AUGUST 20, 2015 路 Vo lume 112: Is sue 3
Special education returns to BYUH Page 6-7 Slang from different countries Page 10-11 Cover: Story Time at the temple Page 12
THE LEAD ER
PHOTO OF THE WEEK AUGUST 20, 2015 • Volume 112: Issue 3 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF E m i ly H a l l s
ADVISOR Le e A n n Lambe r t PHOTOGRAPHERS
COPY EDITORS C a m ro n S t o c k f o rd Jo s h u a M a s o n A ly s s a T roya n e k MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISTS Rachel Reed Matthew Roberts Jared Roberts Hailey Rasmussen Erik Winegar Kevin Brown Eric Hachenberger Leiani Brown
Ke lsie C arlso n He cto r Pe r iqu in Lexie A ran cibara VIDEOGRAPHERS Vlad T ro pn ikov A brah am Garcia Yan -Fu C h e n INTERNS Samo n e Yu e n He cto r Pe r iqu in ART & GRAPHICS A n dre a Marsh all Macke n zie McLe o d
ART DIRECTOR H e c t o r Pe r iq u i n
CONTACT
E-mail: ke a l a k a i @by u h . e du Ad Information: ke a l a k a i ads @ gmail.c o m Phone: ( 8 0 8 ) 6 7 5 - 3 6 9 4 Fax: ( 8 0 8 ) 6 7 5 - 3 4 9 1 Office: C a m p u s , A l o h a C e n te r 134 N E W S C E N TE R BOX 1920 BYUH LAIE, HI 96762 PUBLISHER Pr i nt S e r v i ce s Editorial, photo submissions & distribution i n q u i r i e s : ke a l a k a i @ by u h . e d u . To s u b s c r i b e t o the RSS FEED or to view additional ar ticles, g o t o ke a l a k a i . by u h . e d u .
ON THE COVER: Story Time at the Laie Hawaii Temple Visitors’ Center is run by sister missionaries teaching lessons from the scriptures in a children-friendly way. Photo by Hector Periquin
2
KE ALAKA‘I
Cars on a Chicago street streak past at night. Photo by Adam Ah Mu
Share with us your photo of the week and we may feature it in our next issue. e-mail us at kealakai@byuh.edu
ABOUT US The Ke Alaka‘i began publishing the first year the university was started and has continued printing for 60 years. The name in Hawaiian means “the leader.” It began as a monthly newsletter, evolved into a weekly newspaper and is now a weekly news magazine along with a website,Youtube channel, Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram. Today a staff of more than 30 students works to provide information for the campus ohana and community.
4
City officials try to address homeless problems in Waikiki
5
Typhoon causes wreckage in Saipan
6-7 8
A look back at the first missionaries at the Sacred Grove
9
LDS Church releases photos of seer stones to public
10-11 FOLLOW US AROUND THE WEB Facebook: KE ALAKA’I
Website: KEALAKAI.BYUH.EDU
YouTube: KE ALAKA’I NEWS
Barbara Hong returns to BYUH to restart Special Education program
Sayings and slang from around the world
12
Sister missionaries hold gospel-centered Story Time.
13
The Facebook page “sell your stuff @BYU-Hawaii” helps people get what they need
14
Fashion Student Association is among 41 booths at World Fest
15
Senior missionaries bring unique spirit to Laie
16
Campus Comment: What motivates you?
