The Leader
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Meet the new university president, John Kauwe, and his wife, Monica
I s s u e 1 . Vo l u m e 1 2 7 . S e p t e m b e r 2 0 2 0
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Former labor missionary and pillar of the Laie community, Sione Feinga, passes away
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Students who returned to their home countries in Asia describe their experience with SCOVID-19 E P T 2020
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SEPTEMBER 2020 • VOLUME 127 • ISSUE 1
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K E A L A K A’ I
LeeAnn Lambert
Haeley van der Werf
Noah Shoaf
Emmalee Smith
ADVISOR
CO-EDITOR
CO-EDITOR
MANAGING EDITOR
Esther Insigne
Bruno Maynez
Eli Hadley
Michael Kraft
ART DIRECTOR
COPY EDITOR
COPY EDITOR
COPY EDITOR
Hannah Manalang
Sadie Madriaga
Serena Dugar Ioane
Hailey Huhane
ART & GRAPHICS
ART & GRAPHICS
MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST
MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST
Leiani Brown
Brooke Guryn
Ho Yin Li
Cody Bruce Barney
MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST
MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST
PHOTOGRAPHER
VIDEOGRAPHER
Letter from a co-editor When I left Hawaii for a week in New York six months ago, I had no idea I would never step foot in another BYUH classroom as a student. I imagine I felt like many of you when I got the notification that school would be moved online starting immediately. I was overwhelmed, confused and heartbroken I wouldn’t be able to finish out my last couple of semesters with my favorite professors, knowing online school is just as hard for them as it is for us (pg. 42). I miss the added guidance of being able to attend the temple whenever I want (pg 48). However, instead of focusing on everything I wish would have happened differently, I decided the best way to get through this devastatingly difficult period in world history was to look for the good. What I see now is resilience from missionaries whose worlds are subject to change every day (pg. 20) and people who are standing up against racism despite everyone telling them to sit down and be quiet (pg. 26). I see excitement as we welcome a new university president to our BYUH ohana (pg. 12). I look forward to the day when everyone can come back to our beautiful campus (pg. 44) and watch the Night Show again with its new Mana (pg. 38). As we adjust to our “New Normal,” let’s use the lessons we have learned over the last six months to be a little kinder, to continue to educate ourselves on difficult topics like racism, and to think of others in our personal decisions like wearing a mask. Let us all take on the role of the modern Rosie the Riveter, as featured on the back cover, and step into new roles wherever necessary to help our fellow humans because, as Rosie says, “We can do it,” but only if we do it together.
Haeley van der Werf - Co-Editor NEWS CENTER
BOX 1920 BYUH LAIE, HI 96762 Pr int Ser vices Editorial, photo submissions & Distribution inquiries: k e a l a k a i @ by u h . e d u . To s u b s c r i b e t o t h e R S S F E E D or to view additional ar ticles,go to k e a l a k a i . by u h . e d u
CONTACT
Email: kealakai@byuh.edu Phone: (808) 675-3694 Fax: (808) 675-3491 Office: BYU–Hawaii Aloha Center 134 ON THE COVER:
John and Monica Kauwe along with their five children pose for a family photo. John Kauwe became the 11th president of BYU–Hawaii on July 1, 2020. Photo by Monique Saenz
ABOUT US The Ke Alaka‘i began publishing the same year the university, then called Church College of Hawaii, opened. It has continued printing for more than 60 years. The name means “the leader” in Hawaiian. It began as a monthly newsletter, evolved into a weekly newspaper, then a weekly magazine, and is now a monthly news magazine with a website and a social media presence. Today a staff of about 16 students works to provide information for BYU–Hawaii’s campus ohana and Laie’s community. © 2020 Ke Alaka‘i BYU–Hawaii All Rights Reserved S E P T 2020
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Contents Campus and Community Genuine Gold: Nomin Khosbayar 8 Supporting student’s mental health 10 Meet the Kauwes 12 Choosing to be happy 16 Remembering Sione Feinga 18 COVID-19 effects on missionary work 20
Top: On July 1, John S.K. Kauwe lll and Monica S. Kauwe replaced John S. and Susan Tanner becoming the university’s 11th president and first lady. (pp. 12-15) Left: Remembering the life of Sione Feinga (pp. 18-19) Bottom: Night Show New Mana (pp. 38-41)
24 Coronavirus effects on internships 26 Standing up to racism 30 Unemployment rate from COVID-19 32 Finding your new normal 36 Protests open conversation about racism 38 Night Show’s New Mana
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A New Normal COVID burden on professors
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Students going back despite online classes
44
COVID relationships
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46
Temples reopening
10 48
Senior missionaries
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Top: COVID-19 burdens on professors (pp. 42-43) Right: Senior missionaries (pp. 50-53) Bottom left: Students going back despite online class (pp. 44-45) Bottom right: Life in Asia (pp. 54-57)
Life in Asia with COVID-19
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Student’s activities in quarantine
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Positives during the pandemic
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NA ORO RS C tus IVIU p ANT Eucaly
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C RE AT I V E W RI T I NG/ART/P HOTO SUBMISSIO N “Back to School” by Jaryl Balanon Miguel, a junior from the Philippines studying information technology.
Share your art, photos, or creative writing with us and we may feature it in our next issue. E-mail us your high-resolution photo or work with a caption at kealakai@byuh.edu
F O L LO W US AR O U ND THE WE B
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Campus Comment: What’s something you’ve learned during the pandemic? BY HAILEY HUHANE
Melenaite Samani, a sophomore from Tonga majoring in accounting, said, “I’ve
learned that there is so much more time on your hands to do service. Even though you
can’t go outside, there are a lot of opportunities to serve because of all the technology that is available to us.”
Buyanzaya (Zaya) Altansukh, a sophomore from Mongolia majoring in human resources, said, “I’ve learned that people can take care of each other, and we can be
positive even when we’re going through a difficult time. We can try to be understanding of each other.”
Geoffrey Zhang, a freshman from China majoring in finance and accounting said
he learned the importance of social distancing to protect ourselves and each other. He said, “It’s sometimes hard to wear a mask, but we still have to.”
Modesta Terry, a sophomore from the Solomon Islands majoring in biochemistry, said, “I’ve learned to expect the unexpected and to rely on yourself. This is my first time having to do things on my own.”
Thomas Willie, a recent graduate from Papua New Guinea who is currently doing his academic training with campus security, said, “I’ve learned to appreciate the
environment. When things were normal, I hardly saw people taking time to enjoy the environment, but the pandemic has helped people realize that we need to go out,
enjoy the breeze and go for a walk. It helped me realize that I need to appreciate the environment and the school and spending time with family.”
Ellisa Edeyaoch, a sophomore from Micronesia majoring in information technology, said, “I’ve learned to be more patient, and I’ve learned to be more resourceful and selfreliant.”
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Genuine Gold Nomin Khosbayar BYU–Hawaii alumna is striving to be a lawyer at the United Nations and encourages current students to be prepared for life after college BY SERENA DUGAR IOANE Nomin Khosbayar, a BYUH alumna and law student advised students to take advantage of BYUH resources like the academic advisors and Career Services as well as classes and work opportunities.
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Khosbayar said attending BYUH helped her prepare for life after school and to take the LSAT. Photos by Namium Khosbayar Graphics by Sadie Madriaga
What was your career and educational journey after BYUH? “I graduated in 2018. I majored in political science with a legal studies certificate. It helped me a lot to take the LSAT, a test required to get into law school. Currently, I am enrolled in law school located in Boston at [New England Law School].”
What special memories do you have from your student years at BYUH? “I truly admire the diversity of our
“As a tour guide, informing people about
university, and I have made friends from
Polynesian culture and connecting with
all over the world. It’s amazing to think
hundreds of people every week was such
I could travel to any country now and I
a delight. My job taught me so many skills
would have friends there... Working while
I can’t really learn in school. I have made
being enrolled full-time in college is hard.
very special connections with people and
However, the Polynesian Cultural Center is
touched their hearts through my work.
such an amazing place full of aloha that I
Many of my guests still stay in contact with
was always excited to go to work.
me to this day.”
What advice would you give to current and graduating students at BYUH? “Planning ahead for your internships/
for the admission tests and the other
jobs and postgraduate school will give
requirements immediately. It seems
you many more options and make big
like you would be a freshman forever,
differences in your life. I cannot stress
graduation seems so far, and when the
that enough. You should enjoy the
seniors and alumni tell you exactly what
beautiful island as much as you can
I’m telling you right now, you wouldn’t
during your freshman year. After that, I
take it as seriously. However, I promise
highly recommend you to already start
you that four years of college will pass
looking for internships/jobs and make
in the blink of an eye. There are great
connections.
professionals such as academic advisors
“If you are planning to go to postgraduate school, start preparing
What are some challenges in your life? “Having big dreams and working towards big career goals is a great thing, but I have learned your mental health is just as important. Giving yourself a break and a little self-care is completely okay.”
and Career Services experts who can help you.”
What blessings have you seen from attending BYUH? “This school prepares you for the real world not only academically but also spiritually. It has blessed me with great knowledge, skills and more importantly the biggest ohana: friends. Besides great academic knowledge and skills, I have learned a person’s character is just as important. I have met many great people who have helped me immensely, and I strive to help others any chance I get.”
What are your future goals?
“After successfully graduating from law school, I am planning to take the bar exam, which would allow me to receive my license to practice law. I am focusing on international law and human rights and planning to do my internship as a lawyer at the United Nations. If students want to ask me anything, don’t hesitate to reach me through my Instagram @nonaofyobusiness.”
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Supporting students’ mental health Clinical counselor Liz Rago encourages students to use available resources to focus on mental and emotional health BY HAILEY HUHANE
Graphics by Bruno Maynez
As a clinical counselor at Counseling and Disability Services, Elizabeth “Liz” Rago said the best part of her job is witnessing people improve and feeling better. Colleagues said they admire Rago’s work and likewise advocate students to use the resources available to improve their emotional well-being. Rago said she loves seeing “people get better, feeling whole and developing the fortitude to pursue their desires. Whether it be a career, a healthy relationship with their spouse or friends, being a better parent, or even being able to manage anger and resentment, or emotional issues that can make us feel stuck in life.” For Rago, her work as a counselor is what sustains her hope in humanity. She said, “More people than we realize are suffering, accessing help and getting better. People who we would never guess need help actually struggle with issues related to mental and emotional health, and that should make seeking help okay because that means we’re not alone.” Advice for students For students who are struggling, Rago said, “My advice would be to talk to a 10
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trusted person in your life. Share with them your struggles and see what they think. I often see clients whose friends encouraged them to come. Trusted friends are priceless commodities in this world. I would listen to their feedback.” Rago also suggested talking to a therapist, but she clarified therapy cannot solve all of a person’s problems. She explained, “That’s not what therapists are trained to do. What we can try to do is help you gain insight and clarity, provide support for problem-solving and teach skills so you can effectively negotiate the complexities of relationships, trauma, addiction or other emotional issues that get in the way of thriving.” Speaking directly to the students, Rago said, “When we attend therapy, we become equipped to evaluate our beliefs about ourselves, people and the world around us and then we learn ways to manage and regulate our emotions and tolerate distress when faced with situations or memories of past events. “My advice to students is to persist and use the resources our school has for students who struggle with the mental and emotional issues that can keep us from achieving academically. If you struggle with emotional and mental health
issues, consider accessing therapy at Counseling Services, and see how it might help.” Benefits from counseling Recent graduate Alexis Jimenez, who worked at the counseling center and personally benefited from therapy herself, explained, “A lot of people think you go to therapy and you’re magically healed by this all-knowing therapist without realizing how much work you have to put in too. This therapist is a human too and isn’t there to judge you but to help you. You still have to put in your own work, and you have to be willing to trust this person that they won’t lead you astray. “Counselors can’t make you do anything you don’t want to do, nor will they force you or babysit you.You go there for help and guidance, but the change ultimately comes from you.” Jimenez jokingly continued, “If I could make everyone go to therapy, I would. When you go to therapy, I think you also become a more understanding and empathetic person who is able to connect with others on a different level.” When asked about her hopes for the future of counseling, Rago said, “My hope is counseling will become less stigmatized. People will see counseling as a way to unravel complex feelings and the thoughts and beliefs that lead to those feelings. My hope is people will see counseling as a benefit to society and a vital part of healing emotional wounds. “There are so many societal, cultural, familial and personal negative assignations associated with seeking help that sometimes we avoid doing so thinking our emotions will go away. But intense negative emotions are like boomerangs if they aren’t addressed. They often come back, and they often do so when we least expect them to.”
Rachel Kekuala, the director of Counseling Services, said, “Elizabeth Rago exemplifies the definition of a ‘mana wahine:’ a strong, smart and articulate woman who uplifts others and contributes to the health and wellbeing of the community. “For the past six years I have gotten to know Liz professionally and personally. She is an insightful clinician dedicated to professional development and committed to client care. Liz is a fierce community advocate and you will no doubt find her involved in issues that are ‘pono’ and just. Her merit as a clinician and advocate are only matched by the care and compassion she shows for others.”
Resources For students who are interested, Counseling and Disability Services has a selfhelp page containing helpful apps, talks and other resources. This can be found at counseling. byuh.edu or by scanning the QR code.
“People who we would never guess need help actually struggle with issues related to mental and emotional health, and that should make seeking help okay because that means we’re not alone.” -Elizabeth Rago
Rago as a “mana wahine” Jimenez worked alongside Rago at the counseling center. She said, “I’m pretty lucky to have had the opportunity to work with her but also have her as a friend. She is someone who cares about not only the school and the students who go there but also people everywhere in the world whether they struggle with mental illness or not. She fights for people fearlessly and fiercely, and I think that is one of the greatest qualities anyone can have.” S E P T 2020
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Monica and John Kauwe shared they feel uniquely prepared to lead BYUH. Photo by Mo-
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Ready to lead John and Monica Kauwe share experiences that prepared them to lead BYU–Hawaii BY LEIANI BROWN
A life prepared Dr. Richard Gill, department chair of biology at BYU in Provo and a good friend of Kauwes’, said they were hired by BYU at the same time and connected over a shared interest in building student diversity in the sciences. “I can’t imagine somebody whose life would have prepared them better to take on the opportunities and challenges that exist [at BYUH],” said Gill after hearing the news of Kauwe becoming president of BYUH. Kauwe said he and his wife felt they had been uniquely prepared for the task ahead. “We have a life that has prepared us to be comfortable with people from anywhere and to understand how important those different viewpoints are.” He said their life experiences have prepared them to “be balanced and realize
in every conflict there are two different sides… and to think about them in a complex way.” One such conflict, he shared, was the proposal to build a scientific observatory on Mauna Kea, land considered sacred to Native Hawaiians. He said he knew key players on both sides of the argument. Many of his friends were interested in hearing his thoughts as both an elite international scientist and a Native Hawaiian with deep connections to his homeland. During the height of the Mauna Kea conflict, Kauwe said he wrote a social media post expressing he wasn’t obligated to feel a specific way based on either his role as a scientist or his heritage as a Native Hawaiian. Kauwe said finding balance with all the different influences in his life is important to him and has been a flashpoint for both good and bad. “I have 100 percent had times in my life where I was treated poorly because I’m brown. I’ve had times in my life when I felt like I wasn’t brown enough. I understand all those feelings. I felt those things, and I understand why people are sensitive in those contexts.”
