great preparation for graduate school."

He adds that overall BYU-Hawaii was great preparation for graduate school. "I went on to Provo and did my master's degree in instructional science. Then I went back home to South Africa and got married. Now we have two children. And I also went on getting my Ph.D. in South Africa in educational management."

"I met my wife, Futhi, in South Africa right after my graduation in Provo. She was investigating the Church at the time. I was at church and she was walking in, and she was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. We were married in Johannesburg and were sealed in the Johannesburg Temple."

"My daughter is Zamangomane (meaning the 'girl of the clan'), who is 9, and my son is Sikhumbuzo (meaning 'in remembrance'), who is 6 years old. I chose my daughter's name to help keep the clan name going and my son's name is after my twin brother who died."

Mdletshe's concluding comments about BYU-Hawaii are that he wishes more students could have "the opportunity that I had, but I know that is not possible. The experiences that I received while I was there cannot be compared to anything. For me, more than anything, what I learned at BYUH was racial tolerance."

Coming from a country where people were judged by the color of their skin, he says, to a place where it doesn't matter where people are from was a great experience. "You're all there as students. You're all there as children of our Heavenly Father. It was a most exciting thing for me and it prepared me for who I am today."

"I can walk anywhere. I can be with anybody. But it would be a sin for me to judge them because of the color of their skin. I learned this at BYU-Hawaii. And so I wish that all could have this same experience that I had. It is a unique university. It empowered me and gave me what I needed so that I can succeed in this world."

Gordon A. Morton

('91, Organizational Behavior)
Co-founder, XanGo, LLC

A multicultural awakening

Growing up in a farming area outside of Toronto, Canada, BYU-Hawaii alum Gordon Morton says coming to Laie was a multicultural awakening for him that changed his view of the world and the people in it.

Graduating with a bachelor's degree in organizational development in the spring of 1991, Morton admits he first came to the north shore to go to school because his parents would only pay for him to go to a LDS Church university and "the weather in Provo seemed a whole lot like the weather in Canada."

"The BYUH climate originally attracted me," he says. But once Morton was in Laie, he says it was the BYUH spirit and the culture that kept him here.

"When I got there, I realized how much I was getting out of it from an international and awareness perspective," he recalls. For example, he says he learned the notable differences between people from Australia and New Zealand and also between those from China and Japan. "It sounds almost appalling how ignorant I was when I arrived. But for someone who was raised in farm country in Canada, [BYUH] was fairly amazing as far as experiencing the various cultures."

Morton says the haole cultural awakening at BYUH is unprecedented. There are very few campuses in the United States, he says, that can rival BYUH's multicultural experience. "On one campus, you can meet people from Marquises, Samoa, Cook Islands, New Zealand, Singapore and Malaysia — all in one place," Morton says. "Not just like one student from Hong Kong or one token guy from Tahiti, it's entire groups."

Another important aspect of his experience at BYUH was his significant interaction with the professors who taught his classes. "The classroom experience at BYUH I loved. The teacher-to-student ratio is another great thing. I am a very interpersonal guy, so to have the experience of BYUH where you actually know the professor and they know your name," he says, is a great thing.

Since the university 'ohana is small and interconnected, Morton says the instructors at BYUH "probably know who you are dating and what color of car you drive. I have run into people from BYUH, and they say, ‘Hey, you were that haole guy who drove that blue car.' People have said that twice to me.... I hope that BYUH never changes in that respect; in the student-to-teacher relationship and ratio."

Talking about some of his favorite professors, Morton says back in 1986 he took an American heritage class from Dr. Dale Robertson. "He may not even remember," continues Morton, but he says Robertson had a "tremendous influence on me. His personality was edgy; he was funny, and quite the independent thinker."

He also says Morris Graham, who was the head of the Organizational Development Department during Morton's time at BYUH, "taught business with a sense of character."

And talking about his science professor, Randy Day, Morton says, "he made biology exciting. I thought, ‘Way to go, buddy.' He was so good at what he did. I can actually recite one of the analogies he gave in class."

Additionally, Morton worked on the staff of the campus student newspaper, Ke Alaka'i, where he improved his writing skills and learned desktop publishing and computer layout and design. Calling himself "a bit of an independent spirit," Morton says he was offered his first job after college "right outside of the Aloha Center office" of the student newspaper. It was working as a communication manager for a new business.

"I learned desktop publishing [working at Ke Alaka'i] and that was what saved my bacon because I graduated at the height of a recession in 1991 and not a lot of corporations where looking to pay you prime dollar for a bachelor's degree," he says. "I got my work permit in the United States as a writer. I graduated in organizational development, but my work visa was based on my writing skills."

The BYUH philosophy of learning in a unique, multicultural religious environment and then going out to make a difference internationally was galvanized in Morton while he was studying here.

"The BYUH philosophy is appropriate for me," he says. Morton currently sits on the board for a charity called Operation Kids. He says while studying here his political views were solidified and he "developed a softer side when it came to charitable work. And I think that is one thing that BYUH does so well. It instills that in people. I can't go on campus or run into BYU-Hawaii people where someone hasn't given me a lei or some chocolates. I have walked away from that campus with baskets, a BYUH tie and shirt. It's just a very giving environment. There is so much heart."

"BYUH played a very sizable role in my life," he continues. "I had a fairly significant amount of things happen on that little piece of real estate."

Commenting on President David O. McKay's vision for the university and the Laie community, Morton says "a lot of people took a leap of faith" building the campus here. In the early years, he says, "Laie was matter unorganized." But now 50 years later, Pres. McKay's vision is being realized.

"I believe everything that David O. McKay said," says Morton. "I like to think that in a little way I am making a humble dent into his prophecy in the way of charitable contributions or being a good community member. I have so many things to improve. You can spend your whole life hoping that you live up to a prophecy like that. That is such a powerful statement. That prophecy right there is a life-time goal."

"When you travel to Southeast Asia, you realize that BYUH has sent out leaders," he adds about making a difference in the world and also the international growth of the LDS Church. "I have run into people in Asia and they are Seasiders. And I always think of President McKay's prophecy, that people will have an influence for good."

Living a well-rounded life is Morton's goal, he says, finding success in all aspects of life: professional, family and in the community. "You see people who have financial success, but from a family perspective or spiritual side, they aren't so much. For me, I am the luckiest man. I have the most phenomenal wife and a beautiful young daughter. And I know that is an oddity because if you look statistically amongst people who are married in the temple, the divorce statistics are still high. I just happened to marry the right person at the right time. The Good Lord sought to provide me with the greatest spouse in the world. That is a real big deal."

Morton credits his wife, Rachel, for putting up with him even though he is "weird" and believing in him and his dreams. "She is the greatest," he says, noting the name of their two-year-old daughter, Lia, is spelled the same in both Italian and Hawaiian.

Today Morton works as the executive vice president of sales and marketing for XanGo, LLC, an international networking marketing corporation with 400 employees and 300,000 worldwide distributors. But his daughter, Lia, was born when he was starting up XanGo, he said, and when he and his wife were jobless and paycheck-less.

"We had decided that when we had our first child, we wouldn't work. We both had mothers who were there for us and wanted that for our daughter. The timing was funny: I quit my job, Rachel quit her job, and we were looking at a brand new baby. I lost 27 pounds," he says. They mortgaged their house and took out loans to start the business, Morton says, and that's a lot to put a wife and new mother through. "It's a fairly rare breed of person that can go through that," he says. "You have to have a pretty good relationship with your wife, and she has to be pretty confident in you. I never would have been able to accomplish what I did without the great wife that I have."

"For every person that believes in you, there are 10 people who tell you are nuts," Morton says, "everyone from relatives to friends, the people you meet, the banks. You have to have a strong belief in what you do. It helps when you come home just having the wind knocked out of you because several people deflate your dreams and your wife says, 'You can do it' and tells you are smart. That little pep talk is a pretty big deal."

Morton says if he could do everything all over again, he would have learned as much as he could about Asian cultures. He advises students at BYU-Hawaii to "not shy away from international foods, intercultural communication, school or Korean barbecue. The fact that you get to have that experience at BYUH is pretty significant. Life is an adventure... take in all the cultural experiences you can. That's the spice of life. It's as good as the education you get in the classroom."

Veasna Neang

('04, International Business Management)

BYU-Hawaii and Me

Every time I kneel down and pray, I never forget to thank Heavenly Father for the great blessing of being in BYU-Hawaii. I never thought for a moment in my life that I would be lucky enough to come to such a beautiful university and such a beautiful place. Even though I slept and dreamed, I wouldn't dare to dream of affording a college education in the U.S.

I was born in Cambodia just right after the civil war and the "killing fields." Like other kids, I grew up in an environment you could not imagine. All we worried about each day was what would we eat the next day. I had to work hard while I went school to help my parents support my family. Many kids in my community dropped out of school because they couldn't afford it or needed to work to support their families. My parents would never let me do so. They worked hard so that I would be able to go to school. I tried hard enough that I finished high school.

But then another challenge came: I couldn't afford college. I passed the exams to a technical school where I studied finance, and two years later, I passed another exam to the national Royal University of Phnom Penh where I studied English. English was not my favorite major, but I had to study it because I was not smart enough to pass the entrance exam to the Business University. I never thought it was the preparation for me to come to a greater institution.

While attending college I learned about world religions. That was when religion became more interesting to me. I was born a Buddhist, which is my family tradition. However, I desired to learn more about other religions. My first conversion to a local Christian church was because of my curiosity to find the truth. This became more important to me. The more I learned about Christianity, the more I wondered why there are so many different teachings concerning the Christ alone. I pondered the Protestants, Catholics, the Church of Christ and the New Life Church, which I attended often.

Unexpectedly, Heavenly Father sent a person to talk to me, a friend of mine who ended up studying with me at BYU-Hawaii. He asked me if I ever wondered why there are so many churches on the earth. It was the right time and right moment. 'That's always been my ultimate question,' I replied enthusiastically. He later introduced me to a couple of American missionaries who gave me answers to all my questions. I got baptized two months later.