Instagram: @KEALAKAINEWS AUGUST 20, 2015
3
HAWAII
struggles with B Y R AC HE L R E E D
A rally for homeless awareness and affordable housing takes place in Honolulu on Aug. 4. Photo by AP
H
There are more than 7,600 people statewide who are homeless, with about 4,900 homeless living on Oahu 4
KE ALAKA‘I
awaii has the nation’s second-highest number of homeless people per capita, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness. There are more than 7,600 people statewide who are homeless, with about 4,900 homeless living on Oahu, reported AP. Following complaints of tourists, the Honolulu City Council voted on Aug. 5 to expand the sit-lie ban from Waikiki to city streams and malls, prohibiting people from sitting or lying on sidewalks, according to AP. Concerning the expanded sit-lie ban, Noelle Oldman, a freshman studying the arts from Florida, said, “I don’t see how it’s a good idea to have that. A lot of times, especially with homeless people, they have nowhere else to go. They need some place to stay.” Sutton Kredt, a freshman from Texas studying marketing, said she saw a lot of homeless people when she stayed in Waikiki. “Around the beaches and parks, they’re just gathered there. It didn’t bother me, but it makes me feel really sad for them that they don’t have a decent place to go inside and get some food.” Students and faculty said they sometimes do what they can to help out. “This last Christmas, my family and I decided to do a service project,” said Maria Fonoimoana Feagai, who works at the Academic Multimedia Lab. She said her family gathered food in stockings and went to Kaka’ako. “It was so overwhelming. We all wanted to bawl by the time we left... What we discovered is that a lot of homeless who travel here—more of the loners—are from other states like New York. A lot of them have tickets purchased for them or they’ve saved up a one way ticket here from other states, because Hawaii has become the homeless Mecca.”
Kimo Carvalho, development and community relations manager for Hawaii’s Institute for Human Services, said there is a mix of people who “made a choice to become homeless, as well as people who became homeless shortly after arriving in Hawaii,” having originally intending to live in Hawaii off the streets. As it progresses, homelessness becomes more and more of an issue. “It’s a mounting issue when tourism is our main industry and homelessness is this huge monster now,” said Feagai. “We try and find a balance between compassion, tolerance, and patience, and yet there needs to be a good solution.” Organizations such as Housing Now, a coalition of organizations that advocate Hawaii to provide affordable housing, have organized rallies to demand more housing be provided for the homeless people, according to AP. They have suggested setting goals such as preventing residential housing changing into vacation rentals and setting money aside for housing developments, reported AP. Students and faculty also said they hope there is a program for homeless people to get back on their feet and be able to provide for themselves. “There should be more homeless shelters to help people get back on track,” said Oldham, “to help them find a job, secure a job, find a place to live, find an apartment, and take steps with them.” The existing shelters are mostly full, said the Honolulu Star Advertiser, which is why the city has gone forward with a Sand Island transitional housing project using “modified shipping containers” that is expected to be ready for “27 to 36 residents in early November,” said Mayor Kirk Caldwell on Aug. 14.
Typhoon sweeps across Ta i w a n a n d C h i n a BY J ARE D ROBE RTS
B
YU-Hawaii students from Asian countries such as, Japan and Taiwan said typhoons are common in their areas. However, Typhoon Soudelor was one of the more recent damaging typhoons to pass through the Pacific. Typhoon Soudelor passed over the island of Saipan leaving the island without power and about 808 homes were destroyed. The typhoon continued on its path to Japan, Taiwan and China where more than 30 people were killed, according to various news sources including CNN and Taiwan’s Central News Agency. Soudelor slammed the tiny 44-square-mile island of Saipan with the intensity of a Category 2 typhoon recording howling winds of up to 105 mph and gusts up to 120 mph knocking down trees and wooden power poles, according to the Associated Press. Additionally, cars were flipped over and the island’s power plant lost parts of its roof and was left flooded, the Pacific News Center reported. The American Red Cross labeled Soudelor as one of the most damaging typhoons to hit Saipan since Typhoon Kim in 1986. President Barack Obama declared the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas
(CNMI) as a federal disaster area allowing residents to receive government aid, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. “Every year typhoons happen in Japan,” said Hideo Kyotani, a senior from Osaka, Japan studying accounting. “Schools get cancelled. No one goes out, and we close the shutters. It’s very rare to lose electricity in Japan and the city drainage system is usually very good so there are no floods,” Kyotani also added. Prior to making landfall on Taiwan Soudelor battered Japan’s southern Ryukyu Islands with sustained winds of up to 101 mph and gusts up to 145 mph, the strongest recorded in relation to the storm throughout its path, according to the Weather Channel. On Aug.10, a family of four was swept out to sea by residual swells from the typhoon; three drowned while the fourth, an 8-year-old girl, was rescued, reported Yahoo! Japan. “Typhoons are often where I’m from,” said Ethan Tsai, a senior from Taiwan studying graphic design. “This one was bad, there are so many videos of the damage.” Tsai added typhoon season usually runs from July to October each year.