“Many of us are raised in multiple cultures, multiple places and with multiple influences. Over time, you identify with a main culture, but you still have meaningful parts of your life and your identity that are part of those other cultures. And so that’s kind of who I am, as I was raised in a family that was very strongly Hawaiian.” Kauwe shared he grew up cooking using an imu, a Hawaiian pit oven, in his backyard in Utah. He explained because he felt very comfortable in his Hawaiian heritage, moving to Molokai when he was young felt natural. Kauwe graduated early from Molokai High School as valedictorian, but he stayed connected to the school, “offering research and mentorship opportunities to promising science Moloka’i students,” according to The Molokai Dispatch. He explained Hawaiian customs were a part of his upbringing, as well as speaking Pidgin, which he said he occasionally slips back into when around family and friends.
Upbringing and culture In addition to Hawaiian, Kauwe explained he has Chinese, Maori and Portuguese ancestry.
“I feel like the Lord has prepared us with our experiences to be able to sit at that interface and have meaningful conversations with everyone, listen to everyone, and show love to everyone- and hopefully find some solutions that maybe work better than some have in the past.” - John S.K. Kauwe lll
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John Kauwe is the youngest president ever of any Church school. Photo by Monique Saenz
When John S.K. Kauwe III realized he was being offered the position of president at BYU– Hawaii, he and his wife, Monica Kauwe, said their first thought was, “What? Us?” Regardless, the couple, living in Orem, Utah, prepared for the difficulties of moving a family of seven across the Pacific to begin their new life. “It is an incredible challenge and privilege to be asked to be part of such a great university,” said John Kauwe, who succeeded John S. Tanner as the 11th president of BYUH on July 1, 2020. According to Church News, he is the youngest-ever president of a university owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is also a descendant of Kaleohano, one of the original native Hawaiian converts of the early Church on Maui. Kauwe said, “I know the incredible potential that is here on campus, in every student. The fact I get to have a part in building the foundation for their future and launching them to be successful in both secular and spiritual things makes me really happy and excited.”
He shared an experience a few years ago where he took a student back to Moloka’i to do some research, and after talking with his uncle for 40 minutes, the student asked, “What language were you speaking?” Despite his Hawaiian ancestry’s heavy influence, Kauwe explained he finds value in all his cultures and life experiences. “For me, it’s not like we’re trying to say we’re this or we’re that. I value all the parts of my heritage and have identified with them at different parts of my life for different reasons.” Experiences serving a mission in Japan, living on multiple islands of Hawaii and working with youth in inner-city St. Louis, Missouri, are all experiences that have helped him, he said. These experiences placed him in a position where he could find balance within the pressures of culture and “the discomfort so many of us feel when we’re at the interface of those cultures and we’re not sure where we fit,” Kauwe explained. On top of all those complexities, he said there is a spiritual pressure of maintaining a testimony, despite any cultural and societal divides. “I feel like the Lord has prepared us with our experiences to be able to sit at that interface and have meaningful conversations with everyone, listen to everyone and show love to everyone. And hopefully, find some solutions that maybe work better than some have in the past.”
The Kauwes say they enjoy spending time together as a family. Photos by Monique Saenz.
Graphics by Hannah Manalang
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Running with it Monica Kauwe said she first met her husband, John, through his cousin, one of her high school classmates. The two ran into each other years later at a 10K race John Kauwe said he had not initially planned on running. “I didn’t even sign up for that race,” he explained. “I just showed up that morning on a whim. I woke up and thought, ‘I should just go run that race today,’ and it changed my life.” John Kauwe shared a key aspect of his wife’s character is her ability to bring people together. “Even when we lived in St. Louis and we weren’t around family, she was always the person who got groups of people together and made them feel loved. For us, that involves great food and friends, but it’s deeper than that. It’s valuing people and feeling how important it is for them to get together and feel welcome in one place.”
Although neither of them are runners, the Kauwes shared when they met at the 10K race, they were both preparing for a marathon. Both of their running partners had also recently dropped out, so they decided to start training together, explained Monica Kauwe. John Kauwe said he calculated it once, and he and his wife had run a total of about 200 miles together before they ever went on their first official date. Gill said he noticed their strength as a couple. “Monica is every bit [John’s] equal. She is compassionate and kind.” He said John Kauwe has the capacity to look outward and help others because of “the incredible work that he does in Alzheimer’s research and humanitarian work, in part because of Monica’s capacity to create a secure and nurturing place in their home. They are equally yoked, and they do amazing things together.” Although they don’t do much running anymore, the Kauwes said they value their children and any time they can spend together. “Our whole marriage we’ve continued to stay friends, and as much time as we can spend together, we do. It’s really rare for one of us to go off and do something separate from the family because we just like to be together.” Kacey Sorenson, a senior from California studying English at BYU in Provo, said she got to know John Kauwe during a schoolsponsored trip to Samoa. As they drove around the island visiting schools and screening children for rheumatic heart disease, Sorenson said she and a few other students would sit in the back of the truck and listen to him talk. “You get a sense that his Hawaiian heritage is super important to him,” said Sorenson. She added one of her most memorable experiences was listening to him list each of his children’s names and detailed explanations of how and why they chose each name. “You could see how important his Polynesian heritage is to him in how respectful he was towards the Samoan people we were with and how respectful he was to other people.” The simple life Monica Kauwe worked for almost two years in the pharmaceutical industry before becoming a full-time mother. John Kauwe has spent last year as dean of Graduate Studies at BYU in Provo and made key contributions to discovering new genetic
risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease. He is an internationally recognized researcher with 85 peer-reviewed publications, according to the McKay School of Education at BYU in Provo. Gill added he was impressed to watch his colleague take a professional leave once so he and his family could spend a summer in Moloka’i. Gill said it was difficult to do with how productive his research career was at the time, From the beginning, Sorenson said she noticed despite all of his accomplishments, John Kauwe was still very approachable. “You
get this sense he is this remarkably capable person who maintains this groundedness and humility. He has this awareness that [he] can be smarter and more successful than anyone else but… [still] roll up [his] sleeves and do the grunt work because [he’s] just like anyone else.” John Kauwe said he and his wife are not complicated. “It’s funny because we feel like we’ve been given this big responsibility, and we should be more special and complicated than we are, but we’re not. We just love our kids and love our family. We have fun being together and try to take good care of the people around us.” The Kauwes shared they live the simple life.
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Graphic by Sadie Madriaga
Being happy despite hardships BYU–Hawaii students who suffered great hardships find peace and comfort from their faith in God BY SERENA DUGAR IOANE Students who lost their loved ones shared how their faith in God and the Plan of Salvation helped them. They said despite their busy lives, faith helped them overcome their struggles and be happy again. Byambanorov Bazarragchaa, a freshman from Mongolia majoring in psychology, said her mother got into a car accident and was severely injured in early 2020. “When I first heard the news, I was so shocked and cried a lot. “Her neck, back, femur and arms were broken. She is 68 years old, so I was worried that she might not make it. I thought I might not see my mother again on this earth.” Alpha Harper, a recent BYU–Hawaii alumna from Canada and her husband, Leslie Harper, shared they had lost six children in five different pregnancies before their four living children were born. Alpha Harper said she lost her twins at four months of pregnancy and experienced twice tubal pregnancy, where the egg implants outside of the uterus. The couple also lost their 38-week-old grandson in 2019. Justin Ioane, a senior from Samoa double majoring in accounting and marketing, lost his father in April 2020. Due to the border closures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, he could not go back to attend his father’s funeral. Ioane shared although it was a challenging time of his life, his faith in the Plan of Salvation and his busy student life helped him to
overcome his grief. He said he is grateful for modern technology, which enabled him to attend the funeral virtually. Pain-relieving faith Bazarragchaa said she wanted to go back to Mongolia to take care of her mother but could not due to the border closure. She said there was nothing she can do besides pray. “I prayed more sincerely than ever. I remembered all my wonderful spiritual memories that helped me strengthen my faith in God.” She said she read general conference talks and the scriptures and hoped for God’s blessings. “The Holy Spirit comforted me and reminded me how reliable God is. Now my mother’s health is getting better. It is a miracle.” Leslie Harper, a freshman from Canada, majoring in business management supply chain, said it was challenging for him and his wife to lose their children. But their gospel understanding and busy life with their younger children helped them overcome their grief. He shared, “Losing our children was very traumatic, especially for my wife. However, I learned this life is not meant to be easy. Instead, it is meant to be challenging and prepare us for the final test.” Of her hardships, Alpha Harper said, “The emotional roller coaster was awful after unsuccessful pregnancies. However, we prayed in the temple and felt that the Lord wanted us
to have more children. Our desire to have more children was strong as well, so we tried many times until we had our four children. Doctors told us that all our children are miracles.” Ioane said he father was sick for years, so he said we was happy his father was released from physical pain. According to Ioane, his father was a faithful bishop before he passed away, so he believes his father is in a better place now. Family support Though she cannot return home, Bazarragchaa said she has siblings who care for her mother, which decreases her worries. “I have six brothers and four sisters, and I am number 10. My siblings are taking good care of mom. It is great to have a big family during hardships,” she added. After her unsuccessful pregnancies, Alpha Harper shared that re-building her body was another big challenge. “Les was supportive and constant. I know that each of our children was an answer to our prayers, and the Lord entrusted us with raising them.” Ioane said he has friends and family helping his mother and siblings in American Samoa, which gives him some relief. “It is a rough time for my family, but Samoans are very supportive of each other during this time.”
S E P before T 2020 17 Left: Bazarragchaa's mother was severely injured in a car accident in early 2020. Middle: The Harpers lost six children to miscarriage their four living children were born. Right: Ioane's father passed away in April 2020 after years of illnesses. Photos provided by Bazarragchaa,
A legacy of building Church labor missionary Sione Feinga remembered for his work ethic, dedication to God, and service to family and fellowmen BY LEEANN LAMBERT
One of the Church’s labor missionaries originally from Tonga, who helped build the Polynesian Cultural Center, parts of the Laie Hawaii Temple and BYU–Hawaii campus and more, Sione Feinga passed away on July, 9, 2020. His family and friends gathered to remember him on July 17. Wearing traditional Tongan mats, members of Feinga’s family gathered in the backyard of their Laie residence to remember and honor a man who was a leader in the Church and a BYUH retiree who was the associate director of Physical Facilities on campus. In 2017, the University honored him by naming an annual employee performance award after him for his “many years of dedicated service, leadership and selfless devotion to Brigham Young University–Hawaii,” says the plaque he received. Friends started arriving early on the morning of July 17 for the viewing, filing in along one side of the house into the backyard, greeting family and passing by his casket, then exiting through the other side of the house. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, only family
members attended the funeral services held after the viewing in the backyard of their family home, which Feinga built himself along with his labor missionary friends. His son, Johnny Feinga, conducted the services shown via Facebook for those who could not attend. Sione Feinga was born on Aug. 4, 1935, in Tonga, says information on his funeral program. He was the youngest of seven children. He attended Liahona High School in Tonga from 1950 to 1953 until a rugby injury sent him home to recover. In 1956, he became a labor missionary in Tonga and spent three years building chapels and additional buildings at Liahona High School. While serving at Liahona, he met his wife, Adele, a young teacher at the school, and he said the two fell in love quickly. “The mission changed my whole life,” he wrote in his personal history in 2002. “I love the work and learned how to build, and I met my wife, Adele.” Next, he was one of 31 Tongans called on labor missions to Hawaii, says information on his funeral service’s program. The missionaries
“My family was very happy to hear of the news of my call to Hawaii. It was the first time a Feinga left Tonga [to] go overseas… That is a big step in life to go overseas and work for the Church.” - Sione Feinga 18
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arrived on Oahu in 1960. They worked on the Center, the Laie Hawaii Temple and the Church College of Hawaii. In his personal history, he recalled, “My family was very happy to hear of the news of my call to Hawaii. It was the first time a Feinga left Tonga [to] go overseas… That is a big step in life to go overseas and work for the Church.” He and Adele married in the Laie Hawaii Temple the same day he completed his mission on June 2, 1962, and after Adele got a job at the Church College of Hawaii. Over the years, Sione Feinga served in several leadership positions in the Church. He was an elders quorum president, counselor in a bishopric, a bishop, a counselor in the stake presidency, and became the Laie Hawaii Stake president in 1984. His journal entry about his service read, “My testimony of the Church had strengthened in all the callings I have had.” Each of his children spoke at his service. His daughter, Kathy Pulotu, spoke about her dad’s life. She said he built their house in Laie “Tongan style, which means with no money.” She said he used what resources he had and
The Feingas were married the day Sione Feinga finished his labor mission. Photo provided by Monique Saenz. Graphics by Esther Insigne.