Later, when Brother Sudlow and Orr came, I had no idea where was Hawaii. They told us in a workshop that we would be able to come to study at BYU-Hawaii if we passed an exam. There are my subjects I knew that there would be business major that I want to study. Even though I didn't pass, I was allowed to apply for the IWES program and was thrilled when I found I got accepted. My mom cried, because I would be away from home, but all my friends were happy for me.
A challenge soon arose: I didn't have enough money to pay for the air ticket to come to BYU-Hawaii. Then, I didn't know how or why, but the CES couple told me I was granted the airfare to come. I didn't know what to say.

I arrived in Hawaii on December 26, 2000, and started in the EIL program. When I was here, I was supported by scholarship and other financial support that I came through until almost the end of the school. I was also granted a summer internship in Cambodia, which was an incredible experience. I got a job offer in the government and experienced many business opportunities there.

Being at BYU-Hawaii was not just about studying in classes. I also gained a testimony of the gospel because I was surrounded by great members and friends. They inspired me and were good examples. I had callings where I learned more about the Church standards and met many general authorities. Most importantly, President Shumway is an Area Authority Seventy. My best experience was when I served in Student Association for the a year where I leaned to be a leader. I also work at PCC where I met a lot people and learned new things.

Through BYU-Hawaii, I learned about the prophecy of President McKay which I had never heard before I came. Looking back, now I know why I passed the exam to study English in Cambodia. I know why I came here. I know clearly in my mind the Lord prepared to come here not only to get an education, but to become a leader in the Church and my country. I will be one of the men who will go out and establish peace internationally.

No matter what happens, I know I have been in the right place and done the right things. Wherever I go, BYU-Hawaii will be my second home. I will never forget the memories and experiences I gained here. I will go and do the greater things that I need to. I will never forget the sentence "from this school, I tell you, will go men and women whose influence will be felt for good towards the establishment of peace internationally." This is my mission and guide for the rest of my life I will carry. I will be a strong leader in the Church and my country for the Heavenly Father.

David Paz

('03, Chemistry)

Two "aces"

Born in Uruguay of parents who were divorced when he was one year old, David Paz went back and forth to each of them with no religious foundation. As a teenager, David was introduced to missionaries playing mini-soccer on the Mormon courts. Although neither parent would allow the missionaries, David recognized the truth and was baptized when he turned 18. One year later, he was serving a mission in Phoenix, Arizona, under Val Christensen, Mission President. It was Elder Christensen who laid the foundation for David's passage to BYU-Hawaii.

With a major in pre-professional biology, David Paz has excelled in research, a study where he identified plants with antibacterial activity which protect them from organisms that can literally eat them up. David explained, "That's why we take them into the lab to check them. The plant I brought back from Uruguay to test turned out to be the most active in antibacterial capacities. In the lab, we extract the chemicals and either process them or synthesize them so that we can duplicate them. We continue to isolate a compound until we can process it into a medicine. Once we know the structure, we can then try to synthesize it."

David was accepted into medical school on March 31, 2003 and graduated from BYU-Hawaii that June. Before he took the [medical school entrance exam] M-CAT, he said he had two "aces" up his sleeve in the interview portion: When he was questioned about his religious beliefs, he responded with an emphatic, "Yes, I do have strong religious beliefs." He remembered Paul's admonition: Do not be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Then he was asked if his system of beliefs would help him as a physician, he again responded, "Yes, because we believe in service." Then he expounded on his mission.

David's other "ace" was his research, of which he said, "I learned so much from my research, from a pool of knowledge that is here, and the opportunity to do it. Most undergraduates from other universities do not do extensive research as we do at BYU-Hawaii. They have to wait for graduate school."

In conclusion, David expressed his gratitude to BYU-Hawaii, "I never expected my life would be anything like this. I am nothing without this education. It will make all the difference in my life and in the lives of my family and those I reach through medicine. I am so grateful for faithful donors who have made this possible. I hope they will continue. When I have money, I will. I mean that seriously. . . I believe that we are accountable to God for our talents, our scholarships, and for the time we spend at BYU-Hawaii. Many would like to be here. We who are here must attend every class and do our ultimate best."

Theany Reath

('03, International Business Management)

I had a dream to go to BYU-Hawaii

"I don't like to hear about war and conflict any more. I think I have had enough. Cambodian people don't like what was done to Cambodia," said Theany, "[but when] the missionaries came to Cambodia, a lot of people welcomed them. They wanted to say 'hi' and 'hello' and they were happy to hear [missionaries] speak to them in their own Cambodian language. The missionaries are changing the people's attitude [toward the United States]."

"Since I joined the Church, I do not look to the past with negative feelings...the past is your lesson and experience. Because of the Gospel we are all united. We are all survivors."

The circumstances which formed Theany Reath's beliefs and which brought her to BYU-Hawaii reach back into a war-torn Cambodia of 1975. Theany remembers when the "Camaro" came to Phnom Penh and told people of the city they had only three days to leave. They could take with them only what they could carry. Since her mother was a nurse, she just took medicine because she was worried about what would happen. "I remember my mother held my hand, and I looked all over the streets. I'm not sure if there were American soldiers or Cambodian soldiers, but I heard a bomb, and heard the bang! My mom told me there was a war and we were not in a safe place. I was scared."

The family fled the city and headed for the Thailand border. Their flight took them through what would later be referred to as "the killing fields." They stopped many places for shelter. "I remember one night: It was so cold, and we didn't have any coats, and we were not in a camp. Everyone had just settled into a place. It was raining so hard, and all we had was a piece of plastic that my mom tried to use for a cover. We were so wet! Yet we just kept moving to the Thailand border where we lived for three years."

North Vietnam liberated the stranded Cambodians and allowed their return to the city. "I studied under the Communist system; but when I finished high school, the country had changed to a democracy," she said. "[This change] gave me the chance to attend a school of economic development where I earned an associate degree. From there, I got into a small business program from Georgetown University. It was there that I met my teacher who introduced me to the Church."

"I agreed to meet the missionaries, but every time I met with them, we fought.

I was not trying to listen; rather, I would try to prove that what I believed was true and that I was not going to change. One night we had a big fight, and I said some words that hurt their feelings. The missionaries gave up on me at last, but as we parted, one of them said that I was the one who would find out myself whether the Church is true or not."

"I had tears on the way home, and I felt guilty for being so stubborn during the missionaries' discussions. When I got home, I did not eat my dinner or see my parents. I went straight to my room instead and gave myself time to think about what the elder had said. I looked through the Book of Mormon. I knew I had felt something every time I read the book, but I was afraid to admit it to the elders. The book changed me and changed my attitude. I could feel that from the first time I began to read it. The reason I did not tell the truth is because I was scared to change, and I did not know what was going to happen to me if I changed my faith."

"Many tears were rolling down my face by now. I felt so humble to God whom I had not heard nor known before. I got on my knees and prayed to Him like I had known Him before. I said, 'God, if you are the powerful one above other gods, please let me know. I do not want to see a sign, but please let me feel your presence.' (I asked that way because I could never feel anything from the god whom I believed and worshipped before. You see, most of my people believe in something based upon things which they can see. They need a proof or sign)."

"After I finished my prayer, I felt overwhelmed by the Spirit, but I did not know what it was at that time. I was so scared! I said to myself, 'You'd better stop talking; otherwise, you'll feel something which will make you even more nervous.' I got up and sat upon my bed, hugging my knees, shedding many tears. 'That was it!' I said to myself. 'He is the one true God!'"

Throughout this experience, Theany was working for the Council for the Development of Cambodia, which searches for private investors to invest in Cambodia and suggests projects and procedures that will benefit them. From that vantage point, she could see that her country needs leadership with integrity. "That's what my people really want," Theany emphasized.

Theany left her position on the Council to serve in the California, Sacramento Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While there, a Cambodian student at BYU-Hawaii, Theang Ly, contacted her to tell her that the university was open to Asian countries, including Cambodia. "Earlier, I had a dream to go to BYU-Hawaii, but when [the BYUH recruiters] came to Cambodia to give us an entrance test, I was told that my English was not strong enough and told me to try again later on."

Not wanting to go straight to school after her mission, Theany returned to her old job and saw that nothing had changed. "The situation was getting worse. That's when I was inspired to come to school instead of staying there and doing nothing. I recalled all my dreams and my goal, so I applied once again to BYUH, got my mission president's recommendation, and was accepted to school. I had a hard time with my visa and other problems, but I know that the Lord blessed me. He knew that I wanted to achieve this goal, and it was His desire to bless me."

"I am so grateful to those who made it possible for me to continue my education by providing a scholarship. I will use the knowledge I have gained here to serve my people and my country and especially build the Kingdom of God."

Jeffrey P. Ruffolo

('78-80, Nutrition)
Owner, Ruffolo Communications

A Ke Alaka'i writer wanted to interview his roommate, who was on the Seasider basketball team, and because his roomie wasn't there when she stopped by, Ruffolo volunteered to help write the story.

"I was a nutrition major," he said. "I had changed my major, like five times; but as soon as that story appeared, I was contacted by Ron Safsten, the head of Public Relations, who said, 'Why don't you write for us. Wherever you follow the team, write about them.'"

"Throughout the month of January that is what I did. Safsten gave me a list of the media around the island. I didn't know what I was doing —  no experience — but suddenly the stories that I am calling in are on the front pages of the Honolulu Advertiser and others. I am calling in scores to radio stations. They put me on hold and then put me on live. Here I am live, 'Jeff Ruffolo calling from Kaneohe with an update on the BYU-Hawaii. How did the Seasiders do tonight Jeff?' I was this nutrition major working at the sewage plant."

"Coach K [Dr. Norman Kaluhiokalani] was my mentor. He saw what I was doing and persuaded [BYU-Hawaii President] Dan Anderson to allow me to go from Oahu to Hilo and call the scores there. Anderson said okay, and I'm jetting off with the team."

"I came back and said I was going to be the sports information officer — non-paid, still working at the treatment plant, no experience, and no journalism background. They sent me to Virginia with the volleyball team. I worked with the AP [Associated Press] and UPI [United Press International to get wire stories to the Hawaiian papers."