The center of Soudelor made landfall on eastern Taiwan at around 4:40 a.m. local time on Aug. 8. By mid-morning the storm had maximum sustained winds of up to 107 mph, according to Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau. At the peak of the storm, 4.85 million households lost electricity making it the largest blackout on record in Taiwan due to a storm, Taiwan’s Central News Agency reported. “In order to prepare properly for a typhoon, we get tape and put big X’s on the windows,” said marketing senior Claire Mao, who is from Taoyuan, Taiwan. Mao explained that the X’s on windows help prevent the windows from shattering if broken. Soudelor left 26 people dead in eastern China and seven others missing. Maximum gusts of up to 119 mph were recorded after Soudelor made landfall on China’s Fujian province the night of Aug. 8, The Weather Channel also reported. The storm is regarded as the most severe to hit the Fujian Province in 10 years forcing the evacuation of approximately 513,900 people and destroying more than 6,900 homes. According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, preliminary economic losses exceeded almost $2.14 billion in China. Examples of damage done by Soudelor in Saipan. Photos by AP
AUGUST 20, 2015
5
S P E C I A L E D U C AT I O N M A K E S A C O M E B AC K BY ALYSSA T RO YAN EK
Barbara Hong brings her experience back to BYU-Hawaii
BYUH alumna Barbara Hong will be spearheading the special education program at BYU-Hawaii. Photo by Joshua Mason
6
KE ALAKA‘I
BYU-Hawaii alumna Professor Barbara Hong recently returned to re-instate the special education program for the students who are studying within the School of Education. According to byuh. edu, the special education program is an undergraduate program that “leads to initial basic licensing for students who wish to teach public school students who have either mild or moderate disabilities.” Hong said, “There were many complications which led to the program being closed. The most important thing is that we are opening it up again now to meet the needs of the students and the community.” Hong explained her educational background and expertise with special education. Hong said, “I graduated from Columbia University with three masters’ in Instructional Practices, Policy & Administration, and as a Learning Specialist. My Ph.D. is in Cross-Categorical Studies of Special Education from Early Childhood through Adolescence in Mild to Moderate Disabilities. “ I have been a professor for more than 13 years and have taught at Texas A&M and Penn State. Most recently, I worked for the Fairfax Virginia County Government as an Education Specialist. I am also a U.S. Speaker Specialist and Expert on Disability where I travel internationally as requested by the State Dept. to speak on behalf of the U.S. Embassies all over the world. I am a Senior Fulbright Scholar as well as a Senior Fulbright Specialist.” After living in Laie for six years prior to moving to New York City for her graduate studies, the opportunity to return and teach at BYUH came in an unexpected way. Hong said, “I came to visit my son at BYUH in spring and gave a lecture. Afterwards Brother Bailey asked if I would be interested to come back and reopen the Special Ed program. I couldn’t resist the opportunity so I said, ‘YES!’ I was the first research assistant to help the program get accredited and in the first cohort to graduate in SPED so it is kind of serendipitous to be able to take on this critical role.”