worked with the other labor missionaries to build the Feinga’s home, and then he also helped the other labor missionaries build their homes. Daughter Janet Niutupuivaha said she was so proud of her father for all the buildings and hotels he worked on in Waikiki. “We worked hard, and we played hard,” she said, adding the family always made time for fun. She said her dad loved to play games, and they played them often at the dinner table. Niutupuivaha added her father worked to encourage and support the rising generation, and she loved how he loved and took care of her mother and their family. “I am so honored to be his daughter,” she said. Daughter Shannon Beaver talked about how she never got tired of hearing her dad’s stories. She said while the food at dinner would be gone in five minutes, the family would stay at the table talking. She added her dad taught them when they made a commitment, they had to follow through. “You can’t not show up,” she said. “He was my hero,” said Beaver, who is the oldest in the Feinga family. She said her dad told her it was up to her to be a good example to her younger brother and sisters. “I took that very seriously. I never wanted to disappoint my dad.” Son Johnny Feinga talked about how his dad made everything fun while also teaching them to work hard. He spoke about coming home one day to a mountain of sand. They had to move and spread the sand around the yard. He said even though it was hard work, his dad also made it fun. “Serving in the gospel is fun. Being a good husband and father is fun. We all need to have fun,” Johnny Feinga said. In addition, Johnny Feinga talked about his dad growing crops at the Church farm in Hauula. In one of his journal entries, Sione Feinga says, “Since the beginning of 1995, I was very busy on the farm… I love to go to the farm and meet with all the people of the stakes. So far, I planted about 200 taros, 100 tapiocas, 150 sweet potatoes, 75 ulus, 18 papayas and six peles. It’s sure fun to watch things grow.” Johnny Feinga said he is carrying on his dad’s tradition of working at the farm. “I am grateful for his legacy and will try to live up to it.” He concluded by saying his father knew that Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, live, and he spent “all this life helping others also to know that.” Several of Sione Feinga’s personal testimony statements were included in his funeral services program. One quote from his journal written in 1993 says, “I hope that many years of service will help my kids on [with] their lives and family to know the Lord will bless those who keep his commandments. It has been a blessing and a great learning opportunity for me to service continually for the last 32 years.” He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. Top three photos: Feinga was a member of 31 Tongans called as labor missionaries in 1960 to Laie Hawaii. Photos from the Brigham Young University–Hawaii Archives and Special Collections. Bottom photo: Former labor missionaries meeting in 2005. Photo provided by Monique Saenz S E P T 2020
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Missionary work during the pandemic Returned missionary students who came home early or were reassigned because of coronavirus share their experiences BY SERENA DUGAR IOANE
The global pandemic affected missionary work immensely, and missionaries returned home, finished their missions early or were reassigned to different missions. BYU–Hawaii students serving as missionaries during this time shared what they have learned from their disrupted missions amid a global pandemic. Returning early Kaleah Liechty, a sophomore from Utah majoring in communications, served her mission in Argentina Buenos Aires North Mission and returned early due to COVID-19. Even though her mission was short, she said
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it was amazing, and she would not change her seven months of service for anything. Liechty came home in March 2020. She shared many missionaries came home at the same time with her, which made adjusting much easier. Hadley Dayton, Leichty’s companion from California, said she finished her mission in March right before missionaries were sent home. Dayton recalled, “I remember them handing us masks for the airplane ride home, and we laughed and didn’t wear them because it was so new, and we didn’t feel threatened yet. However, soon after many changes were made,
and the Church immediately closed temples and church buildings. It was shocking.” Leichty shared how the coronavirus has been bringing out the best in people. It taught her how to roll with the things life throws at her. “I learned many things about how to be healthy physically and mentally, how to be better friends to others as well as to ourselves and to consider others’ needs,” Liechty added. She said she sees shifts in compassion, social issue awareness and overall desires to see the good, “despite overwhelmingly crazy, sad, stressful and scary situations. “I believe I am discovering, along with the rest of the world, that
K E A L A K A’ I Graphics by Esther Insigne
we all have more in common than we think.” Liechty explained, “We all just want life to get better. I think it’s great we are working towards a common goal, even if it is in different ways.” Liechty explained she is enrolled for the Fall 2020 Semester and plans to continue her studies at BYUH. Reassignment Essie Workman, a junior from Laie majoring in anthropology, was called to serve in the Armenia Georgia Mission but returned home due to coronavirus and was reassigned to a different mission. She said she went to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Sept. 4, 2019, and studied Georgian for nine weeks. “Then, I was sent to the country of Georgia for about six months before being sent home.” She was reassigned to the Billings Montana Mission and started serving again on June 15, 2020. “I am still learning how to do missionary work in this new atmosphere,” she said. From her mission experience, Workman said she learned the Lord’s work would not be stopped by anything, not even isolation and social distancing. She explained there is a learning curve for adjusting to this new missionary work, but they are learning it quickly. “I also learned God prepares us for everything. There is a reason why this generation is so good with media and social networks. We were prepared for now,” Workman added. “We’ve had an at-home church curriculum, ministering, phones, Zoom and Facebook. We have been raised for this, and God has made us equal to the task.” Workman shared how, in a normal mission, a missionary’s goal is to be out of their apartment as much as possible. “It is physically, emotionally and spiritually draining.You are out talking to people as much as possible to find those interested in the gospel.” Gathering Israel during a pandemic Workman said the Lord is still gathering Israel. “I feel like in the old way of doing things, missionaries were like hunters sent to gather Israel. We talked to people one at a time, found people who were interested one at a time and shared messages to one person at a time.”
"There is a reason why this generation is so good with media and social networks. We were prepared for now." -Essie Workman
She explained now through technology, one message can be shared to thousands of people, maybe 100 people listen to it and feel something, and 20 of those people will be taught in the future. “We are still the fishermen God is sending to gather Israel, but just in different ways.” Workman shared her optimism by saying, “We won’t be in isolation or quarantine forever, but we will continue to use Facebook and other forms of media to spread the word. This time is not a setback for missionary work, but it is like God is throwing us missionaries into the deep end of the pool to learn to do this work by trial and error.” She said she has learned the truth of the quote from the Prophet Joseph Smith. “The truth will go forth nobly, boldly and independent until it has penetrated every continent, visited every climb, swept every country and sounded in every ear until the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the great Jehovah shall say the work is done.” Workman highlighted missionary work is so reliant on members now. “Members have never been more needed and never had such an opportunity to be involved in mission work,” she said.
“Because all of our pages are on Facebook or our YouTube videos can only reach those who the missionaries are friends with, they won’t hit many different people with just the missionaries working alone. With members, we create a little web of light as we each share and comment and support,” Workman added. Workman explained if each member shares one message or video they appreciated, so many more people can see it, and the gospel will touch all those people. “By small and simple things are great things brought to pass. These are the small and simple things we can all do to help this work move forward and to help gather Israel before the second coming,” she said. Hardships of online mission work Of the rigors of adapting to changes, Workman said, “It is hard to feel of worth as a missionary at times because we used to be so focused on being outside and really laboring. Now, the labor seems less laborious because we’re doing it from our couches at home,” she added. “There has just got to be a change in expectations for each missionary as we acclimate to this new work.” Continued on page 22 S E P T 2020
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Top photo: Essie Workman with her family at the airport. Photo provided by Essie Workman. Bottom left photo: Workman’s first day in Georgia in front of the Sameba church with her companion in Tblisi, Georgia. Photo by Talmage Healey. 22 K E A L A K A’ I Bottom right photo: Workman on her reassignment in front of the Montana Capitol building in Helena, Montana. Photo provided by Essie Workman.
“It is so contrary to what it used to be, but it is what good, obedient, hard-working missionaries are doing right now. It sounds strange, and that’s the hard part of it.” Workman shared, “God has made this nightmare time into a blessing for His missionaries and His work. I have learned to test God in his promises to provide a way to accomplish everything He commands us to accomplish (1 Nephi 3:7).” She said she learned how God is good and merciful, but He also expects His children to live up to the gifts He has given them. “He expects us to be involved and striving. I’ve learned worthiness is trying. We’re going to fall short, but He has provided a way for us to get back up through His son’s sacrifice. We can repent and keep striving to live up to our privileges and reach our full potential.” Missionary work changes According to the Church Newsroom, a news release was issues on March 16, saying, “Missionaries will continue to be called to serve and assigned to labor in missions worldwide. Missionary recommendations will continue to be received, and missionary assignments for worldwide service will continue to be made. “In addition, Church leaders are implementing some temporary adjustments to missionary service. Out of an abundance of caution, these changes include:
• Young missionaries with health issues and senior missionaries may be released from service. • Missionaries who begin their service and are unable to travel to their assigned mission may be temporarily reassigned to another mission. • To adjust for rapidly changing conditions, young missionary elders currently serving in missions within the United States and Canada who would complete their mission on or before Sept. 1, 2020, may be released after they have served for 21 months. • Some missionaries may be temporarily reassigned. “Young missionaries needing to work primarily from their apartments will continue teaching using technology, studying the scriptures and Preach My Gospel, language learning, family history, online community service, and other activities as identified by the mission president.” More information can be found on the Church Newsroom by scanning the QR code.
Top: Liechty holds the Book of Mormon in Spanish on her mission in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Bottom: Liechty with her companion. Photos provided by Jane Sorena.
“I believe I am discovering, along with the rest of the world, that we all have more in common than we think. We all just want life to get better. I think it’s great we are working towards a common goal, even if it is in different ways.” - Kaleah Liechty S E P T 2020
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COVID-19 affects internships BYU–Hawaii students’ internships are being canceled, postponed and some students cannot return home from their internships BY SERENA DUGAR IOANE The coronavirus has negatively impacted students and their aspirations to complete internships, they said, border closures in countries also prevented them from returning home once their internships were completed. BYU–Hawaii professors suggested online internships as possible alternatives. Tom Court, an assistant professor in the Faculty of Education & Social Work, said as an internship coordinator, he has seen changes in the ways students complete internships.
Before COVID-19, online teaching internships were not accepted for the TESOL major. Court said since most teachers in the TESOL profession are teaching remotely, they changed that policy. Stuck after doing internships Court added how the most challenging situations have been for students who finished their internships, but travel restrictions prevented them from returning home.
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, the emic d to d n a ep cide out to th s de d "Due ment ha ng in an n i r o e g o v f l i g h t s g n t r y. " u all e co halt of th
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Court shared, “One of our TESOL students was finally able to fly home to her country just last week after many months of waiting to be reunited with her family. That kind of physical separation from family and home during a pandemic is very stressful.” Laura Vaitea Liu, an alumna from Tahiti who majored in TESOL, did her internship in Mauritius. Liu served her full-time mission in Mauritius and said she was happy when she found the internship through Handshake.
Graphics by Esther Insigne
“When I received my acceptance letter for the internship, I got really excited. I could already see myself teaching and completing my degree while exploring the island and reuniting with all the people that I had met a couple of years ago. “However, when I arrived in Mauritius, I started hearing about the sudden pandemic hitting the world.” She continued, “At first, I did not think I would be affected very much by the pandemic, but I quickly realized the great impact it would have on my life.” Liu said she was blessed to complete her internship in March 2020. “Just when I completed my internship and was ready to enjoy the beauty of the island, the situation around the world got worse. COVID-19 cases started to show up in Mauritius, and the country closed its borders. “At that moment, I knew I had a long journey ahead of me, and all I needed to do was trust the Lord,” Liu added. “I stayed in lockdown for several months, and I could not return to my home country until the end of July.” During this time, she said she had to deal with financial pressure, mental and emotional stress, and the fear of uncertainty. “However, my faith has been put to the test, and I decided to trust the Lord during the process.” Even though the pandemic disrupted her future, Liu said she is still grateful and sees the
challenge as a blessing. “I was blessed through it all. The Lord reached out His hand to me through amazing people who helped me feel safe and at home.” While she was in lockdown, Liu said she served others through church callings. “Despite the difficulty of my experience, I am grateful for all the lessons learned and the people met. I have no regret going through all these hardships, because I know I became a better person, and I got closer to my Heavenly Father.” During the lockdown, Lui added that she kept contact with BYUH, and she is grateful for the help she received in finding her way home. “Last but not least, I was still able to graduate from BYUH with a bachelor’s in TESOL, and I am grateful for it. I became a more independent individual and ambitious person,” Liu explained. “I learned that there is a solution to every problem. We can find it if we take the time to calmly ponder on it and follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost.”
ideal internships, but then had to cancel and completely change their expectations about how their internship could be fulfilled.” Otgonchimeg Chimedregzen, a senior from Mongolia majoring in social work, said an internship is required to complete her degree. She was about to do her internship in Hong Kong in Sept. 2020. After COVID-19 spiraled into a worldwide pandemic in March, it seemed less likely she could complete it. Hong Kong closed its borders on March 25, so Chimedregzen’s plans changed. “Then, I tried to do my internship in Mongolia and found several organizations that were willing to hire me as an intern, but Mongolia also closed its borders and has not opened yet.” Now, Chimedregzen said she decided to do her internship in Hawaii and is still searching for an internship.
Internship cancellations Court added, “At the onset of the pandemic, it was disappointing for our students who had already worked hard to secure their
“I learned that there is a solution to every problem. We can find it if we take the time to calmly ponder on it and follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost.” -Laura Vaitea Liu
Liu expressed no regrets going on her internship even after getting stuck in Mauritius during lockdown. She is pictured with one of her mentors Mahend Gungapersad from her internship. Photo provided by Laura Vaitea Liu
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Students share experiences with racism and provide resources to overcome biases BY BROOKE GURYN
STANDING UP
TO RACISM Graphic by Hannah Manalang 26
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*Disclaimer: The Ke Alaka’i does not take a political stance in regards to recent events. Any reference to Black Lives Matter is to the social movement, not the political organization. Conversations about racism and solutions to systemic racism have covered news and social media platforms due to protests regarding the Black Lives Matter movement. Students shared their personal experiences witnessing racism and how they stood up for others and themselves. “I have never experienced anyone being extremely racist until I left my hometown,” explained Jillian Ruby, a junior from Colorado studying psychology and elementary education. Ruby moved to Australia and said she witnessed racism while working at a bowling alley. She described how there was a policy where men could not wear tank tops, and they had shirts for sale if needed. She said the policy was not often enforced, and when it was, the owner would politely ask the customers to buy a shirt or put one on. She noticed a difference between the treatment of Aboriginal and white customers. One day, a young Indigenous man came into the building with a tank top on. The owner proceeded to yell at the young man and kicked him out, saying, “I don’t know why you people think you can come in here with a tank top when it says it on the door,” said Ruby. This encounter infuriated Ruby, and she spoke up. She said, “It wasn’t right for you to treat the young man the way you did... you shouldn’t speak to anyone the way you just spoke to that man.” She said, “I honestly don’t remember his exact words, but they were along the lines of ‘This is my business, and I can treat anyone however I choose.You better watch your mouth before you’re out of the job.’” Anna Sheffield, a junior from Iowa studying vocal music, shared an experience where she believed her neighbor racially profiled her for being Black. Sheffield’s little sister’s kitten escaped and went on her neighbor’s property. While she was searching for it, her neighbor approached her,
questioning her about being on her lawn, and she spoke very unkindly. Sheffield said she felt targeted, and it bothered her for weeks. She said it sat with her for two weeks until she saw her mom speaking to the neighbor. She approached the neighbor and expressed how the encounter made her feel. The neighbor apologized for how she treated her and admitted to having a bad day and reassured her that it wasn’t about race. Sheffield said, “Not everything’s about us. It wasn’t about me, and I chose to communicate like an adult.” She said she saw from this experience the importance of communication and how it can solve conflict. She added, “She even brought me flowers and said they were as lovely as me.” She said she moved on knowing she was loved and not treated poorly because of her race. How to fight biases In an LDS Living op-ed titled, “Follow Christ to eliminate racism,” Bryant Jensen asserts, “To eliminate racism, we must see its complexity – its interpersonal, institutional and implicit aspects.” Jensen writes, “If prayerful, heaven will direct us to know who to partner with and how to make a difference. God will call us out of our comfort zones to accomplish His purposes if we ‘yield ourselves [to let] Him know we want to be of use, seeking His direction and accessing His strength.’” He continued, “In 2006, President Hinckley said that ‘no man who makes disparaging remarks of those of another race can consider himself a true disciple of Christ.’” Sheffield said sometimes there is nothing you can do to stop racist actions or people. But speak up if you can, get educated about racism, vote, continue to share content on social media of your own or others stories, sign petitions and make calls or emails. Jackie Morris, a junior from Virginia studying social work, said people could start with the basics. She encouraged everyone to get informed about other races, and if someone says something offensive, people should correct them and call out injustices when they see
them. She shared she is finishing podcasts that highlight native voices to make a difference, and Morris said she went to Mauna Kea to speak with the lāhui (Native Hawaiians) to be able to understand their perspective.