"I went with Inoke Funaki to Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, and New Zealand for free. There I am, a skinny kid with blond hair, and I'm meeting the prime minister of Tonga in the South Pacific promoting BYU-Hawaii."

Ruffolo, who transferred to BYU in Provo in 1980 and started to do sports promotion work there, continued, "By the time I left Provo in 1984 I had written more than 10,000 newspaper stories. I was a sports editor for the Daily Universe and a sports writer for the Daily Herald and the Deseret News. I was also the press secretary for two congressional campaigns and worked on the White House advance staff. I also worked as an assistant marketing director at a ski resort in Provo called Heritage Management Resort. I left college with a tremendous amount of experience. This was all before I graduated."

"I earned a B.A. in journalism but I knew I was going into public relations. I went on to have incredible experiences. For example, I've broadcast three Olympics for the largest radio network in America, Westward One Radio — '96 in Atlanta, 2000 in Sydney and 2004 in Athens — on more than 600 station around the country. I also work now with the Chinese government marketing their airline. They know my religion and my standards."

"I joined the church at 13 after signing my name at the Visitors Center in Salt Lake City. That was it. I owe everything to Coach K and Ron Safsten, for the vision and faith they had in me. I also believe the more I promoted BYU and BYU-Hawaii, the more I was promoting our religion."

"I believe there are many 'diamonds' in Laie because they need to be there. They need people like Coach K to go through their own incredible experiences. At BYU-Hawaii I was in an environment that nurtured excellence. They expected more from me than I thought I could do. I saw leaders like Eric Shumway and said, I want to be like him."

Christopher Selvaragu

('03, Biology (preprofessional)

It started with a PCC Visitors Center tour

The story of Christopher Selvaragu begins over 12 years ago when his father and other Malaysian businessmen (all nonmembers) stopped over on Oahu on their way to a business conference in the mainland USA. The father's two friends wanted to come to the Polynesian Culture Center. Christopher's father would have much preferred to stay in Waikiki, but since he didn't want to stay alone he somewhat unwillingly joined his friends at PCC.

As part of their PCC experience (which he loved), the men took the tram to the Temple Visitor's Center. Christopher's father was very reluctant to go there because he was a "good Catholic" and was really not interested, but once again he went along. At the Visitor's Center he was impressed enough to fill out an information card. The men enjoyed the rest of the events at PCC and went on to their conference.

Two months later in Malaysia, LDS missionaries visited the family. That wonderful Catholic family: the father, mother, Christopher, and his three sisters were baptized! Christopher and two of his sisters have since served missions. He graduated from BYU-Hawaii in Biology (Pre-Professional) in December 2003. While at BYUH, Christopher met and married his wife in the Laie Hawaii Temple.

Christopher is currently in dental school and credits his research experiences at BYU-Hawaii for "giving me the edge" for acceptance at dental school. Dr. Douglas Oba has been his mentor and has given him guidance as Christopher pursued research projects which were of importance and of special interest to him.

The Dengue Fever outbreak in Hawaii Islands in 2001, for example, prompted him to research that virus. His research identified DEN1, DEN2, DEN3, and DEN4, and became the basis for locating the original source of each. He has great respect and appreciation for Dr. Oba and for the support he received in his project.

Christopher's research also led him to collect blood samples from individuals who believed they had Dengue virus previously. The samples were screened for Dengue virus (lgG) antibodies using ELISA (enzyme linked immunoassay) procedure. The detection of the dengue antibodies identified for certain whether or not the individual had the virus in his body. The second part of the study attempted to bind the detected antibodies with DEN1, Den1, DEN3, or DEN4 virus serotypes. This helped to classify the serotype of the antibodies that was obtained. Upon classification of the Dengue antibodies, the region from which the virus originated could be determined. Christopher hopes that from his research, sub-projects in the future will find a vaccination for the prevention of Dengue in areas where it is prevalent. The virus is a continuing threat in Malaysia.

Christopher speaks five languages: Malay, Tamil, Sinhala, English and Indonesian. He is a wonderful young man with a strong testimony and a very grateful heart for the experiences here at BYU-Hawaii. His experiences take the prophetic vision of Laie full circle. He is a great example of how every entity worked together to bring this family into the Church, and then educated an outstanding young man who will be able to practice dentistry in Malaysia.

Dr. Ishmael W. Stagner II

(1958-61, Education)
CCH alumnus and former BYU-Hawaii faculty member

Ishmael Stagner, who was highly recruited as the Latter-day Saint student body president of Kamehameha School for Boys, attributes much of his brotherly service to his time spent in Laie and at Church College of Hawaii. Stagner is one of the 150 students who made up CCH's first four-year graduating class in 1961:

In 1955 my mother called me up and told me we were going to visit her Uncle Willie [Kaaa] in Laie. Uncle Willie told her that President McKay would be speaking at the sugar cane field in Laie. As a result of that speech, Uncle Willie swapped his watermelon field with another piece of land to build the school on.

I was a tenth grader when I heard that famous speech. Later, as a CCH student I got to talk to President McKay who had talked about people going to China and to India. In 1955 John Aki was a ninth grader at Kamehameha and not a member of the Church; but I had the perspective of seeing President McKay's prophecy fulfilled when John came to the university as a non-member, joined the Church and went to India on his mission.

Stagner as a member of the Polynesian Panorama group which helped pave the way for PCC.

A year after my enrollment, others from Kamehameha School came to CCH. Many came out of faith. Two-thirds of those students were not members. There was no campus, no creditability, and no accessibility. At the time CCH was not an accredited university.

Even so, the caring and thoughtful approaches of CCH professors emboldened the first graduating class to achieve the prophecies they heard first-hand. Woody Dean, Nephi Georgi, Ruth Smith, and Glenn Moore were “top notch” teachers elsewhere, but were teaching in the middle of nowhere.

Nephi was a super person, a lieutenant colonel in the Army, had a Ph.D. and could have been at any university, spoke German, and had a strong testimony. He would go jogging and would invite us to go along. We went in his home, and ate sauerkraut and other German food.

I still remember the simple things the faculty did while I was here, like the fact that they knew me by my first name. Other faculty members would also invite me over to their homes, “What are you doing for Thanksgiving,” they would say.

The highway we have now looks like a freeway compared to what it looked like at the time. CCH was remote. The dormitories did not have doors, but instead, sheets.

But because the school was so small, when General Authorities came we got to meet them and shake their hands. They would quite often have dinner with us. We got to meet and rub shoulders with President McKay, Joseph Fielding Smith, Harold B. Lee and Ezra Taft Benson. Remember, at the time there was only one stake in Hawaii, which was in existence for twenty years without much growth. There were no other stakes in the Pacific until the Auckland, New Zealand Stake was organized in 1958.

CCH became a missionary training center, whether we realized it or not. We went there to be secularly educated, but the fact of the matter is I can go back now and see how the students became church leaders.

While I was on campus, I was also able to receive my patriarchal blessing, which mentioned the power I had to influence by teaching. My whole life has placed me to watch, observe, and teach. Because people shared with me, I have to share with them.

Undoubtedly the thing that I got most at CCH was my testimony, that Jesus lives and that prayers are answered. And hopefully, if you do good things, good things will occur. I admit terrible things have happened to me; but I have been in a unique setting to hear and see prophecy, and so I have made it my life's work.

Vaclava "Wendy' Svobodova

('01, Fine Arts)

Wow! It is true!

All my life I was taught that there was no God.

Little did I know how my life would change when I applied to be a high school exchange student in the United States, representing my home in the Czech Republic.

When I went to fill out the application forms, one of the questions asked was, 'What is your religious preference?' I knew Americans were basically Christian, so that was what I wrote down. But I was a non-believer. For some 40 years, Communism had taken religion away from the Czech people.

With excitement and anticipation, I awaited the outcome of my application. Would I be accepted? Where would I be assigned to live? When I got the information back, I was assigned to Grant and Jewel Hodson, a Mormon family in West Valley City, Utah. Utah! Where is that? Mormons? Who are they? I didn't know anything.

I looked up Utah in books, and I looked up Mormons, too. The books said terrible things about the Church, and especially about Joseph Smith. I spent the last night home crying, I was so terrified. Would I be expected to exercise some strange Mormon habits? My mother reassured me that everything would be all right, and that if I didn't like my family or Utah, I could come home, or I could be assigned to another family.

When I finally arrived in Salt Lake City, one of the Hodson daughters, Emily, came to pick me up. She was 16 years old and drove a good-looking car. She was wearing normal, stylish, casual clothes, and she was so nice. I was just shocked. I thought 'Wow! This might not be that bad after all!' Of course, the whole family was very warm and welcoming.

I experienced quite a cultural adjustment as I made the transition from my way of life in Chrastava to the predominant culture of Utah. I saw that my host family prayed before every meal before they went to bed. They didn't drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes. They lived moral lives. Everything was just totally opposite of what teenagers did at home. Absolutely the opposite! I thought this was going to be a bit boring. Almost everybody I met was a member of the Mormon Church.

I was impressed that when these people spoke about their Church teachings, they would say, I know, not I believe. Never before had I heard such conviction in religious statements. If these people could know, I reasoned, there must be a way for me to know, too. I was the sort of person who had to know, because if I accepted the teachings of the Church, I would have to make changes in my lifestyle and in my future.

With a strong desire to know for myself about the truthfulness of the Church, I watched the example of my host family. The way they lived made me want to know what was behind their actions. I had never come across such faith.

Many years later, I would hear a Church leader say, 'People will want to know Christ because they know you.' I wanted to know Christ because I knew the Hodsons. They were a great example to me of the way a family should live.

I began praying. I prayed for three weeks and nothing happened, so I kind of let it go. I was a little discouraged. But the desire to know kept working within me, even though I didn't realize it at the time. A few weeks after trying to get an answer with no results, I felt that maybe I was not worthy to feel God's love.

That same week, the Hodsons asked me if I would like to join them in their traditional first Sunday of the month family testimony meeting. Jewel, my exchange mother, asked me if I would like to bear my testimony. I said, 'Sure.' But I thought, 'What am I going to say?'