Regarding the process and details of the special education program’s certification process, Hong said, “My understanding is that the certification has already been approved by the BYUH Administration. During the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board accreditation visit, the staff indicated that they would like BYUH to focus on extending this to a licensing experience as a subset of the Education major using a compound Student Teaching experience, i.e., a SPED classroom in an elementary setting, or a SPED classroom in a secondary setting. “I’d like to see each education major student obtain their dual certification by the time they complete their studies at BYUH so they can be more gainfully employed. It is a challenge to leave here and try to find a job in the mainland without being dually certified.” Hong continued, “I also want to see our teachers walk out of here with the most current knowledge and skills in teaching ALL students, not just those with special needs. My research in the cognitive science of teaching and learning will help students gain a more in depth understanding of how to apply scientifically-based pedagogy appropriately in the field.” With the re-institution of the special education program within the School of Education and BYUH, Hong has projected goals for the program. Hong said, “The goal is to build a quality program that will enhance the reputation of BYUH and to integrate interdisciplinary awareness of working with people with disabilities in their respective majors. I will be taking responsibility in ensuring the SPED courses are of quality and attract students and in finding and organizing field experiences for certification and licensing.” In addition to teaching the special education program, Hong said, “I will also be advising the campus on disability issues as invited and spearheading outreach partnerships into our communities in the area of Sped and keeping in contact with State as needed to advance the cause, enrollment, graduates, and student placement.”
“Brother Bailey asked if I would be interested to come back and reopen the Special Ed program. I couldn’t resist the opportunity so I said, ‘YES!’” -Barbara Hong
AUGUST 20, 2015
7
Elder and Sister Bean:
A Centennial
Celebration B Y PRO FESSO R M ARK JAM ES R E G I ON AL C H URC H H IST O RY AD V ISO R
In 1907, the LDS Church quietly While attending Stake regained possession of the Joseph Conference in Richfield, Utah, Smith Farm property in Palmyra, President Smith called Willard to New York. At the time, there the stand and told him he had a were no members of the LDS mission for him and his wife, and Church in the area. Indeed, a con- after the conference he would “tell tinued and very passionate antithem all about it.” Mormon sentiment was shared To the couple's great by all who lived in what could be surprise, President Smith issued called the “Cradle of Mormonism.” them a call to serve a mission for However, church leaders were “five years or longer" at Palmyra, intent on regaining a foothold in New York. They were to live the land. It was simply a matter of in the Joseph Smith home, care finding the right ambassadors. for the Sacred Grove, and work While church leadthe farm successfully enough to ers were pondering the matter, sustain themselves. Willard Bean and his new wife Upon arriving in PalRebecca were beginning their new myra, it became clear very quickly life together. Unbeknownst to that life was going to be both them, Joseph F. Smith, then presi- lonely and vicious at times. No dent of the Church, had decided one in the area would talk to them that they were the right couple to or deal with them, and several send to Palmyra. made direct threats of violence By 1915, Willard Bean, upon them. Thanks to Elder then 46 years old, had already Bean’s professional boxing career, lived several lives–as farmer, the threats did not frighten him, rancher, missionary, thespian, though he remained concerned politician, and champion middlefor his wife’s safety when working weight boxer! While living in on the farm or making trips into New York City, he once starred in town. a play, won a professional boxing Elder and Sister Bean’s competition, and preached the mission lasted an amazing 25 Sunday sermon—all on the same years, during which time, they weekend in the same building! were successful in winning over
8
KE ALAKA‘I
the hearts of nearly everyone in town. Thanks to a combination of strength and gentleness, honesty and perseverance, Willard and Rebecca Bean not only survived their mission, but succeeded in reestablishing the presence of the church in the land of its historic beginnings, and made hundreds of friends for the church in the process. By the time the Beans were released from their mission, the church had been able to purchase the Hill Cumorah, hundreds of missionaries regularly assembled on its crest for mission conferences, and the first historic Cumorah pageant was held in 1937. The story of their enduring relationship and life of service, with each contributing unique qualities, temperaments, and virtues which contributed to their enduring legacy, is a story relevant to every married couple today. The book, “A Lion and the Lamb” as well as the video “Love Unfeigned” (both available at all LDS book outlets), are both uplifting and inspiring, and highly recommended in this the centennial anniversary of their call. Books written about Elder and Sister Bean chronicle their lives as newlywed missionaries.
