D E C EM B ER 2021 1
DECEMBER 2021 • VOLUME 130 • ISSUE 5
LeeAnn Lambert ADVISOR
Amanda Penrod COPY EDITOR
Abbie Putnam EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Collin Farley COPY EDITOR/ JOURNALIST
Katie Mower ART DIRECTOR
Alexandra Clendenning MULTINMEDIA JOURNALIST
Micheal Kraft SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
Leiani Brown COPY EDITOR
Kylee Denison MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST
Levi Fuaga MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST
Lauren Goodwin MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST
Elle Larson MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST
Xyron Levi Corpuz MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST
Rahel Meyer MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST
Anna Stephenson MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST
Mahana Tepa MULTIMEDIA JOUNRALIST
Nichole Whiteley MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST
Emily Hendrickson ARTS & GRAPHICS
Marlee Palmer ARTS & GRAPHICS
Sugarmaa Bataa CONTENT CREATOR/ PHOTOGRAPHER
Christal Lee PHOTOGRAPHY &VIDEO
Munkhbayar Magvandorj PHOTOGRAPHY
Emarie Majors PHOTOGRAPHY
Uurtsaikh Nyamdeleg PHOTOGRAPHY &VIDEO
Mark Daeson Tabbilos PHOTOGRAPHY &VIDEO
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LE T T E R FRO M TH E P H OTO GRAPHER Christmas has come once again! Aside from the excitement of going home to our families in the winter cold, chilling with our friends on a hot Hawaiian beach, or even getting gifts from under the tree, there’s a different focus during Christmastime; Apart from our memories of glee, there is the humble beginning of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. With Christ’s birth shined a new star, a light in the darkness. I can relate it to times where COVID-19 as left us in the dark. Family gatherings have been restricted. Mental health has caved. Plans fell through. Loved ones have passed on. When will we find the calm amidst the storm? It is our focus on the star at Christmas, even Jesus Christ, and the peace He willingly offers to all. In this Christmas issue of Ke Alakai, students have found peace in these troublesome times in various ways. Students have found peace through studying Come Follow Me in small groups (pg. 10). Another has found peace in Christ by cleaning the temple grounds (pg. 8). One has also found peace by sharing the love of Christ through humanitarian efforts (pg. 12). Indeed, there is not just one way to achieve peace within. This is what we want to share from Ke Alakai. The stories we have gathered and shared in this issue truly reveal there is a God in Heaven, and Christ loves us with a perfect love. He knows each one of us with a perfect knowledge. His arms are open wide to receive you in a warm embrace of comfort and love. Seek Him, and “ye shall find rest to your souls” (Matthew 11:29). Christal Lee, Photographer
Christal Lee NEWS CENTER: Box 1920 BYUH Laie, HI 96762 Editorial, photo submissions & distribution inquires: kealakai@byuh.edu To view additonal articles go to kealakai.byuh.edu
CONTACT: Email: kealakai@byuh.edu Phone: (808) 675-3694 Office: BYU–Hawaii Aloha Center 134 ON THE COVER: An illustration of Christmas. By Emily Hendrickson and Marlee Palmer.
ABOUT 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.What 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 25 students work to provide information for BYU–Hawaii’s campus ohana and Laie’s community.
© 2021 Ke Alaka‘i BYU–Hawaii All Rights Reserved D E C EM B ER 2021 3
Table of
CONT ENTS Peace in Christ
6 Art submission 7 Campus comments
8 Maintaing temple grounds 10 Come Follow Me groups 12 Alexa Milad 14 Kahuku’s BYU football players 18 Seeing the good Manda Neilson 22 Out of Darkness choir concert 24 Olivia Neilson feature
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Christmas
Campus & Community
28 Christmas queque
36 100 things to do outside
50 Madison Morton feature
38 Comfort characters 42 Sand shortage, Oahu
54 Peni Kioa
30 Christmas happenings 31 Christmas wordsearch 32 Flourless chocolate peppermint cake 34 Christmas traditions
44 New choir director 46 New political science minors
52 Little acts of service 56 Disney internship 58 Culture shock
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CR E AT I V E W R I T I N G/ AR T/ PHOTO S UBM I S S I ON
“Moon” by Earl James Pelera, an alumnus from the Philipines
Share your art, photos or creative writing with us to include it in our next issue. E-mail us your high-resolution photo or work with a caption at kealakai@byuh.edu
FOL L OW US A ROUND T HE W EB
K E A L A K A I . BY UH . E D U
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CAMPUS C O M M E N T S Wha t i s a son g t h a t re la xe s you ?
BY L E VI F UAGA Kathryn Palmer, a junior from Mesa, Arizona, majoring in Hawaiian Studies, said the instrumental song “Colony Theme” by Clogs inspires her with hopeful thoughts in times of distress. She shared the song’s earthy tone brings her to a peace of mind and helps her find closure from a break-up she had last year. “It helped me come to terms with it, and it brought me to a place of acceptance.”
Parker Bennett, a junior from Holladay, Utah, majoring in social work, said the song “From Now On” by Hugh Jackman helps him know he is capable of becoming better. Bennett shared the song reminds him it is never too late to change and reach his goals. “There’s a big sense of calm when we know we’re in control of something because there’s so little we have control over.”
Isabel Hirst, a sophomore from Spanish Fork, Utah, majoring in elementary education, shared “Weight of the World” by Jon Bellion motivates her in times of stress. Hirst said Bellion’s song talks about finding hope and support and has helped her through her own adversity. She said the song reminds her of her family and friends because she first discovered it on her brother’s playlist and was inspired to speak with him, since she hadn’t spoken to him in a long time. “I listen to it almost every day [whenever] I get stressed or anxious or depressed.”
Tanner Tueller, a senior from Laie majoring in supply chain management, said “Wanderlust,” an instrumental song by AK, helps him destress during his studies. Tueller shared he listens to AK’s song while studying for exams to help him relax. “I feel like I’ve been using my brain so much to remember everything, [and] it makes it easier to take my quizzes and tests. ... [The song] helps me feel like I can do it.”
Graphics by Katie Mower.
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Holy ground Maintaining a clean, beautiful environment is more than just a job, says student temple groundskeeper
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BY LEVI FUAGA
I
n her work as a part-time groundskeeper at the Laie Hawaii Temple, Cayden Mai Eliason, a junior marine biology major from South Dakota, said she feels a sense of spiritual fulfillment as she seeks to create a clean, beautiful environment that resembles the Garden of Eden. “God is a god of order. I believe this plays into cleanliness. When things are clean and in order, [people] can feel the Spirit more. … It’s humbling to know what I’m doing is in the service of the Lord, and it’s blessing other people’s lives as well.” She said the temple provides an environment for people to leave their personal worries behind and enjoy the Spirit that thrives in and around the temple. “I’ve seen people come to study their scriptures or do homework just because this is a place they can come and feel peace away from the commotion in their own lives.”
Working while serving Back home in South Dakota, Eliason said she worked for the city parks and roads department. This work included mowing and weed whacking the city parks, campground and baseball fields as well as maintaining the roads, she explained. Because of her experience, Eliason said she wanted to find a similar job when she moved to Hawaii. “When COVID hit, I wanted to be able to work at the temple, and I have so much experience in this,” she said, adding she was grateful not only to find a job during the pandemic, but also one she knew she would enjoy. Eliason began working in Oct. 2020, and said she is responsible for maintaining the hillside area behind the temple. She said her duties include mowing, weed whacking, trimming trees, cleaning the gazebo and cemetery and disposing of discarded leaves, palms and invasive plants. “I love working with my hands and being outside. This is the kind of work that [makes me] feel like [I’m] being productive, and I’m able to see the end results and the progress I’ve made.”
Eliason shared she also finds peace knowing she is serving. “Even though it’s a job I get paid for, I have so much pride in my work, and it’s helped me to draw closer to the Lord and to respect him more.” Working on the temple grounds has made her more sensitive to what music she listens to, shared Eliason. She said she remembers being prompted while working to listen to a song about Joseph Smith by Michael McLean. “I felt the Spirit so strongly confirming to me Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. Without him, [people] would not have the opportunity to be sealed together as families for eternity. That knowledge brings me a lot of peace.”
Small town origins
in the Laie 16th Ward. Kerr serves as Elder’s Quorum president and Eliason serves as the Relief Society president, he explained. “[Eliason] definitely has everyone’s best interests at heart and makes sure everyone gets what they need,” said Kerr, who explained Eliason had a goal to meet all 120 members of the ward’s Relief Society. “I thought that was cool because I feel like most people would just count an occasional visit to call it good.” Strain said it is difficult to discern if Eliason is having a bad day because she is always smiling and asking others how they are doing. Kerr said Eliason is a small-town girl and harbors close-knit relationships with her family and high school classmates. “I think a lot of how she perceives the world comes from that, and it gives her a unique angle. She applied those small-town values very well in her life, which is why she is the way she is.” Eliason said her hometown, Howard, South Dakota, has only about 850 people where “everyone knows everyone” and where she and her family are the only members of the Church. “Because of that, we were and are a really close family. We did everything together growing up. My siblings are my best friends because of it.” Eliason said because of differing standards, she and her siblings didn’t always join in on certain activities with their neighbors and peers. “Instead, we worked on our house, did yard work or provided service to others.” But community is still important to the Eliason family, she shared. They have a small restaurant that is open in the summer, and they are all involved in town sports and clubs, she explained. Eliason said she has close friends who are strong Baptists and Lutherans who have blessed her life with their testimonies of Jesus Christ. “I want to be involved and help those around me. It has helped me be more aware of needs of others. I also do believe most people are good, have good intentions and are God-fearing.” •
Close friend to Eliason, Sterling Kerr, a senior from Millcreek, Utah, majoring in biology, said he has witnessed Eliason’s care for other people because they serve together
Cayden Eliason smiling while visiting the grounds she helps take care of as a temple groundskeeper. Photo of Cayden Eliason by Emarie Majors. Photos of temple grounds by Sugarmaa Bataa.
Cleanliness is godliness Eliason said she was excited to work at the temple because it is close to where she lives. “It’s a nice reminder to be worthy, to keep the commandments and be recommended to the Lord.” Eliason’s landlord, Becky Strain, said Eliason is almost like another member of her family. “She’s always asking my children about their day, saying hello to them and bringing cookies to our family.” Strain said Eliason is dependable, hard-working and knows how to maintain a sense of order in her environment. “I trust her a lot when we’ve gone on vacations. She’s the first person we [ask] to house sit and take care of things while we’re gone.” Strain said working as a groundskeeper fits Eliason well as she consciously keeps things well-maintained in her rental unit. When Eliason moved in last year, Strain said she worked for the summer doing extra cleaning to help get her unit in better shape. “She was always willing to put in the work to help us make it a better, cleaner and safer place to live.”
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FOLLOWING HIM Jimboy Fajardo says his Come Follow Me group is his ohana “millions of miles” from home BY ELLE LARSON
W
hether they are planning weekly lessons with friends, listening to podcasts or watching a 5-minute virtual devotional, BYU–Hawaii students said they set aside a little time to study Come Follow Me every week. Since the Church implemented the Come Follow Me program, BYUH students explained they have found their own ways of studying the manual while attending school.
Jimboy’s ohana Jimboy Fajardo, a junior from the Philippines majoring in art, said he started studying Come Follow Me with his friends two years ago when they arrived at BYUH together for the Winter 2020 Semester. Since then, Fajardo said they have never missed a week. During the COVID-19 quarantine, he explained they met online. Fajardo said the group calls themselves an ohana because he wants to make sure every time they have a discussion, everybody who attends will feel they are part of a family and no one is forgotten. He added he has faced challenges other students have when entering a new culture and a new experience, including anxiety and depression. “I know the feeling of being alone and being forgotten, especially in this big space,” explained Fajardo. “It’s really hard to be alone in this space, and [people] really need someone to support and care about and love [them]. That’s my 1 0 KE AL A K A‘I 2021
main goal in doing Come Follow Me each week with my friends.” Fajardo said he and his friends decided to take care of each other temporally and spiritually because they are “millions of miles” away from their families. He said sometimes when he and his friends share their testimonies and stories in their lessons, they shed a few tears too. “It’s very memorable when someone really trusts their friends and shares something very special to them.” He said these moments are what strengthen his friendships and his faith in Christ. Fajardo loves listening to other’s testimonies and insights on the gospel because their faith builds a special bond. “The [Come Follow Me] discussion is the highlight of the week,” he said.
Daily faith Caelan Dick, a freshman from Edgewood, New Mexico majoring in psychology, said she studies a little bit of Come Follow Me every day on the Come Follow Me app.The app, available on Apple and Android, features a new story every day, which Dick said she studies daily for a few minutes.The app’s story usually includes a scripture verse of the day, some videos, questions to ponder, a challenge to apply what was learned and a shareable post with an inspirational quote, she explained. Dick said during one particularly hard week, she knew she had to reconnect with the Lord through scripture study. “I noticed I was not spiritually thriving. I was having a
really bad time actually keeping committed to [scripture study] every day,” she said. “It’s better to just do it,” she explained. “It makes me feel more spiritually connected. I can hear him more and focus on him more throughout the day. Finding time to do things to connect with the Lord every day is super incredible.” She said her favorite feature of the app is it keeps a running tally of how many days she has studied in a row. This streak motivates her never to skip a day of study, Dick said, explaining how the app sends her a daily notification reminding her to study to help keep her accountable.
