Ke Alaka'i - January 2021

The Leader

Pg. 30 Positive effects of COVID-19 on the BYUH Sustainability Center

I s s u e 1 . Vo l u m e 1 2 8 . Ja n u a r y 2 0 2 1

Pg. 20 Atea Lee Chip Sao’s photography: Capturing moments while making friends

Pg. 27 Freshmen international students share hope and sacrifice to attend BYUH in person

JANUARY 2021

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JANUARY 2021 • VOLUME 128 • ISSUE 1

LeeAnn Lambert

Hailey Huhane

Haeley van der Werf

Bruno Maynez

ADVISOR

CO-EDITOR

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ART DIRECTOR

Emmalee Bazar MANAGING EDITOR

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Michael Kraft

Eli Hadley

Carlene Coombs

COPY EDITOR

COPY EDITOR

COPY EDITOR

Sadie Madriaga

Hannah Manalang

Emily Cassler

ART & GRAPHICS

ART & GRAPHICS

MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST

Serena Dugar Ioane MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST

McKenzie Connell

Lisi Tiafau

Alexander Tumalip

MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST

MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST

MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST

Adam Livingston

Xyron Levi Corpuz

Ho Yin Li

Cody Bruce Barney

MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST

MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST

PHOTOGRAPHER

VIDEOGRAPHER

Jeffery Dang

Mark Tabbilos

VIDEOGRAPHER

PHOTOGRAPHER

Greg Tivles MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST

Letter

from the Editor in Chief

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland once said every aspect of the BYU–Hawaii experience is a declaration of faith, sacrifice, prophecy, purity and miracles. True to his words, my own story at BYUH has been one of faith, miracles and memories I will cherish for the rest of my life. Here at BYUH, I have not only been a part of a unique learning experience that combines both faith and intellect but also, like Fall 2020 graduate Ariana Guido (pg. 58), I have been nourished and uplifted by my classmates and professors.

This issue, themed “We Are BYU–Hawaii,” celebrates what it means to be a part of the BYUH experience and its prophetic mission that “from this school ... will go men and women whose influence will be felt for good” (pg. 46).

The BYUH ohana is diverse and expansive. Each member has unique skills and gifts that can be used to make the world a better place. Like Jeff Collins (pg. 24), who used his passion for videography to shed light on the challenges Ugandan refugees face while adjusting to life in the United States. Or, like Ray Yusheng Xu (pg. 52), who took his passion for programming and developed an app to help new students adjust to college life.

I hope as you read this issue you will be reminded of the sacrifices made by individuals all over the world to be a part of the BYUH experience (pg. 27). I hope you will be inspired by the stories of those connected to this wonderful university who “will play an important role in spreading the gospel to every corner of the earth” (pg. 10).

Hailey Huhane - Editor in Chief NEWS CENTER

BOX 1920 BYUH LAIE, HI 96762 Pr int Ser vices Editorial, photo submissions & Distribution inquiries: k e a l a k a i @ by u h . e d u .

To s u b s c r i b e t o t h e R S S F E E D or to view additional ar ticles, go to k e a l a k a i . by u h . e d u .

CONTACT

Email: kealakai@byuh.edu Phone: (808) 675-3694 Fax: (808) 675-3491 Office: BYU–Hawaii Aloha Center 134 ON THE COVER:

BYU–Hawaii ohana members featured in our January issue come together to represent different aspects of the school. Left to right: Munkhzul Galbadrakh, Leslie Harper, Atea Lee Chip Sao, Dermont Christensen and Akane Sasaki. Photo by Mark Tabbilos.

ABOUT US The Ke Alaka‘i began publishing the same year the university, then called Church College of Hawaii, opened. It has continued printing for more than 60 years.