Since everybody had expressed appreciation, I thought I could be truthful and fit into the testimony theme. I decided that I could at least express my appreciation to the Hodsons for all that they had done for me. They had been so patient with me. They had taken me as their own daughter, and had never pushed me into anything. I would express my true gratitude.

I was the last of the family to speak. I stood up and started saying how grateful I was for their kindness and patience and also for their desire to teach me about God. All of a sudden a strong, overwhelming feeling came to me. The English barrier was gone; I had no problem speaking English. I was fluent for the first time! I had never felt anything like this before. I felt like help was coming from behind me. I spoke as I was inspired. This was such a warm, beautiful feeling. I was quietly being taught, 'You know what you are saying is true. You know I exist. You know.'

And I did know! I had tears in my eyes. As I sat down I thought, 'What was that?' Answering as though she had heard my question, my host mother quietly spoke, 'What you are feeling is the Spirit.' All I could think was 'Wow! It is true!' Everyone was crying.

Three weeks later, my host father baptized me into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was a very happy day for me. I felt so clean and fresh! In addition to my host family, I was surrounded and supported by many members from my ward. I appreciated that so much.

When I returned to the Czech Republic from Utah, I was the only member of the Church not only in Chrastava (population 8,000) but also in Liberec, (population 120,000) a city about 10 kilometers from Chrastava. With no Church friends at home I felt something was missing, so I decided to go to Koln, Germany as a baby-sitter. Many young girls become 'nannies' because the pay is good in Germany, and I hoped I would find Church members in Koln. But I was not happy there, mainly because I was not happy with myself and not following the promises I made to God. I felt lost.

After four months I returned to Chrastava and Liberec, where I worked as a hotel receptionist and taught English in a private high school. I was 18 years old, and my students were 14-17 years old! Still I had no contact with the Church.

I admit I was weak and desperately seeking to find my 'new' place at home. I was close to giving up. Nevertheless, I continued to kneel every night and prayed for a miracle that would bring me out of my despair. I also tried really hard to stay away from my old friends and habits.

Finally my prayers were answered. The missionaries came to Liberec where I was teaching. (I later learned that my Utah host father, Brother Hodson, had contacted the mission president over the Czech Republic and told him about me. Now there is a growing branch of about 40 Latter-day Saints in my hometown area.

I have since attended Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho), then finished my fine arts degree at BYU-Hawaii. One of the highlights of being at BYUH was playing on the women's volleyball team. That year (1999-2000), we were the NAIA National Champions! I was very happy to be part of that excitement. On that special campus, I felt the spirit strongly, and my testimony grew.

I have now returned to my home in the Czech Republic. I'm not sure what Heavenly Father wants me to do in the future. Before going to BYU-Hawaii as a student, I was involved in missionary work here. Now I want to spread the gospel message once again. My dream is to help my country — somehow. I love my country! I love the people! I know I need to keep doing missionary work.

That missionary work could begin in my own family. At first, my father and mother thought I was totally crazy to have made such a conversion. They now support me completely, and they are grateful for my education.

Maybe I can also have an influence as a teacher in the arts. The people here need the gospel, and they need the arts. The people here are stressed from everyday life. For many of them, the focus of life is on power, sex, and money. That's where they think they'll find happiness. I wish they knew what I know! I wish I could teach them the true plan of happiness.

I must keep myself strong, but I know my Heavenly Father loves me and will help me to do my best, even in my imperfections. I know Heavenly Father wants my people to have the gospel and all the really good things in life. Maybe I can help. I continue to desire to be loved and guided by Him until the end.

Tevita A. Taumoepeau

('01, International Business Management)

Where the spirit of aloha abounds

"I count my blessings daily for the years I have been educated here at BYU-Hawaii...where the teachings of the Lord prevail and the spirit of aloha abounds, ...where daily are witnessed the miracles of faith, and service knows no bounds, where unity is achieved in diversity, and people are apparently 'color-blind'," Tevita 'Alamoti Taumeopeau said at his graduation banquet in December 2001.

His energetic, buoyant personality is probably part of the reason he was invited to speak. He is the embodiment of a zesty love of life and humble gratitude. Tevita was a mover and shaker while at BYU-Hawaii. At the Polynesian Culture Center, he hosted at the Tongan Village and performed in the night show for Tonga, Samoa, and Fiji for three years. Among his most outstanding contributions to BYU-Hawaii and the PCC were his performance tours as part of the PCC promotional team. He and another male dancer, along with three female dancers and a PCC Sales Representative, traveled to several countries and islands, entertaining businesses or anyone who would watch, recruiting students, funds and sponsors. As a member of the Tonga Club and the Samoa Club, he choreographed numbers for Culture Night for three of his years at BYUH. He loved to dance!

"To me, the greatest blessing of having attended BYU-Hawaii is that, as students, we were daily sheltered in the safe haven of the Church and its Educational System. . . . [I learned] total reliance on the Almighty, the Creator and Savior of this world. . . .In truth, it is exactly this total reliance and the subjugation of my will to His that resulted in my wife and I deciding to return home to Tonga and teach at Liahona High School following my graduation."

When Tevita saw a notice posted for a Computer Systems Administrator at Liahona High School, his former high school, he and his wife, Mele, each filed applications for teaching at Tonga. She became a teacher, and he was hired as the systems administrator. The couple eventually hope to pursue graduate studies at BYU Provo.

A graduate of Liahona High School in Tonga, Tevita Taumoepeau followed the advice and encouragement of his parents and applied for admission at BYU-Hawaii. After two semesters, Tevita was called to serve a mission in Colorado. In the meantime, a junior high and high school friend, Mele, also arrived at BYU-Hawaii and left for her mission in Sacramento, California.

Although they had known each other for years, it was at BYUH after their missions that Tevita and Mele fell in love and were sealed in the Laie Hawaii Temple. Kneeling across the altar from his eternal companion was the greatest event in Tevita's journey at BYUH. Their (then) two-week-old Victoria was at her father's graduation.

BYU-Hawaii has prepared Tevita for his career in "so many ways. I have developed a well-balanced life. I am well educated. I have increased spirituality. I am grateful to be where balance is important."

Jean Tefan

('80, Elementary Education)
Area Authority Seventy, French Polynesia

Jean Tefan first came to the Church College of Hawaii from Tahiti in 1968, but was called back after one year to serve a mission. Seven months after that he was married, and remained in Tahiti for a decade before deciding to continue his formal education.

Tefan, who had become a school principal in the interim, took a sabbatical to return to Laie with his wife and four children. "I'm thankful for TVA. It provided housing close to campus," said Tefan , who while a second-round student would take his family each Saturday as a student to town, the beach or a park.

"The key to keeping my family a priority was to balance all my responsibilities, to be with them and play with them. " Tefan said this meant getting up at 6 a.m. every day and going to bed at midnight "to accomplish everything on my agenda," which included his 1980 bachelor's degree in elementary education and a master's degree in public education the following year.

He recalls BYU-Hawaii president Dan Anderson said, "'We shouldn't be rich as a student.' No, it was more like either being broke or in debt. This was the time to prepare ourselves, not to be thinking of ways to be making money and losing focus."

For example, Tefan — who spoke French and Tahitian from childhood — built on his gift and love of languages to become a top student in English and Spanish. Later, he often used these skills to translate for visiting Church authorities in the islands, including Elder Bruce R. McConkie and Presidents Howard W. Hunter, Thomas S. Monson, Spencer W. Kimball, and Gordon B. Hinckley.

He also gained valuable spiritual experience when BYU-Hawaii Stake President Eric Shumway called him to be a high councilor, "even though I was very busy."

Returning to Tahiti, Tefan was called as a stake president in 1990, while serving his community as deputy mayer. In 1996 he was called as the mission president in Fiji, and soon after being released was named an Area Authority Seventy for French Polynesia.

Elder Tefan says he loves BYU-Hawaii. The three oldest of his seven children have also attended the university, two are currently students, and the two youngest still in high school hope to come.

"Be grateful for what you have," he tells his student children. "Education is worth sacrificing for."

Joanna Lua Thompson

('57) Retired Executive Secretary, BYU-Hawaii presidents (1969-2001)

Proud to be born and raised in Laie

Joanna Lua Thompson has strong ties to Laie and BYU-Hawaii. Her Hawaiian family has lived in the community for generations. Some of her relatives and in-laws served as labor missionaries, her mother worked in Food Services, and her siblings were students. She worked for many years in the President's Office. Of her own student experiences, she recently said:

"I attended school at the old campus, over by the North Stake Center. It was fun over there. It was so small that we knew everybody. Right across the street, Brother Charley Goo had a soda fountain. We had dances in the old hall and everybody did everything together. We were even close to the teachers and the administration."

"I feel privileged that I have known all the university presidents personally. Dr. Law was president when I attended as a student. One of his daughters was my classmate and we were really close friends. She would invite me over to their house to teach hula and the ukulele, so I got to know her, her sisters, her mother and her father."

"Dr. Wootton, the second president, was my Seminary teacher. A few years ago when we brought him back to receive a presidential citation, I was one of the few people he remembered. I was so happy he still remembered me. He also came back for his fiftieth wedding anniversary, and called me again."

"One thing they all had in common was their professionalism and their concern for students, that they receive a good education while they're here."

I started working here when President Cook was the president as head of the secretary pool, working out of the president's office. At that time the divisions did not have their own secretaries. I did all the secretarial work for the divisions, with the help of six student workers. I had the only machine on campus that could send out multiple original letters. Eventually the division, as they grew, got their own secretaries. As my job started to go, Nephi Georgi hired me as his secretary. He was the vice-president of the school at the time."

"I think I'm one of the people who held almost every position an executive secretary could hold on this campus, including secretary to the business manager, assistant to the registrar and secretary to the dean of students before I became secretary to the president. It was Dan Anderson who hired me as secretary to the president. To this day, Dan always tells me — he asked me to call him Dan — 'I'm so glad that I'm the one that hired you.' And I told him, I'm so glad you did, too."