Bored on Sunday? Garrett Parsons, a freshman from South Jordan, Utah, majoring in psychology, said he and his friends didn’t have anything to do one Sunday, so they decided to study Come Follow Me. Brynna Dye, a freshman from Rexburg, Idaho, majoring in graphic design, was one of these friends. Dye said on that Sunday, she and her friend were at the temple talking about how much they missed studying Come Follow Me as a group. “At that same second,” she recounted, “[Garrett] texted … and we started a group that very same day.” Dye said her friend had planned a Sunday School lesson, but Sunday School had been canceled that day, so she taught her lesson for their Come Follow Me group. Since then, the friends have taken turns teaching, she explained. Dye said she likes studying with a group because it keeps her accountable. “I’m way more likely to do it if I know I’m going to be discussing it with others.” She added she likes to study Come Follow Me from her computer for a more in-depth
study. On the Church website, she said the lessons feature links to interesting videos and maps. One week, she said took a virtual tour of the Kirtland Temple from a link she found on the Come Follow Me lesson. Parsons said he studies Come Follow Me throughout his week by listening to John Bytheway and Hank Smith’s podcast “Follow Him.” He said he likes this podcast because it features different Church historians who discuss the lesson every week. He explained he appreciates how the discussion focuses on doctrine. “The Spirit testifies of truth, right? So, feelings can change like this and that, but when you’re learning the truth, you always feel the Spirit.” Parsons added he sometimes struggles to find time to study, but he tries to schedule his day to ensure he has time every day. He said most of his study takes place throughout the week, and his weekly discussions with his friends simply adds to his studies. •
Photos of Jimboy Fajardo and those who attend his weekly Come Follow Me study discussions. Photos provided by Jimboy Fajardo. D E CE M B ER 2021 11
TEACHING OTHERS
TO FLY
The world would be brighter if everyone talked to Alexa Milad about her peacebuilding passion, says friend of Canada-born humanitarian BY ALEXANDRA CLENDENNING
A
lexa Milad said her close relationship with Jesus Christ has led her to feel deep love for others and created a passion for service and intercultural peacebuilding. She said on her first humanitarian trip to Brazil at the age of 14, she taught English, empowered the children there and expanded her own views of the world. She also met a young man named Douglas Oliveira, a skilled and passionate dancer who specializes in ballet. She said she created a program that allowed him to develop his skills and eventually participate in New York Dance Intensive, a dance program full of intense training for highly skilled dancers. Currently, Oliveira teaches full-time as a dance instructor in Vancouver, Canada, she added. “It’s so easy to go into these countries and think they don’t have anything. People can, in a way, almost victimize themselves because they feel bad for them. … They have so much they can do with their lives when you give them those opportunities or help them do something with their passions. Eventually they don’t need any help from you. They are just flying.” Milad’s close friend, Hannah Bromley, said Milad’s passion and drive for service have inspired her to look for service
opportunities and be more open to those around her. “Everybody should talk to [Alexa Milad] about what she’s passionate about, which is peacebuilding. I’ve learned the world would be a little bit brighter if everyone would talk to her and learn from her passion.”
Because her dad immigrated from Cairo, Egypt, and worked hard to create a life in Canada, Milad said she has “always been aware of poverty.” In addition, she said her grandparents came from “humble beginnings” and made it obvious to her “not everybody has everything they need.”
Eye-opening experiences
Loved through every mistake
Milad, a sophomore from Vancouver, Canada majoring in intercultural peacebuilding and elementary education, said her parents always taught her to be grateful and aware of her blessings and to give back to those in need. She said this sparked her desire to serve in humanitarian work. She also credited her grandparents for teaching her the importance of real-life experiences in her education. “My parents and my grandparents have this big belief in traveling. My grandpa has always said [people] learn more outside of the classroom than in a classroom. That’s where my love for traveling, meeting new people and learning about different cultures comes from.” She added she is studying intercultural peacebuilding because she loves coming to understand why people are the way they are through getting to know them.
Bromley, a former roommate and close friend of Milad from Utah, said Milad has a great capacity to learn and wants learning to expand her world views. “Alexa has a great capacity to learn and soak things up. I also admire her determination to keep going and learning until she gets it. I don’t think the girl ever gives up.” Milad said her mother has been another inspiration for her desire to serve as a humanitarian. “My mom has been this incredible example of seeing people as people and seeing their humanity. She gives selfless service and puts others above herself. She always tries to be [like] the Savior and make time for him by attending the temple weekly.” She shared her drive and ability to do humanitarian work comes from having a deep testimony of and love for Jesus Christ.
Y L F l e a e n i h y
t s i r n a su ch 1 2 KE AL A K A‘I 2021
Left: Alexa Milad with some friends. Right: Alexa Milad. Photos by Emarie Majors.
“Jesus Christ is the reason why I’m doing humanitarian work. I am so imperfect, and I need so much help, yet he loves me through every mistake, through every trial, through everything I go through in my life. He has given me relief and support throughout everything.” Lisa Milad, Alexa Milad’s mother, said when Alexa Milad was born, she was conflicted about what to name her. She explained “Aaliyah” was her first choice, but after seeing her daughter’s big brown eyes and dark curly hair, the named seemed too gentle. “Alexa is a strong name that means ‘defender’ and ‘helper of mankind.’ If you know Alexa, she lives up to that meaning.” From a very young age, Alexa Milad has always had the light of Christ within her, Lisa Milad added. She explained her daughter’s nickname was “Sunshine” due to her bright countenance. “People gravitate towards her. Alexa is someone who knows how to reach out to people, and she just naturally loves them. She does it genuinely.” Alexa Milad said while in the Missionary Training Center prior to serving a mission in Montreal, Canada, she heard a quote from the talk “In the Strength of the Lord” by Elder David
A. Bednar. She said the quote greatly impacted her life and how she chooses to serve those around her. She explained charity is not a love people inherently have inside, rather, “It’s Christ’s love that gives [people] the ability to love others. It’s a direct connection from him to others. I’ve noticed I have a very deep love for people because of that deep connection with Jesus Christ.” She shared she could only fully understand this while being on her mission. “I finally understood my mission wasn’t my mission, but it was his. When I tried controlling things, I had to learn how to give it to him.” She said as she learned this principle, she started giving not only her mission to the Lord, but she also gave her life to him too.
better, but [because it was] a temporary fix, I’d be even more depressed.” She said she asked her father to give her a blessing before the upcoming school year and was surprised with how closely it related to her current struggles. “My parents had no idea what was going on with me and what I was going through. When I asked my dad for a blessing about something completely unrelated, at the end of the blessing he expressed he felt impressed to tell me I was enough.” This experience taught her God was not so much focused on what she had done but rather on who she was becoming, she shared. “I used to beat myself up over mistakes I would make, but I think the lesson I learned on my mission was when we mess up, we have to own what we’ve done, acknowledge it was wrong and then move on. I can’t imagine a God being up there happy [people] punishing [their selves].” Alexa Milad suggested if others are struggling with feeling like they are enough, they should use Christ’s Atonement every day, pray and have a relationship with God as well as try to become worthy to attend the temple again. •
oc nnection arn serve l o g v n e o str Recognizing self-worth
A struggle Alexa Milad shared she faced before her mission was feeling like she was worthy to serve the people. “I started making choices that went against what I believed, and as it started to spiral down, I started to feel depressed. I would do something to make myself feel
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FAITH FAILURE
FOOTBALL Former Kahuku football players, now at BYU in Provo, credit the local community for encouraging them to chase their dreams BY KYLEE DENISON
C
urrently he plays on the defensive line for the BYU football team in Provo, but Joshua Singh, a freshman business major from Laie, Hawaii, attributed his successes to his hometown community. “Growing up in Laie, I was always taught to be humble and to give back. That is one thing I hope to do one day: Give back to my community.” For Singh, the road to BYU in Provo was not an easy one. Before COVID-19, he said he had several scholarship options to play football. However, he said he lost several of them because of the NCAA rule change, which gave college seniors another year of eligibility to play. This meant less spots were available on the roster for the upcoming year, explained Singh. In addition, he said he was not able to travel to visit schools because of the pandemic, leaving him unsure. Luckily for Singh, BYU in Provo offered him a preferred walk-on position, meaning he would be able to play, but without a scholarship, he explained. With football and school requiring 12-hour days every day, Singh said he was very grateful when Built Bar, a sponsor of BYU in Provo’s football team, offered all the walk-ons full tuition coverage for Fall 2021, shared Singh. His parents taught him if people “put the Lord first no matter what, he will provide a way for [them],” Singh shared. “Football has
Sol-Jay Maiava is a quarterback at BYU in Provo. Photos provided by BYU in Provo. 1 4 KE AL A K A‘I 2021
helped me develop as a person, to mature, and has taught me discipline. … I’ve learned to be respectful, honest and humble.” Singh said he owes his success to the “Laie Park big boys,” the local football team for third to eighth graders, and expressed appreciation for his coaches, uncles and aunties who have helped him throughout his life. One of BYU in Provo’s football quarterbacks is Sol-Jay Maiava, a freshman majoring in communications from Hauula, Hawaii. He said, “All I ever wanted to do was play football at Kahuku High School like all my older cousins and uncles.” His community played a key role in encouraging him to dream big as an athlete, Maiava shared. “The community back home has shaped me to understand my Polynesian heritage, culture and also the strength of the Church. I would just like to tell them thank you for inspiring my dreams as a student-athlete and that I love them all.” BYU in Provo’s football tight end is Ethan Erickson, a freshman from Laie, Hawaii. Erickson said he owes 100 percent of his success to his Heavenly Father. Going into his junior year at Kahuku High School, Erickson said he had high aspirations he would have a good year, but he did not see the field at all. Frustrated, Erickson said he remembered what he had
D E CE M B ER 2021 15
learned in Seminary, “Christ never turned inward. He turned outward to help other people and to make those around him better.” Erickson said even though he was not playing in games, he was still practicing. He also said he made it a new goal to better others as Christ did. Erickson said when his focus shifted to others, it in turn made him a better football player. Playing for BYU in Provo football is “a dream come true,” said Erickson. He said he was an avid BYU in Provo football fan growing up. In elementary school, he shared he even shaved a Y into the back of his head. Erickson said their coach at BYU in Provo, Kalani Sitake, often shares his motto, “love and learn,” with his players. In response to losing their five-win streak on Oct. 9 to Boise State, Singh said, “Love and learn is our motto. That is what we really are about. We can get better, and we will. … [People] can learn more from losing than winning.” The loss is not shaking their confidence or hurting their team chemistry, Erickson added. He emphasized no one is being blamed or
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blaming others for their loss, and they are all coming together to get better for the next game. To the keiki in the Laie community, Singh said, “Anyone who has the will to play can play at the next level.” Maiava advised the children to stay close to the gospel and listen to their parents’ counsel, even when it is hard. Erickson said, “The world is bigger than a rock in the middle of the ocean. … There is so much out here in the world to learn and know. Expand your horizons, go out and explore.” He concluded,
“Red Raiders for life.”• Joshua Singh plays defensive line (left) and Ethan Erickson is a tight end (right) for the BYU in Provo football team. Photos provided by BYU in Provo.
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Seeing the good in herself
1 8 KE AL A K A‘I 2021
BYUH student who ended her running career because of rare genetic disorder says she would tell her younger self to stop being so hard on herself
BY XYRON LEVI CORPUZ
M
anda Nielson said as a serious high school athlete, she had a goal of going to the Olympics. However, when she moved to Saudi Arabia in high school, her love for running grew unhealthy because she became so focused on winning and progressing she lost focus on the healthy part: Enjoying it. “I started running more and it ended up becoming a negative thing in my life where it was so consuming. … It became unhealthy and affected my eating, my sleeping and my mental health because I was so consumed in it,” explained Nielson, who is a senior from Alpine, Utah majoring in exercise and sports science. In her junior year, she said she was running so much she noticed her body slowing down. “It was one race in particular where I was running and all of a sudden my legs felt super numb. I was so sick and I bawled after the race because I didn’t hit a goal time,” she said. She said she and her family were trying to figure out what was wrong and visited multiple physicians to determine the cause of her legs becoming numb. “They ended up finding it was a rare genetic disorder where the blood flow was cut off to my legs,” she said. The condition, called popliteal artery entrapment syndrome, required surgery, Nielson explained. “I would have to end my running career so I could have these surgeries before I went off to college. The plan was to walk on with another team eventually, but that surgery was what was needed so I would be able to walk and run again,” she continued.
She explained she endured mental health difficulties, many of which were about finding herself and who she is if she is not an athlete. She said if she could, she would tell her freshman self to stop being so hard on herself and stop focusing on her failures and doubts. Instead, she added she would focus on seeing herself in the same way she looks at others: With compassion. When she hit low times, she said it was the environment at BYUH and the people she met who helped her overcome them. “[People] are all predisposed to challenges [they] face. For some people, it’s addiction. For others, it’s losing loved ones. For some people, it’s battles of mental health,” she explained. “It can affect anyone. I am definitely one who was affected by it. A lot of that came from the fact I was an athlete who always strives to be better and to do my best.” She added her professor, Kate McLellan, an assistant professor in the Faculty of Sciences from California, encouraged her to go to therapy at BYUH Counseling Services. McLellan explained she thinks some members of the Church believe if they have enough faith and are reading the scriptures, praying and being obedient, trials won’t happen. “That’s not 100 percent true. … You can’t pray away mental health struggles, but a lot of times [people] think [they] can. [They’re] like, ‘Oh, it’s just because I’m weak. If I pray harder about this, it’ll be better,’” explained McLellan. “That’s not how it works. We’re not supposed to be able to handle everything. That’s why God gave us therapists.”