Films to get informed A simple way to get educated on racism is by watching films. One film Ruby shared that helped her is “Freedom Writers.” She explained, “Freedom Writers is a phenomenal movie that’s based on the real-life experience of a teacher named Erin Gruwell. The movie takes you through her first year in her career as a teacher, where Mrs. Gruwell changed the lives of her high school students that were separated by their ethnicities. “She encourages them to chase their dreams and to believe in themselves. It’s a classic movie that I believe all people should see. It really brings to life the biases that we are raised with and helps us to see just how damaging and hurtful these biases can be to those around us. It brings a new perspective on the lives of others that we can’t necessarily see at first sight.” Another film shared by Mark Maslar, a senior studying theater and film education, is “Just Mercy.” He shared this movie “is the story of Bryan Stevenson and his colleagues at the Equal Justice Initiative as they fight to provide legal assistance to men on death row in Alabama.” He added, “One of the best facets of the film is how these men are portrayed, as the film tries to stay true to the events as they happened. Witnessing the cruelty and ignorance that is held by the film’s antagonists, we begin to see another side to the justice system.” Morris shared she likes the documentary “13th,” which highlights racial injustice in the prison system. “I liked that the documentary is evidence-based. There are voice recordings, documents and testimonies of scholarly intellectual people. To some, it may be a hard pill to digest because there is an agenda to show a failing system, but it is a good place to start forming opinions and rethinking things.”
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A beginner’s guide to
eliminating racism BY HAELEY VAN DER WERF AND NOAH SHOAF Russell M. Nelson, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shared on June 1, 2020, the following message on his social media accounts in response to “recent evidences of racism and a blatant disregard for human life,” along with violence and unrest following the Black Lives Matter protests. He shared, “The Creator of us all calls on each of us to abandon attitudes of prejudice against any group of God’s children. Any of us who has prejudice toward another race needs to repent!” To eliminate prejudice, Ke Alaka’i editors, with the help of BYU–Hawaii professors, created a list of resources for individuals to learn about racism, biases and racial issues.
Books
White Fragility By Robin DiAngelo According to Amazon.com, “Robin DiAngelo coined the term ‘White Fragility’ in 2011 to describe this process and is here to show us how it serves to uphold the system of white supremacy. Using knowledge and insight gained over decades of running racial awareness workshops and working on this idea as a Professor of Whiteness Studies, she shows us how we can start having more honest conversations, listen to each other better and react to feedback with grace and humility. It is not enough to simply hold abstract progressive views and condemn the obvious racists on social media - change starts with us all at a practical, granular level, and it is time for all white people to take responsibility for relinquishing their own racial supremacy.”
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents By Isabel Wilkerson According to Barnes and Noble, “Beyond race, class, or other factors, there is a powerful caste system that influences people’s lives and behavior and the nation’s fate. Linking the caste systems of America, India and Nazi Germany, Wilkerson explores eight pillars that underlie caste systems across civilizations, including divine will, bloodlines, stigma and more. Using riveting stories about people - including Martin Luther King, Jr., baseball’s Satchel Paige, a single father and his toddler son, Wilkerson herself, and many others - she shows the ways that the insidious undertow of caste is experienced every day.”
Some Fall Semester classes that cover racism
How to Be an Antiracist By Ibram X. Kendi Barnes and Noble explains, “In 'How to Be an Antiracist,' Kendi takes readers through a widening circle of antiracist ideas - from the most basic concepts to visionary possibilities - that will help readers see all forms of racism clearly, understand their poisonous consequences and work to oppose them in our systems and in ourselves. “Kendi weaves an electrifying combination of ethics, history, law and science with his own personal story of awakening to antiracism. This is an essential work for anyone who wants to go beyond the awareness of racism to the next step: contributing to the formation of a just and equitable society.”
Anthropology 105: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (Textbook - "How to Be an Antiracist" by Ibram X. Kendi) Anthropology 210: Contemporary Pacific (Course readings from the book - "Possessing Polynesians: The Science of Settler Colonial Whiteness in Hawai'i and Oceania" by Maile Arvin) Humanities 100R: Exploring Humanities - Antiracism (Textbook - "Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents" by Isabel Wilkerson) Communication 110: Intercultural Communication Communication 280: Gender, Race and Culture 28
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First Name Basis with Jasmine Bradshaw The First Name Basis website states, “As parents, we all want to teach our kids to be inclusive, but how? Join Jasmine Bradshaw each week as she gives you the tools and practical strategies that you need to talk to your children about race, religion and culture. If you are a parent who values inclusion and wants to teach your children how to truly love those who are different from them, this podcast is for you!”
Movies
Just Mercy According to WarnerBros.com, “‘Just Mercy’ follows young lawyer Bryan Stevenson (Jordan) and his history-making battle for justice. After graduating from Harvard, Bryan had his pick of lucrative jobs. Instead, he heads to Alabama to defend those wrongly condemned or who were not afforded proper representation, with the support of local advocate Eva Ansley (Larson). One of his first, and most incendiary, cases is that of Walter McMillian (Foxx), who, in 1987, was sentenced to die for the notorious murder of an 18-yearold girl, despite a preponderance of evidence proving his innocence and the fact that the only testimony against him came from a criminal with a motive to lie. In the years that follow, Bryan becomes embroiled in a labyrinth of legal and political maneuverings and overt and unabashed racism as he fights for Walter, and others like him, with the odds - and the system stacked against them.
1619 by New York Times The New York Times explains how the first slaves were brought to the United States in the year 1619. “The goal of The 1619 Project is to reframe American history by considering what it would mean to regard 1619 as our nation’s birth year. Doing so requires us to place the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of the story we tell ourselves about who we are as a country. “The 1619 Project is an ongoing initiative from The New York Times Magazine that began in August 2019, the 400th anniversary of the beginning of American slavery. It aims to reframe the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of our national narrative.”
Seeing White by Scene on Radio According to the Scene on Radio website, “Just what is going on with white people? Police shootings of unarmed African Americans. Acts of domestic terrorism by white supremacists. The renewed embrace of raw, undisguised white-identity politics. Unending racial inequity in schools, housing, criminal justice, and hiring. Some of this feels new, but in truth it’s an old story. “Why? Where did the notion of ‘whiteness’ come from? What does it mean? What is whiteness for? “Scene on Radio host and producer John Biewen took a deep dive into these questions, along with an array of leading scholars and regular guest Dr. Chenjerai Kumanyika, in this fourteen-part documentary series, released between February and August 2017. The series editor is Loretta Williams.”
Selma Selmathemovie.com says, “Ava DuVernay's powerful drama Selma tells the incredible story of how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led the epic march from Selma to Montgomery to secure equal voting rights in an event that forever altered history. 55 years after the historic marches from Selma, as we witness the expression of decades of collective pain, we should reflect on Dr. King's words: ‘injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.’ “We hope this small gesture will encourage people throughout the country to examine our nation's history and reflect on the ways that racial injustice has infected our society. The key message of Selma is the importance of equality, dignity and justice for all people. Clearly, that message is as vital today as it was in 1965.”
The Hate U Give IMDb says “The Hate U Give” is a movie when “Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Now, facing pressure from all sides of the community, Starr must find her voice and stand up for what's right.”
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Graphics by Hannah Manalang
t en ymtimes ploented emeced Un u n p r
in Students discuss issues regarding unemployment and its effect on their education BY CARLENE COOMBS
BYU–Hawaii students shared the unique struggles of being unemployed in college, and Student Employment shared what BYUH is doing to help students with employment troubles. “As a college student, you don’t have anything to fall back on. Some college students don’t have a savings account big enough to live for a few months without a job. Some college students are in debt,” said McKenna Fairbanks, a sophomore from Utah majoring in communications. According to the Pew Research Center, the unemployment rate among American adults under 25 reached 25.3 percent in May 2020 and is higher than peak unemployment rates during the Great Recession in the late 2000s. An article by Forbes speculated the high unemployment rate among young adults is likely caused by those under 25 having less work experience and seniority and fewer marketable skills. Additionally, many young workers are employed in industries that have been hit the hardest such as food service. Student experiences Jenny Velasco, a senior from the Philippines majoring in social work, shared she became 30
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unemployed this spring when the campus closed and she had to move to Florida to live with her father. According to Velasco, she used her job as a resident advisor on-campus to pay for tuition and living expenses. “It’s been hard because we were still trying to pay off my tuition fees. And since my dad also has problems with his job, it affected my enrollment for the Fall Semester. I only got to enroll [recently] because we had trouble looking for money to pay off the Spring Semester so I can enroll for Fall.” Velasco said as an international student, she is unable to work on the mainland due to student visa restrictions. “[International students] are not allowed to work here because our contract as visa students is we can’t work anywhere else but the school.” Fairbanks said she was starting her new job at Kualoa Ranch when the major tourist attraction closed mid-March. “I hoped things were going to clear up, and it wasn’t gonna be a long-term thing because I knew if I didn’t have a job, I would have to leave Hawaii, and I didn’t want to leave.” Fairbanks said she immediately started looking for work but was unsuccessful and had to return to Utah soon after losing her job.
Graphics by Hannah Manalang
“Moving home, I thought it would be more temporary than it has been. I thought I would be here for maybe a month until COVID cleared up. For that month, I was living at home, planning on coming back [to Hawaii], and looking for opportunities. When I started realizing this is going to be a long-term thing… and there’s still no job options available... I started looking for jobs in Utah.” While she was able to find a job eventually, Fairbanks shared the employment she did find was “in something I’m not passionate about, but just anything that would provide some income.” Amanda Haverly, a senior from Illinois studying hospitality and tourism management, said she lost her job at the Polynesian Cultural Center due to its closure. Since the Center originally announced its closure would only last through March, Haverly shared was not very concerned at first and saw the situation as some time off. “It was all a lot to take in. But I’m thinking, ‘We’ll go back to normal next month.’ It was a huge thing for PCC to close for two weeks. But then they announced they were going to stay closed for another month.” Haverly said because of the closure of the Center and BYUH, she started to feel uncertain about her financial situation. “[I thought] how am I going to keep making money if [the Center] is going to be closed for all of April. And I still had to pay rent and had a wedding coming up.”
Haverly said she is lucky her husband has been able to keep his job, but she is still searching for employment months later. Response from BYUH Melissa Martinez, a human resource specialist overseeing student employment, said BYUH is currently offering projects for students searching for jobs in Hawaii. “BYUH has added a COVID Work Project jobs that any student who is physically here can apply to if they need work. This is a work opportunity that will take place here on-campus in essential job functions,” said Martinez. Martinez added how many students have been able to continue their work remotely from their homes. Velasco said while she did receive some help from the school, she wished there was more communication between administration and the students regarding the COVID-19 situation. “I just wish the school gave more detailed information about everything else that was happening. I feel like ...everything was really confusing. I and even my family and most of my friends are just hoping we could have gotten more information so that we could have prepared better for Fall Semester.”
Effects of unemployment on schooling Fairbanks shared the loss of her job caused unexpected stress and negatively affected her coursework and finals. “The time I could have been studying for finals was spent looking at my possible job options, looking at getting unemployment, looking at possible flights home, and then, jobs at home. The time I would have spent studying was instead spent looking for employment options.” Velasco said the uncertainty of the circumstances and the transition into online schooling was the hardest part of coping with her unemployment. “[The hardest part] is managing the stress of going through Spring Semester and trying to get yourself together, making sure you pass all of your online classes and trying to understand whatever you’re trying to learn. And then you don’t know what’s going to happen for Fall Semester, and your plans are kind of ruined.” She added that she will have to return to the Philippines instead of returning to Hawaii because she is graduating in the Fall Semester. “With the current situation and then the future situation, you have no idea what you need to do and how to make things better,” said Velasco. For students who are struggling with stress and anxiety during these times, they can go to counseling.byuh.edu for help.
25.3%
13.1% 9.8%
8%
4%
Ages 16-24
Ages 25-34
3%
Ages 35-44
11.5%
10.4%
2.8%
2.8%
Ages 45-54
Ages 55+
Unemployment rate in the U.S. for Feb. 2020 Unemployment rate in the U.S. for May 2020
Source: pewresearch.org S E P T 2020
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Finding streng th during a pandem ic Jason and Lindsey Bliss said they “spend an hour in meditation, visualization, reading affirmations and listening to what the Lord wants to share with us.” The Blisses are Willes Center entrepreneurs in residence on campus. Photo provided by Lindsey Bliss.
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Transformative opportunities emerge when discovering your new normal BY JASON AND LINDSEY BLISS In the 1980s, elementary schools across Oregon allowed animals and insects to entertain and educate us each month in a coordinated rotation. We would watch with anticipation when caterpillars arrived in the spring, stopped eating, hung upside down on a branch and created their silky-webbed chrysalis. We loved the idea that you could begin as one creature and eventually transform, even if it was a gruesome, gooey mess. The caterpillar digested itself from the inside out during the process. What happened inside the chrysalis was a complete mystery, but we didn’t care as the results were magical. The year 2020 introduced a significant change in our lives, regardless of our differing perspectives on the events that have transpired. Each of us has likely had moments of quarantining and will need to decide, when we emerge, what we learned through the process, and what will become the new “normal.” What will happen within our cocoon? What new creature will be revealed? How malleable will our minds become, and will we become laserfocused on creating a positive future? Change leads to cocooning Over the past few months, several individuals and foreign governments referenced a concept they titled “cocooning” as it relates to protecting the vulnerable during this pandemic and asking them to stay home. This is an extremely effective visual representation for individuals who have a higher probability of being infected. However, this concept of cocooning has an even more ubiquitous presence in our lives as we reflect on how we will respond to unpredictable events when we, too, have completed our uncomfortable process of transformation. Will our lives have dramatically changed when this is over? Will the quietness of quarantining and the stillness of self-isolation allow us to slow down long enough to become refined? Or will we emerge from our cocoon
unchanged, cynical, judgmental and unwilling to become a new creature? Becoming a new creature We have all heard ecclesiastical representatives, influencers and well-respected thought leaders tell us to “be the best version of ourselves” or “become new creatures.” This isn’t a new concept, and yet, it continues to resurface as we strive to find some secret ingredient to improving our lives. Disruption can confuse and disappoint many, yet as a family, we decided early on during COVID-19 to respond differently and shed areas of our lives that needed adjustment.