"Before Dan it was Steve Brower. He was here for the shortest time, but I got to know him as a person, because I knew his wife, Vivian, and his son David. When we brought him back for a presidential citation, I was one of the few he remembered, too."

"So, I was secretary to the last four presidents: Dan Anderson, Elliot Cameron, Alton Wade and Eric Shumway. They all, in their own ways, um, have their own unique characteristics: Elliot Cameron would say, 'I'm mean, but I'm fair. And Alton Wade — because he would always forget his keys to his office and I would have to unlock it — always told me, 'Joanna, one of these days I'm gonna' remember. And, and course, you all know Eric Shumway who is president now. [When] he found out from my mother that I'm older than he is, he was surprised; so he told my mother, 'You mean, I could be your son?'"

"Another blessing is that I got to meet all the General Authorities that came on campus. As the chairman of the Graduation Committee for 20 years, I got to meet them, dress them [with academic robes], speak with them. I considered that a privilege to be there in that position. I got very close to Elder Oaks when he was president at BYU-Provo, and he also knew my daughter when she was attending there; and Elder Eyring, because he was the Commissioner during some of the years I was secretary to the president."

Asked about of her CCH/BYU-Hawaii experience, Thompson recalled the following:

"When I was a student, I met President McKay. He spoke at a devotional where I sang in the choir. That meant something to me because I know he's the one that had the prophetic vision for this university. Just meeting him made it extra special."

"I was also here when the name was changed from CCH to BYU-Hawaiiand the events that happened at our 25th anniversary. I was also so thankful they asked me to participate in the Pioneers in the Pacific [1997]. It was then I found my close ties with Iosepa in Utah, because my great-great grandfather was one of the people who went to Utah to help work on the temple."

Asked about life in Laie, where she grew up, Thompson replied:

"There's no other place in the world as Laie. When I was growing up, Laie was only half the size. It came up to Iosepa Street and down to Palekana Street. It wasn't even across. Kulanui wasn't even there. The main street into Laie was on Pu'uahi Street, just past the Beauty Hole. This was all cane fields, watermelon fields, peanut, and taro patches. And so, we used to work in the taro patches and watermelon fields. They were all over Laie, even where the North Stake Center and the Visitors Center are. But when the university was put over where the North Stake Center is, then they had to find places to house the faculty. And so, gradually, a lot of the fields got taken away."

"A lot of people now don't even know what Beauty Hole was or where it was, but of course it was across the street from Foodland where those little houses are, right next to the bridge. That's where we all learned how to swim. Eventually they had to fill it with boulders, so now that's why they have houses there."

"We used to have the Hukilau in Laie for years. When I was a teenager, we used to get up early on Hukilau days, pick flowers, go and decorate the tables, have them all decorated and ready. Then we'd go home, change, come back and serve the tourists the luau food. Then we'd go and change and come back and put on the show. We'd have this once a month to supplement the ward budget, and that's how we got all the things we needed for Church."

"At the time Oahu was one stake. Our stake conference would be in town at the Tabernacle, every time, and Laie was one ward. Everybody knew everybody and their families. So, if tutu over here needs help, anybody's family would come and help. It didn't matter whether that's your tutu, or her tutu. That's the way it was. When the university started, we were still that way."

"It's not the same anymore, but the people who are still here from that time, which are very few, still remember those days."

Asked her advice for today's students, Thompson said:

"Focus on, on the education here, and get to know the staff and administration. It doesn't matter where you go, you'll meet someone who was educated here and was so happy that they came, even if they attended only one semester, it made a difference. Faculty and administration who've come here and have gone back, they also say it's not the same up there."

"Of course it's not the same. Local people show their hospitality in doing little things. That's the way we are. We grew up here. That's the way our kupuna [elders] were. We grew up learning how to respect our elders, and we transferred that to our children, who do the same things we do."

I'm proud to say I was born and raised here, and grew up the way I did, working in the taro patch, picking up peanuts in the peanut field and picking up watermelons. I'm glad I was raised in Laie and loved it."

Akemi Tsukano

('05, TESOL)

BYU-Hawaii: The source of many blessings

I am Akemi Tsukano, the youngest and second daughter of Yukiko and Kazuo Tsukano. I was born and raised in Kumamoto, Japan. Until I became a teenager, I had never wondered what the purpose of my life was. Both of my parents taught me only the surface of what they believed as Buddhists, and I started to wonder about things on a deeper level...who am I really, and where did I come from? Although I asked myself these questions, I knew somewhere in my heart, that God does exist and He is the one who knows me and always watches over me wherever I go.

After I graduated from high school, I had an occasion to meet two sister missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A couple of months after I first met the missionaries, I was invited to someone's baptism service. I was kind of scared to attend the ceremony, yet my curiosity overcame such feelings. During the service that day I felt the spirit in my heart, which led me to change my whole life. I felt something good and wanted to know why I had such a feeling. I was totally filled with the spirit of the Lord, and I enthusiastically asked the missionaries to teach me the gospel.

The Following week, I started to receive the discussions from the missionaries. Meeting with the sisters was not so easy since my parents were opposed to my interest in the Church; therefore, most of the discussions which I had with the missionaries were held outside of my house. About a week before my baptism, the missionaries and I carefully made a plan for my baptism service, and I was baptized on January 9,1993, a day after my birthday.

When I was age 23, I was struggling with many trials. My parents disagreed with all of my decisions which I made after my conversion. Since then, the relationship between my parents, particularly my mother, and I became worse; however, as a member of the LDS Church, I continually loved them no matter what happened.

One day, my friend and I got in a car accident. At that time I was so negative about my life that I wanted to escape from all of my tribulations. I desired to go back to the presence of my Heavenly Father even though I was not ready to do so. Since the day of the car accident, I had some scars on my neck and chest from the seat belt. I continue to have pain from my chest to my back; however, my life was luckily protected. When I look back at this experience, I strongly feel that my life was truly protected by Heavenly Father. I believe that the reason why my life was saved is because I had a lot of things that I needed to accomplish before I died. From this experience, I became more and more active in the Church and accomplished many things.

The first thing that I accomplished was family history. I had an opportunity to do some temple ordinances for my ancestors. I remember one day I had a dream about my grandparents who passed away when I was a child. When I saw the dream, I was strongly inspired to do genealogy and temple work for them. I sacrificed my time and possessions for that important work. I know that my grandmother, who now lives on the other side of the veil, is enjoying her life with my grandfather as she was sealed to him in the Tokyo Temple. This experience truly became a part of my reason to stay strong in the Church and it helped me to strengthen my testimony about temple work and eternal families.

The next thing that I accomplished in my life was missionary work. I remember that one day, while I was doing something in my room, a voice of a man suddenly came to me. It was a little small voice and was not easy to catch what it had said to me. Although it was a little small voice, it penetrated into my heart and said, "Akemi, I want you to prepare to go on a mission. I prepared a place for you. Feed my sheep.: I was astonished and started to cry. I felt that it was impossible for me to become a fulltime missionary, since I was committed not to do so. Then, another voice came and said, "Akemi, please do not worry. I will bless your parents. Go now and tell your parents how you feel inside of your heart. Do not be fear. I will be with you." Because I was not sure the things, which I had heard, were right, I prayed and fasted many times before I made this important decision. As my Heavenly Father promised, my parents' hearts were softened and they allowed me to go on a mission. It was truly a miracle.

In August 1999, I was called to serve as the first Japanese missionary to serve in the Nebraska, Omaha Mission where I had the great opportunity to work in the Winter Quarter's Visitor' Center, as well as outlying areas near there for eighteen months. Even though I had some difficulties speaking English, I also had many occasions to help them feel the spirit of the Lord by sharing my testimony. I did my very best and successfully completed my mission.

Before I completed my mission, my mission president once asked me about my future plans. I could not give him a satisfactory answer. I just told him, " I feel hopeless," since I did not have a place to work or study, or anyone to marry. I was also afraid of going back home and having further problems about my LDS life there.

A couple of weeks after coming home from my mission, I was faced with a big trial: Both my parents came to the meetinghouse where I used to go to dissuade me from my beliefs. They started to make untruthful statements about the Church and me. They used abusive words. My bishop and I were astonished, and the only thing we could do for my parents was just listen. After they left the church, I cried hard and did not have any hope about my life. I could not believe the words of my parents but I knew that the experience which I had that day was a necessary part of my life. I needed to have such trial of faith so that I could know my faith was firm, and where to find peace.

After I overcame that trial, my bishop asked me in for an interview. He suggested I go back to the United States. He said there was something that might be waiting for me there. When I heard how my bishop felt, I was confused. I could not understand why I was encouraged to go back. But, because I know that the bishop has power to discern things of spiritual matter, I started to consider the suggestion. I started to think about how I could go back to the U.S. As usual, I prayed and fasted and an inspiration came to my heart: The spirit told me I should apply to one of the Church colleges, so I decided to apply to BYU Provo. However, Heavenly Father's will was different, and I soon strongly felt that I must apply to BYU-Hawaii instead, although I didn't know the reason why.

While I was preparing to apply for BYUH, there were several things that I needed to overcome. First, I needed permission from my parents. I honestly told them how I felt in my heart. As a result, I miraculously got permission even though there was a big conflict, which occurred between my parents and me during the process. Because I was afraid my parents would have a change of heart, I quickly sent in my appreciation and was accepted by BYUH. I felt that my Heavenly Father guided my life because I was accepted and received financial assistance as an IWES sponsored student.

In January 2002 I started my education as a TESOL major at BYU-Hawaii. I have learned so much and made many friends. I have been enjoying my school-life with these friends and co-learners. I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have here at BYUH because of the wonderful atmosphere, which is provided by the Church, as well as being able to gain a lot of knowledge. I gained knowledge of how to communicate and get along with people from different countries, and we edify one another with our testimonies about the gospel. Furthermore, I learned how to prepare myself for the job market as a future ESL/EFL instructor.

When President Shumway and other Church leaders quote the words of President David, O. McKay about our school, our students and our goals, I strongly feel that I am a part of his prophecy. I feel that I need to fulfill my Heavenly Father's will as is also mentioned in my patriarchal blessing.