Finding healing in counseling Nielson said her three older siblings were all good swimmers and athletes and “focused on eating well, getting enough sleep, and balancing work, life and their extracurricular activities.” When she was 3 years old, she said she was thrown into the world of swimming and was competitively involved in it until she was 17. It was not until she did more sports, such as cross country, that she said she fell in love with the human body, learning about nutrition, taking care of the body and educating others about how to do the same. She added this led her to like the idea of eating healthy and being an active person. Nielson said transitioning from high school to college was nerve-racking because of the different changes that occurred and “the idea of a new chapter of life,” including dealing with mental difficulties and deciding what path to take in life. She said when she first came to BYUH in Fall Semester of 2018, she was an undecided major, so she started taking exercise science classes and “absolutely fell in love.” However, she said she was still unsure about what her career plans were, so she planned to transfer to a different school. But after going to the Laie Hawaii Temple, she said she felt BYUH was where she needed to be and decided to stay. As Nielson continued studying at BYUH, she said she came to realize she needed to further address her difficulties. “I noticed I was definitely struggling and things were really hard. … [Professor McLellan] recommended I go see a counselor at the
Manda Nielson sought support from counseling services after encouragement from a professor who had gone through a similar situation. Photo by Mark Daeson Tabbilos.
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counseling center. [It’s] free for all students and on campus. So, I was like, ‘Whatever it can’t hurt.’” Nielson added McLellan helped her find success and was a mentor for her. “She was one who I could always talk to [and] I could always go to her office. She started to help me see my potential ... and let me just talk when I needed to. A lot of how I grew was because of her and her influence on me.” Nielson addd she has since been working as McLellan’s teaching assistant for the past year and a half. It was at BYUH Counseling Services where she said she met multiple therapists who helped her with her struggles. They were able to work through them with her and were there for her, she added. Nielson said the special spirit on campus also helped her in the healing process. “[I am] so close to the temple and around people, such as the professors, who are so focused on Jesus Christ.” She added she had a close friend who helped her recognize the Atonement of Jesus Christ was there not only for sins, but also as a way to find peace. “Knowing that gave me the peace I was going to get through it and I was going to love the process of finding out who I am and learning to come to terms with everything,” she explained.
Lifted by God and her Laie family As a runner and bodybuilder, McLellan said she was injured many times and was able to recognized Nielson was going through a similar situation. “I knew what helped me was getting therapy and having someone else to talk to.”
McLellan said she also suggested Nielson go to the temple to receive her endowment. She said she noticed Nielson changed completely after she did so. “[Manda] is so much happier, so much lighter. … Not all the problems are resolved, not all the questions are answered, but she knows where to go to find true peace and true clarity,” McLellan explained. Kate Blackburn is one of Nielson’s best friends and a senior from Las Vegas, Nevada, majoring in exercise and sports science with an emphasis in biomedical science. She said for Nielson, finding an eternal perspective, feeling the love of God inside the temple and beginning to rely more on Christ helped her in the healing process. “Even though her immediate family was not there [at the temple], she had her Laie family there for her. I know still to this day, and every day, she relies on the Lord,” Blackburn said. Nielson said she advises all students “to be present. … in everything [they] do.” She continued, “Don’t always focus on getting through the next test [or] getting through midterms. Be present right now.” She said students would benefit from asking their selves how they are feeling, who they are connecting with and what they can do to be better. Nielson also advised students to have fun in their educational journey by going out of their comfort zone and getting to know others to build their support system. “Life is for [people] to find joy,” she added. • Manda Nielson had a goal of running in the Olympics as a serious high school athlete. Photo by Mark Daeson Tabbilos.
Scan the QR Code to watch Manda share her story in this video by Xyron Levi Corpuz, @levichuffed on Instagram.
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the light
REACHING FOR
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Choir concert emphasizes the importance of unity and honoring culture through language and music in a post-pandemic world BY LAUREN GOODWIN
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ingers and audience members were welcomed by the happy tunes of the BYU–Hawaii Street Band as they filed into the Cannon Activities Center. People were standing at their seats, dancing and clapping to the music while waiting for the BYUH choir concert entitled “Out of Darkness” to start. The lights slowly began to dim and revealed a small candle in each choir member’s hands as an audio compilation of different personal accounts of the pandemic played over the speakers, setting the tone for the night. Jonah Gunter, a sophomore from Ka’a’awa and Washington majoring in intercultural peacebuilding, said the theme of the performance spoke to the dark times of the pandemic and how people can continue moving forward. Erica Glenn, choir director and visiting assistant professor of choral activities and voice in the Faculty of Culture, Language & Performing Arts, said the performance, held on Oct. 23, 2021, was a new kind of choir concert that included spoken pieces, drums, ukuleles, a street band and hula dancers from the community. Both the University Chorale and the BYUH Ho’olokahi Chamber Choir performed in the concert.
Mia Malit and “A Kou Aloha No/I Am a Child of God,” composed by Glenn, were featured in the performance. Howell said these songs “spoke to the nature of the theme” and BYUH. Kelly Beazer, a junior from Arizona majoring in psychology, said singing “Hawaii Aloha” at the end of the concert was an emotional moment. She said it was also perfect timing because it boosted the messages BYUH President John Kauwe and Elder Jeffrey Holland shared during President Kauwe’s inauguration. Brothers said the concert was a way to show how Christ’s light is always there, even in times of darkness, and how there is always “a light at the end of the tunnel.”
An energetic performance
The performance was done in five sections, telling different stories of hardship, life and light from around the world, such as the Hawaiian legend of “A Bowl of Perfect Light,” and were related to the spiritual journey of life and the pandemic. Each part was accompanied with projected images of student art pieces that illustrated the meaning of each section. Howell shared Section 1, “Born into Light,” was all about how each person is born with a divine purpose. Beazer added the Ka Songs from around the globe Pa Kani Ko’ole O La’ie, or BYUH Polynesian Ashley Howell, a senior from Exeter, Drumming Ensemble, performed during California, majoring in biomedical science, this section and added to the experience by said the performance focused on using music incorporating different types of music and from all different cultures and sharing the culture. significance of those pieces with the audience. Section 2, “Gaining and Losing Light,” Anavai Brothers, a sophomore majoring consisted of Glenn’s composed version of “I in communications, said as a local from Am a Child of God” and a Filipino love song. Kahuku, she appreciated Glenn’s dedication Howell shared having these two songs in the to incorporating Hawaiian language and performance reminded her God knows and culture into the performance. loves her and how she should love others. Songs like “Hlohonolofatsa,” the South “Alone in the Night,” or Section 3, had African Greeting Song, “Dahil Sa Iyo,” a individual performances from the two choirs. love song from the Philippines arranged by The University Chorale performed “Keep
Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning” by Andre Thomas and the BYUH Ho’olokahi Chamber Choir performed “Stars” by Eriks Esenwalds. Howell shared these songs were fun to listen to because they were more about sound than lyrics. “Stars,” said Howell, made her feel like she was in outer space. In Section 4, “Called Back by Light,” Iese Wilson performed “Hiki Mai E Na Pua I Ka La’ie” accompanied by the conch shells played by Allie DeGraffenried and William Kaimipono Waite. The University Chorale, hula dancers and ukulele players then performed “E Ala E,” or “Come Arise,” that consisted of words from a Hawaiian chant by Pualani Kanake’ole Kanahele. Beazer said, “It was exciting to see the Hawaiian culture being integrated into a choir performance like this.” Using the Hawaiian language and traditional songs and chants was a very spiritual experience, she added. In Section 5, “Sharing the Light,” the choirs sang “Laudate,” “From this Place” and “Celtic Blessing.” Beazer added being able to sing with the choir made her feel the spirit of aloha and togetherness. The performance was unlike anything she’s ever seen before, she continued. “I’ve been in choir and have seen a lot of choir concerts, and they are very exciting in a very formal way, But I love the amount of energy brought to this concert by Dr. Glenn. I can see how that transferred over to her students.” •
Top: The BYUH Ho’olokahi Chamber Choir performing at the “Out of Darkness” concert. Bottom left: Dr. Melissa Glenn. Bottom middle: Hula dancers from the community accompanying the singers during the concert. Bottom right: Iese Wilson. Photos by Mark Daeson Tabbilos
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FINDING A NEW PASSION Olivia Neilson says three major ACL injuries helped her draw closer to God BY LAUREN GOODWIN
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livia Neilson said tearing her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), medial collateral ligament (MCL), meniscus and breaking her femur were heartbreaking but pivotal moments in her life because they put her on the path she needed to be on and allowed her to focus her life on God. Neilson added she was able to find happiness as she found new passions in weight lifting and social work.
Ball is life Neilson, a senior from Utah majoring in social work, said growing up with four brothers and one sister contributed to her love of sports. She explained she learned to love basketball when she was little and played throughout her childhood and high school years. She added she gave basketball her all and it was a way for her to cope because it became an outlet whenever she felt anxious, sad or stressed. After receiving a scholarship offer to play college level basketball, she said her plan Left: Before her injuries, Neilson loved playing basketball. Opposite page top right: Neilson shooting a basket. Opposite page left: Neilson weightlifting. Photos by Emarie Majors. 2 4 KE AL A K A‘I 2021
was to play in college and become a college coach. But Neilson said after tearing her ACL, MCL, meniscus and breaking part of her femur, she was unable to finish the season and instead faced over a year of physical therapy and recovery. Due to her injury, she said she lost her scholarship. Although she understood why the scholarship was taken away, she explained she felt everything else was also being taken from her. “It was the hardest time in my life because things I would use as my self-care, like running, basketball, going out for a walk or going out to do active things with my friends, were all taken from me.” Because the rupture was so abrupt and had taken pieces of her femur, she said she had to be in a straight leg brace for two months and experienced eight months of physical therapy. Part of physical therapy, she explained, was getting the bending motion back and working on regaining her strength.
Recentering her life on God The first time Neilson said she was seriously injured was during her freshman year when she tore her ACL. She explained she didn’t realize she had been injured until her coach pulled her to the sideline. “He had me stand on my leg and then pushed D E CE M B ER 2021 25
me. Because I didn’t have any ligaments that would help me, I collapsed.” However, the second time she sustained a serious injury, she said, “I knew right away and I knew it was bad.” She said her father had to come down on the court and carry her to the locker room. “Initially what went through my head was ‘I’m going on a mission,’” she said. Neilson shared how three days prior to the injury, she was talking with her best friend and her best friend’s mother about whether or not she would serve a mission. “I jokingly said to her, ‘If some sort of sports ending injury were to occur to me, then that would be a sign for me to go on a mission. But no, I’m going to accept the scholarship to go play basketball.’” After her father gave her a blessing in the locker room, she said it was still difficult.” I hated it, but I had a very strong confirmation I was going to be okay.” She said she knew she would be able to figure out the next parts of her life. She said the experience taught her how much she loved basketball, and added as she served her mission, she realized how much basketball had “consumed her life.” While serving her mission in England, she shared she was able to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ and deepen her testimony. Her injury was a way to focus on God instead of basketball, Neilson added.
Trying to make a comeback When she returned home from her mission, she said she decided to play in a spring league to start training and possibly walk onto a college team. Neilson said, “I had the stupid thought that [because] I served God, and I did my part, now he’ll bless me.” Soon after attempting to get another scholarship to play basketball, she said she tore her ACL and MCL on the opposite leg, had surgery and endured eight more months of recovery. She shared she really struggled this time because she knew she wouldn’t be able to play basketball again. “I struggled the most because I knew I would be giving up such an important part of my life. I struggled because I didn’t really have anything to look forward to like I did when I decided to go on my mission.” She said she got really frustrated with the world and grew unhappy about where
she was at. As she would try and push herself to do her physical therapy, she said she would always question why getting better mattered if she wasn’t going to be able to play the sport she loved. Her injuries, which she said occurred every three years, made it so she would go through intensive physical therapy, get back to peak fitness and then become injured again. Neilson explained after the last injury, she wasn’t motivated to get her strength back until she realized she needed to find something to make her happy. “I can either sit here and cry about it or I can go find something else to help me stay fit and be healthy but not hurt my knees,” she said.
Getting her spark back After some time, Neilson said she was told by a friend about a coaching position at a high school in Utah. She said she was initially worried coaching would be tough on her because of how much she missed playing. However, she said she soon realized she “had just as much joy being a coach to the girls on the team as when [she] … played.” Coaching, she said, brought her out of the slump she was feeling and motivated her to get back into fitness. She said she was able to find a way to still have the influence of basketball in her life and be happy. “I was filling that void of basketball through coaching and that gave me the motivation to be fit again, [which] is when I picked up lifting,” Neilson explained. She shared she was able to lift weights with the girls on the team and really “dove into it.” She added weightlifting allowed her to remain fit while protecting her knees from constant pressure, which usually happens when running. But most importantly, she said was able to find a way to enjoy fitness again. Destiny Weidow, a junior from Montana majoring in social work, said Neilson “isn’t afraid of testing her own limits and always encourages me to test mine and push myself.” Weidow shared how when she is struggling with doubting herself, Neilson is always there to push her to never give up. “She focuses on being better than yesterday [because she knows] by focusing on being a little better each day and staying
consistent, [people] will eventually get to where [they] want to be.” She shared they made a goal to be able to do a four-minute wall sit by the end of the semester. Each time they practiced, she said they would increase their time by three seconds. “That’s what I love about [Neilson]. She’s always trying to improve herself, not by drastic measures, but by making small incremental changes and improvements every day.”