“Meditation is the language of the soul… private devotion or spiritual exercise... Meditation is a form of prayer... one of the most secret, most sacred doors through which we pass into the presence of the Lord.” - President David O. McKay
Sheltering at home has been the most effective couple’s therapy. After 21 years of marriage, we always enjoyed our time together and felt that we were predestined to find each other. We align on 99 percent of our opinions and enjoy many of the same hobbies, foods and dreams. However, all relationships have areas that are sensitive topics. Quarantining for months without intermittent breaks opened the door for us to discuss any old wounds that needed to be properly addressed. We couldn’t run away from our issues, ignore them completely or let distractions suppress what needed to be removed from our lives. We were able to find a productive time to reflect, be vulnerable and change. We allowed time to be our biggest factor in healing and self-
reflecting in a therapeutic and loving way. We resurrected good habits. When we were a younger couple, our bishop would often ask each family in the congregation if they were praying, studying the scriptures, attending church, going to the temple and having weekly dates. While all of these were tremendously important already to us, we found ourselves drifting toward areas time afforded more of, especially our ability to read scriptures and pray. As a family, we started encouraging each other to have more sincere and personalized prayers. It started with a five-minute personal prayer and eventually reached 10-plus minutes uninterrupted. It was amazing to hear the results as we each took turns bearing truths about how it felt to communicate with our Heavenly Father in a more meaningful way, avoiding the repetitions that often make their way in our prayers when rushed. We increased our interest in being healthy, exercising more regularly, adjusted dietary preferences (including introducing new recipes and a reduction in the standard sugar fixes) and focusing on expanding our knowledge through a wide range of outstanding books. We continued to dream of our next adventures, angel invest in new ideas and prepare for the future. All of these changes allowed any stagnant areas of our lives to become pliable and prepared our minds to accelerate our growth. The malleable mind With the inaccessibility of temple attendance today, isn’t it wonderful our forced isolation at home has given us ample time to be in a holy, blessed place, only equal to the temple in sacredness, the Lord calls home as well? In our homes, we are the gatekeepers deciding, with each action, if the Lord is allowed to enter. During times of trials, we feel the need to feel Him here with us tangibly. We want to know He is walking among our children as they play, joining our family prayer circle, soothing our thoughts and standing at the head of our endless faith. In mortality, our greatest prayer is to be the closest we humanly can get to our Heavenly Father. But how do we go to the next level of our devotion? Gra phic by Bru no May nez
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Jason and Lindsey Bliss shared, "We wrote our prayers, our hopes and dreams, our ideal and best-case scenarios of our life on poster boards, stickers on the mirror, markers on the windows and put them in places they could be read and pondered." Photo provided by Lindsey Bliss.
President David O. McKay preached about our part in this quest to peel back the curtains one veil at a time until we’re witnessing life through His eyes. He said, “Meditation is the language of the soul…private devotion or spiritual exercise... Meditation is a form of prayer... one of the most secret, most sacred doors through which we pass into the presence of the Lord.” Our isolation has given us the time and the desire to walk through this door. Seeking and researching the art of meditation has allowed us to experience a communion with the Lord that we haven’t reached before. This led our family to double our efforts in other forms of focused thought. We wrote our prayers, hopes and dreams, ideal and bestcase scenarios of our life on poster boards, stickers on the mirror, markers on the windows and put them in places they could be read and pondered. 34
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Elder Holland said, “He [God] expects you to embrace and shape the future — to love it, rejoice in it and delight in your opportunities. God is eagerly waiting for the chance to answer your prayers and fulfill your dreams, just as He always has. But He can’t if you don’t pray, and He can’t if you don’t dream. In short, He can’t if you don’t believe.” Since COVID-19, we try to spend an hour each day in meditation, visualization, reading affirmations and listening to what the Lord wants to share with us. The blessings of deepening our worship with the Lord have been great. However, the most cherished is the tangible ways God has confirmed our worth and His abounding love, which in turn has given us courage to continue on in His name. Laser-focused Last year, Jill Schafer competed in the Great Ideas Competition at BYU–Hawaii. Her
business concept was to create an application that combined affirmation statements with meditation. This was right up our alley, and eventually, we funded the completion of her idea known as Self Pause. If you haven’t subscribed to the theory of self-affirmation, you might want to try this little experiment that sometimes makes it into youth conferences and leadership seminars. Have a friend spread their arms wide open and tell them to keep their arms up while trying to push their arms down. Most likely, they’ll struggle a little but will resist effectively. Now, have that same friend say emphatically 10 times, “I am weak!” Once they seem to believe what they are saying, attempt to push your friend’s arms down again. Regardless of how strong your friend is, their arms will weaken at such a rapid rate, they might become scared that the effects are permanent.
Try this experiment about the theory of self-affirmation by Jason and Lindsey Bliss
I am weak!
Step 3 -
Remarkably, if your friend, instead, energetically says, “I am strong!” Ten times, the words trigger something inside their mind and body as their arms become immovable.
Step 1 -
Have a friend spread their arms wide open and tell them to keep their arms up while trying to push their arms down. Most likely, they’ll struggle a little but will resist effectively.
Step 2 - Now, have that same friend say emphatically 10 times, “I am weak!” Once they seem to believe what they are saying, attempt to push your friend’s arms down again. Regardless of how strong your friend is, their arms will weaken at such a rapid rate, they might become scared that the effects are permanent. Remarkably, if your friend, instead, energetically says, “I am strong!” 10 times, the words trigger something inside their mind and body as their arms become immovable. Is this just another trick, or is there some lesson to be learned here? In Proverbs 23:7, it reads, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Scientifically, God created our brains to respond to our thoughts and words. Each day we send thousands of messages to our brain of how it’s supposed to behave. If you choose to use powerful words to send uplifting, Godfilled truths to your mind, you’ll see miracles happen in all aspects of your life. Your health could improve, your relationships mended and strengthened, improved grades in school, greater work results and a more positive, happier life.You get the idea. When we become addicted to a higher, more powerful self-talk, we will experience miraculous results in unexpected ways. Experiment with this and see for yourself!
I am strong!
Explanation -
Scientifically, God created our brains to respond to our thoughts and words. Each day we send thousands of messages to our brain of how it’s supposed to behave. If you choose to use powerful words to send uplifting, God-filled truths to your mind, you’ll see miracles happen in all aspects of your life.
We can decide today to change and become new creatures, allow our minds to become malleable and focus our intentions while allowing the craziness of an unprecedented year to be a time of complete evolution.
During this time of great reflection and transformation, we have been reminded every voice matters again. We have been humbled as a nation when not addressing the needs of every citizen. We have seen the increased number of those affected by the disease, loss of work, depression, death and an overall disconnect as they watch the never-ending stream of seemingly ‘bad’ news. Some have become disenchanted with leaders and dispute the information shared. Iconic and small businesses have failed. Sports took an indefinite recess. But one thing is for sure – We have been given a choice on how we want to emerge when our cocoon hatches. We can decide today to change and become new creatures, allow our minds to become malleable and focus our intentions while allowing the craziness of an unprecedented year to be a time of complete evolution. Graphic by Esther Insigne S E P T 2020
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Conversations on racism BY CARLENE COOMBS
BYU–Hawaii students and a professor explore how recent Black Lives Matter protests have led to new discussions about racism *Editor’s note: Ke Alaka’i does not take a political stance. All views expressed in this article are those of the interviewees. All references to Black Lives Matter are to the social movement, not the political organization.
In the aftermath of the Black Lives Matter protests that took place globally following the death of George Floyd, BYU–Hawaii students discuss how these protests opened the doors to widespread conversations about racism in America and how the media aided the movement. “For some people, [racism] is a scary topic to talk about because there are a lot of emotions in it. If you create a kind, accepting environment where they feel safe enough to talk about it, it’s a good way to open that conversation and help guide them to helpful resources,” said Olivia Card, a sophomore from Utah majoring in social work. While the Black Lives Matter movement has been around since 2013, the death of George Floyd on May 25 caused widespread protests across America and other parts of the world. As of July 3, there have been more than 4,700 protests since they began in
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Minneapolis on May 26, according to the New York Times. Trinity Pedro, a junior from Illinois majoring in communications, said she had discussions with her friends about the recent events. Now it’s “more common to see people talking about it, and not in the ways of arguing but having adult conversations.” Card shared she believes the media played a role in spreading the news about Black Lives Matter and creating extensive dialogue about racism. “It was like everyone had something to say about it. It was interesting because it wasn’t just people who are primarily African American. I’m biracial, and hearing other people’s stories who aren’t 100 percent African American kind of sparked my own internal discussion with myself, and then it continued to my friends,” said Card. Natasha Mathurent, a junior from Venezuela studying biomedical science, said racism is finally being addressed because of the constant coverage. “It’s always been an issue regardless, but it’s really been put in people’s faces. It’s been put on the back burner for so long. People within the black community were already aware of it, even other minorities. We knew it was an issue. But now that it is being blasted and plastered basically everywhere, you can’t ignore it anymore. People are going to have to talk about it.” Graphics by Sadie Madriaga
Rahel Meyer, a sophomore from Germany majoring in political science and communications, said the Black Lives Matter movement even sparked conversations about racism in Germany. “Through George Floyd… it’s opened up to the world what’s going on. In Germany, we also had Black Lives Matter movements. That’s how people started to talk about racism in Germany. How do we see it here? How can we help people from becoming the next George Floyd in Germany?” Meyer explained Germany has begun to receive many refugees in recent years, a majority who are from a racial minority, and the country has seen increases in racial discrimination reports. “In Berlin when this blew up, there were over 20,000 people protesting on the streets. They were in Munich and Frankfurt, and of course it was about Black Lives Matter. How were black people treated in Germany? But it also has a lot to do with those refugees who are not of a Black ethnicity but who are from a racial minority.” An open dialogue Mathurent said she began to have more discussions with her friends, specifically those not among minorities. She highlighted the importance of going into conversations ready to understand and have an open mind. “I like to also hear what [my friends and family] think about it. If you put yourself in their shoes, you can see why they don’t understand some things or why they might have questions or why they think the way they do because of life experiences or no exposure to Black culture. The more I talk to my friends about it, [the more] I come to understand.”
Ana Ellis, a sophomore from North Carolina studying history, said recognizing some have questions, and being respectful of them is valuable to keep the conversation going. “On social media, I had a lot of family members who were asking me questions. ‘What does this even mean? I don’t even know what they’re advocating for.’ I think being conscientious of others and respectful of those who don’t know and be willing to talk about it. If you know what you are advocating for, that will just set it off longer and farther.” Card explained she is adopted and the only person of color within her family. She said over the last few months, family members started coming to her with questions and wanting to hear her thoughts. “It was the first time my ethnicity had been acknowledged within my family. They genuinely wanted to hear about how I was feeling, and they asked a lot of questions like if I had ever felt segregated by them or if I had ever felt racially profiled by them. They asked for advice on how they can improve and be better at accepting others.” On Aug. 6, BYUH Academic Advising announced on its Instagram that this Fall, there will be a 1-credit class on anti-racism taught by Dr. David Beus, an associate professor in the Faculty of Culture, Language, & Performing Arts. Beus said the class is part of a new course that began last year titled Exploring Humanities and isn’t required for any major or minor and discusses different topics each semester. “You take [the class] because it’s on a topic you want to learn about, not because you have to. With the current international reckoning with racial injustice, we felt like we had to do something on this topic for fall.” Social media & mental health Pedro shared she believes social media played a large role in the spread of information about Black Lives Matter. “If [social media] wasn’t around, I feel like that would have kind of hindered the whole process and everything happening. That’s how most people our age figure out what’s going on through social media, Instagram, and Twitter.”
Ellis said she saw social media as a tool and said it helped her family members become more educated on the topic and ask questions. “Social media, in general, is a tool for many people to use and for others to witness what is happening because I think a lot of people in some way are in denial,” said Ellis. “I know people in my family and my friend group who were like ‘Oh, that doesn’t happen. There’s no way this is actually occurring in today’s society.’ I think social media has really blown it up. They were witnessing what had been happening, and they were shocked.” Mathurent shared in the beginning, she was very involved on social media and posting about Black Lives Matter and racism every day in addition to having conversations with friends. As time went on, she shared that the constant coverage on social media began to impact her mental health negatively, and she was forced to take a break. When I saw other people didn’t post about it, I was like, ‘Well, why aren’t you saying something.You must be against the movement.’ And then, as it happened more and as more graphic videos came out, especially with George Floyd, I stepped back because it was really bothering me.” She shared the stress caused her to begin having nightmares, specifically about something happening to her father or brother. “[The nightmares] really affected me and my mental health, so I had to step back, and I understood why some people were [very] active at the beginning and took a break after a while because it messes with you, especially if it’s something that could happen to you.”
history into education and teach about influential Black people. “When people try to push it off like ‘Just forget it. It happened in the past,’ what about we don’t forget it? We acknowledge that it happened. I feel like the history books have a watered-down version of what it was because that’s what they want you to know. But the history is so much deeper, and we [have to] incorporate that from the root.” Mathurent emphasized making a change in places such as education and communities is what truly matters. “We can’t just paint Black Lives Matter on the street and feel there’s change. That’s performative. I appreciate it, but if you’re not applying it into the judicial system, communities, education, you’re not making a change. “Unless you apply it and put that money or put that time and effort to try to fix it from the root and consciously keep talking about it, and I don’t think there’s going to be change. It’s just going to be performative.” Keeping aware, despite everything happening in the world, is one suggestion Pedro had to keep the discussion going. “For me personally, I’ve just tried to remember not to push it back to the bottom depths of my brain, because there’s so many other things going on, especially the other countries like Lebanon and Yemen.” Pedro added, “We all have to deal with whether you like it or not. It’s going to be there, whether you ignore it or want to pay attention to it.”
Keeping the conversation alive Mathurent shares she believes in continuing the dialogue about racism, it is important for people to incorporate Black
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Carrying on a legacy Penisimani Taumoepeau shares how playing Mana in “Hā: Breath of Life” connects him with late father BY HAILEY HUHANE
Taumeoepeau said his love for performance and dance started at a young age. Photos provided by Penisimani Taumoepeau.
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After four years, Penisimani “Tuti” Taumoepeau says he considers dancing at the Polynesian Cultural Center’s “Hā: Breath of Life” show more than just a job. “It is a part of my culture. It teaches me who I am, what I can become, and what I can give to others.” Taumoepeau described his experience while training for the lead role of Mana in “Hā: Breath of Life,” as emotional. He said the role helps him feel connected with his late father, Viliami ‘Unga Afuha’amango Taumoepeau, who was also a performer. “I’ve been watching my dad perform my whole life, and dancing reminds me of him and how I was taught. Sometimes I feel like my dad is there watching me,” said Taumoepeau. In his first audition in 2016, Taumoepeau immediately stood out from the rest of the group, said David Tiave, the senior manager of the theater department at the Center.