The name means “the leader” in Hawaiian. It began as a monthly newsletter, evolved into a weekly newspaper, then a weekly magazine, and is now a monthly news magazine with a website and a social media presence. Today a staff of about 20 students work to provide information for BYU–Hawaii’s campus ohana and Laie’s community. © 2021 Ke Alaka‘i BYU–Hawaii All Rights Reserved JANUARY 2021

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Contents Art submission

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Campus comment

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Genuine Gold: Bayarsaikhan Amarjargal

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Community Lessons from Brother Baldwin 10 Food services’ Wendy Lau 12 Affirmation Chapter 14 Communicating with friends on missions 30

Haz Renewed 18 Atea Chip Sao photography 20 Jeff Collins videography 24

January 2021

Campus Life 27 New students: Keeping hope 30 Sustainability Center 34 Cambodia Club 38 Spanish tutor

Features 42 Kiki Egetoe 46 Jack and Lise Taleni 48 Su Myat Yadanar Shin 52 Ray “Yusheng” Xu 54 Seina Hamano 58 Ariana Guido

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January: We are BYU–Hawaii As we begin the new year, we wanted to showcase various members of the BYUH ohana as well as the unity we share through our connections to and love for this University.

This issue features the stories of past, current and future BYUH students and shows how this school has blessed each of them individually.

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C RE AT I V E W RI T I N G/ART/P HOTO SUBMISSIO N “Serenity while the sky is on fire” by Isaiah Jared Blasabas, a senior from the Philippines majoring in psychology.

Share your art, photos or creative writing with us and we may feature it in our next issue.

E-mail us your high-resolution photo or work with a caption to kealakai@byuh.edu

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Campus Comment What are you grateful for at BYU–Hawaii?

BY LISI TIAFAU Losili Masima , a junior from Tonga majoring in accounting on the operation and supply chain track, said she is grateful for the IWORK program. “I’m grateful for all the resources available that [IWORK] help me get here.” She said she is also grateful for the many diverse friends and staff that she has made and have helped her progress forward in her studies.

Photo provided

by Losili Masima

David Ifuna’au , a junior from Solomon Islands majoring in social work, said he

is grateful for BYU–Hawaii. “I am grateful to BYUH for the opportunity to come study and work because I can learn and at the same time gain experience.” He said he is grateful to BYUH which offered him the opportunity to study and make a change for him and his family.

Photo provided

by David Ifuna'au

Sabrina Wolfgramme , a sophomore from Tonga majoring in political science

and tourism management said she is grateful for the different cultures on campus. “ I am grateful for the many diversities here at BYUH because it allows me to meet all different types of people and build connections with them.”

Photo provided

by Sabrina Wolfgramme

Toeutuva Magdalene Nielson , a sophomore from Samoa majoring in TESOL education, said she is grateful for the professors at BYUH. “ I am grateful for my

teachers and professors because nothing has been easy for either students nor the teachers but they have been very helpful during COVID-19. My teachers have been giving me opportunities to do better in my classes, and I am grateful for them.”

Photo provided

by Toeutuva Nielson JANUARY 2021

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Genuine Gold: Bayarsaikhan Amarjargal

By Serena Dugar Ioane

After playing on the BYUH volleyball team for three semesters, Bayarsaikhan Amarjargal took time off to start her family. Photo provided by Amarjargal.

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“There were times when I felt like I was never good enough. Then, I got on my knees and pleaded with the Lord to help me overcome my weaknesses and have strength to fulfill my educational and spiritual goals. I have seen His enabling power help me to overcome my weaknesses and giving me hope to become what He wants me to become. Relying on Him helped me to become who I am today, and I am still holding on to this testimony to overcome my current challenges.”

ayarsaikhan Amarjargal, former Seasider volleyball player and BYU–Hawaii alumna from Mongolia, said her years at BYUH taught her the value of time, hard work and service. She advised current students to “keep improving yourself and never stop learning because when we are satisfied with our current success, we stop growing.”

What were some of your life-defining moments at BYUH? “On my graduation day, I got a Good Samaritan award which I did not expect at all. I was going to take a picture with my professor, Jennifer Chen, but I was struggling with which awards to show first. She said, ‘A Good Samaritan award is the most important one.’