To fulfill my mission as a daughter of my Father in Heaven, I have been doing my best not only educationally, but also spiritually. Since I came to BYUH, I have had

opportunities to serve in the Church as a Visiting Teacher, a Temple Coordinator, an Enrichment Specialist and a Relief Society President and a Relief Society Education Counselor. By serving sisters in the Relief Society, my testimony and Christ-like attributes have been significantly strengthened. Moreover, attending church meetings and activities as well as serving at the Temple has greatly helped my spiritual growth.

When I reflect on my experiences here at BYUH, I see that I have received so many blessings. One particular blessing that I received is an unexpected answer for an opportunity to work at the Provo MTC. Though the effort and support of Elder and Sister Reeves and the BYUH Career Center office, I was accepted by the MTC to teach language as an intern experience. This has been a dream of mine and I am so grateful for the opportunity to teach both English and Japanese to new, incoming missionaries. After, returned to Hawaii to graduate from BYU-Hawaii in December 2005.

As I promised my Father in Heaven, I will go where he wants me to go and do the things, which he wants me to do. By so doing, I can be a true disciple of my Savior and be an instrument in the hands of God to spread peace Internationally.

Iotua Tune

('86, Biological Science)
Kiribati CES Director

I was born and raised in Kiribati but went to Liahona High School in Tonga. While there, I learned about BYU-Hawaii from Sosaia and Marie Paongo. He was my bishop and she was my English teacher. They were great examples of BYU-Hawaii graduates.

Before I went to Liahona I was in the hospital for two years. It came to the point that I was really sick. The doctors told my grandmother I was going to die. When I heard that I made a promise. I said Heavenly Father, if thou spare me I would be a missionary all of my life. I wasn't a member and didn't know what I was talking about; I guess I just wanted to stay alive. When I got out of the hospital I attended a private school for a year, where the mission president from Fiji, President F. Davis, who is now in the Church Translation department in Salt Lake City, came to interview students to go to Tonga. He invited me to attend.

When I arrived I saw many people in ties and nice attire. I recalled my experience at the hospital that I would be a missionary. I found out Liahona was a Church school, and they were preparing students from Kiribati to go back to introduce the Church. None of the male students went back. I later submitted my name. I wanted to go the year I was baptized, but they said I had to finish my high school.

When I graduated from Liahona in 1978 the Paongos helped me go through the temple. I was the first one from Kiribati to go to the temple as a full-time missionary. I also made a goal that I would attend BYU-Hawaii.

In Laie I was involved with other international students. I worked as a groundskeeper in Physical Facilities and translated the Book of Mormon out of TVA. The grounds keeping has really helped me to direct our grounds facilitator. I have also used my experience with the landscaping I learned as a BYUH student on national committees.

As a BYUH student, I had it clear in my mind what I should do. It was hard to keep a family and go to school, but looking back now, I am very, very grateful. It was difficult with my limited English. But I had great experiences. For example, I remember doing a senior seminar project which later helped me prepare a paper for a science conference in Samoa. Without that experience at BYU-Hawaii, that would have been difficult.

My wife and I had two children while we were at BYU-Hawaii. It was hard. There was a time that I had to go on a two-dollar paycheck. I had to do a lot of fishing, except Sundays, to get food on the table. I had a great bishop and he would help but we needed to learn how to learn and work. BYU-Hawaii was a place where you can learn those good habits. I benefit from those experiences now.

I learned how to work and also the importance of work, sacrifice and sharing. I had neighbors and friends from other countries who were also willing to work and share. Even though we were different in color, we were the same. For example, I had a neighbor from Hawaii, we didn't have a car but our neighbor from Hawaii would offer us a ride. I have since visited a lot of universities but you don't find that spirit on other campuses.

There is a great spirit of unification at BYU-Hawaii. President David O. McKay had that vision, and I believe the students are selected to be at BYUH for a purpose.

I graduated from BYU-Hawaii in '87 and returned to Kiribati in '88. On the very day I arrived back home, I was unloading and an Elder came towards me and called me to be the district president. I spoke to my wife and was sustained the next day. I now understood why I had those experiences in the hospital and at BYU-Hawaii.

I served as district president for about seven years. When it became a stake, I was released and called to be a bishop. Later I was a mini-president looking after missionaries. Then I was called to be the stake president. From the time the Church arrived in the late 70s, we now have one stake and about 10,000 members in a population of 88,000 people.

Since arriving I have also been the CES country director with primary responsibility to look after the seminaries and institute. We have a total of about 1,500 students in Kiribati in 11 units. We also do Seminary in 13 units on the outer islands.

Throughout it all, my wife is has been very supportive. With her experiences there in Hawaii and also being one of the earliest Saints in Kiribati, she understands the importance of the work. We were the first Kiribati couple ever to be sealed and married in any temple.

Actually, when I first saw her at Liahona I said she will be my wife. Ten years later we were married. We didn't date in Liahona, because it wasn't allowed, but she wrote to me on my mission and later we met up. We now have seven children. Our oldest went to BYU-Hawaii before going to Cincinnati. The others are still attending school in Laie.

We consider our marriage successful, and I would say the key to that is our understanding of the Plan of Salvation. If you put priorities in order, you will have a successful marriage. We have found that if we put the Lord first in all that we do, everything will fall into its place.

My experiences have given me many opportunities to serve. For example, I have been a member of the advisory board for the Kiribati Ministry of Education here for three terms, and also the first chairman and director of the other seven religious mission schools. The president of Kiribati asked me to be on the national awards commission, which selects people to be honored and recognized. I'm also involved with other educational websites and have been asked to be the chairmen for all teachers and administrators for the Church school.

I feel my mission is to build a good relationship between the government and the Church. For example, one day a Chinese ambassador came onto our campus. I went out to meet him and thought he was in the wrong place. He asked if I was the president of the Mormon Church. The man said he just came back from Beijing. He told me when he asked the President of Kiribati what church had helped his country the most, he mentioned the Mormons. He said the purpose of visiting was to find out what our people do. He also heard we have a Bible, and asked where he could buy it. I gave him three Books of Mormon.

That ambassador went away with a great impression. Later, at an official party the ambassador related his visit to the Church school. A church member who was there told us the ambassador was almost preaching about BYU-Hawaii.

Experiences like this makes me realize that even though we are small organization here, we are making an impact and fulfilling part of David O. McKay's prophecy. Can you imagine China learning from our little country because the church is doing something here? Since then our government has accepted Taiwan, but I know that ambassador left with an impression.

I don't think there is another place where I could have made a difference with what I am doing now by helping my country; and I'm grateful for help. For example, one Kiribati student at BYU-Hawaii came back on internship. I received various reports praising him, because he was more knowledgeable than any worker they had in the company.

My brother, Teakai Tune, works in the president's office doing his master's in Australia. He wants to work for the school but I said no, that he should work for the government because he can make a difference there.

The president of Kiribati was also very impressed with the recent PCC and BYUH visit. He said he never had that kind of spirit come into his office before. I presented him with a frame display of the weapons Hawaiians used and an explanation that they signify a brave leader. He said he would treasure the gift, and it would make him a strong leader.

Elder Pita Vamanrav

(1971, Electronics)
Area Authority Seventy, Pacific Islands Area

I was born and raised in Tonga. My father came from Bombay, India, to Fiji. He was a tailor by trade, who was invited by a Samoan chief in the early 1920s to go Samoa. When they were on their way by boat, there was a cyclone and they had to stop in Tonga for refuge. The Prime Minister of Tonga asked the Samoan chief if the tailor could stay in Tonga. An agreement was made.

I am the youngest of five children. My father was a Hindu and my mother a Wesleyan, the daughter of a minister. It was very difficult in those days for my mother to marry a non-Christian man. I found out later they were not able to get married by any minister, so they ended up getting married by the LDS mission president.

Growing up in Tonga as a half-caste was a cultural and racial challenge. I was not fully accepted. I joined the Church in the 1960s when I attended Liahona High School. I was attracted to the Church, and to the young men who were sane and clean. I remember there were some troubles at home, especially when I wanted to go to Liahona. Back in my time in primary school, you sat an international exam in grade 5, and the top 25 had the real honor of attending the country's Tonga High School, which was started by the king himself. Choosing to go to Liahona academically and socially was like a step down.

My parents weren't very happy. There was conflict in the family, to the point that my older brothers started hitting me because I was a stupid kid. I told my parents that if I didn't go to Liahona I would never go to school again.

I started in late January 1960. The students were very kind to me and my friends. It was a challenge to be away from home, but Heavenly Father truly blessed me. Brother Chuck Woodworth, my history teacher, would invite me to his house and would teach me the lessons of the gospel. On June 5, I was baptized and that was the beginning of my new chapter.

In 1961-62 there were hardly any students going on missions. In 1963 I came to CCH, when they were still building the Polynesian Cultural Center and the Temple Visitors Bureau Center. At PCC they were building Queen Salote's house and I worked at the Tongan village. In school I studied electronics. I wanted to do engineering but CCH didn't have that, so I did electronics because that was the future of America.

In 1966 I was called to serve a mission in Tonga for two years. My mother had passed away when I entered Liahona, and my father passed away in 1965 while I was still at CCH. There were no telephones then. I didn't know until a week or two later when I received the telegram, and then it was too late to go back home; but when I returned to Tonga to serve my mission, I baptized my brother, his wife and brother's wife, among many others.

I came back to CCH in 1968. Before I went on my mission I had dated a lot of pretty girls on campus. I was engaged one, two, three, four times to different girls. The biggest challenge I had was finding a wife. It wasn't until serving my mission that I came to understand that I had a mission in the islands. I was needed more back home. That was one of the reasons why I picked electronics, because its future. I wanted to change my major, but it would have cost too much money to change.

About courtship, I applied the same principles I did on my mission: I fasted for eight months, once a week asking the Lord to direct me to my wife. I had learned in the mission field that I needed the Lord's help through the power of fasting. That is how I met my wife, Seini Pasi ('72).