Leaving it up to God Reflecting on her experience, Neilson shared, “I am a very stubborn and organized person, but what I learned was some things [I] have to leave up to God.” She said her experience helped her realize she has no control over her life, but God does. “I struggled so much because basketball was everything to me and went before everything in my life, including God. That is where I went wrong.” Looking back on her three injuries, she shared she always had a huge plan for her life, but she realized what God really wanted for her. “I would go through the second injury again to be able to go on a mission because my mission changed me more than basketball ever would have.” Through her mission, she shared she was also able to identify her strength of talking to people and her desire to help others. “I find joy in helping others and I wouldn’t have found that out if I wouldn’t have been forced to go out and talk to random people every day.” Because of her experiences on her mission, she said she was led to change her major to social work. She explained social work “has become an even bigger and more important passion than basketball.” •
After recovering from various injuries, Neilson enjoys weightlifting. Photos by Emarie Majors.
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BYUH students share the Christmas songs that are essential to celebrating the holiday BY LAUREN GOODWIN
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icole Schade said Christmas music is “crucial in celebrating the holiday” because Christmas time is one of the best times of the year. No matter where someone is, Christmas music is shared and loved by all those who celebrate the holiday, she added.
“Last Christmas” by Wham! Schade, a senior from Lindon, Utah, majoring in social work, said “Last Christmas” is a must-have song on her Christmas playlist because it reminds her of family. She said her brothers made a music video for it when they were younger. So every time she listens to the song, she sees her brothers dancing in her head. Although the lyrics of the song are a little sad, she said the music is upbeat and gives her all the Christmas feelings, such as nostalgia and love.
“Sleigh Ride” by Ella Fitzgerald Parker Bennett, a junior from Kahuku, Oahu, majoring in social work, said the lyrics of this song are so fun and talk about all the things people do during the Christmas season. He said the song is exciting, gives him a sense of nostalgia and puts him in the holiday mood by making him want to go for a sleigh ride.
“Baby, It’s Cold Outside” by Zoe Deschanel and Leon Redbone Ellianna Miskin, a junior from Sacramento, California, majoring in social work, said she fell in love with this song when she first heard it in the movie “Elf.” She said, “It’s really romantic, cute and makes me want to snuggle.” Miskin said it’s an essential song on her Christmas playlist.
“Hallelujah” by Pentatonix Samiya Washington, a senior from Orange County, California, majoring in social work, said the way Pentatonix sings this song a capella adds to the emotion of the song and the reason for the holiday. She said, “Christmas isn’t about the gifts and presents, but the birth of the Savior.” She shared the song makes her feel so blessed to have the Savior in her life every day and especially during the Christmas season.
“Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” by Nashville Cast Lauren Garcia, a junior from Peterborough, New Hampshire, majoring in social work, said, “The song is about someone missing their family on the holidays.” Garcia said a lot of students at BYUH could relate to the song because they are so far away from family.
She said she remembers a time when she was listening to the song while she was missing her sister, who was serving a mission at the time. When she listened to the song during Christmas time, she said she thought back to when they spent the holiday together as kids.
“Good King Wenceslas” by Bing Crosby Cris Wilson, a sophomore from Orange County, California, majoring in vocal performance, said this traditional choir song speaks to the true meaning of Christmas, which to him, is “love and service.” The song, Wilson shared, talks about a loving monarch who followed Christ, and the lyrics say the people should follow the monarch’s example. Wilson said the song makes him feel grateful for the things he has and brings him the “magic feeling” of Christmas time.
“Mary, Did You Know” by Pentatonix Katie Mower, a BYUH alumna and student intern from Boise, Idaho, said, “[This song] reminds me of the Savior and everything he came to earth to do.” Mower shared she remembered a classmate during high school singing the song with the emotional feeling of the lyrics. Outside of being her favorite song on her Christmas playlist, she said it is also her favorite song about Jesus.
“Dance of The Sugar Plum Fairy” from “The Nutcracker” by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Emarie Majors, a junior from Hamilton, Montana, majoring in visual arts, said this song is magical. Majors shared it reminded her of when she was a young girl dancing ballet because it was her favorite song to dance to. She said the song also means a lot to her because her mother gave her an ornament of the sugar plum fairy, so now the song brings her nostalgia during the Christmas season.
“Leise Rieselt Der Schnee” (“Softly Falls The Snow”) by Eduard Ebel Rahel Meyer, a senior from Hannover, Germany, majoring in political science and communications, said her family would sing this song together during Christmas. Meyer shared the song, originally sung in German, is serene, calm and describes how everybody and everything is silent waiting for Jesus to arrive. She said the song illustrates how Christmas is supposed to be and the importance of living in the moment. •
Graphics by Emily Hendrickson. D E CE M B ER 2021 29
HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS
of intramural championship volleyball, basketball, football and soccer games. She added during Christmas break, the gyms and turf field will be open two times a day, from 8 a.m.-11 a.m. and from 5p.m.-11 p.m.
Kapena Concert on 12/3 from 8 p.m. to midnight Williams said championship week leads right into Seasider Activities’ next Christmas event, which is a closing concert on Dec. 3, 2021 at 8 p.m. The dance and concert, held at the Cannon Activities Center, will feature Kapena. “The concert is free for students to give them a good end to their Fall Semester,” said Williams. She said tickets to the event are limited and available for pickup at the Aloha Center. Attendees will need a vaccination card and a student I.D., she added.
Christmas movie night on 12/17 from 7-11 p.m.
As the Fall Semester ends, students can look forward to attending these fun holiday events BY ELLE LARSON
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s BYU–Hawaii students celebrate the Savior’s birth, the approach of finals and the end of classes, events like a concert, intramural sports, temple devotionals and movies will keep them entertained and busy through Christmas break, said Shirley Tekura Tovey, coordinator of Student Development for Seasider Sports & Activities from . “Our main goal for all the events is for students to have fun and be safe,” Tovey said. She added students who stay in town over the holidays have an exciting winter break to look forward to because the team is “always trying to find ways [students] can enjoy, socialize and take a break from school.”
Christ in Christmas on 11/28 from 6-7 p.m. Tovey said various clubs will perform Christmas songs and President John Kauwe will give a “beautiful Christmas message” in the McKay Auditorium. After President Kauwe speaks, she said the auditorium party will move outside to the Flag Circle, where the Christmas lights outlining Kulanui Street will be turned on following a countdown from the crowd. The event will usher in a brilliant Christmas season, Tovey said, explaining how the traditional devotional was started by BYUH’s previous president, President John Tanner. Zayne Williams, a senior from California majoring in communications, said she has seen students come with blankets to sit with their friends in the Flag Circle to enjoy the Christmas lights after the devotional. Tovey explained the devotional is first-come, first-served event and cookies will be provided.
Championship week from 11/29-12/3 The last week of November is championship week for Seasider Sports, Tovey shared. She said to keep a lookout for times and locations 3 0 KE AL A K A‘I 2021
Williams said Seasider Sports & Activities is hosting a Christmas movie night on Dec. 17, 2021 from 7-11 p.m. She said students can come and enjoy a “low-key” Christmas movie with hot cocoa and popcorn.
Weekend movie nights, Fridays and Saturdays from 7-11 p.m. Williams encouraged students to come to the Little Theater for movie nights, which occur every Friday and Saturday from 7-11 p.m. She explained Seasider Activities shows two movies students may come and watch for free.
Weekly temple devotionals on Sundays at 4 p.m. Elder Steven King, the Laie Hawaii Temple Visitor’s Center director and his wife, Sister Michelle King said they are excited to host virtual Christmas devotionals on three Fridays of December. Sister King said each music devotional will be held at 4 p.m. and can be viewed on the “Ohana of Jesus Christ at North Shore, Hawaii” Facebook page. The schedule for the visitor center music devotionals is as follows: Dec. 12: The Laie Hawaii Temple Visitor’s Center sister missionaries Dec. 19: George Kaka family Dec. 26: The Tonga Sisters Sister King said the live videos will be posted permanently on the page after they are streamed so people can view them on their own time and share them with others. She said the videos are pre-recorded and more than 60 sisters are participating in the performance. She added the “Ohana of Jesus Christ at North Shore, Hawaii” page has grown a lot in the last year. During Christmas 2020, about 10,000 people followed the page and 30,000 people viewed the devotionals. Now, the page boasts around 30,000 followers and she said she hopes the devotionals will reach 100,000 views. Sister King said it is a blessing for the videos to reach so many people. “All the goodness that happens with these devotionals will actually get out to a lot of people, and hopefully it will be a great Christmas,” she explained. • Graphics by Marlee Palmer.
CHRISTMAS word search A B B E L I E V E F N Y
N G E L N A D R A I L F N D R K S E Q U C W D S S M E Q O I N H V N D C G D B G C Z P L Q I G C E H O R G I N G E R B R E A D Z Z H M W H S L O C Z I N Y O T F Z A U M F K L E T I T S N O W O Y C P E M L M Q J E S U S C H R I S T K R L A B R I G H T G C R L T M E R R Y K W W L Q U Q C A N D Y C A N E H E A L G P L F A A W Y O P E A C E X L J I N G L E B E L L S C S Y D J Q R S I O C H F B Y K D L J O Y X
Jesus Christ Angel Believe Peace
Jingle bells snowflake joy candy cane
Merry bright gingerbread let it snow
Graphics by Marlee Palmer.
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Flourless
Chocolate Cake
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Ingredients Directions s i e k a c s i Th ! e e fr n e t glu
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8 ounces bittersweet chocolate chips 1 cup of butter (2 sticks), roughly chopped 1 1/4 cups sugar 6 eggs 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 9-inch springform pan with nonstick cooking spray, then line the bottom of the pan with a circle of parchment paper. Spray the parchment paper with cooking spray and then set the pan aside. Place chocolate and butter in a medium saucepan over medium low heat. Stirring often, melt chocolate with butter until completely blended. Remove from heat and transfer to a large bowl. (Alternatively, the microwave may be used to melt the butter with the chocolate, if desired). Add sugar and mix well. Add eggs one at a time, whisking well after each addition. Sift cocoa into bowl and stir until just blended. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until cake has risen and the top has formed a thin crust. The cake should be just firm in the center when done. Cool for 10 minutes, then invert onto a plate, removing sides of springform pan. Remove and discard parchment paper. Set cake aside to cool completely. Photo by Emarie Majors. Graphics by Emily Hendrickson.
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AN ISLANDER CHRISTMAS BYUH student says Christ is what gathers his family together, whether or not they are all Christians BY MAHANA TEPA
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rom dressing in matching colors and enjoying food from an underground oven to decorating the house and enjoying seafood, BYU–Hawaii students said Christmas is about gathering together because of Christ and being sure to include everyone.
Fiji traditions Savaira Veikoso, a senior from Suva, Fiji, majoring in business management, said, “In Fiji, Christmas is a very important event where all Christians and non-Christians celebrate … with their families.” She added Christmas is her favorite time of the year because it’s the only day she and her family are all together. Veikoso explained her dad is usually busy with work and “is always on trips around the world or busy with the cultural workshops in Fiji.” Because of this, she said she and her family don’t often have the chance to spend much quality time with him. “Since [my family is] rarely with my dad for the entire year, it is usually only my mom, me and my sister until Christmas. When my dad is finally home, we are all so happy and spend a lot of time talking stories with him about what he missed while being away from home.” Veikoso said one of her favorite moments is enjoying Christmas lunch with her family. Beginning on Christmas Eve and continuing until New Year, Veikoso said her family eats food such as taro, tapioca, pork, beef, octopus or raw fish with coconut milk. Veikoso said her entire family cooks their Christmas lunch 3 4 KE AL A K A‘I 2021
together in an underground oven called a lovo. Once the lunch is ready, she said they all dress up and prepare plates of food to share with their neighbors. Each family dresses in “kala vata,” or the same color, to make it easier for them to identify each other during big gatherings. “You know it’s Christmas in Fiji when you see smoke everywhere early in the morning because everyone is cooking their Christmas lunch in the lovo,” she said. “We share our meals on the floor. While we are sharing our lunch together, we share with each other our gratitude, important events or best highlights of the year each of us had.” She said the tradition of feasting together with her family helps her create cherished memories before she must resume her normal routine. She added, “This special moment helps me reflect on my entire year and pay more attention to what my Heavenly Father blessed me with. My gratitude towards him increases more and more while I share my best highlights of the year with my family.”