That day I understood helping people should be my priority. Since then, I always try to be like the good Samaritan. It was a small yet such an important life-defining moment for me.”

How did you become a Seasiders’ player?

“My stake president, Odgerel Ochirjav, connected me to Coach Mona. I sent my video of playing volleyball for tryouts. That is how I became a volleyball player for Seasiders. I am always grateful for my coach, Mona, for giving me a chance to play for the Seasiders and for my teammates for always supporting me.

“As a new player of the team, I had so many things to learn. Playing volleyball is all about teamwork. We train together, exercise together and play together. I learned how to cooperate with my teammates during the game and how to train hard and be confident. When I was playing, I am sure I made mistakes on the court. Learning from my mistakes helped me to improve my skills. We had many victories and losses, but our coach helped us to turn a loss into motivation to work harder and train harder to achieve our goals.

“After playing [for] three semesters, I quit playing because my husband and I decided to start our family. It was hard to choose my family over my passion for volleyball, my coach and my teammates. It was a tough decision.

However, I am blessed to have a wonderful coach. When I wrote an email to my coach about my decision, she encouraged me and said bringing children to this world is always a joy.

Now, I have two beautiful children, and I am grateful for my coach for understanding me and everything she has done for my family.”

Amargaral advised students to never stop learning. Photo provided by BYU–Hawaii.

What advice would you give to current and graduating students at BYUH? “Keep improving yourself and never stop learning. When we are satisfied with our current success, we stop growing. Whatever circumstances you live in and challenges you are facing, keep learning. Take all the educational and spiritual knowledge from BYUH with you and keep learning, keep growing and keep serving.”

What did you learn at BYUH that you have taken with you?

“In my first year at BYUH, I struggled to manage my time to fulfill my role as a student, wife and part-time employee. However, I started to put God first over my studies and work, and He took care of the rest. I learned to know my priorities. This experience is still helping me today. My student years have taught me the value of time, hard work and serving.”

What special memories do you have from your years at BYUH? “One of the most special memories was serving in the temple with my husband. Going to a temple was my dream, but serving there with my husband was one of the greatest blessings I have ever imagined. Dedicating our time to serve in a temple brought abundant blessings to our lives.

“Meeting with wonderful people in the temple and learning from them was amazing.

There were senior missionaries who trained us on our first day at the temple. They taught us valuable lessons about temple work. They have changed our lives and our perspectives on the gospel of Jesus Christ. Everything they have taught us stayed in our hearts.”

What blessings have you seen from attending BYUH? “Meeting wonderful people is a blessing I will always cherish. BYUH is very diverse, and it is wonderful how these people love one another and create one big ohana. It was wonderful everyone had aloha spirit, and everyone shared it with each other. We made lifelong friends from many countries [who we] would not have been able to meet otherwise.”

How did attending BYUH help build your testimony?

“I’m a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ. When I was an investigator, I was a girl who did not know what awaits in the future and had no idea who I could become. However, learning the gospel has changed my whole life.

At BYUH, my testimony about Jesus Christ and His enabling power of the Atonement strengthened.

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Lessons from Brother Baldwin

As he prepares to leave BYU–Hawaii, Professor Cody Baldwin says he knows the Lord will always guide this university

By Serena Dugar Ioane

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ody Baldwin, an assistant professor in the Faculty of Business & Government, is leaving after working five years at BYU–Hawaii to be the director for the master’s in business analytics program at the University of Wisconsin. His students shared how wonderful of a professor he was and what they have learned from him.

Baldwin said, “I am sad to leave this special place, but I am also excited for my new opportunity.” During his time at BYUH, he said he has been impressed with students. “I was learning from them, just like they were learning from me. I know the Lord has great things in store for each of them. They will play an important role in spreading the gospel to every corner of the earth.”

Baldwin taught business classes, including BUSM 180, 230, 361, 391, 410 and 461. “My small shoes won’t be tough to fill. Teachers 10

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who are much better than me will come,” Baldwin said. “I know that the Lord will always guide this university.”