Books containing sacred pieces of church history have been recently published. Photos provided by AP
Church releases Joseph Smith manuscript and seer stone BY M ATT R O B ER TS
science major from Los Angeles, Students said the LDS Church’s Calif. announcement it is publishing a Speaking of the seer printer’s manuscript of the Book stone, Elder Steven E. Snow of of Mormon and photos of a seer the Quorum of the Seventy, said, stone used by Joseph’s Smith was surprising but also an opportunity “We’re pleased that this document to learn ore about the prophet and will be available for scholars and members of the Church to review early church history. and study as they desire,” during The church made the a news conference in the Church announcement on Aug. 4 and said History Library. Joseph Smith used the seer stone The publication of the to translate the Book of Mormon. manuscript marks years of collab “This release was surprising because it is something that oration between historians from the Church History Department members of the church are not so and the Community of Christ. accustomed to. So although it was The Community of Christ was quite the surprise, many people I formerly the Reorganized Church know liked this and maybe we can of Jesus Christ of Latter-day expect more things like this to be Saints that broke off from the LDS released,” said Brandon Barron, a Church after the death of Joseph sophomore exercise and sports
Smith. The printer’s manuscript had been obtained by the Community of Christ and preserved the record from more than 100 years before granting permission for it to be featured in this volume of the Joseph Smith papers. “Having the seer stone and original manuscript released is really amazing because it’s such a huge part of our Mormon culture,” said Alexi Copley, a senior studying ICS from Las Vegas, Nev. Both the manuscripts and images of the seer stone will be published as part of the Church’s Joseph Smith Papers project. The project has been an ongoing effort to make every document produced by the Church’s founder or his scribes
available to the public. Both the stone and manuscript will be part of the 11th published volume of the project titled, “Revelation and Translations, Volume 3: Printer’s Manuscript of the Book of Mormon.” Alex Krohnfeldt, a senior exercise and science major from Newport Beach, Calif., said, “I think the release of the manuscripts and images of the seer stone is fascinating. We learn a lot about all the great things Joseph Smith did and it’s such a testimony builder to be able to see the real thing.” The volume will feature high-resolution photographs of the manuscript along side a more easily readable print version of the text. AUGUST 20, 2015
9
WORDS Y ER IK WINEG B Y E RB IK WINEG AR AR
around
G R A P H I CGSR ABPYH IACNSD BR YE AA MA N D R ESAH ALL M ARSH ALL
the
ALASKA “Gunalcheesh”
WORLD
Thank you. Kasla Adams Alaska, USA
“Eh! Slow your roll cuz!” Calm down, take it easy. Kiana Eldredge Hawaii, USA
FIJI
“Noqu Kalou, noqu vanua”
My God, my country Mosese Racule Fiji
TEXAS
“Y’all.”
ou guys. Megan Farris Texas, USA
So sweet! Brett Makihele Tonga
10
KE ALAKA‘I
Que pachuca por toluca?” What’s up? Walter Taylor Nuevo Leon, Mexico
SAMOA
“Seki a Samoa.” Samoa is the best. Faiaivale Tagaloa Samoa
TAHITI
TONGA “Maru noa le barbeuk!”
“Fo’i lole!”
MEXICO
?
HAWAII
Just take it easy! Manuari’i Daupin Tahiti
BRAZIL “Eu rio de Janeiro a Janeiro!” I laugh from January to January! Gabriel Andrade Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
JA AN
やばい
ENGLAND
“Oh my days!”
“Yabai!”
Oh my gosh! achary Giles ngland
CHINA
Whoa! Tatsuya agki Ja an
“bu dao chang cheng fei hao han.”
One who fails to reach the Great Wall is not a hero. XiaojunYang hina
HONG KONG “Kuai dian la!” Hurry up! DixonWu Hong ong
INDONESIA
“Gaul!”
Swag! Ninoy Kusuma ndonesia
AUSTRALIA “She’ll be right.” Everything will be alright. Marc Gardner Australia
NEW ZEALAND “chur.”