“He stood out at the IWORK auditions. His motions were clean. When I found out what his last name was, I wasn’t surprised. He comes from a very talented family in the Tongan culture.” As the youngest son of Viliami Taumoepeau, Taumoepeau said his love for performing and his passion for dance started at a young age. Growing up in Tonga, Taumoepeau’s father was the appointed musician and choreographer for the royal performing troupe. “For each national event requiring community performances before the royal family, my father was designated to teach the townspeople their grand performances for these occasions.” One of these occasions was the 80th birthday celebration of the late King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV he explained.
In addition, Taumoepeau said his father was given the chiefly title “Mohulamu.” As chief, his responsibility was to teach communities a variety of performances for occasions including the Prince’s birthdays, village events, reunions, and the dedications of new chapels. Viliami Taumoepeau also served as managing director of the Tonga National Center. “My father was instrumental in promoting the teachings of traditional performances throughout the kingdom. All of these responsibilities [gave] my father countless opportunities not just to practice and sharpen his artistic skills, but also to instill a similar passion for dancing and performing arts in all of us, his children.” As Taumoepeau grew older, he said his love for dance became his passion. Aside from the traditional Tongan dances he learned S E P T 2020
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from his father, Taumoepeau said he became interested in hip hop and eventually joined a group that competed in local competitions. “To me, dancing is a way I can escape from being lonely. If there is a time I don’t have anything to do, if I feel bored or lonely, I just go dance and let it out. I feel like myself when I dance.” Taumoepeau’s wife, Pandora Aiulu Taumoepeau said, “When he went on to be Mana I was happy to see him progressing and learning new things.” As the Center dealt with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, Taumoepeau was asked
to stand in as Mana during practices when his performance caught the attention of the senior director, Ray Magalei. Tiave said, “When [Ray Magalei] noticed [Taumoepeau] and pulled him from the line to stand in place for Mana, there was no doubt in my mind that he could do it. If anything, he has heart. He has the heart of Mana, which is carrying the entire show at the moment.” Tiave went on to praise Taumoepeau’s unique drive and passion for his responsibilities as a dancer at “Hā: Breath of Life.” “Every chance he had, [Taumoepeau] would be in the mirror practicing without
being told. He would stay back and practice without being told. My job is to train the key roles but with Tuti there wasn’t really much training needed.” Taumoepeau said he has enjoyed the new experiences he has had at work and said taking on new roles has helped him become a better dancer. After training for the role of Mana, Taumoepeau said, “I’ve learned new information about the different cultures. I’m able to see more clearly the bigger picture of ‘Hā: Breath of Life.’ I’ve learned why Mana does certain things and see the show in a whole new light.”
“My father was instrumental in promoting the teachings of traditional performances throughout the kingdom.” -Penisimani Taumoepeau
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Because of Taumoepeau’s life experiences, Tiave said his ability to connect with the character of Mana has come naturally. Tiave said when he saw Taumoepeau in the scene where Mana holds his child, he could tell Taumoepeau had connected with the character. “He’s imagining how it would be when he’s that father holding his child, or he’s thinking about what his father was thinking holding him as a child.” Taumoepeau said his ability to connect with the role of Mana comes from a place of both love and loss. When Mana’s father dies in the show, Taumoepeau said he thinks of his own father’s passing. “I feel a strong connection with
Mana during those parts. It’s quite emotional.” When his father passed away, Taumoepeau was serving a Church mission. He explained, “When I heard the news about my dad passing, the only thing I wished was that I could see my dad for the last time before he was buried.” When Mana’s father is dying in “Hā: Breath of Life,” he said he relates it to his own experience. “I think to myself, ‘This is how I would have held my dad. This is how I would lay my dad down, and when I cry, this is how I would have cried if I was there. If I had a chance to see my dad for the last time, this is what I would have done.’”
“You can see it in his eyes,” Tiave said. “He makes an emotional connection with you. When it’s time to cry, he cries. When it’s time to smile and be funny, it’s easy for him to get into that role.” Taumoepeau said his siblings called him their father’s “sidekick,” because he took Taumoepeau around with him when he travelled to teach. “I will always be thankful my father recognized the great benefit of introducing me to the performing arts early in my life.”
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Academic evolution during the pandemic BY SERENA DUGAR IOANE Online courses added to professors’ workloads, but they say they are grateful to learn new skills and keep their positions
Since classes moved online, BYU–Hawaii professors said their workload has increased, and they miss seeing their students in person. However, they said they are thankful to have their jobs, and they enjoy learning new technology platforms like Zoom and Proctorio. Increasing workload Gale Pooley, an associate professor in the Faculty of Business & Government, shared how unemployment increased dramatically. According to data collected from the Hawaii State Dept. of Labor and Industrial Relations, unemployment claims increased from 15,000 to 150,000 in Hawaii due to the pandemic. Because of this, he is grateful to have a job and an income in a crisis. He said professors’ lives have not been too difficult relative to Hawaii’s small business owners and non-government employees.
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Graphics by Esther Insigne
“We’ve had to learn how Zoom works and wear masks, but we’re all still getting paychecks,” Pooley explained. Tom Court, an assistant professor in the Faculty of Education & Social Work, said he noticed it takes more time and anticipatory planning to prepare for remote, asynchronous teaching. Because of classes going online, he said, “It’s also critical to respond more immediately with feedback.” Brent Yergensen, an associate professor in the Faculty of Arts & Letters, remarked how his workload has been heavier. “Every conversation, every question session, every PowerPoint lesson and every overview of an assignment has to be produced, scripted, filmed, posted and followed up on. The amount of preparation is significantly more for faculty. “More worrisome is wondering if the wisdom and impact of content are becoming as meaningful to the students in this distance format,” Yergensen explained. “Online learning has a purpose, but it is weak compared to the physical classroom quality of learning.” Pooley said for professors who held live classes normally, the workload may have increased somewhat, but professors who recorded videos or sent students to YouTube had seen a reduction in their workload. He said learning Zoom and Proctorio took some time but has added to a professor’s skillset. “Our biggest problem is that we didn’t have support staff who knew much about creating effective and productive online courses,” Pooley added. Missing students Court said his favorite part about teaching has always been connecting with students. “Even with video conferencing technology, it is still challenging to have a similar sense of connection when teaching remotely.” Before coming to BYUH, Court taught online for more than three years, and most of his graduate work has been online, so he is no stranger to online learning, he said. “However, I’m definitely in the camp of teachers who prefer face-to-face learning,” Court added.
Yergensen said it is hard not to be with the students in a physical setting. “I miss being with the students in the classroom. The result of true mentorship is hindered in remote teaching.” He is looking forward to being in the classroom again, saying, “We are learning to be better remote and online teachers, but I miss the BYUH students.” Better solutions Pooley said he thinks the shift to online classes had to be much harder on students than faculty. He highlighted how BYU-Idaho has years of experiencing delivering high-quality courses remotely. “We should have considered encouraging students to take these courses. There are such great options at a much lower cost.” He shared Clayton Christensen, a member of the Church and a Harvard business professor, recognized as an expert in innovation and growth, said in 2018, half of the colleges would close in the next decade because of financial issues. Pooley added COVID-19 has accelerated this forecast. Pooley said, “It would be a good time for BYU–Hawaii to re-imagine itself. Maybe ask students to do two years in Pathways or something equivalent before coming here.” Pooley said traditional college can be costly and time consuming compared to hybrid higher education options that use online courses to lower costs and speed up the process. “BYUH charges $185 a credit hour. In some countries, Pathways is as low as $6 a credit hour. Imagine paying $720 for a bachelor’s degree.”
Total number of unemployed persons in the United States as of August 2020, according to statista.com
13,600,000 Number of daily meeting participants for various video conferencing programs as of June 2020 Zoom - 300 million + (according to businessofapps.com) Google Meet - 100 million + (according to venturebeat. com) Skype - 40 million (according to venturebeat.com)
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Graphics by Sadie Madriaga 44
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Students returning to Oahu BY CARLENE COOMBS
BYU–Hawaii students discuss their decision to return to Oahu during a remote semester myself on the island. I love Hawaii and wanted
I’m moving out and I’ll be living with other
and new experiences are reasons BYU–Hawaii
Job opportunities, time zone differences
to come back so badly, and getting a job
students, I think I could very easily not get a
students said they are returning to Oahu
[in Hawaii] made that happen. I knew that I
lot done... While living at home, I would have
this fall despite the semester being online.
wanted to come back to the island this year,
my parents nearby to motivate me a lot more.
Students also shared concerns about traveling
even though classes would be remote.”
So I think that will be the hardest thing is just
and online classes. “One of the things that I was most looking
Taylor Nikolaus, a junior from Arizona majoring in political science, said she is
keeping myself on track and focusing.” Finley shared one disadvantage of
forward to was the cultural differences that I
employed as an online tutor at BYUH, and
returning to campus with classes remote is
would have in Hawaii. I felt [moving to Hawaii]
being in Hawaii Standard Time will make her
being far from family, and now many of his
would benefit me the most instead of being
job more manageable.
friends.
holed up in Montana,” said McKenzie Connell,
“For my job, doing it online at home was
“Since many students aren’t coming back
an incoming freshman from Montana majoring
really hard, because of time differences with
to the island for some time, I imagine I’ll be a
in biology.
everyone.”
little lonely until school opens up for in-person
On June 10, BYUH announced all classes
Nikolaus also shared she believes doing
would be conducted remotely for the Fall
classwork online away from home will be
2020 Semester. According to byuh.edu,
beneficial for her productivity.
new contracts for on-campus single student
“I thought school online, at home, was
classes.” Nikolaus said she will miss going to campus and seeing friends and other students in her daily life.
housing will not be issued, and current
so hard with my family all there [and] so many
contacts will be canceled. The University will
distractions. I thought it was so much harder to
and not seeing people. I’ll probably only see
be providing temporary housing for those
get stuff done. When I was [in Hawaii] when the
my roommates and close friends. Not being
who can not return home due to current
semester was online, it was so much easier to
able to be on campus will be hard when I’m so
circumstances.
get stuff done.”
close.”
Kody Finley, a sophomore from California
In contrast, Connell said she believes
“It’s going to stink not seeing everyone,
Currently, the State of Hawaii requires a
majoring in finance, said his job as a resident
online schooling will be more difficult away
14-day travel quarantine for anyone entering
advisor made it possible for him to come back
from home due to roommates and friends
the state. More information on the quarantine
to Hawaii.
creating new distractions.
can be found on hidot.hawaii.gov/coronavirus.
“One of the main reasons I decided to come back is I was able to secure a job for
“I think there’s a lot more personal responsibility to do online schooling, and since
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Testing bonds
Quarantines and restrictions reinforce the value of relationships, said students, and difficulties built their trust in God BY SERENA DUGAR IOANE Students shared how social distancing brought on by COVID-19 helped people see the importance of family, friends and social situations. They said they learned to spend quality time through online sites while building stronger relationships with God.
Angela Fantone. Photo provied by Fantone
Otgonbileg Batta, wife and child. Photo by Nasanbold Sukhbaatar
Alyssa Odom. Photo provided by Odom 46
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Strain on relationships Angela Fantone, a recent alumna from the Philippines, said not seeing her friends was the hardest part of the COVID-19 restrictions. “I’m an introvert by nature. It’s hard for me to make friends, but I was fortunate to find friends I wanted to keep for life. Quarantining reverted me to my natural introverted state, so it’ll be hard for me to be outgoing again. “I try to connect with my friends via social media, but it’s hard because of different time zones, so you can’t expect quick replies.” Fantone added the depth of her friendships has not changed because it is not something that distance can take away, “However, I definitely felt a change in our emotions.” Pandemic relationship blessings Otgonbileg Bataa, a sophomore from Mongolia majoring in finance, said he believes the pandemic gave people more opportunities to spend time together as a family and to see the importance of family. “Soon after quarantine started, my wife gave birth to our first child. Being at home all the time and helping my wife and son was such a blessing. Spending more time together helped us to be a stronger family.” According to Bataa, restrictions also helped people see the importance of friendship. “In Mongolia, we have an idiom that says the hard times test friends’
true character... Many of my friends proved to me how great friends they are.” He noted how having a baby during a global pandemic was challenging, but his church leaders and friends ministered to his family. The unity of nations and organizations were strengthened during this time, noted Bataa. “I saw how countries and organizations were working together, making positive changes to people’s lives. It was great to see unity instead of conflicts arise.” Overall, Bataa said although the global pandemic brought hardships and sorrow for many families, “It reminded us of the important things that we forgot sometimes because of our busy lives.” Overcoming obstacles Fantone shared although her relationship with her friends and families struggled due to long-distance, she built a closer relationship with God. “I believe my relationship with the Lord has improved. It’s been a big part of my focus. At the end of the day, we are who we have. We should develop a good relationship with ourselves and the Lord because we won’t always have our friends or even family members by our side all the time.” Alyssa Odom, a senior from Washington majoring in piano performance, said her relationships were affected by this pandemic, and she learned to cherish things like face-to-face classes. “Until this pandemic started, I had never realized that being able to attend social activities and meeting people faceto-face was such a big privilege. Now when face-to-face classes start, I will never be annoyed by going to classes.”
“Quarantining reverted me to my natural introverted state, so it’ll be hard for me to be outgoing again.” - Anglea Fantone
“Being at home all the time and helping my wife and son was such a blessing. Spending more time together helped us to be a stronger family.” - Otgonbileg Bataa
“I had never realized that being able to attend social activities and meeting people face-to-face was such a big privilege.” - Alyssa Odom Graphics by Sadie Madriaga S E P T 2020
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The blessings of the temple
Students who were married in the temple during the pandemic emphasize the importance of eternal marriage in hard times BY SERENA DUGAR IOANE Since the Laie Hawaii Temple partially opened on June 15, students once again can be married in the temple and said they learned to appreciate the real meaning behind a temple sealing. Laie Hawaii Temple reopening The First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temporarily closed all temples worldwide on March 25, 2020, due to the spread of the global pandemic, COVID-19, according to the Church Newsroom. Since May 11, the Church Newsroom announced the Church is rolling out the phased reopening of temples. The Laie Hawaii Temple reopened on June 15, 2020, to Phase 1, which is open for living sealings only for previously endowed members. Since the temple has opened, students have been sealed together and said they were blessed for eternity. Sabina Imangaziyeva Kumar, a junior from Kazakhstan majoring in accounting and finance, was sealed to her husband on July 10, 2020. She described how the temple reopening was unexpected and exciting. “When I heard the Laie temple was open for live sealings, I was thrilled. We started the preparation and booked the temple. The reopening of the Laie temple is a blessing for many of us who want to 48
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Sabina Kumar shared the temple reopening was exciting and unexpected. Photo by Madelelene Uyehara
get married in the temple for time and eternity.” Samuel Tobon, a senior from Colombia, majoring in business management, married his wife on July 21, 2020, in the Laie Hawaii Temple. He said when he was married in the temple, he learned how they were following their first parents, Adam and Eve’s examples.