Tahiti traditions Atea Lee Chip Sao, a senior from Faa’a, Tahiti, majoring in TESOL, said Christmas is the biggest event celebrated by his family. In preparation for Christmas, Lee Chip Sao said his family loves to beautifully decorate their entire house to warmly welcome their loved ones. He added, “Decorating [the] house is one of the greatest activities I love to do with
my family. It allows my family to spend time together and use creativity to make something special and beautiful while having fun.” As part of their decorations, Lee Chip Sao said they love to hang lights inside and outside their house and decorate their Christmas tree with gifts underneath. Shops, markets and public places are also decorated with lights for Christmas, he added. A week before Christmas, he said his parents will buy expensive seafood such as crabs, salmon and oysters to make their family reunion memorable. He explained, “In Tahiti, Christmas is mostly about seafood. During this season, seafood is really expensive. We often need to do our Christmas [shopping] at least a week before because seafood is easily out of stock and the stores are closed during the celebrations.” Lee Chip Sao said his mother is from the Philippines and his father is from Tahiti, but their “traditions are based only on church culture rather than our mixed-cultures. Christ is what really gathers our [immediate] and extended family together, whether or not they are Christians. That is all that matters for us.” He said during the Christmas season, Tahiti is very festive and thoughtful, and the government provides free movies, activities, gifts and food for families who cannot afford it. “For me, the Christmas spirit is more about giving than receiving. Christ was the perfect example of giving to bless other people without expecting anything in return. I am happy people can feel the spirit and love of Christ through other’s actions.”
The importance of inclusivity A year before the pandemic, Veikoso said she had an experience she will never forget. She explained, “On Christmas, I [was] invited to eat with my friends. Once I came back to my hale, I saw one of my friends who was all by himself, so I stopped by and said hi to him.” She continued, “My friend asked me, ‘Savi, where are you coming from?’” She
shared her reply, “‘I just had my Christmas dinner with some friends and now I am going home. How about you, did you have a great Christmas dinner?’” She said her friend replied, “‘No, I was just by myself tonight. nobody invited me.’” Veikoso said she wished she “could have turned the time back” so she could invite him to join her. She explained, “Christmas should
be a day of celebration, not a day of being alone without a great feast.” The experience she had with her friend allowed her to celebrate Christmas more meaningfully, Veikoso shared, and to always make sure her friends are included, even if they may not respond to her invitation.• “Merry Christmas” in Fijian, French and English. Graphics by Katie Mower.
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100
things to do outside your room
BYUH students offer plenty of ideas for getting out of the house, including attending club activities and having a potluck meal with friends. BY ELLE LARSON Hao-wen Chih, a freshman from Lexington, Kentucky studying marine biology. 1. Walk and chill at the Laie Hawaii temple 2. Study in the library 3. Get an açaí bowl at the Seasider Cafe 4. Swim at Bikini Beach 5. Play Pokémon Go 6. Get a job 7. Walk around Hukilau Marketplace and see the sights 8. Go to open gym and play badminton 9. Play Frisbee on Saturday night 10. Attend club events Daichi Manabe, a sophomore from Japan majoring in business management marketing. 11. Surf at Castles Beach 12. Watch dolphins at Makua Beach 13. Go to Foodland for spicy poke 14. Get your hair cut with a friend 15. Drive around the island 16. Go to 7/11 for a drink 17. Go to McDonald’s and stress-eat sugar 18. Learn Jiu Jitsu on the grass 19. Go to L&L BBQ 20. Run on the beach Amella Pena, a junior from Draper, Utah majoring in peacebuilding. 3 6 KE AL A K A‘I 2021
21. Go surfing at Puaena Beach 22. Snorkeling at Electric Beach 23. Hike Wiliwilinui 24. Meditation labs on Wednesday morning 8 a.m. in the Old Gym dance room 25. Go to the gym to lift weights on the machines 26. Mermaid dive in the ocean (dive down and come up like a mermaid) 27. Night swimming 28. Pick a destination to watercolor 29. Catch a frog when it rains 30. Play leapfrog across campus Sophie Randall, a sophomore from Anchorage, Alaska majoring in peacebuilding. 31. Make dribble castles (take wet sand and drizzle it into a pile) 32. Hike Laie falls 33. Walk across the ocean to goat island 34. Take a nap in the sun 35. Open gym volleyball every night in the Old Gym 36. Climb a tree 37. Play tennis 38. Read a book on the beach 39. Walk on the beach 40. Write in your journal Ada Palmer, an elementary education freshman from Scarsdale, New York. 41. Pet campus cats 42. Go to the cafeteria 43. Go on a walk around campus 44. Go to class 45. Pick up your mail 46. Go to the beach 47. Go to church 48. Play board games 49. Go to guidance counseling 50. Get ice cream at the Seasider Cafe
Jezreel Gabut, a sophomore from Básayas, Philippines majoring in hospitality and tourism management
Hannah Meine, a freshman from Canada majoring in marine biology.
51. Go to C Store and buy ice cream 52. Get tutored at the Heber G. Grant building 53. Play basketball with your friends 54. Throw out your trash 55. Attend ward Family home evening 56. Talk to a stranger and make a new friend 57. Play an instrument 58. Get groceries at Foodland 59. Group study at the library 60. Look for inspiration in nature
81. Do homework at the Hukilau marketplace under the pavilion 82. Do little acts of service throughout the day 83. Eat with someone new in the cafeteria 84. Go to the movie nights at the little theater 85. Go to the Hub and play board games 86. Play foosball in the lounge 87. Walk around campus and find the first open bench to study in a new area 88. Check out a movie and a movie room in the library to watch 90. Stick sticky notes on people’s cars
Audrey Pryde, a freshman from Twin Falls, Idaho majoring in biochemistry.
Emma Luna, a sophomore majoring in marine biology from Rio Rico, Arizona.
61. Go ziplining at Kualoa 62. Paint palm trees in your sketchbook 63. Go swimming at the pool 64. Play intramural sports at the turf field 65. Go to the weekly devotional 66. Go to music concerts on campus 67. Get chips at Foodland 68. Find a shaded spot to read 69. Teach yourself how to play piano in the practice rooms at the Cannon Activities Center 70. Walk at night around campus with roommates
91. Spend quality time with your unit mates in the common room 92. Do yoga 93. Have movie nights in the McKay Building courtyard 94. Have dance parties at the hale pavilion 95. Meditate outside the library on the benches 96. Walk behind the campus 97. Go to Give and Take 98. Go to the Swap Meet in Honolulu 99. Watch the sunrise at Laie point 100. Watch the sunset at Sunset Beach
Modesta Terry, a junior from the Solomon Islands majoring in business management with a focus on human resources.
Graphics by Marlee Palmer.
71. Play basketball at the CAC 72. Go to work 73. Watch movies outside with friends 74. Bike the bike path in the evenings 75. Visit friends and family in Laie 76. Buy a meal at Elephant Shack at the Polynesian Cultural Center 77. Stargazing behind hale 10 and the baseball field 78. Babysit at Temple View Appartments 79. Minister to your friends visit 80. Sunday potlucks outside the library
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fictional
yet relateable Comfort characters are a sign of above-average empathy, according to some studies BY LEVI FUAGA
E
mbracing a fictional character, often called a “comfort character,” allows people to feel at ease with themselves, explained Elias Hopkin, a senior from Ohio majoring in TESOL. He said people “need to stop obsessing over what’s going wrong all the time” and comfort characters, or characters who provide relief from one’s own life or whose story is preferred over the sometimes unhappy or stressful plot, can help them do so. In an article entitled, “Emotionally bonding with a fictional character? There’s a term for that: ‘Comfort character,’” writer Karen Lu from Yale University explains how fans often identify with their comfort characters or wish to hang out with them like a best friend. “For some, comfort characters are so real that even just thinking about them, re-watching their scenes, reading fan fictions or otherwise engaging with them can help stave off anxiety attacks, calm down during panic episodes or simply provide a hand to hold on to during difficult times.” Hopkin said he finds comfort in characters who evoke comic relief despite the seriousness of the plot around them. He said Anya Jenkins from the American television show “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” exemplifies this type of character. Jenkins is a former vengeance demon responsible for punishing men for wrongful acts against women, but loses her powers and becomes a mortal, explained Hopkin. As a human, he said she ignores social norms and doesn’t know how to treat children. In one episode, Hopkin said Jenkins was playing a board game and attempted to trade children for money, which he said he found humorous. He added her social awkwardness “alleviates the tension in the story and helps keep the series from being too melodramatic.” Lu writes, “Whether they’re conquering a villain, avenging a fallen friend or simply being happy, people find warmth in following along in their journey or seeing them smile in the face of adversity.”
Valuing forgiveness Britni Hull, a junior from California majoring in marine biology, expressed her admiration for Uncle Iroh from “Avatar: The Last Airbender” after following his character arc for over three seasons. 3 8 KE AL A K A‘I 2021
She explained in the series, Iroh helps raise his nephew, Zuko, attempting to instill within him teachings of peace rather than war. Despite this, Hull shared Zuko betrays Iroh’s teachings, but soon recognizes the error of his ways. Remorseful, Zuko feels he can’t be forgiven, but much to his surprise, Iroh lovingly forgives him and expresses joy Zuko corrected himself, Hull explained. Hull shared this was a defining moment and a testament of Iroh’s character. “His example taught me I can forgive anyone for anything, I can be forgiven for anything and my past mistakes don’t define me.” Lu shares, “Usually, [comfort characters] have characteristics that are easy to relate to or be inspired by. Or, it can be completely random — there’s no requisite in what makes a comfort character.”
Weaknesses becoming strengths Ethan Landgraf, a junior from Nuuanu, Hawaii, majoring in English, said he relates to James Buchanan, or “Bucky,” from the Marvel comics. “Well, he’s missing an arm, and given my circumstances, that’s something I can emphasize with,” said Landgraf, who injured his arm in September. “The typical comfort character might be someone fierce and protective of their friends, passionate about their ambitions and goals, or struggling with inner demons,” says Lu. Makaiah Gorham, a sophomore from Canada majoring in marketing, said he adores the demigod-hero Percy Jackson from the “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” book series. Gorham said Percy, despite being a demigod, struggles with ADHD and dyslexia, which makes it difficult for him to focus and navigate himself in school. “These problems or weaknesses become [Percy’s] strengths,” shared Gorham. He explained an example of this takes place in the first book “The Lightning Thief,” in which Percy and his friends stumble upon a hotel that ensnares its guests into staying longer than they intended. Due to Percy’s hyper attentiveness, Gorham explained he could discern people have been stuck there for decades thinking it’s only been minutes. He was then able to lead his friends out of the dire situation, Gorham added.
Graphics by Katie Mower D E CE M B ER 2021 39
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“We all have weaknesses, but we can choose to do great things with them because they’re part of who we are,” said Gorham. In her article, “Why we get so attached to fictional characters,” Kimberly Truong shares media psychologist Karen Dill-Shackleford’s ideas on comfort characters. “Characters are often avatars for us, and we let ourselves feel feelings through them, even if we can’t relate to everything they’re going through,” reports Truong.
Embracing quirkiness Milly Rose, a freshman from Canada majoring in psychology, said she relates to Spencer Reid from the television show “Criminal Minds.” Reid is a member of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Behavioral Analysis Unit and is responsible for profiling criminals, she explained. She said Reid is known for being socially awkward and for his extensive knowledge in mathematics, chemistry and engineering. She shared Reid stands out from the rest of his crew due to his social dynamic. “He rambles a lot about things he is interested in and has niche interests other people on his team don’t share, like ‘Star Wars.’ I understand what it’s like to not share interests with those you hang around.” Rose explained Reid’s quirkiness inspired her to become more knowledgeable of various topics. “He has a [photographic] memory and absorbs everything he reads. I try to learn one new thing a day, and I’m constantly peppering my friends with fun facts if they’ll let me.” Dill-Shackleford says according to Truong, it doesn’t matter that these characters aren’t real, because “they bring [people] joy and cheer [them] up at the end of the day.” Lu encourages readers to take pride in their comfort characters and points to studies that report having a comfort character signifies above-average empathy. Truong quotes Dill-Shackleford and says relating to fictional characters increases emotional depth in an individual. “[People] have to engage in a real human way in order to feel that connection.” Truong explains those who are willing to feel what’s happening in the story are capable of being socially understanding. • Left top: Elias Hopkin with his comfort character Anya Jenkins. Left middle: Britni Hull with her comfort character Iroh. Left bottom: Ethan Landgraf with his comfort character Bucky. Right top: Milly Rose with her comfort character Spencer Reid.. Right bottom: Makaiah Gorham with his comfort character Percy Jackson. Graphics by Katie Mower. Photos by Emarie Majors, Christal Lee and Uurtsaikh Nyamdeleg.
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SAND
SHORTAGE
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A combination of harvesting and coastal erosion continues to deplete the world of its second most used natural resource: sand BY ELLE LARSON
I
t’s hard to imagine the world running out of the little white particles making up Hawaii’s beaches, but it’s true, said Dr. Spencer Ingley, assistant professor in the Faculty of Sciences. “A lot of shore is lost along the coastline due to erosion,” said Ingley. “Sand is also mined from all over the place for use in construction projects. … Sand is moving quite a lot, both with the help of humans and naturally.” He said as the world grows more urban, the Earth’s sand reserves grow smaller, and just behind water, sand is the most-used commodity in the world. “Sand does seem like a limitless resource, but it’s not,” Ingley said. He said there is a high demand for sand to create products used every day, from glass and silicon microchips to concrete.