Ok, hello, what’s up, good, cool. Brandon Benavides New Zealand AUGUST 20, 2015
11
Story Time at the TEMPLE BY V LAD T RO PN IKO V
S
ister missionaries at the Laie Hawaii Temple Visitors’ Center have been teaching children about the Savior every Friday morning for the past three months. They call this summer program Story Time. Sister Phraendrich Penales, a fulltime missionary from New Zealand, said, “The missionary purpose is to help people to come to Jesus Christ. Story Time helps everyone to come closer to him. Every topic is based on a different Christ-like attribute.” Sister Lindsay Evans, a fulltime missionary from Southern California, shared, “Story time helps children because it involves the Spirit. The Spirit teaches us simple truths. It also helps us to learn how to teach simply and make people better understand the gospel of Jesus Christ.” Sister Ardis Jensen, a senior missionary from Utah, said every week there are
approximately 50 people, usually parents with children, who come to listen to the stories. Each weekly Story Time is 30 minutes long and starts and ends with a prayer. The sister missionaries sing a few hymns with the audience throughout the performance. The sisters use objects to tell the stories that all cover the same topic. Five to six companionships participate in Story Time, actively engaging children and parents with objects such as finger puppets, pictures, and costumes. Sister Jensen continued, “this year our stories are based on the scriptures.” She also said, “Only sisters participate in Story Time. I find stories, adjust, edit them, and [sister missionaries] perform it. We are also trying to put a cultural aspect into the stories we tell. For example, sisters always wear leis to give a Hawaiian flavor… and we also add some music.”
Laie sister missionaries have created Story Time to help children learn Christ-like attributes. Photos by Hector Periquin
12
KE ALAKA‘I
Ann Toilolo from Laie came to Story Time on Aug. 14. “This is my first time bringing my grandkids here. It is so awesome. Loved it. If I keep bringing them, they will learn children songs, feel the Spirit and learn good manners.” Toilolo said her grandkids feel very peaceful at the Visitors’ Center and enjoy learning and singing children songs. Sister Jensen said Story Time is focused on the children ages 2-5, but all children are welcome. They usually come with their families, she said. “One of the main reasons of the Story Time is to help sisters to learn, because one day they will be leaders in their own home; they will be mothers. It is also a service for the local community.” The last two Story Times are scheduled for Aug. 21 and 28 at 10:30 a.m. The doors of the Visitors’ Center are open to anyone everyday from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. www. facebook.com/HawaiiTempleVC
"Sell your stuff " brings community together BY RAC H EL REED
On the Facebook page “sell your stuff @ BYU-Hawaii,” students are able to buy textbooks, fans, food, and even cars. International and domestic students find it’s great to get used stuff for cheap, and it’s good for students leaving to get rid of stuff. “It’s great for a college campus, because we are so far away from other kinds of stores,” said Bethany Hatch, a sophomore studying psychology from Canada. “You get to reuse what everyone else has been using for super cheap, super accessible, and it’s super close.” As of Aug. 17, there were more than 7,700 members on the page and the number continues to climb as more people get added. This may include community members and former students who have either left or remained in Laie. “I used to serve here as a missionary,” said Loren Sharmaine S. Gementiza, a freshman studying accounting from the Philippines. “I know a lady and she did a garage sale, and she usually posts in ‘sell your stuff.’ It’s been helpful for her to get rid off that stuff. I think it’s good to have students take advantage of that.” Talking about the thousands of members on the site, Genesis Danielle Cahigas, a graduate in biomedical studies from the Philippines, said, “It’s a whole community now. It’s a small community, but they help each other out.” “Sell your stuff ” has also been a good way to get attention and find things that have been lost or stolen. On Feb. 25, 2015, an engagement ring was lost but was found again when posted on “sell your stuff,” according to the Ke Alaka‘i website. “It’s the best way to get the attention of people,” said Cahigas. “It’s a good page to ask someone [for help]. It’s like a community base. So if you want help with the community, it’s easier to get help from the page.” Bikes have been stolen and sometimes found on the website. “It’s a nice community aspect,” said Hatch. “Everyone was able to connect and know about this bike. They found it, and it’s kind of like an opportunity. It’s a bonding experience almost. I feel like helping each other is how we grow stronger as a collective.” “Sell your stuff ” is very helpful for new freshman. Some freshman,especially those coming internationally, do not have essential items. “It’s helped us,” said Gementiza. “It’s very convenient, especially for us, because we’re freshman and we don’t have sufficient stuff....We get that stuff that we need to have. Books, alarm clocks, and things that it pops up.” Nozomi Takashima, a freshman from Japan studying accounting, said she always “checks the page. When I came here, I had nothing to live [on].” While “sell your stuff @ BYU-Hawaii” may be a good place to sell secondhand goods, it is also a good place to meet new people and offer service. “You have the chance to meet a stranger,” said Gementiza. On the page, she purchased a book she needed at a price she could afford. “It was like she was sent by an angel,” said Gementiza of the person who sold her the book.