Graphic by Bruno Maynez
He said they became more connected to their family chain through their temple marriage. “I felt we were getting closer little by little to God’s presence when I got sealed.” Samuel Tobon’s wife, Anne McCarrey Tobon, a senior from Laie majoring in anthropology, shared how she learned the importance of priesthood power when they got sealed. “Eternal marriage is ordained of God, and through the Lord’s authority, our relationship will continue even after death.” Malissa Kanani Aloha Seniloli, a senior from Tonga majoring in political science, married civilly on April 21 and got sealed on July 3, to her husband in the Laie Hawaii Temple. When the temple reopened, she said, “I felt blessed because I could finally be sealed to my husband for time and eternity.” Blessings of marrying during a pandemic Seniloli shared how getting married during the pandemic made things easier and simpler for her and her husband. “We love the idea of having just a few attendees at our wedding, which makes it even better,” Seniloli commented. “It makes you appreciate the real meaning behind a temple sealing.
“When a wedding is filled with worldly materials, there is a tendency to lose sight of what really matters.” Kumar said marrying during the global pandemic was difficult because her family could not be a part of her special day. “However, Heavenly Father was with me and brought us to His holy house to accept this marriage. “As I look through the eternal perspective, all worldly things don’t really matter. What matters most is eternal marriage in the temple.” Kumar explained how marrying in a temple for time and all eternity was what she desired and strived for her whole life. She said she sees many blessings from her marriage. “So far, we have been blessed to have the Lord’s spirit in our small home, hearts and everywhere we go,” Kumar commented. “We feel strong and feel protection from danger and temptations. We have been blessed with good campus jobs and all other necessities during this hard time.” In his case, Samuel Tobon said getting married during the pandemic was stressfree. “During a pandemic, we didn’t have to follow the world’s marriage norms. We don’t need to have large gatherings and throw big parties for our marriage. It took away a lot of pressure.” He said the only downside of getting married during COVID-19 was his family being unable to attend because they are in different countries. “My in-laws were all here, so I really wished my family was here too. Even though we made some sacrifices, it feels good that we prioritized and followed Lord’s commandments. “While dating, I had a fear that I may lose my girlfriend, but after we were sealed, I received absolute assurance that I will be with my wife for eternity. Our commitment to each other motivates us to press forward.” Anne McCarrey Tobon said they both felt privileged and blessed that the temple reopened for their marriage, “but I feel that so many more souls are anxiously waiting for the temples’ reopening from the other side of the veil.”
Top photo: The Tobons shared they are grateful for being able to be sealed in the temple. Photo by Monique Saenz Bottom photo: The Senilolis after their temple marriage almost three months after their civil marriage. Photo by Richard Sidal
Phases of temple reopenings Effective Sept. 14, out of the Church’s 168 operational temples worldwide, 144 will have entered Phase 1, with 89 in Phase 2. Temple worship in California and the Mexico City Temple have been paused. The First Presidency has not announced when the Laie Hawaii Temple will move to Phase 2. According to the Church News, four phases of temple reopening are outlined in a First Presidency letter released on May 7. “Four phases of reopening of temples: • Phase 1: Open for restricted living sealings only. Temple workers will perform living sealings only for previously endowed members under strict guidelines and safety precautions.
• Phase 2: Open for all living ordinances only. Temple workers will perform all temple ordinances for living individuals but will maintain closure of patron housing, clothing, and cafeteria operations. • Phase 3: Open for all ordinances with restrictions. Temple workers will continue providing ordinances for living individuals and provide proxy ordinances for ancestors in a restricted manner. The Church will open patron housing, clothing, and cafeteria operations as needed. • Phase 4: Open for full operations. The Church will resume regular temple operations.”
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Senior missionaries: Where are they now? Senior missionaries share how their missions were affected by the COVID-19 and their plans to come back to Hawaii BY SERENA DUGAR IOANE Senior missionaries Scott and Jackie Slivka; Lyn and Keith Johnson; Susan and Gregg Lockhart; and Mark and Alonna Randall left Laie in March 2020, when the Church released them due to COVID-19. They shared hard it was for them to leave their missions, their hope to return soon, and what they learned from this experience by expressed their trust in the Lord. Lessons from the pandemic The Lockharts said they have learned to have more faith. “He has a plan and knows our individual plans. We just have to be patient and keep living the gospel.” Sister Lockhart commented, “We are so thankful for a living prophet on the Earth at this time who is getting instructions and directions from our Savior and Heavenly Father for us.” Looking back on their mission, the Johnsons, from North Ogden, Utah, said when
they were set apart to leave, they were told by their stake president they would make lifelong friends, and that’s what they did. “We serve where we are called, and bloom where we are planted. In the end, it is all for our growth, learning, experience, and truly, it is all for the kingdom. Heavenly Father is mindful of each one of us, and our every move.” Despite the difficulties brought on by the pandemic, Elder Slivka said he has tried to see the positives. “We have been taught there is opposition in all things. To remain happy and have hope, we must accept that and work to recognize the great blessings that have come along with the disappointments. “We have faith that the Lord still has a plan for the students of BYUH and the PCC.” The Slivkas said they learned patience as they waited on the Lord’s timing. “We met many amazing young adults and young families who are destined to be the spiritual leaders in their countries. Perhaps this pandemic is refining them even more.” Responsibilities at BYU–Hawaii Scott and Jackie Slivka, from Murray, Utah, were called as IWORK missionaries. With funds provided by donors, they purchased supplies and assembled welcome bags for new IWORK students each semester. They also staffed the Student Support Center located in the Polynesian Cultural Center. They provided a place for student employees of the Center to take a break during
50
“We have been taught there is opposition in all things. To remain happy and have hope, we must accept that and work to recognize the great blessings that have come along with the disappointments...We have faith that the Lord still has a plan for the students of BYUH and the PCC.” - Elder Slivka
Right photo: The Slivkas staffed the Student Support Center at the Center. Photo by Karen Rohm. Left photo: The Lockharts said they look forward to returning to their “mission ohana.” Photo provided by Susan Lockhart. K E A L A K A’ I
their day. “Our goal was to give support and encouragement, especially to new students as they adjusted to college life,” the Slivkas said. From Calgary, Canada, Susan and Gregg Lockhart said their mission was supposed to last from November 2019 to October 2021. Sister Lockhart worked in the Center’s uniform warehouse, and Elder Lockhart was a handyman for the Center’s Food Services before the couple left. Mark and Alonna Randall, from Phoenix, Arizona, both worked in the Ukulele Experience at the Center. They gave tours, taught ukulele lessons and sold ukuleles and other food and art items. They said they had great interactions with students and other senior missionaries who served with them. The Randalls also served in the YSA 14th Ward, the Laie YSA 1st Stake Choir and the temple. Of their experience, they said, “Our mission was a very rich and diverse service opportunities for us.” Elder Johnson was called to serve in the Center’s marketing department as a finance analyst. He was assisting in financial projections and forecasts for the Center’s marketing sales, he said. His overall objective was to fine-tune the marketing dollars spent and received, while Sister Johnson worked in the Hukilau Marketplace stores.
and then we were told to arrange our own flights home.” They arrived at home on the last Hawaiian Airlines flight directly to Phoenix. “The plane was full, and we all wore masks. It was a strange feeling to be in the airport with everyone so quiet and pensive, leaving Hawaii under such strange circumstances,” they recalled. Elder and Sister Slivka had served for 10months when they left. “Like all of the senior missionaries, we were very sad to leave so unexpectedly. We love all the students we have come to know, and try to stay in contact through Facebook and Messenger, so we can still be of some support.” They plan to return and complete their mission at the Center as soon as they are permitted. For the Johnsons, leaving was hard for them as well. “We’ve come to love our life and home in Hawaii, but mostly, the people, missionaries, students and our Laie Married
“Then one week later, we were told that all the senior missionaries would be going home. We just had a few days to sell our car and other items, and give away the extra food and supplies we had,” the couple explained, “We waited two days for instructions and then we were told to arrange our own flights home.” - The Randalls
Sadness of leaving The Randalls’ mission was scheduled to end on June 3, 2020, but instead, they went home on March 23 due to the pandemic. The Randalls said they were surprised when the Church announced general conference would be online only. “We are in our 70s and this has never happened in our lives before. Then they canceled church meetings, closed the temple, BYUH went online and the PCC temporarily closed.” According to Randalls, the senior missionaries were advised to get a two-week supply of food and provisions in case they had to quarantine. “Then one week later, we were told that all the senior missionaries would be going home. We just had a few days to sell our car and other items, and give away the extra food and supplies we had,” the couple explained.“We waited two days for instructions Graphics by Esther Insigne S E P T 2020
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Student 4th Ward very much,” Elder Johnson said. “We were teaching the self-reliance class’s financial portion, which we enjoyed immensely. We miss our students and missionary friends so much.” Sister Johnson said her husband very much enjoyed his work at the Center and was heartbroken not to be able to finish his projects. “He was so close in a study analysis he really wanted to continue and complete.” The Johnsons said they arrived in Hawaii in September 2019 with the intent of staying 18 months. They are planning to return to finish their mission when it is allowed. “Our return has been bumped to 2021, but we want to finish what we have started,” the couple said.
Top photo: The Johnsons said they’ve come to love their home and people in Hawaii and plan to return. Photo provided by Lyn Johnson. Bottom photo: The Randalls said they enjoyed their experience working at the Ukulele Experience at the Center. Photo by Alonna Randall
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Coming home For the Slivkas, one of the hardest things about coming home was going from interacting with more than 100 students every day to coming back to quarantine, where they only had contact with their family. “Our son and his family were caring for our house, so we shared the space and enjoyed their new baby while we wait to return,” they said. During the quarantine, they said they spent time doing family history, yard work, service opportunities and loving their grandchildren. The Randalls said they were quarantined for two weeks at their home with another senior sister who had sold her home before leaving on her mission. “It was so good to have her with us. We settled down and stood on the porch and played our ukuleles for people who came to greet us and sang ‘You Are My Sunshine.’ Family members and friends supplied us with the basic food and cleaning items.” All missionaries who would have gone home before June 15 were told they would not be returning. Because of this mandate, the Randalls said they are done with their mission. “We are sad our mission was cut short, but we completely understand and are grateful we were able to be home during the pandemic.” The Lockharts shared they have kept busy with activities, such as hiking, walking, golfing, pickleball, reading, playing games, working in the garden and doing small renovation jobs inside their house.
“We have continued to read our scriptures and study ‘Come Follow Me’. We have done some traveling to Jasper, Alberta and Kimberley, British Columbia. We went camping with our family. We are very much looking forward to our returning to our mission ‘ohana.’” Before their mission, the Johnsons had sold their home of 30 years. Elder Johnson said, “So coming home, on the spur of the moment, we were homeless—such an interesting position to find ourselves in. We did the mandatory 14-day quarantine in St. George, Utah, then went to Arizona to see our daughter and family,” They then returned to Utah to assist their son in a few home building projects. According to Sister Johnson, “After six weeks, we came to Brigham City, Utah, to live with my stepmom. My father had passed away in Nov. 2019, so she is living in a large home alone. It’s been wonderful to be here.” When it became apparent that they were not returning to Hawaii until Jan. 2021, the Johnsons said they decided to settle in a bit deeper and buy a home of their own once again. “We bought a beautiful home in Litchfield Park, Arizona, near our daughter and her family. There we have four grandchildren,” Sister Johnson said. “We have another four grandchildren in Utah, so we plan to travel back every couple of months to watch them grow into amazing human beings. Family is everything.” The Randalls said they plan to continue to serve in the Church, go to the temple and enjoy their growing family of five children, 20 grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren. “We will strive to continue to be missionaries to our neighbors and friends and good ministers in the Church.” Their three grandsons are serving as full-time missionaries, and they want to love and support them as they serve. Randalls shared that they will be forever grateful for the opportunity to “labor in such a beautiful place with beautiful people.”
“We serve where we are called, and bloom where we are planted. In the end, it is all for our growth, learning, experience, and truly, it is all for the kingdom. Heavenly Father is mindful of each one of us, and our every move.� - The Johnsons
Top photo: On returning home after their mission, the Slivkas said they enjoyed doing family history and loving their grandchildren. Photo by Rulon Chatwin Bottom photo: After returning from their mission, the Johnsons decided to buy a new home near their daughter and four grandchildren. Photo by Lindsey Leon Graphics by Esther Insigne
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Life in Asia during the pandemic Asian students say being with family helps and country situations vary BY EMMALEE SMITH
A ON OR SC IUR yptus TIV AN Eucal
Graphics by Emmalee Smith
After returning to their home countries from BYU–Hawaii in the last several months, students from Asia shared how dealing with the coronavirus pandemic looks in their home countries, from military enforced lockdowns and strict social distancing rules to taking care of plants. Indonesia As of Sept. 9, 2020, Indonesia has 203,000 cases of COVID-19, according to Google Statistics. Because people are going back to work and many not taking COVID-19 seriously by resuming going to markets and malls, Marissa K. Cahyaningtyas, a senior from Indonesia, said, “I don’t feel any difference living here with COVID.” Cahyaningtyas, majoring in psychology with a minor in human resources, explains the reasoning behind the high number of cases 54
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in Indonesia is society and government. If someone has COVID-19, society members distance themselves from them, she said. “That causes really negative norms so a lot of people will lie if they have COVID… Sometimes they run away or literally flee to another city because they don’t want to be discriminated against, and then they infect [more] people.” She said one of the most unique, funny, yet ridiculous events in Indonesia is false cures for COVID-19. According to the South China Morning Post, the Indonesian Minister of Agriculture claimed a necklace made from eucalyptus would prevent the spread of the virus, and said if worn for 30 minutes, it would kill 80 percent of the virus in the wearer. According to Cahyaningtyas, many people in Indonesia are superstitious and believe things
that have been prayed on or blessed with holy water will work as cures. “It’s funny and a little frustrating at this time people still believe in this thing.” Cahyaningtyas said her wish is for people everywhere to listen to healthcare professionals and to follow official guidelines to help stop the spread of COVID-19. “They’re the ones dealing face to face with COVID-19 … They’re actually sacrificing their [lives].” Cahyaningtyas’ older sister is a doctor treating COVID-19 patients. “As a family, [we] are really worried because you never know if she’ll get infected.” Philippines Although plants don’t seem to be a cure for COVID-19, they are helpful in dealing with the pandemic effects, said Jinev Villanueva, a junior from the Philippines studying interdisciplinary studies.