Using up the sand In a Business Insider article, Rob Ludacer says most of the sand the world consumes is used to make concrete, which is made of 75 percent sand. This means the more cities built with concrete, the more “marine sand” is taken from the bottom of rivers, lakes and oceans, he explains. In his CNBC article, Sam Meredith writes although it is difficult to measure the amount of sand used every year, scientists estimate 4.1 billion tons of cement is produced annually worldwide. This means the world uses 40 to 50 billion tons of sand annually, explains Meredith. Ingley said, “As the human population has grown exponentially, so has our demand for sand. We’re living bigger and more complex lives than ever before, and this is putting a huge strain on all of our natural resources, including the oft-forgotten sand.”
Honolulu built with Maui’s sand Adriane Corwin says in her Maui News article that sand mining is a big deal in Maui, where the island has a unique Pu’u One (hill of sand) dune system. She explains the sand from Maui’s dunes was sought after in the 1980s because it produces high-quality concrete. By 2006, she says 70 percent of Maui’s dune sand was shipped to Oahu, making up 2.5 million tons of sand to build the urban metropolis of Honolulu. A Khon2 article states in 2018, Maui county Mayor Alan Arakawa, called for a sixmonth ban on sand mining in Maui. However, the Maui sand dune debate continues today with no permanent action taken by the government, the article says.
Bye-bye, beach The Sydney Morning Herald reports, “Waikiki beach has shrunk by about 30 cm a year over the past five decades.” Ingley said beach erosion is partly driven by a rising sea level and more frequent and stronger storms. “Storm surge erodes the coastline quickly, causing our beaches to retreat. Because we’ve built along so much of the coastline, there isn’t anywhere for the beach to retreat to,” he said. On the Hawaii News Now website, Samie Solina explains this year, the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Waikiki Beach Special Improvement District teamed up to restore 24,000 cubic yards of sand to the Waikiki beach. Solina explains the team does this by dredging up sand from the bottom of the seashore and pumping it onto the beach. Ludacer acknowledges the problems associated with this solution. He says dredging up sand disturbs habitats of ocean floor micro-
organisms. In addition, the sand dredged up is quickly replaced again with sand from the seashore anyway. Ingley said a shortage of sand affects Laie the same way it does the rest of the world. Ocean levels erode the coast, so he said beaches like Hukilau will lose their sand, much like Waikiki and other beaches in Hawaii. As the sand depletes, the supply of building materials made with sand will decrease, driving their prices up, he explained.
Save the sand Ingley gives students this advice to help save the sand, “The best thing [people] can do is avoid trampling coastal vegetation and get involved in local restoration projects that might help bolster the health and strength of [the] coastlines.” He discouraged panicking about the shortage, but said, “We should definitely be concerned about this issue and do what we can to help. First and foremost, we should consume less. The more we consume, the more natural resources we use.” Ingley explained why he believes it is the responsibility of people to preserve the Earth’s resources. “I think [people] have a divine mandate to care for natural resources. ... There is a lot we can do as individuals, as a church, and as a whole population to decrease use of natural resources and foster the recovery of resources through the appropriate restoration projects.” • Graphics by Marlee Palmer.
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EVERY VOICE MATTERS BYUH students say new choir director’s talents have inspired them to view choral singing in a new light and pushed them to be multi-culturally focused BY LAUREN GOODWIN
A
fter conducting research on one of the first female Ukrainian composers in Ukraine, founding her own online choir program and conducting choir online from Utah during the pandemic, Dr. Erica Glenn said she made her way to BYU–Hawaii. Glenn said because her research project in Ukraine was shut down due to COVID-19 and she went back to Utah, once things started to open up again, she said she was faced with the choice of either coming to BYUH or going back to Ukraine. She explained she focused on the power of God and prayer to help her make the right decision and knew she would be guided to the right place if she remained prayerful and trusted in God. She said Heavenly Father made it very clear she should turn down her grant to research in Ukraine and come teach at BYUH. Glenn, the new BYUH choir director and visiting assistant professor of choral activities and voice in the Faculty of Culture, Language & Performing Arts from Utah, said she came to BYUH three semesters ago because of the power and influence of God. She said she could see the power and potential music could play for BYUH students and focuses on crosscultural collaboration.
Powerful students Glenn said she always tells her students they matter and are seen, each of them belong and they are more powerful than they realize. She said she wants each of her students to know they are part of the fulfillment of David O. McKay’s prophecy. She explained the students “are men and women whose influence will be felt for good towards the 4 4 KE AL A K A‘I 2021
establishment of peace internationally. [They] are the leaders nations are hungering for. They are genuine gold.” By celebrating her students’ strengths, emphasizing their critical role in the music-making process and showing they belong, Glenn said she hopes to create an environment where students can be bold and creative. She said she pushes her students because she sees their potential as “not just future musicians, but future leaders and generators of the kind of powerful, collaborative art that can build bridges and move mountains.” Glenn shared a story about a student she taught who claimed he was tone deaf and couldn’t match any pitches. She said he was willing to work hard and could match pitch after only a few months. “He then began refining his tone and working on his sight-reading skills, and by the next year, he was our baritone section leader in the top choir at the school. ... Everyone has a voice, and that voice matters,” said Glenn. She implored students to never let insecurities keep them from using their gifts.
Creativity, collaboration and communication Glenn said she likes to focus on creativity, collaboration and communication. Allowing students to conduct their own pieces, write their own arrangements and share their own ideas for performances has made both choirs active and strong, she explained. Glenn said she teaches collaboratively and wants her students’ input because they “learn from each other.” She said she invites all her students to share their ideas and stay focused on the multicultural aspect of BYUH. By
having students share songs from their home countries and learn new Hawaiian phrases every week, she said she puts the focus on understanding culture. Rehearsals are process-focused, she said, which means students use the classroom as a space to “elevate the voices of culture-bearers from around the world.” Students from the Philippines, Taiwan, South Korea, Chile, Italy, Hawaii and Samoa teach songs from their countries, Glenn explained. Learning songs like “The Sway of the Baby Hammock” from the Philippines, “Hawai’i Aloha” from Hawaii, “El Pueblo Unido” from Chile, “Song of the Little River” from Taiwan, and “Beautiful Country” from South Korea helped the BYUH Ho’olokahi Chamber Choir learn more about the power music has in culture, she shared. Composing music is one of her favorite things to do, she added. She recently combined the songs “I am a Child of God” and Queen Lilioukalani’s “O Kou Aloha No” or “The Queen’s Prayer” to create a piece for the Oct. 5 devotional, she said. She added she also composed a song called “From This Place,” inspired by David O. McKay, President John Kauwe and Elder Jeffrey Holland’s words for President Kauwe’s recent inauguration ceremony. Eden Uyehara, a junior from Laie majoring in music, said as a local member of the community, knowing someone has a desire to learn the culture and implement it into the choir makes her feel good. She said Glenn teaches Hawaiian history and incorporates Hawaiian language through the songs she chooses to help her students see the different opportunities in music.
Hernandez, a junior from Georgia majoring in psychology, said although a lot of choirs tend to be Westernized, Glenn is inclusive to everyone. Learning songs from different countries has helped her experience music in a different way, Hernandez shared. Glenn said her aspirations for the future include seeing more cross-cultural collaboration. The rebranding of the choirs may help in getting more participation from everyone on campus and connecting with the local community and other disciplines on campus, she added.
“I had to figure out how to help choral arts survive during the pandemic,” she explained. To do so, she said she decided to found her virtual choir conductor website, which is a virtual program that allowed her to direct choir online for people all over the world. She said she was also able to conduct several online choirs, including BYUH Ho’olokahi Chamber Choir, while operating her website.
Becoming in-sync
Glenn said she worked on the Senior Management Team at the American International School of Utah with the responsibility of building the performing arts program. Due to her training as a choir director, there was no turning back, she said. In one year at the American International School of Utah, she said they went from having one choir with 12 children to six choirs consisting of 300 students. By the second year, Glenn shared the choir was winning competitions, collaborating with Broadway artists, singing at Abravanel Hall with Kurt Bestor and Lexi Walker and was even featured on the Public Broadcasting Service. “More importantly, our students had become like family to each other, and they had discovered the power of passiondriven learning and striving, collectively, towards excellence,” Glenn expressed. Watching communities of students come together from different backgrounds and cultures to capitalize on their diversity, she said, is magic. Having such a diverse group share music and work together to create a united choir despite their differences has been a wonderful thing to watch, she added. •
Glenn said she loves the “moment when a choir finds its sound collectively and becomes a single, living organism.” Scientific studies, she said, have found synchronized breathing acts as a meditation exercise and each performer’s heart starts beating in correlation to the tempo of the music. Watching her students experience this for themselves and see them share their feelings with the audience is what she said inspires her about choral singing. “Choral music is such an inherently vulnerable art form,” Glenn shared, emphasizing how each individual person is the instrument.
Singing before she could talk Glenn said before she could talk, she would communicate through melody to get her mother’s attention. “I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember,” she explained. “When I wanted my bottle, I would beep like the microwave. When I wanted to go to bed, I would hum the lullabies [my mom] used to sing.” Throughout her career, Glenn said she has had the opportunity to perform in musicals such as “Beauty and The Beast,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Emma: The Musical,” “Diary of Anne Frank” and “Gentlemen’s Guide” as well as several operas including “Hansel and Gretel” and “Bartered Bride.” She said she has also earned awards such as the American Prize in Conducting, the Teaching Excellence Award, Prizm Nominations for Best Music Direction and Best Actress in a Major Role in a Musical.
The American International School of Utah
Top: Dr. Erica Glenn conducting a choir. Center and bottom: Dr. Erica Glenn has performed in various musicals. Photos provided by www.ericakyreeglenn.com.
Helping choral arts survive the pandemic Glenn said she thought all of her options disappeared during the pandemic. D E CE M B ER 2021 45
GLOBAL CONNECTIONS BYUH professor says new minors in political science give students an understanding of how they fit into world events BY RAHEL MEYER
D
r. Rand Blimes, associate professor in the Faculty of Business & Government, said the international experience students get at BYU–Hawaii is what sets them apart on the job market. “Especially as countries become more and more integrated economically and socially, that [international experience] becomes a real, valuable skill. BYUH students have an advantage going into any kind of international work.” Blimes said he has been pushing for international relations and international development to become minors since he started teaching at BYUH 10 years ago because when he first got here, it was not a specific minor or major. “I thought it was a little weird, given how international the school is.” Jarek Buss, a BYUH alumnus and foreign service officer in the United States Department of State currently serving in North Macedonia, said BYUH did everything for his international career and offered him fantastic opportunities for overseas and international experience.
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Buss explained he chose BYUH over BYU in Provo because he realized BYUH is where he would be immersed in an international environment. “I had to think about which classes in the political science program I could take to map together a major with an international focus. But now, the new minors can actually provide a structure and a plan so students who are interested in that know what they can do.”
Recognizing the gap When first starting out as a professor, Blimes shared he had the opportunity to visit Tonga, Vanuatu and Fiji. While visiting those countries, he asked BYUH alumni, specifically those who had studied political science, what they wished they had learned but didn’t. “Almost every person I talked to brought up issues related to economic development. So, I realized there was kind of a gap there.” From there, Blimes explained he started to advocate for the creation of international relations and international development minors by gradually adding classes to the political science curriculum. “The minors really line up with the goals BYUH has in terms of helping build leaders internationally. There are an awful lot of students at BYUH where, when you sit down and talk to [them] about what they want to do in the future, it’s not something they can accomplish without thinking about how countries interact with each other.”
The international relations minor Blimes said it is important for everyone to understand how countries interact and what is going on behind the scenes, even if they are not thinking about working in international trade or becoming a diplomat. International relations is a broad subject and takes in a lot of different topics, he shared, and for some students that’s a great fit. Students can easily pair their international relations minor with their major, even though it might not look like that at first sight, explained Blimes. For example, in the field of public health and preventing viral outbreaks, he said the international relations minor can help students understand other components. “You may be studying science so you understand the virus side, but then backing it up with an [international relations] minor, to understand more about how countries can cooperate on issues like this, or understand how international law works, could be really valuable.” Blimes explained sometimes it is difficult to jump in, read the newspapers and immediately understand how and why the world works the way it does. Common questions such as “Why did this country do this?” or “Why is this happening?” are discussed in the new minor. “[Students] learn to think about life from a different perspective. To me, it’s super fascinating. I can’t imagine anybody who doesn’t want to understand how the world works.” A photo collage including Sakiusa Tukana, Lehonti Ovalle, Michael Kraft, Bruno Miyabe, Levi Fuaga, Xyron Levi Corpuz and Connor Hansen. Photo illustration by Emarie Majors.
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The international development minor For students who are more interested in countries’ problems that stem from poverty, the international development minor allows them to focus on developing countries specifically, explained Blimes. Many BYUH students come from developing countries, he said, emphasizing how his goal is to try to help students to work through effective ways to help their countries. He said this minor is even helpful for those who are in good positions because they can think about how they can help those who are less fortunate. “Having good intentions is great, but it’s not enough. [People need] to have enough knowledge [they] can turn [their] good intentions into actual useful policies.” Blimes shared it is great to see Pacific Island students come to BYUH and gain knowledge and tools to take back to their home countries. He added students who are from the Pacific are sandwiched between the “two biggest economies that ever existed,” China and the United States. “That’s an interesting position to say the least,” he added. Studying those relations and how Kiribati, the Cook Islands or Fiji are impacted by it is something the new minor focuses on, explained Blimes. “There’s a real sense [people’s] well-being in, [for example], Fiji, is not just determined by [them]. It’s determined by other actors and how they treat each other.” He explained people should want to understand what is happening and what their place is no matter where they are from. “The best thing is to study it in an organized fashion, which we do in political science. We try to make sense out of all the kind of crazy that is going on.” Blimes explained being surrounded by Pacific Island students impacted his own process as an international relations scholar, as he now thinks more about how smaller states interact with larger economies. Qudaela Taleni, a sophomore from Samoa majoring in political science, said her goal is to give back to her community by addressing human rights and poverty in her home country. She said political science gives her the tools she needs to realize her goal. “The classes in those two minors really help me gain a better understanding of global issues, the effects of establishing relations with other countries and some of the resolutions that can be made to solve international conflict.” She added the classes have also taught her how she can contribute to addressing issues in her country such as poverty.