There is something else I learned here and on my mission: You have greater joy in serving others. For example, President Owen Cook would call me, a little skinny kid, to his office. Out of everyone, he would say, "Good morning, Peter."

It was very difficult for me to get back to CCH. Elder John H. Groberg, my mission president, tried to get me back into school three times, but I had many challenges in returning to Hawaii. I ended my mission in December 1968. It was late morning and two Elders said the mission president wants to see you now; you are going to lose your flight. President Groberg said, I just don't know. I have your ticket here but you have to go to Fiji. Somehow, just go ahead and talk to the consul.

When we got to Suva, we didn't know where to go. I walked up to the American Embassy and told them I was here to apply for a student visa in Hawaii. When I mentioned my name she stepped back as if I was a criminal. Everyone was looking at me with not very friendly faces. When I was in Hawaii I had applied for permanent residency in Honolulu, so I could pay off my school loan; but this put me on the black list with the U.S. Consul in Fiji because they found out about it and thought I dropped out of college. It wasn't so. Instead, I went to serve my mission.

By a miracle, I was allowed to return to CCH. In fact, I have seen a lot of miracles in my life. I owe a lot to the Lord. A few times at CCH I went to the dean of admissions and said that I was going home, that I wasn't learning anything, and I was going to flunk, being homesick for my mission. One semester I took 21 credits; but I graduated in 1970, and was married July 3, 1971. Heavenly Father helped me prepare to serve His sons and daughters, to be a better husband and father, and to become a better instrument in His hands.

I was recently asked to be BYU-Hawaii's placement ambassador for Tonga. I invite our fellow sons and daughters to come back home and help build the kingdom. That is what life is all about, to serve. Some alumni are always concerned about what kind of money they would be making at home. When they come back they may be asked to teach English. Sometimes they are not too happy with what jobs are available. But so what, come home. Your mothers have been longing for you. We need you.

Church College of Hawaii prepared me to work and to prepare myself. I learned what it takes to work and sacrifice. School was very difficult for me. What took my roommate a day or two, took me one week to finish, but I learned to be constant and consistent. You work, you will be blessed. You work, pray, and sacrifice, and it will all come out. He wants you to put all of yourself into that. Once you have done that, that is when He pulls you up.

I love this Church and I will serve Him. I owe it to Him. My wife is His greatest creation. A woman is the utmost of the creations of our Heavenly Father. I love and respect women. I love my wife and my children. I am so grateful I have the opportunity to serve Him. I am grateful that I am an instrument in His hand.

I have served in many capacities. I have been a home teacher: I love being a home teacher. I became an executive secretary, counselor to the bishop, a bishop, high councilor, counselor in a stake presidency, and a stake president. That all helped me prepare for when I was called several years ago as Area Authority Seventy for the Pacific Islands area.

After I was sustained in April (2002) conference, my six-year-old son walked into my office and said in Tongan, "Che-che, dad, you are high in the Church," because I was in the high council room with those who spoke in English. In the chapel they all speak Tongan. So I hugged my son and I said, no son, your dad is a servant.

I can't even begin to express in words the feelings I have at being at the prophet's feet. I was only 10 feet away from the prophet. I had to pinch myself several times, if this was real or what. I felt very humble to be in the presence of the prophet of the Lord, to hear him, to see him with my own eyes, to feel the inspiration. I can't wait to share that with my people. I love bearing my testimony about Jesus Christ among all the islands where they speak many languages. I stand there and bear my testimony.

Recently I went to the Church Administration Building and when the elevator door opened, Elder [Russell M.] Nelson said, "Elder Vamanrav, how are you?" I said I was looking for my ticket. He said, "Come here. I will take you there. What an honor to escort you, Elder Vamanrav. What more can I do for you?" Can you imagine that, a General Authority calling you by name? I can't even express words to tell you how I feel. It is inspiring to meet a servant of the Lord. It felt like I was meeting the Lord himself, being in his presence.

I love the Lord and I will serve him as long as I live. I will raise my children and family to be instruments in His hands.

NOTE: Elder Vamanrav died of cancer on June 10, 2005, a week before he was scheduled to receive the BYU-Hawaii Distinguished Alumni Award during the June 2005 commencement.

Jerusha N.P. Wallace Magalei

('98, Pacific Islands Studies)
Pre-school teacher, Punaluu

I am so glad that I went to BYU-Hawaii. I worked at the Polynesian Cultural Center while attending school. Both places provided me with some great experiences. I most definitely appreciated being able to take classes from both of my parents while attending BYU-Hawaii. Of course, I had to work really hard in their classes so that I could prove that I wasn't getting good grades because of nepotism but because I actually studied. :).

Anyway, I learned a lot from my years in BYU-Hawaii. I made friends from all kinds of ethnic cultures. I was given the opportunity to participate in cultural clubs that I did not ethnically belong to. I gained a better appreciation of people in general and how to accept others for their differences. Diversity is beautiful :). I was able (through the PCC Promo Team) to travel to different countries to promote the gospel and the Church through dance, song and example.

I also was able to build on my relationship with my high school sweetheart and encourage him to go on a mission. I helped support him while he was serving in Nagoya, Japan, all while attending BYU-Hawaii. When he returned from his mission in 1994, we made plans to marry and did so in the Laie Hawaii Temple.

We both got to further our education in an atmosphere rich with the upholding of the gospel principles and high standards at BYU-Hawaii. I am forever grateful for the Church, to BYU-Hawaii, PCC, and especially my family for encouraging me to stay true to my values and beliefs.

I continue to strive to uphold those values and beliefs as I work in our community of Koolauloa. I hope that when my children get older, they will have the opportunity to participate in events and receive an education from BYU-Hawaii. Although it has been six years since I graduated from there, I, along with my children, husband, brother, sisters and parents, have been able to participate in many events that have gone on at BYU-Hawaii.

Because dad [William K. "Uncle Bill" Wallace III] is currently director for the Jonathan Napela Center for Hawaiian Language and Culture Studies at BYU-Hawaii, we go to help him at Kahuola (the taro patches), especially my children. We also participated in the building, prepping and sailing of the Iosepa canoe. My children, mostly my son Pouli, would often go to the canoe site and help take out the shavings as they carved out the logs, sand, pick up rubbish, visit with "papa," set up for crew meetings, help with and participate in protocol for the launching of the Iosepa on all occasions that it has been out, etc.

Iosepa is like a brother to my children. They care for it like he is. We have to drive by the Iosepa site every day to make sure it is all right and say hello. Being involved with the Iosepa through dad has not only helped me, but also has helped my children instill within themselves the Hawaiian values of 'ohana (family), laulima (working together), kuleana (responsibility), kokua (helping, service), and aloha (love) for all things Hawaiian and of the gospel.

Mom's being the teacher for the Maori language courses on campus have and still are beneficial to our family. We help her with whatever she needs. By taking her classes and participating in Maori class or Kiwi Club activities, I, along with my children and husband, have been able to learn more about oru Maori culture and reinforce and build upon the language skills and cultural values we learned as children.

BYU-Hawaii has been very important in my life and the lives of my family members. I have dreams of some day being able to participate again in the wonderful things of the university. I know I will through Iosepa, but I'd also like to participate in other areas, such as education for young children, etc.

One of the coolest things ever was to sail when the Iosepa went out for sea trials. I only went out with the crew once, and that was only for a few hours. Of course, I began to have panic attacks and had to keep doing things on Iosepa before I lost it :). I found out on the day I went out that for now, I belong on the land :).

Some day soon I will be able to overcome the anxiety of being out in the middle of the ocean, so small and insignificant. When you're out there looking back at Oahu, you realize how unimportant all your problems are. You realize that the most important things are God and your family. You learn to trust in your abilities and in the abilities of others. Your life is in their hands as well as theirs in yours. You learn to be alert. You learn to listen. You learn to be obedient. You learn that you need to be prepared for anything, because anything could happen at any time.

I think everyone at BYU-Hawaii, especially the staff and faculty members, should have the experience of going out on the Iosepa and sailing. If your faith is waning, or you never really believed in God before, you will find your faith, you will definitely believe in God, and you will re-evaluate y our life after going on a sail.

There are many more things I'd like to say about BYU-Hawaii and how it has blessed the lives of my parents, my ancestors, my husband, myself, and the lives of my children; but the above will do for now.

BYU-Hawaii will always be a part of my life. Our family has been here in Laie for many generations. I don't have any plans of moving from Laie. I will forever be grateful for everything BYU-Hawaii has done for me and my family. Mahalo.

Jerusha Nane Puanani Wallace Magalei
Daughter of William Kauaiwiulaokalani Wallace III and Nihipora Tatiana Kereama
Wife of Pouli Talio Magalei Jr.
Mother of Talio Pouli Kauaiwiulaokalani Magalei, Pouli Kaupokuholani Ngarangiorehua Magalei, taua'ipouli Taiawhio Ho'okahakima Magale, and James Lehuakona Hikotaonga Pouli Magalei

Dr. Vernice Wineera

('77, English)
Director, The Pacific Institute at BYU-Hawaii

Vernice Wineera, who was born in Wellington, New Zealand, first came to the Church College of Hawaii on January 10, 1960, as a married student with one child.

We were both students. I did one semester and became pregnant again. We couldn't afford to pay a babysitter, so I dropped out so my husband [Baden Pere] could continue.

I started fulltime studies again in 1971-73, when we were called on a mission to New Zealand-North for three years. By the time we returned, I had seven children.

Serving in New Zealand was a wonderful experience. At first it was a little awkward going back home, and being in a different role. Obviously the North Mission didn't include Wellington, so I couldn't go home and see family; and the children had to adjust to being surrounded by missionaries, yet going to elementary and high school.

It really was a tremendous spiritual journey. For 24 hours a day we were living with the Church and the spirit. We had to attend all the missionary meetings, speak often, and travel around the mission a lot. We were absorbed into what the Church was all about for three whole years.

Seeing me around this place, many people don't know that's in my background; but it's really a confirmation of who we are and the kind of focus we should have in our personal lives.