Influence on students Maralmaa Chinbold, a junior from Mongolia majoring in finance, said she took five classes from Baldwin. “I truly believe he is the best professor in the business department. His classes are applicable directly to the work field.

He never makes students get stressed by being too stingy on his grades. I’m sad he is leaving.”

Tyson Hunter, a senior from California majoring in finance, shared, “He is a great teacher” who combines fun and hard work to learn. “He always tries new things when he teaches and knows how to break down complicated things into simple digestible principles.”

Suvd-Erdene Boldbaatar, a senior from Mongolia majoring in human resources, said, “He is an amazing man and really cares about his students. He understands the demanded skills in the work field and teaches it in a very simple way. I love his teaching methods.”

Baldwin shared his favorite part of teaching at BYUH is receiving emails from students telling him they got a job because of something they learned in his class. “These emails bring me a lot of joy,” he said.

Zolbayar Erdenechimeg, a senior from Mongolia majoring in business management, said, “His classes are very pragmatic. He knows what we have to learn in order to be good professionals in the job market and prepare us well. His lessons really do stay with me. I was planning to take two more classes, but sadly he is leaving.”

takes time to figure it out, and sometimes you have to work a couple jobs before you figure that out. The most important thing is that you study hard, talk with those you trust, such as family, faculty, etc., and pray to seek the Lord’s direction. He is there to help.”

Baldwin said reading the Book of Mormon changed his life, and “it continues to provide me so much direction and peace.” He said his father’s ancestors were pioneers, and his fourth-great-grandfather, Caleb Baldwin, was in Liberty Jail with Joseph Smith.

He shared he has the best parents anyone About the Baldwins could ask for. His father is a rocket scientist and He shared he married his wife, Maley “one of the smartest people I know,” Baldwin Baldwin, in the Washington D.C. Temple. He said. “But more importantly, he’s a faithful said about his wife, “She is beautiful, kind, priesthood holder.” His mother stayed home a great mother and wife, and a wonderful and cared for her children, Baldwin said. “She is example for me. I don’t know how I got so the kindest person I know. They both would do lucky.” Together they have three children: anything for anyone.”

8-year-old Mae, 5-year-old Isabelle and 2-yearBefore coming to BYUH, Baldwin was old Jackson. working at the Hewlett-Packard Company After the Fall 2020 Semester, Baldwin where he managed analytics projects. Baldwin said they will be moving to Wisconsin where got his undergraduate degree in information Baldwin will begin teaching at the University systems and operations management from of Wisconsin in Madison. “As a family, we George Mason University and his MBA at spent time praying about the opportunity, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State and we know it’s the right thing for us,” he University with a focus in information commented. technology management.

Cody Baldwin surrounded by his students at BYUH.

Kim Comenta, a senior from the Philippines majoring in human resources, said unforgettable lessons he learned from Baldwin are managing his finances and investing in the future. “He told us that it is something he wishes he learned while in high school or college. I appreciate it because he is teaching us practical skills that he knows will benefit his students. I love Brother Baldwin.”

Tsetsgee Enkhbold, a sophomore from Mongolia majoring in human resources and psychology, shared, “He knows what he is doing and what he wants us to learn. His lessons are far beyond just a grade. They are practical, useful and stay with me forever.”

Baldwin said he loves teaching and loves business analytics, “so if I get to continue doing those things, fantastic.”

Tulga Enkhbold, a senior from Mongolia majoring in accounting, said, “He is a brilliant man who knows a lot about modern business technology. His classes and presentations are very interesting. He cares for each student and always tries to help them. He is a gifted and very inspiring teacher yet a very humble man.”

Baldwin said students should not get discouraged if they don’t know exactly what they want to be in the future. “Sometimes it

Cody Baldwin and his wife, Maley Baldwin, along with their three children: Mae, Isabelle and Jackson. Photos provided by Cody Baldwin.

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Wendy Lau said they prioritize their student employees at the Cafeteria.