AUGUST 20, 2015
13
World Fest Besides signing up for clubs, students say they also met their mates B Y E R I K W I N E GAR
The new Fashion Student Association has joined the existing ones, making a total of 41 booths welcoming students at the Fall 2015 World Fest on Thursday, Aug. 13, and Friday, Aug. 14, in the Aloha Center. The associations represented ranged from Diving to Music to Volleyball to Fine Arts as well as the ones representing countries from around the world. Mackenzie Casper, a freshman from Idaho studying graphic design, said, “Everyone here is so very welcoming and trying to have you join their clubs.” Casper said she joined the Filipino and Music associations. “All my friends are Filipino so… Why not?” While some student associations have been active for years, the Fashion Student Association just started this semester. Sinda Compton, a senior from Utah studying elementary education and president of the Fashion Club, said, “We aim to empower girls and boys to be comfortable in their own bodies. We hope to enable individuals to express their uniqueness through fashion.” Compton said, “There are so many beautiful people at BYU-Hawaii with so much goodness. Modesty is chic. Here we need students who can stand up for truth and righteousness.” The club plans on watching a fashion show in Honolulu later this semester and will be holding activities in the upcoming months including sewing, designing and altering of new fashions and clothing. Guys are encouraged to join the Fashion Student Association too. Compton said, “Being married, I love to see singles come together. Come! It’s a great opportunity to meet confident, beautiful young ladies.” She hinted that guys could use some help with fashion. Bringing couples together is no foreign thing for the Gamers’ Student Association. Scott Romney, the secretary of the Gamers
14
KE ALAKA‘I
Student Association, asked, “Are you looking for your Player 2?” Romney, a senior from Utah studying political science, said, “We have had people actually meet their player 2, or whatever you want to call them, at activities. Since I have been a part of it, we have seen three weddings.” The Gamers Student Association is the biggest and most active non-culture association in the school, according to Executive Vice President of BYUHSA Blake Va’aulu. It hosts various events such as Mario Kart tournaments, game nights with card games, board games and interactive social games. The association is sponsored and funded by various gaming companies such as Tespa, Blizzard and Riot Games. Some members have been flown to Texas to train on how to host events. “It’s a good footstep into the gaming industry,” said Scott. The connections made in the association have led some members to be hired by various computer gaming companies. BYUHSA reported a higher attendance and participation rate for World Fest than most years. Glecy Hernaez, supervisor, said, “I don’t think the students would be as excited if it weren’t for the Paina Fest.” According to Hernaez, the associations give students the opportunity to network with like-minded people with similar passions. Every group is unique and helps show off the school’s diverse culture. CJ Dadivas, a senior studying bio-medicine, said, “They helped me experience and understand cultures that I wouldn’t have been able to experience. By joining different chapters, I was able to meet people from all over the world. And even though we were from different places, we were surprised to find out how many of each other’s friends we knew.”
From top to bottom: Korean Student Association encourages students to join; Xiaojun Yang shows off props from the China Student Association; Exur Garcia Jr. helps with Filipino Student Association. Photos by Kelsie Carlson.