Since going back to the Philippines during the coronavirus pandemic, Villanueva said she has been taking pictures of and tending to her mother’s plants. “It’s been [a] fun and very relaxing activity to do, not just taking photos of them, but also helping my mom to plant.” Villanueva said her mother has a gift with plants, and she enjoys supporting her hobby. “It’s very calming and soul-enriching. Likewise, helping her in her garden … has been a great way to build our relationship.” While Villanueva has been home, she said she has also been able to spend time with the rest of her family by singing with her siblings and father, helping her younger sister in reading and math and sometimes doing photoshoots for them. “Though this time is full of uncertainties, I feel at peace believing that I am where the Lord
wants me to be right now, with my family,” she said. Renea Buenaventura, a junior from the Philippines majoring in accounting and visual arts, said many people in the Philippines “are finding the hobby of cultivating indoor plants like cactus very relaxing… it reduces their anxiety.” According to Google Statistics, as of Sept. 14, the Philippines has more than 245,000 coronavirus cases. “It hit us really bad ... lots of hospitals have been full and some people with different sicknesses were driven away to different hospitals,” said Buenaventura. The government sent low-income families relief money, said Buenaventura, but not enough for a family to be able to live off of for one month of “stay-at-home quarantine.” Although the coronavirus pandemic has been difficult, Buenaventura said it made her
realize the importance of her family. “Even just their mere presence, it gives me comfort, and somehow, assurance I have them with me to face the future with. They keep me emotionally balanced and keep my sanity steady. I won’t trade these moments to any financial comfort away from them.” The resilience of the Filipino people is another thing she said she appreciated. “People are very resourceful and creative enough to cook different foods, create different crafts, and plant different crops and herbs to sell online and deliver to different houses, giving them sources of income. “In the Philippines, we call it ‘bayanihan’ where friends and neighbors help each other by giving service and together survive whatever challenge is in front of us.”
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svg version=”1.1” xmlns=”http://www.w3.org/2000/svg” xmlns:xlink=”http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink” x=”0px” y=”0px” width=”683px” height=”415.8px” viewBox=”0 0 683 415.8” style=”overflow:visible;enable-background:new 0 0 683 415.8;” xmspace=”preserve”> style type=”text/css”> .st0{fill:#FF0000;} .st1{fill:#FFFFFF;stroke:#FFFFFF;stroke-miterlimit:10;} .st2{fill:#FF0000;stroke:#FF0000;stroke-miterlimit:10;} /style> defs> /defs> g> <path class=”st0” d=”M683,394.7c-38.9,8.8-102.7,20.4-182,21c-118.2,0.9-174-23.5-305-29c-44.5-1.9-112.1-2.2-196,8 c0-128,0-256,0-384c90-12.4,163.5-11.9,215-9c111.6,6.4,159.3,26.6,263,29c86.5,2,157.6-9.6,205-20C683,138.7,683,2 6.7,683,394.7z “/> <path class=”st1” d=”M345,206.7c4.8-0.4,24.1-1.5,41,12c22.7,18.1,21.2,46.6,21,50c-0.4,5.4-1.3,24.96,37c-3.7,3.1-7.4,4.9-10,6 c1.4-3.3,3-8.7,1-14c-3.6-9.6-15.3-8.3-23-20c-0.7-1.1-5.8-9.1-5-19c0.6-6.7,3.3-7.8,5-17c0.9-4.8,2.2-11.2,0-18 C355.7,213.4,347.5,208.2,345,206.7z”/> <g> <path class=”st0” d=”M352.9,209.7c4,1.2,7.9,3.1,11.4,5.5c3.5,2.5,6.6,5.6,9.1,9.1c1.3,1.8,2.4,3.6,3.4,5. c1,1.9,1.7,4,2.3,6 c1.2,4.1,1.7,8.5,1.3,12.7l-0.3,0c-1.1-4.1-2.2-8-3.7-11.9c-1.4-3.9-2.7-7.7-4.9-11.2c-2.1-3.5-4.9-6.6-8.1-9.2 c-3.2-2.7-6.8-4.8-10.7-6.3L352.9,209.7z”/> Malaysia </g> However, some people in Hong Kong have Chung San Chung, a graduate from Hong Malaysia has taken a much stricter <polygon class=”st2” points=”387.1,263.4 381.5,263.2 378.1,267.6 376.6,262.3 371.4,260.5 376,257.4 376.1,251.8 taken advantage of this and have tried to use it Kong, said the government started to loosen approach in dealing with the coronavirus as an opportunity to scam others out of their 80.5,255.2 the rules. However, the number of cases began said Joseph Pushnam, a recent money, Chung said. pandemic, 385.8,253.6 383.8,258.8 “/>to rise, so the rules were put back into place. graduate from Malaysia. “Scammers will pretend they’re bank The regulations include restaurants eat-in <path class=”st1” d=”M340.3,201.5c1-4.7,5.6-23.5,23.3-35.8c23.9-16.5,50.8-6.9,53.9-5.7c5.1,1.9,23.4,8.4,30.8,26 “Compared to neighboring countries, workers or … government workers and then only from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m., and a two-person c1.9,4.5,2.6,8.5,2.9,11.3c-2.8-2.2-7.5-5.4-13.1-5c-10.3,0.7-12.4,12.3-25.8,16.2c-1.3,0.4-10.4,2.9-19.6-0.7 Malaysia did an amazing job handling the call or text people saying there’s something gathering limit, she explained. c-6.3-2.5-6.5-5.4-14.8-9.7c-4.3-2.2-10.1-5.3-17.2-5.2C349.8,193.2,342.4,199.6,340.3,201.5z”/> situation. “When we soared up to 3,000 cases, wrong with [their] identity or [their] Hong Kong has 5,000 cases of COVID-19 <g> the government immediately enacted a military as of Sept. 9, according to Google Statistics. information ... to scam [their] money." lockdown <path class=”st0” d=”M345.5,194.9c2.3-3.5,5.2-6.7,8.6-9.4c3.4-2.6,7.2-4.7,11.3-6.1c2-0.7,4.2-1.2,6.3-1.6 nationwide.” Chung said these scams had not affected Chung said the government gave out 10,000 Many foreigners did not like the idea of a c2.1-0.4,4.3-0.5,6.4-0.5c4.3,0.1,8.6,0.8,12.6,2.4l-0.1,0.3c-4.3-0.1-8.3-0.2-12.4,0.1c-4.1,0.3-8.2,0.4-12.1,1.4 her, and things seem to be improving now. She Hong Kong dollars, equivalent to about 1,200 military lockdown, he said, but “in a short time U. S. dollars to adults 18 or older, to help c-3.9,1-7.7,2.7-11.1,5.1c-3.5,2.3-6.5,5.1-9.2,8.4L345.5,194.9z”/> said the government is providing saliva tests of two months after the lockdown, we lowered relieve those struggling. to infected areas and will soon do widespread </g> ... cases to almost zero.” testing to anyone who needs it.392.4,184.8 <polygon class=”st2” points=”406.7,177.6 404.9,182.9 408.2,187.4 402.6,187.3 399.4,191.8 397.7,186.5 According to The Straits Times, the 97,181.6 Malaysian government enacted a nationwide shutdown 397,176 401.4,179.4 “/> enforced by the police with <path class=”st1” d=”M334.4,206.1c-4.3-2.3-21-11.9-27.8-32.4c-9.2-27.6,7.6-50.6,9.7-53.4c3.3-4.3,14.7-20.1,33.6-22.3 assistance from the military on March 22. c4.8-0.5,8.9-0.1,11.7,0.4c-2.9,2-7.3,5.7-8.5,11.2c-2.2,10,8.3,15.4,8.4,29.3c0,1.3-0.1,10.8“Not many countries [did] it, but Malaysia .2,18.6c-4.1,5.3-7,4.7-13.5,11.5 is one of the few that has … I’m actually okay with it. Many are. I’m sure a lot weren’t at c-3.4,3.5-7.9,8.2-9.8,15.1C329,194.7,333.1,203.6,334.4,206.1z”/> first, but the results are too good to ignore,” <g> said Pushnam. <path class=”st0” d=”M329.4,199.3c-2.7-3.2-5-6.9-6.6-10.8c-1.6-4-2.5-8.2-2.7-12.6c-0.1-2.2,0-4.3,0.2-6.5 According to Google Statistics, Malaysia c0.2-2.2,0.7-4.3,1.4-6.3c1.3-4.1,3.2-8.1,5.9-11.4l0.2,0.1c-1.3,4-2.5,7.9-3.4,12c-0.9,4-1.9,7.9has 9,500 coronavirus cases as of Sept. 9. ,12c-0.1,4.1,0.5,8.2,1.7,12.1 c1.2,3.9,3.1,7.7,5.5,11.1L329.4,199.3z”/> Hong Kong </g> According to NPR, instead of issuing stay<polygon class=”st2” points=”330.1,135.7 334.6,138.9 339.9,137 338.2,142.3 341.6,146.7 336,146.8 332.9,151.4 331.2,146.1 at-home orders like Malaysia and others, Hong Kong implemented 325.8,144.6 330.3,141.3 “/> strict social distancing <path class=”st1” d=”M336.8,213.9c-3.7,3.2-18.6,15.4-40.2,14.5c-29-1.2-44.6-25.1-46.5-28c-2.9-4.6-13.6-20.8-8.9-39.3 rules, such as taking temperatures before 56 K E A L A K A’ I entering stores and restaurants. c1.2-4.7,3.1-8.3,4.5-10.7c0.9,3.5,2.7,8.8,7.5,11.9c8.6,5.6,17.3-2.3,30.4,2.6c1.2,0.5,10,3.9,15.2,12. c3.5,5.8,1.9,8.2,6,16.7
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Campus Comment part 2 is one thing you miss t a o re h f m e o b st about life W the pandemic? (c ont. f ro m p a g e 7 ) BY HAILEY HUHANE Samani said she misses being able to go to the Polynesian Cultural Center. Zhang said he misses hanging out with friends and going out to eat. Zaya said, “Before the pandemic, I was active and participated in activities. I miss that because I love communicating with others and learning from other people.” Willie said he missed seeing people around campus. “Campus is pretty empty, and you feel lonely sometimes. It’s a different life.” Edeyaoch said she misses being able to visit family freely without the worry of getting them sick. Terry said she misses hanging out with friends and studying with them and that she misses being able to go to sacrament meetings.
ra n t a u q Wha e t is your favorit
ine activity?
Samani’s favorite quarantine activity is reading Japanese comics. Zhang’s favorite quarantine activity is playing video games. Zaya’s favorite quarantine activity is watching movies, specifically romance and action films. During quarantine, Willie enjoys spending time with his wife and cooking as a couple. Edeyaoch’s favorite quarantine activity is watching Netflix. She just recently finished “The Umbrella Academy” series. Terry’s favorite quarantine activity is chatting with her friends online.
Graphics by Esther Insigne
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Finding the silver lining Getting engaged while apart, spending unexpected time with family, and finding unity in their community, students share stories of love and spiritual strength during the pandemic BY CARLENE COOMBS Amidst times of uncertainty, BYU–Hawaii students described the pandemic’s positive experiences, from spending time with family to getting engaged. “[The pandemic] allowed the whole world to kind of slow down, which I really appreciated. I think we all needed this time to reflect on our lives and give us time to work on things that we want to work on. I hope everyone has taken the time to reach out to people,” said Ashley DeMann, a senior from Utah majoring in exercise science. Tatum Sammon, a senior from Arizona studying communications, said she returned home while her boyfriend stayed in Hawaii. Because of their time apart, Sammon said she and her boyfriend decided they would get engaged. 58
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“It gave us time to get to know each other in a different way. We weren’t planning on getting married before I left,” said Sammon. Garrett Jensen, a recent graduate from Oregon and Sammon’s fiance, shared they would FaceTime every day for hours and spent time genuinely getting to know each other. “It was really interesting to see how differently our relationship progressed because it was long distance. Then, during those three months we were apart, we felt like we had a strong bond and wanted to get married.” Sammon added being apart and going through trials together made the couple more confident in their decision to get married. “I think having these bigger decisions to make and being apart while not having more of the fluffy part of dating and going through
these trials, that’s what made us both feel more confident in saying we wanted to get married.” DeMann said because of COVID-19, she was allowed to return home and spend extended time with her family, which wasn’t supposed to happen this year. “All of my siblings were scattered, and we all ended up coming back. Honestly, it felt like a Christmas vacation. I know the world [is] scary, but we were having a great time. There was a lot of bonding, and [we were] always taking care of the twins, so our lives were not boring. I know a lot of people felt really isolated. I was lucky that I didn’t because our house was just fizzy and fun.” Being around family eased her mind during these difficult times, DeMann said. “I felt that if anything did happen… I would at least have
G ra ph ic s by an g H an na h M an al
people who loved me and cared about me, and we could go through it together. Knowing they would be around and they would support me gave me a lot of comfort.” Sammon said having church within her home brought her family closer together, and they grew spiritually stronger. “We’ve all grown more spiritual together, which I’ve never experienced with my family before. During the pandemic and having all this time together, that’s been something we’ve really needed.” Having the spiritual bonding time helped her family become more prepared for trials together, Sammon said. “My brother got in a motorcycle accident a few weeks ago. But I think we were more spiritually prepared than we would have been had we not had that time together.
“Even though there’s a lot of crazy stuff happening, life has continued, and we’ve gotten to still find joy during it. It’s been really special to see.” DeMann shared she witnessed her community coming together, from delivering pies to neighbors to putting stuffed animals in windows for people out on daily walks. “Around my whole neighborhood, there are all these stuffed animals in the windows. And it’s just a little reminder that we’re all together as we’re walking by.” Because of the cancellation of Independence Day festivities, DeMann said her family decided to put together a parade for the neighbors to watch and enjoy. “We made flyers and put them on everyone’s doors. We decorated two cars with balloons and flags.
We had kids decorate their bikes to be in the parade. We thought no one would come because of COVID, but there were people there - a few spectators to throw candy to and lots of kids riding their bikes.” Sammon said she could see the community spirit in her neighborhood in Arizona as well. She said community members painted small rocks lining a local path with colorful, uplifting messages. “Instead of grass, we just have rocks everywhere. On our local bike trail, there are many more little painted rocks with cute little messages written on, ‘You can do this,’ ‘You’re not alone.’ Some of them are just painted like a rainbow. I haven’t seen that many [painted rocks] before this. It would be just one or two, but recently a lot of people have been adding [painted rocks].” S E P T 2020
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Fidelish Metta, a senior Pacific Islands Studies major from Papua New Guinea, poses like the famous World War II Rosie the Riveter poster but wearing a mask to demonstrate unity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo by Carlene Coombs