Photo by Haeley van der Werf.

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Photo by Mark Tabbilos

Enter to dine, go forth full Food Services supervisor shares 39-year journey to bachelor’s degree and describes joy of serving students in the cafeteria

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endy Lau, an alumna and the BYU–Hawaii Food Services supervisor, said she strives to deliver quality food and service to the BYUH ohana and shared her 39-year journey towards her bachelor’s degree. Her coworkers describe her as a positive, polite and understanding person.

Lau shared she loves her job in every way, from upper management to their front-line workers. “It is the team who feeds hundreds of students, faculty, staff and the community members every day,” she commented.

She said her team helps BYUH to fulfill its mission, “Enter to learn, go forth to serve,” through their own mission, “Enter to dine, go forth full.” She said, “I am a foodie and enjoy food from growing, preparing, all the way to delivering and eating. I have a passion for food and love gardening, so ‘farm to table’ is natural for me.”

Delivering quality food, service and care Lau said she believes in positive leadership and effective team style management. Her goals as a supervisor for Food Services are to serve quality food and deliver quality service and care, she shared. “I strive every day to do my best to meet these goals.

“Of course, as a food service business, our customers are our No. 1 priority,” Lau explained. “Yet, we prioritize our student employees and do our best to practice positive leadership principles, build effective teamwork and to have an organized and safe work environment.”

Tselmuun Dashdorj, a freshman from Mongolia majoring in biology, said of Lau, “She is a very polite and understanding person. I used to work with her, and I love to see her treating our customers very nicely.

“She always understood and cared for me when something came up in my personal life,” Dashdorj added. “One time, I saw her playing basketball with young students, and I was impressed because I didn’t know she was good at playing basketball.”

By Serena Dugar Ioane 39-year journey towards a degree Lau is an alumna who graduated in 2013 and majored in hospitality and tourism management. She said it took 39 years for her to finish her degree, starting as a freshman in 1974, the same year the Church College of Hawaii became Brigham Young University– Hawaii.

At the end of 1976, Lau got married and started building her family. She married Lawrence Lau, whom she met as a fellow student and coworker at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Together they have four sons who are all graduates of BYUH. She said her sons are all married and all of their wives are BYUH alumnas as well. Today, Lau and her husband have 10 grandchildren.

In 1985, Lau started a flower shop business. “It was too difficult financially and logistically to finish school with four sons, so I took classes intermittently and finally got my bachelor of science in 2013,” Lau shared.

“Walking in Spring 2013 as a graduate was a highlight in my life and an achievement I always wanted.”

Lau said she worked as a cook for seven years for BYUH Food Services and became a supervisor in 2018. Prior to that, she said she worked at the Polynesian Cultural Center Food Service Department for five years. She added her husband is also a retiree of BYUH after 35 years of service as the coordinator of the BYUH TV Studio. “It was a long and rewarding career,” she said.

Maheono Ly, a senior from Tahiti majoring in finance, said of Lau, “We used to work together at the cafeteria. ... I appreciate and respect her. She is someone who always tries to stay positive when facing challenges. She even came to my wedding.”

An experienced florist Lau said she is also an experienced flower designer. She used to own a flower shop, Rainbow, Balloons & Flowers, at the Laie Shopping Center. She managed and operated it for more than 20 years.

Closing the flower shop, Lau said, was the greatest challenge of her life. The shop, she explained, started in her garage and then moved to the Laie Shopping Center. Rainbow, Balloons & Flowers, she said, served the North Shore community for years.

Lau said the shop’s motto was, “Send someone some happiness today.” Lau shared, “We were sending out aloha and happiness to our customers with leis, flowers and balloons on their special days, such as weddings, graduations and birthdays.”

Lau said the terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2001, was the cause of her shop having to close.

She explained, “It was a difficult time and my business closed because of those tragic events.