SPECIAL
H
Series on Senior Missionaries by Sister Brenda Jeppson
ave you read the wordless 26-page book, “Zoom?” The first illustration is of a beautifully feathered rooster—like the most regal in Laie—which covers the entire page. On the next page, the rooster is in a framed art piece of farmyard animals. Turn the page and you see the rooster picture hanging on the wall of a cottage with three rooms. One more zoom out: the cottage is on a tiny farm, along with a barn, orchard, cows grazing and a kitten chasing a mouse. Every page turned shows one “click” backward on the zoom of your eyes’ camera. The farm is on the outskirts of a country town, which is miles away from the metropolis; the metropolis
is in a nation; the nation, a mere apple-seed, is in the Pacific Ocean. The view enlarges until we see our blue planet from outer space. One quickly sees that nations— the apple seeds—and anything less significant in size have disappeared, never to be known—unless you zoom back in, one click at a time. Shall we? From outer space we see planet Earth and with several clicks we are back to the Pacific Ocean, two or three more and we are on Oahu, next Laie, now the BYU-Hawaii campus. We can soon focus on specific buildings and even name them. In all the venues of the university, inside and out, people are at their daily work and play, making the world a better place. We might not ever see them, let alone meet them, because in the “big picture” each of them—of us—is so small that they—and we—may never be noticed. However, if even one person doesn’t complete his task, the world will be different, even if you can’t get close enough to see it.You may think the campus activities are so minuscule as to be meaningless (now we are looking at pencil-dot people), but our Brass Ensemble is lacking the thunder of the one tuba that is
not there; there will be one bride whose poorly fitting and slightly torn wedding gown never saw the seamstress’s needle; there will be a couple from Mongolia who decide not to come for degrees at BYUH because there was no way to furnish a new residence in faraway Laie. One senior paper was not proofread—and that one thing meant everything to its owner. Hundreds and hundreds of slices of warm cinnamon bread would not have satisfied student hunger and BYUH students would not be raising high a national championship trophy. Have you guessed who the pencil dots are? Yes! Your awareness and gratitude have given you the answer: the senior missionaries and volunteers on our campus. Countless hours are given by gracious and generous senior missionaries to help the BYUH students and Laie community.You see them on campus and learn from them, but there are some missionaries hidden away in offices, managing dorm construction, arranging loans, writing and updating software, validating in-
ternational students’ admission papers, guiding, counseling and teaching in a hundred different ways. These people have some fantastic stories to tell. One missionary very nearly lost her life this last winter semester because of a blister. Can you imagine having a total knee replacement while away from your home? Did you know there is a snaky system of sewer, electrical, telephone and fiber-optic utility lines underground throughout the university and the PCC that get clogged up? And how could one personal car be designated an ambulance? Also, what happens when a mob of senior missionaries sit together at a ball game? And how about today, let’s make ourselves more aware of these friends of ours and of BYUH’s; their stories are for another day. This story is the first of a series of stories that will be published weekly. Each story will feature a different senior missionary who has served or is serving here in Laie.
Senior missionaries work all over campus and the Polynesian Cultural Center often out of the spotlight. As in the book “Zoom?” the missionaries are like the rooster, which is just a small part of an overall grand view. AUGUST 20, 2015 15 Photo by Kelsie Carlson.
“Wanting to make my parents proud.” -Jessica Smith, senior fromWashington studying psychology
What Motivates You To
Succeed?
“The desires of my future.” -Austin Engemann, freshman from Utah studying information systems
BY JARED RO BERTS PH OT OS BY HE CTOR P E RI QU IN
CAMPUS COMMENT 16
“Money motivates me to succeed.” -Tyler Beardall, freshman from Florida studying political science
KE ALAKA‘I
“For my future family.” -Kyungji Kim, a sophomore from South Korea studying graphic design
“The places I want to travel to.” -Myrinda Olcott, a freshman from Utah studying math
“The confidence you get in relying on yourself.” -Shaina Gullonta, freshman fromWisconsin studying political science
“The desire to effectively provide for a family and be happy.” -Trevor Holloway, freshman from California who is undecided