A support system of professors Buss said the new minors could draw in people who thought about studying international relations or international development and draw attention to the real strengths of BYUH. “There’s a lot of things [people] can do, and [they] get what [they] put in.” Buss explained all the hands-on experience BYUH has provided has been incredibly helpful in his life because other universities with larger student bodies don’t give the same chances.
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“That’s the amazing thing about BYUH. There are a lot of opportunities, and when [people] put in the effort, [they] can do a lot,” he said. There are a lot of different directions one can take with international relations or international development, Buss explained. Whether it be working in a Non-Governmental Organization, as a diplomat, implementing projects or running projects their self, there are a lot of options, he explained. Buss said he loves his job as a diplomat because he can live in different countries, learn new cultures and languages and be in meetings with world leaders. Then other times, he said his job can lead him to places he didn’t think he would go. For example, in 2020 he said he was put onto a COVID-19 task force with the State Department that focused on helping evacuate a cruise ship in Japan. Working as a diplomat, Buss explained he still considers his professors some of his greatest friends and mentors and still asks them questions about their opinions on different parts of foreign policy relations. “They’re just really, really good people who really care about their students, and it made a huge difference in my life. The political science department really does have some of the best professors I have ever met.” • A collage including, from top to bottom, Hoi Mak (Hailey), Seini Ieremia, Alexa Milad, Emarie Majors, Christie Lee, Joana Chibota and Jimin An. Photo illustration by Emarie Majors.
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Being there
Madison Morton shares she missed her sister’s wedding to serve students as a resident assistant during the pandemic
BY ELLE LARSON
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adison Morton, a senior majoring in intercultural peacebuilding from Pocatello, Idaho, said she has been working as a lead resident assistant since Fall 2019 and chose to stay on island to work during the pandemic even though most students went home. She said she was excited to be part of the “quaranteam” of RAs who assisted the quarantine residents, even though it meant she would miss her sister’s wedding, time with family and going home for Christmas. “I felt like I had a lot of things going for me here and a lot of ways I could be helpful in
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that special time. It was a horrible time, but in some ways, it was a really special time to be able to help people,” she said. Ali Morton, a freshman majoring in biology from Pocatello, Idaho, said her sister Madison Morton is a nurturing leader who experiences the trials of her residents, friends and family with them rather than just overseeing and checking up on them. Zayne Williams, Madison Morton’s coworker and a senior from Florida majoring in communications, said, if she was “trying to find someone on this campus who is the most like Christ, I would honestly say it is [Madison Morton].”
Quarantine queen Williams said when the University suspended in-person classes last year, Madison Morton was at the “forefront” because she stayed on campus. “She was so dedicated to her position here and the good she could do in this job that she stayed through it all. … That wasn’t easy, but she really stuck through it,” Williams said. As lead RA of the quarantine hale, Madison Morton said she helped supervise living conditions, hale harmony and helped make sure every resident followed safety rules. Williams said Madison Morton made tough
choices as she led the other RAs through the pandemic. Madison Morton said she loved working with quarantine residents because “a lot of it was less about enforcing rules and more about helping, nurturing and care taking [to make] sure they were in a good place mentally and physically.” She explained it was a special opportunity to be the one her residents relied on to do things they couldn’t do themselves. “It exaggerated all the parts I love about being an RA. … There’s something so cool about being able to help residents in the certain way RAs get to.” She added she loves nurturing and taking care of the girls she assists. Madison Morton said, “Working with people in quarantine? One of my favorite things.” She shared she relished the opportunity “to help [others] in a way they couldn’t help themselves.” Typically, hale residents are responsible for taking out their trash every night, and she explained the RAs check if the residents completed the chore. However, because those in the quarantine hale were incapable of taking out their trash, Madison Morton explained she and her team did it for them. Ali Morton said she can see her sister “wants to help carry [resident’s] burdens, whether that burden comes in a trash bag or … in the form of anxiety or the everyday trials of life” while she works as an RA. She said this quality is Christlike and she wants to follow her sister’s example.
tell something was wrong immediately, and she really wanted to know how I was doing,” Williams explained. She said Madison Morton didn’t push her to talk but said she would always be there for her. At that time, Williams said it was important Madison Morton didn’t push too hard, but showed she was there and she cared. “She is someone who can understand … She knows where the line is to be there for someone and she doesn’t cross it. She is right up at that line, waiting to be there for [people].”
Acknowledging others Ali Morton said of her sister, “She is the best human in the entire world.” When her sister had just gotten to BYUH, Ali Morton said they spoke on the phone and Madison Morton told Ali Morton she would love to come to BYUH. “She told me this story of going to a karaoke night and meeting this dude and having the best night in the world.” She said of that phone call, “It was one of the first times I realized just how awesome and outgoing my sister is.” Ali Morton said her
sister taught her when you reach out to other people, they are also going to reach out to you. She said that memory has stuck with her since she has come to study at BYUH. Ali Morton called her sister an “acknowledger” because if she sees someone she knows, “She will always acknowledge them. I think because of her warmth, her acknowledgment is always reciprocated.” When Madison Morton isn’t working as an RA, she said she works as a peacebuilding field director over campus housing for the David O. McKay Center for Intercultural Understanding. In this position, she said she helps plan and facilitate peacebuilding events and service projects around the island, along with a team of four other field directors. After she graduates this Fall 2021 semester, Madison Morton said she plans to stay on the island for an internship. She said she is looking forward to pursuing her master’s degree in peace and conflict studies. • Madison Morton. Photos by Sugarmaa (Kendra) Bataa.
Standing at the line Williams said she met Madison Morton because she was her lead RA when she got a job as an RA in hale seven. As Williams started her new job, she said she was worried about working with new people, but Madison Morton helped her feel more comfortable. “I stepped in and she was so bubbly and kind. We started talking and instantly became friends. … She made me feel like I fit in so well … because she was there being my friend and guiding me.” Williams said there was a time when she felt like the whole world was crashing down around her and didn’t know who would care, so she struggled to reach out to others for help. She recounted one day she ran into Madison Morton and tried to mirror her positivity, but said she saw through the facade. “She could
“ She is the best human in the entire world.“ ALID E CEMORTON M B ER 2021 51
It’s about the little things
Head of the BYUH Service Center says students should love the Laie community like they love their family BY NICHOLE WHITELEY
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hen Teira Kammerman volunteered at Laie Elementary School as a crossing guard for one of her peacebuilding classes, she said at first, the children were hesitant about her being there. However, as she tried to connect with them in simple ways like greeting them individually, she said they opened up with gratitude, smiles and acceptance. On her last day of school, Kammerman said one of the little boys was walking home with his family, and she wished them a good summer. As they walked away, she said the child “suddenly [came] racing back, and he said, ‘Here Auntie,’ and [gave her] a crocheted lei.” She said, “My heart just melted. … I felt like that was a sign of what it means to choose to look outside of [myself] and help those around [me].”
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Head of the Service Center, Sydney Gwilliam, a senior from Utah majoring in business, said one of the most important things BYUH students can do is serve the Laie community with grateful hearts because they would be happier. “I want [students] to have the community become [their] family, and I want [students] to love them like that,” Gwilliam said. Kammerman, a senior from Idaho majoring in intercultural peacebuilding, said this connection she created with the community resulted from serving selflessly instead of expecting something in return. “Being real and authentic opens the door to acceptance and connection,” Kammerman said. From connecting with students while serving as a cross guard at Laie Elementary School to sewing burp rags and quilts to donate to new mothers, BYUH students and Laie community members said accepting and connecting with others is one of the best ways to serve.
Radiating outward Lauren Christiansen, a junior from Utah majoring in marine biology and member of the Marine Biology Club presidency, said service radiates outwards because as other people see BYUH students serving, they will be encouraged to serve as well. She said, “It’s the little things that mean the most.” She added there was a time she was sick and she woke up to find a treat with a sticky note from her roommate, which said, “Hey Christiansen, I hope you feel better soon.” Christiansen said this simple act of service “made the biggest difference in [her] life and made [her] want to serve her [roommate].” Christiansen said she saw service spread outwards at the beach cleanup she helped organize as part of the Marine Biology Club presidency. She said as they were cleaning the microplastics off of the beach, a random family on vacation asked what they were doing and if they could help. “Asking what [people] can do for other people could make a huge difference.” She said if students know someone in need of service, they should take the initiative because no one else will do it if they don’t.
Donations for new mothers Sister LouAnne Randall, a healthcare service missionary from Idaho, said she finds ways to serve each day by praying to God each morning and asking him to put someone she can serve in her path. Randall said she oversees a service project at BYUH where she puts together boxes of supplies for students who have newborns or for any other new parents around the community in need. Ann Alisa, from Laie, said she oversees this ongoing service project with Sister Randall, and added this service runs off of donations. She said if students are looking for a way to serve, they can donate supplies or time. Among other items, the boxes include a tummy time quilt and a burp rag, which students could sew on their own or in the BYUH Sewing Center. Randall explained they will be starting a monthly project for students to come to the Sewing Room to create items for the boxes. In December, she added they will also be adding stockings into the boxes.
Being the Lord’s hands Sister Kaylene Phillips, a service missionary from Utah working in the Sewing Room, said along with utilizing the center to help with the newborn boxes service, students can use it for other reasons, such as mending clothes, getting help with a sewing project or learning to sew. She added the Sewing Room is located in the Aloha Center and is open Monday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. If students do not have their own sewing project, Phillips said there are opportunities to serve, such as helping students with mending they lack the time for or sewing masks to be distributed around campus. Phillips added she has seen little acts of service in the sewing center result in connection between students, families, and service missionaries. Phillips said she was sitting in the Sewing Room one day when she received a troubling text message. She said a student saw her tearing up, and instead of walking away, asked her what happened. “She gave me a hug and said, ‘I’m sorry,’ and that made a lot of difference to me.” Randall said these little acts of service remind her of the song “My hands are the Lord’s Hands” because it reminds her people can serve wherever they are. As a nurse for 42 years before her mission, Randall said she has served on 10 medical trips throughout Africa doing cleft palate repairs. She said this experience “gave [her] an appreciation for feeling how much God loves all of his children wherever they are.” Through her service experiences in Africa and at BYUH, Randall said she has found the most significant impact in serving her neighbors. By delivering the newborn boxes to young families, she said realized most students here do not have any immediate family close by them. “[People] need to reach out to each other because most people are here by themselves.”
Serving students Gwilliam said holding face-to-face service projects motivates the students at BYU-Hawaii to serve longer. “[Students] love being together. They love that feeling of uniting and being a team even with people they’ve never met. I think service really unites us as students, no matter our culture or background.” She said only being able to do virtual service during the pandemic showed everyone the value of serving together in person. She said since starting in-person service projects, she has noticed BYUH students are more eager to help. Although the Service Center is not holding any big projects during this Christmas season, Gwilliam said there are little acts of service students can do on their own, such as picking up trash around campus or at the beach, writing a note to someone, cutting out snowflakes and sending them to the children’s hospital or volunteering individually at an off-campus organization. She added any student looking for ways to serve could go to the Service Center in the Aloha Center and ask for ways to serve. She said they will help students contact places like Waimea Valley, North-Shore Land of Trust, The Wildlife Refuge, the Assisted Living Center and many more to do various services for the community. • Moments of service by BYUH students and community members. Photos by Sugarmaa (Kendra) Bataa.
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P
Grab that
DREAM Blessed by a shortage of workers because of the pandemic, Peni Kioa lives his dream working an on-campus construction internship BY ELLE LARSON
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eni Kioa, a BYU–Hawaii alumnus from Tonga, became one of only two BYUH students to work as a project engineer for all of the University’s construction projects. His internship, which he said was a blessing during the challenges of the pandemic, has led to him receiving multiple job offers to work as a construction project engineer for construction companies on the mainland. “I came here with a dream to be a construction management person,” Kioa said, emphasizing how a lack of resources, including not being able to get the degree he needed, did not stop him from living his vision.
Trusting in the Lord Kioa said he grew up fascinated with the buildings in Tonga. He always dreamed of managing construction, he said, but did not have the money to go to BYU in Provo or Idaho where they offer construction and facilities management degrees. “My only chance was the IWORK program,” Kioa said. Trusting the Lord would provide a way to follow his dream, he said he studied mathematics and physics at BYUH as an
IWORK student because they were the closest he could get to construction management at BYUH. He said his major couldn’t guarantee an internship or a job, which was a problem because he needed internship credits before he could graduate. After finishing his courses, Kioa said he applied for every construction management internship he could, looking for a company that was willing to hire him with only a math degree. “I went everywhere, and they all had the same common response: ‘I’m sorry.You don’t have the construction management degree, and for that reason, we cannot accept you for the internship.’” Kioa explained how he did everything he could. “After I did my part, I thought, ‘It’s time to give it to the Lord.’” He said he fasted and prayed he would be able to find an internship that would accept him. He said after he asked the Lord for help, “There was a vacancy right in the Special Projects Department for the Church, and they were looking for a potential employee in construction for the internship.”