After returning to Laie in '76, I finished the one semester that was waiting for me, and graduated in '77 in English, with an art minor. I worked two years on campus in the Institute for Polynesian Studies with Bob Craig, and then transferred to PCC and worked there for a total of 11 years.

That was a wonderful experience, mainly because most of what I was involved in was creative work. It was a coming together of my identity in both my culture and the Church. It was tremendously affirming of who I am as an individual. Allowing me to contribute to what has been happening there was very fulfilling.

I remember the big events, like three major helicopters landing on the BYU-Hawaii field when the premier of the People's Republic of China came. We had arranged the visit all the way down to the Secret Service personnel checking people at the door. It was a sigh of relief when he left safely. Those huge events were always memorable.

I also remember one morning going over to the Samoan village. This little old lady was doing a simple ceremony at the completion of her weaving a fine mat, which had taken 18 months to make. It was this beautiful piece of work, soft like linen. They honored her, had a little prayer and some food. There were no tourists around, which impressed upon me the foundation of what the PCC is: It's this continuing identity and cultural traditions that allow it to succeed.

Early in 1992, after leaving the Center a few months before, I visited with President Shumway, who told me: "I've been thinking about you." Everything I had been looking at was pretty scary. He suggested, "I think you should go back to school and get your Ph.D." I didn't even have a master's and that was the last thing I would have thought for myself. All I was thinking was, I need a job. I need income. I don't have the money to spend for school.

But I took his advice. I talked to the people at American Studies at the University of Hawaii. I had to do the master's first, and stayed in there and did the Ph.D. as well. It was a tremendous experience. I loved every minute of it. It was reaffirming. It made me stretch, but I was able to do some of my very best work. Having to dive into the books, and study and learn again was exciting.

I was more involved with cultural studies in that program. My dissertation is a study of the negotiation between culture, Church and commerce among PCC employees -- how they balance their cultural identities in the context of performing for a profit.

I finished the master's in '94. I graduated with the Ph.D. in 2000. It was the most wonderful gift. I was so grateful for President Shumway's advice. Having been at sort of a loss at what to do, and to come out of it at the end like that with more credentials and my confidence restored, was very helpful.

I never imagined myself with a Ph.D. I spent most of my years raising my seven children. When I was a teenager growing up in New Zealand in the 50s, it was get married, have children, increase the Church. That was the preaching at the time, and I really didn't think beyond that. I was a grandmother by the time I got to graduate school, and a whole new world opened up.

Now, I think this is the best of all worlds and that we're all making a contribution. Decades later, the university has grown in all directions. The Institute for Polynesian Studies was a major effort on campus back then because of the times, but today in 2005 the world has changed dramatically. There are a lot more areas the university needs to focus on. That was one of the reasons we changed the name to the Pacific Institute. Our journal goes everywhere, and our board of fellows is made up of people not just from Polynesia but other places as well.

We still assist PCC, when they ask, with writing. We develop projects for them. A good example is two or three murals that have been painted in some of the villages: We coordinated with the artists and the village people. LaMoyne Garside would paint these large murals that would help the visitors understand where these islands are.

On the BYU side, we put out the Pacific Studies Journal. Dale Robertson is the editor. We've also done four videos, most of which have been involved with Tongan culture. President Shumway has written the scripts and does all the interviews with the heads of state, the king, nobles and scholars as well as other people. Gary Smith has done the post-production work and also helped filming the interviews in Tonga.

In my every day work I focus a lot on committee assignments, such as serving as co-chair of the Jubilee Steering Committee. We started planning in November 2002, all fresh faced. We pulled together names of people we knew had the ability and talents to bring this together. It was very exciting to be involved with this idea that was two years ahead at that point.

Over those two years we were meeting once a month. We formed sub-committees so that everyone on the steering committee also had responsibilities with one or more sub-committees, where the detailed work is done.

We picked the pace up as the fall 2004 semester started. We met twice a month, and now that we're actually in the jubilee year, we're still coming together with new ideas, and I can feel the excitement and anticipation building. Especially people who haven't been here for a long time, I expect they will be so impressed with the strides that the school has made and the level of quality in all that it does.

From the little campus I first saw in 1960 to what we have here today, and the level of excellence that's required in the classrooms, the support systems and the technology we use, the connections we assist our students with in returning home and career planning -- it's far and away much more than we started with.

I really think the more we're able to accomplish impresses upon me what President McKay must have seen. His vision must have been all encompassing.

I've often wondered why the Lord brought me here all those years ago, and then I've stayed here all these years. I think the gift of the education I received here and at the PCC, and then the gift of actually being released from PCC and going to graduate school -- all of this, I believe, is to a purpose that I can better contribute to what the school is and does.

In retrospect, I may not have known where my life would lead, but the Lord did. Any little thing I can do to help is giving back.

Cromwell Wong

('03, International Business Management)
...works on Wall Street in New York City

Cromwell Wong , who is originally from Baguio, the Philippines, says his studies and student financial system research work experience at BYU-Hawaii "prepared me to work the long hours of Wall Street."

"While a student I was an assistant to clubs and organizations. I was also in the entrepreneur club and was Elders quorum president for the 16th ward. All those experiences helped my communication with the spirit."

"My current job position is the result of divine intervention. I competed with others who graduated from Yale, Harvard, Columbia and other top universities. I was the only undergrad; however I was promoted in six months where others have been there a year and have not received any promotion."

"I know I learned good work ethics at BYU-Hawaii. I worked more than 19 hours a week but I loved what I was learning. I am a type-A person — kind of competitive and a little aggressive. That atmosphere works for me."

"Living in New York is different than living in Laie. Looking back, BYUH was Zion for me. It's a place where you can feel peace and love. I would tell the students to take advantage of what they have; it's a different world once you get out."

"Byran Cerrington and Brother Allen were my mentors while attending BYU-Hawaii. I talk to them often. Brother Cerrington motivated me and when he left to work with land and acquisition under Presiding Bishop Burton, Brother Allen continued to mentor and train me."

"My wife, Jenebie [Castillo Wong, ('02, Social Work)], and I planned on going to the Philippines to work for an aunt who does export and import to the U.S.; but plans changed. Something happened, and I know that it's purely God's hand for us to be in New York. I feel that we have been in the Lord's palm."

"My wife worked for Turtle Bay while I finished up my last year. She was in the administrative offices. Her job transferred her to New York, which paved the way for us and minimized the risk taking that came with moving so far."

"We plan on staying here for two-to-three years and work on some business plans that came to us while we were at the temple in Hawaii. We don't know what type of business, but we know it will be a micro-entrepreneur venture in the Philippines."

"Before going back to the Philippines, I plan on going to Harvard. I have some good strategies to raise money we'll need."

"My most memorable experience at BYU-Hawaii was meeting my wife. While I was single, my grades were good: I was getting As; but when I got married, the grades were constant. She offered me emotional and spiritual support."

"I learned patience while I was in Laie, especially when I was trying to date my wife. She was waiting for a missionary and I was getting tired of waiting around. Bishop Frampton knows all about it."

"I would tell the students to have faith in God and treat people with respect, love and care. Relying on the Lord and when not knowing what will happen. I didn't envision that I would be where I am, but with pure faith everything is possible."

Cassie Woolley

('97, Computer Science)
Owner, Suna Communications Pty., Ltd. Beenleigh, Queensland, Australia cassie@sunacommunications.com

I entered BYU-Hawaii in 1993 as a shy, introverted teenager. I left four years later, valedictorian of the 1997 class, with a computer science degree, the confidence to face the world, and a wealth of spiritual and personal experiences that have shaped the person I am today.

I would like to mention three people who helped to make my BYUH experience such a success.

It is hard to describe in words how the bishop of a student ward can affect his charges, and my bishops were an invaluable part of my BYUH experience. They became my surrogate fathers, offering advice, love and support.

Bishop [Robert] Perriton was my first bishop. His friendship helped me overcome my homesickness and settle into campus life. Even after I moved out of his ward, he remained genuinely interested in me and how I was coping. I was deeply saddened to hear a few years ago that he had passed away.

Bishop Ed Jensen also had a huge influence on my life at BYUH. Again, becoming like a father away from home, he supported me through academic success and personal heartbreak. He gave me callings in the ward to help me grow, and he and his wife often invited the students into their home for events like General Conference and Thanksgiving. He spoke to us openly about morality and I think he scared us into keeping in line!

Cory Barker was the head of the Computer Science program when I changed my degree from education to computer science. I can't praise his dedication and commitment to his students enough. He took the time to work personally with every student and would not give up until we understood even the most difficult concepts. When large assignments were due, he would often be seen late in the computer lab helping one or more of us debug our programs. He encouraged us to join professional IT associations, and even worked with us to put on a statewide computer science competition for high school students. I'll also always remember our occasional "meetings with food" (code for facul! ty parties, shh, don't tell!).

I strongly believe that if I had attended university in Australia that I would be a different person today. I am certain that I would still have been successful academically, but I don't believe that I would have seen the personal growth that occurred as part of the BYUH family.

Specifically I would say that the BYUH difference is:

• Integration of spiritual experiences into every day life, including devotionals and religion classes

• Strong emphasis on access to “wholesome” activities on a regular basis, including edited movies, barbeques, ward activities, and musical and theatrical performances.

• Small classes with teachers that know each student and genuinely care about their progress, as well as sharing their underlying values.

• An overall focus on the welfare of individual students, as members of wards and as members of academic classes.

Today I would consider myself a BYUH success story. I returned to Australia, where I have married in the temple, and now have a 3-year-old daughter and a new-born son. I feel that I have been able to use the skills I developed at BYUH to fulfill the various callings that I have held in our ward. I also run my own business from home, and have been blessed to be able to do this while also being a "stay at home mum." I love my life, feel very blessed, and feel confident in the future for my family and me.

As you can tell, I am a computer programmer, not a writer, but I hope that you can sense the depth of my feelings regarding BYU-Hawaii and how it has affected my life.

I thank all of the BYUH staff and students who helped to give me a unique and fulfilling four years, as well as all of those who came "before" and built BYUH up into such a special place.