COVID-19 is even worse today.” However, she said she chose to move forward and found a new career in the food service business at the Center and BYUH. “My life has been challenging yet rewarding. I have learned a lot from all my experiences,” she commented. “My treasure has been found in my journey of faith and testimony in the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Lau took classes intermittently until she earned her degree in 2013. Photo by Mark Tabbilos.

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Come join and feel safe Affirmation Hawaii Chapter presidency says its goal is to create a safe, welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ students and ohana

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team of four BYU–Hawaii students and one faculty member lead the Affirmation Hawaii Chapter. As one of the international chapters of the Affirmation organization, the Affirmation Hawaii Chapter is for all of Hawaii to support LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters in the Church and at BYU–Hawaii, according to the chapter presidency.

The president, Hao Le, a senior from Vietnam majoring in business and peacebuilding, said, “The Affirmation Hawaii Chapter is not an official BYUH chapter. It is a place where the LGBTQ+ community here in Hawaii and at BYUH can come, join and feel safe. “Whether you’re gay or not, we can go to school together [and] participate in activities without any homophobic discrimination or judgment because we are all humans. Why love [one] and not the other?”

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By Lisi Tiafau She continued, “Our [presidency’s] goal is to make sure our LGBTQ+ students’ voices are heard. Acceptance is not our end goal. Unifying is our long-term goal, so we are working together with BYUH leaders, faculty and staff to ensure the safety of our LGBTQ+ students on campus and to let everyone know there is available help.

“There is a community, a chosen family, for them. More love for LGBTQ+ individuals does not mean less love for anybody else. We all are God’s creations, and you cannot love God if you hate and exclude His creations.”

Le said the Affirmation Hawaii Chapter is not an anti-Latter-day Saint organization. She said they support Church leaders and work together with them around the world to create a safe place for the LGBTQ+ community. “We have members who have strong faith, want to

be in the Church, want to be at BYUH and also want their sexuality to be accepted,” Le said.

Iese Wilson, a senior from Hawaii majoring in music and the vice president of the Affirmation Hawaii Chapter, said, “Affirmation Hawaii is the chapter for the whole state of Hawaii at the moment, and BYUH is where we have the most members currently.”

Wilson said they are doing their best to live up to Affirmation’s vision, which is “to be a refuge, to heal, share and be authentic.”

Wilson said, “A strength of our presidency is we have a diversity of thought which ensures we cover the wide-ranging needs of our members. For example, we are equipped to support LGBTQ+ individuals with a safe space, secular support and resources, as well as spiritual support and resources, the latter being both my personal passion and role in the presidency.”

Leaders of the Affirmation Hawaii Chapter. From left to right: Gabriella MoraVeracruz, Elisa Moncrief, Hao Le, Iese Wilson and Michelle Johnson Blimes.

Gabriella MoraVeracruz, a senior from Texas majoring in intercultural peacebuilding and vice president of activities and planning, said, “We want to be an open community with open communication to anyone and everyone.

“We want to personally connect with people and adhere to their needs, which is hard when you can’t meet in person, but we are doing our best to accomplish that,” MoraVeracruz said.

Michelle Johnson Blimes, an adjunct faculty member in the Faculty of Education & Social Work and Faculty of Arts & Letters, is the Affirmation Hawaii Chapter advisor.

She said, “We started out having a lot of students here at BYUH as members. We love them, and we want to support them.”

Blimes said they have a vision of how they can help students at BYUH and try to reach out to the whole Hawaii LGBTQ+ community.

Elisa Moncrief, a senior from California majoring in communications, is the Affirmation Hawaii Chapter’s marketing analyst. She said, “This chapter is a necessity as it opens up a new dialogue on this campus.

“I want students from all backgrounds to be able to be unapologetically comfortable

on our campus. The LGBTQ+ students here should never feel like they need to hide, and they should feel comfortable seeking help when they need it,” Moncrief said.

Le said, “When [I] first came here in 2017, there was no community like this. I remember times where we had to hide and suppress ourselves from microaggressions and discrimination on campus and in the community just to fit in. Hence why this organization chapter was created is to bring visibility to BYUH and to protect the LGBTQ+ students’ wellness.”