Blessed by the pandemic The vacancy opened right when the pandemic hit, travel stopped and many students went home, he explained. Because students from the mainland could not come to Hawaii to do the internship, Kioa said it left him as the best candidate for the job. Peni Kioa’s wife and BYUH hospitality and tourism alumna from Tonga, Judy Kioa, said she and her husband are beyond grateful to Kirk Tyler, Peni Kioa’s boss, who hired him for the internship. “We are grateful to our Heavenly Father for sending this angel our way,” she said. Peni Kioa said the internship is everything he ever dreamt construction management would be. “I am still speechless. This was a dream of a young boy. Now it’s a reality. I have such a debt to BYUH and also the Church for this opportunity.” He said he knows a lot of students from the islands who dream of technical degrees like construction management, carpentry or mechanics, but because BYUH doesn’t offer those majors, students limit themselves and do not pursue degrees at BYUH. He urged students not to give up. “Just keep persisting because [people can] never know how the Lord will bless [them].There are a lot of opportunities out there.” He explained it doesn’t matter what people have, all that matters is whay
they do with what they have. “Just keep pushing. If I can do it, anyone can do it.”
Current and past projects During his internship, Peni Kioa said he helped manage building the faculty duplexes on Moana Street, the Na Hale Kumu faculty housing by the temple and the Science Building. He said he also helped manage the construction of the new TVA housing and Banyan Dining Hall. He said as a construction project engineer, he and his team work on behalf of the Church and cooperate with the contractors, such as Okland Construction and Jacobsen Construction to facilitate the building projects. About 30 percent of his time is spent in the office creating reports and going to owners, architects and contractor’s meetings, he added. “We spend most of our time outside on the job site because we do most of our learning in the field.” Peni Kioa explained he checks the safety and performs quality checks and assurance on the job site, which means he checks and assures the quality of construction projects like drywall and concrete. He said he also collaborates with engineers, the BYUH campus architect and owners on-site. He gave two Ke Alaka’i employees a special tour of the sites he worked on, including the Science Building and Banyan Dining Hall. He said the palm trees in front of the Science Building were transplanted from the conservation site behind the hales of the campus. The “pinnacle” of the tour, he said, is the roof of the science building, which overlooks the flag circle, giving a sweeping view of the palm tree lined campus and the ocean. Upon entering the new cafeteria, Peni Kioa warned employees not to faint from surprise. He said the new cafeteria features a pizza bar, smoothie bar and grill and will be able to fit up to 500 people, including outdoor seating and a second floor.There is a special VIP room on the second floor of the building where devotional speakers will eat and people can hold meetings, Peni Kioa explained.
Character in construction
Adam Brown, a project management intern from Utah who graduated from BYU in Provo, said, “Peni’s awesome. He’s super cool to work with.” Brown said Peni Kioa goes out of his way to help people without expecting anything in return. “We’ll be driving somewhere and he’ll see someone that needs a ride on the way to where we’re going, and he’ll pick them up,” Brown explained. He said Peni Kioa’s eyes are always open to see how he can serve others. Peni Kioa said his internship in Laie ends soon and he has multiple job offers to work as a construction project engineer for construction companies on the mainland. “I came here with a dream to do project management, and I started helping manage the project here.” He said his job is especially meaningful because he gets to build buildings in which his children and grandchildren will likely be educated. He said he is not building BYUH for himself, but for future generations. He said he loves to think he is helping to fulfill David O. McKay’s revelation. “I started shifting my focus. I’m building this for the benefit of my kids, my grandkids and all the thousands of students who are my brothers and sisters in the South Pacific.” • Peni and Judy Kioa in front of the Laie temple. Photo provided by Peni Kioa.
“I AM STILL SPEECHLESS. THIS WAS A DREAM OF A YOUNG BOY. NOW IT’S A REALITY.” PENI KIOA
Judy Kioa described her husband as hardworking. “I am very proud of him.” She said he supports their family with his job while keeping his priorities straight. “Family comes first” for him, Judy Kioa said. D E CE M B ER 2021 55
Unknown Chapters BYUH student says the Disney College Program helped him learn to find peace in the unknowns of life BY NICHOLE WHITELEY
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is dream job was given to him and then ripped from his grasp all within a year, said Brandon Galli, a junior from Utah majoring in elementary education. He said he was left questioning why it was happening. During this time of confusion, he said one thought stayed with him, “God has always been the one who has been there for me, he has never failed me, so why would he fail me now?” The Disney College Program is an opportunity for students to work at Disney World or Disneyland and gain college credit in the process, Galli said, explaining he was accepted into the program in 2019 and stayed there until 2020, when he was offered his dream job
Left to right: Olivia Hixson, Brandon Galli and Annabelle Greene sporting Disney apparel and plushies. Photos by Christal Lee.
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as a character attendant. He said his role in this job was to monitor the meet-and-greets between the characters and guests. Galli said COVID-19 forced Disney to let go of 30,000 people, including him, in the middle of living his dream. He said he found peace by leaving the next step in his life up to God even though he did not know what the next chapter of his life would bring. After a year of waiting in Florida for Disney to reopen and offer him his job back, Galli said he felt the next chapter in his life was attending BYU–Hawaii. Galli said this was a difficult decision for him because on his drive home, before flying
to Hawaii, he received a call from Disney offering him his job back.“I had to pull over the car and sort through my emotions because I had made this decision to come [to BYUH] and I couldn’t go back. … It convinced me this is where I am supposed to be [and] this is where God wants me.” He said he needed to move forward to the next chapter of life. “I realized some things are better left as a memory.”
Finding passion and purpose Olivia Hixson, a senior from California majoring in hospitality and tourism management, said she was recently accepted into the Disney College Program.
Hixson said her first semester at BYUH did not go as planned because she had difficulty finding peace due to anxiety and missing her family. It was hard to find ways to cope and heal, so although she did not want to go home during the pandemic and changed her mind several times, she said going home ended up being just what she needed. “That was the only way I was able to find more of myself,” she explained. Although something unexpected happened, Hixson said her planning and research, such as making to-do lists, helped her deal with the new changes. When she went home during the pandemic, she said she got a job at a hotel’s front desk, which allowed her to apply what she learned in her hospitality classes. She said this helped her heal because she found more of a purpose for her life in her passion for hospitality. Hixson said she also found things to look forward to in life. She explained she sees life in steps, and people need to take baby steps to figure out what they want to do. “I get a lot of gratification through my jobs. … That is how I found more confidence in myself,” Hixson said. She said she came to BYUH to study hospitality with a goal of getting a long-term career at Disney. She added she set her mind to achieving her dream and works hard to achieve it.“Things might fall into place, but hard work is required to succeed,” she explained, emphasizing how people can’t expect to be excited about their future unless they work hard. Getting into the Disney College Program fulfilled her goal, so she said she is looking
forward to what her next step brings. “My biggest hope already came true because I wanted to work for Disney,” she added.
shared, “It changed my whole perspective of how there are bigger things and God does have a plan for me.”
Embracing life
Finding peace
Annabelle Greene, a freshman from Utah who is an undecided major, is starting the Disney World internship in April 2022. She said she has learned to face life with arms wide open. Although she took many steps to get to BYUH, she said she didn’t expect it to be so hard without family and friends. Although it has been hard, Greene said she learned and grew as she coped with these changes and healed. “I have been able to embrace experiencing new things,” she said. One of these new things was applying for the Disney internship, which she said she might not have done before this experience. Greene said her new outlook on life is, “Just see what happens and embrace it.” She said BYUH has prepared her for her internship at Disney because of the diversity she has been able to experience, and the Disney internship “is another step into broadening [her] horizons and meeting people from all around the world.” Galli said he learned to embrace whatever time is left in any chapter of life. During his last shift at Disney, he said he encountered a child named Isaiah who had down syndrome and cancer. He said as the little boy walked up to Mickey and Minnie, he said to Isaiah, “Oh my gosh, Mickey and Minnie have been asking for you all day, Isaiah.” Galli said everyone was crying and “It was a magical moment.” Of the experience, Galli
Hixson said through the unknown, she found peace through her passion for her career. She added the key to dealing with distance from family “is navigating those ups and downs” and being okay with not having family nearby at the moment. Galli said, “Disney showed me how important it is to find what [I] believe in.” He explained change can cause grief, but through his experience at Disney World, he found his belief in magic and its power to heal grief. He explained he sees magic through God in his life, but someone else may interpret the magic in their life in a different way. Galli said the magic he has seen comes from serving others. “I can’t see God sitting next to me, but I can see my friend sitting next to me,” he explained. He said he is always there for his friends and ready to serve them, and they do the same for him. Greene shared, “The energy you give is going to be the energy you attract.” She said she uses this thought when she wants to make friends. She added she tries to be the type of person she wants in her life. Hixson said finding supportive people is one of the most important things to do when dealing with the unknown, such as going to college away from family.• Graphics by Marlee Palmer.
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MANAGING CULTURE SHOCK
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Students urge others to withhold judgment when they encounter culture shock and be open to learning about cultural differences BY ELLE LARSON
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n a campus with students representing more than 70 countries, BYU–Hawaii students said they are no strangers to experiencing culture shock, but acknowledging differences, embracing practices and finding similarities are essential to getting over the shock. An article from Brown University says most people who move to a new country or new location within a country experience some form of difficulty adjusting to the new culture. This discomfort is commonly referred to as “culture shock,” explains the article.
Acknowledge differences Siwoo Park, a sophomore from Gwangju, Korea, majoring in vocal performance, said Americans’ courteous phrases surprised her when she arrived in Hawaii. “Everybody blessed me when I sneezed,” she explained with a smile, emphasizing how because Koreans don’t typically do that, she didn’t know how to react. She said she was also confused when people in Hawaii would apologize for small things like passing by her or when she told them an unfortunate story about herself, such as when she was late to class. At first, when people would casually apologize to her, she said she would emphatically assure them, “Oh no, it’s not your fault!” Park explained, “In Korea, [they] don’t have those phrases” and added people only say they’re sorry when they sincerely mean it. Living in Libya as a child also brought some cultured shock, Park said. While she was there, she explained the town celebrated Eid Al-Adha, which Andrew Webb on Culture Trip says is a Muslim Festival to celebrate Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son. Families butcher a sheep and use it for a big feast later that week, Webb explains. Park said she watched the sheep’s head be cut off when she was only 10 years old. “I saw the blood and [the sheep was] screaming,” she described. “It was really, truly a culture shock.” Although the sheep was delicious to eat, she said she still hasn’t quite gotten over the shock, even after all these years. She said she knew the culture in the United States would be different than what she was used to, so she prepared by watching the American sitcom “Friends.” Once she acknowledges cultural differences, she said she tries not to question or get upset over how people behave. “If I face culture shock, I think, ‘[People] are different. [They] all have different personalities.’”
Embrace practices Lydia Wilson, a sophomore from Suva, Fiji, majoring in business management, said she experienced culture shock when serving a full-time mission in the Marshall Islands because she expected the Marshallese island life to be similar to what she was accustomed to in Fiji. Instead, she said she found the culture and mannerisms of the people she served were far from what she expected.
To get over the shock, Wilson said, “I told myself I needed to be like them, to think like them and to try to understand them.” Though it was against her nature, she said she started to talk like the Marshallese people, sit like them and make rice balls with her hands. She stopped questioning why they acted the way they did and mirrored it instead, she said. As she adopted Marshallese mannerisms, she said the people she served accepted her and she became a crowd favorite. Wilson said to overcome culture shock, people need to accept themselves and their culture and then accept and respect the culture around them. “Be aware of the people around and accept them for who they are,” she suggested. Williams said students should be careful to not let themselves be victims of culture shock by not letting it stop them from accepting and learning the culture around them. “[I] can’t be a Fijian in Hawaii without becoming aware of Hawaiian traditions and culture,” she explained.
Find similarities Hadlee Charlton, a freshman from Mountain Green, Utah, majoring in elementary education, said when she first came to BYUH, she was shocked by the high concentration of different cultures she had never been exposed to before. She said she expected to experience different cultures on campus, but explained, “I don’t think [people] can really predict how it’s going to affect [them]. [They’re] thrown into it and immersed in it all at once.” She said one day a classmate spoke about an American mannerism that is offensive in his culture, which triggered a moment for her to recognize her limited perspective and acknowledge how big the world is. Though it was shocking at first, she said she appreciates the culture she’s experienced since coming to BYUH. “I’ve learned so much about other people, the world and myself. It’s caused me to reflect on my own culture and see the world with a bigger perspective than what I was limited to before I came here.” She said students can find peace amidst culture shock by embracing their situation and being curious. “If [they] hear something that is a little bit of a shocker,” she advised students to “ask questions and try to understand.” Charlton said if students worry about their differences from others, they will just stress themselves out. She recommended students try to focus on their similarities rather than their differences. She said she believes it is possible to find at least one similarity with every person they meet. • Lydia Wilson enjoying a Spam musubi. Photos by Sugarmaa (Kendra) Bataa. D E CE M B ER 2021 59
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