She expressed her concerns about discrimination and harassment towards LGBTQ+ students during a meeting with BYUH Vice President of Student Life Jon Kau, she said. “He expressed his care for our students and his vision to help them reach success in their best self,” Le said.

She said when they held their first chapter event in March 2020, they expected a few students and community members to join, but they were surprised with how high the attendance was. “Everyone came together.

There was so much love, and it was a safe place for them to be themselves.

“We not only [have] students but also BYUH faculty, teachers, community and many other people who joined and want to know how they can support the LGBTQ+ community and the wellbeing of our LGBTQ+ students here at BYUH,” Le stated.

Wilson said, “We are not contrary to the teachings, practices or doctrines of the Church.

So, if you feel isolated, here is your community full of people like you and safe people who will love you and are learning how to build a better world for you.”

Wilson is a LGBTQ+ Spiritual Liaison, which is a person who helps maintain relationships between the Church and it’s LGBTQ+ members, according to Le. Wilson said, “I am passionate about training members of the Church on how to be allies through a spiritual lens.”

He feels it is important to note those not wishing to pursue a spiritual path are loved and accepted by him regardless, he said. “I know by personal experience this journey is painfully complex, and my love is not qualified based on another’s repentance or their choice to venture away [or] return to church activity.”

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Hao Le: president of Affirmation Hawaii

Elisa Moncrief: marketing analyst for Affirmation Hawaii

Iese Wilson: vice president of Affirmation Hawaii

Gabriella MoraVeracruz: vice president of planning and activities for Affirmation Hawaii

Photos by Ho Yin Li

Moncrief said, “Since my freshman year, there’s definitely been a change in spirit regarding the unity of students. I think this is the perfect time for our Affirmation chapter to thrive because the conversation about LGBTQ+ issues isn’t one students are as afraid of anymore.”

Le said the biggest change was adding Affirmation Hawaii to the map of the island as a new and only resource for LGBTQ+ individuals located in the North Shore area.

“Through Honolulu Pride 2020, Affirmation Hawaii has built professional connections from other LGBTQ+ organizations on the island to support the well-being of our members, including BYUH students.”

Moncrief said, as one of the students who has been around for years, the Affirmation Hawaii Chapter not only helped her but also students who are dealing with gender issues. “This chapter creates unity among the LGBTQ+ students and BYUH and [helps them] not be separated from BYUH and its standards,” she said.

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“Even with the ongoing pandemic, there’s still a need for community and a safe place for the LGBTQ+ students. That is why we’re here and will continue to grow our numbers. We are looking forward to that,” Le said.

MoraVeracruz stated they are doing activities online, but they are trying to have activities besides Zoom meetings. “We have so many activities we planned. When COVID-19 started, it was difficult to make plans, but we are doing activities online to bring everyone together,” she said.

Blimes said, “We are trying to do online activities that involve everyone and keep up with our social media to let people know we care about them and [they are] part of our community, even though we can’t physically meet.” Wilson stated if students are not open about their sexual identity or are questioning, they can attend as an ally. “You deserve to bide your time and navigate your unique journey the way you feel is best,” he said. He added students will not get into trouble with either the Church or the school for being involved in the chapter.

Wilson shared he has met with members of the BYUH presidency but only acted as a student. “After talking with Vice President Kau, the school cannot work exclusively with this one organization, which implies the Church is officially working with this organization, he said. Neither is it in Affirmation’s vision to be a part of campus advocacy, he explained.

“However, we are willing to provide training if the campus asked for it or if clubs or departments invited us onto campus,” he said.

Le also said, “If you are currently living or planning to live, go to school or work in Hawaii, it is important to be educated about LGBTQ+ issues. The LGBTQ+ [community] has been part of Hawaiian culture for centuries, through terms such as aikāne, meaning gay and māhū, referring to a third gender identity.”

Wilson said he believes “it is not a choice to be aikāne or māhū, but it is a choice whether or not to learn how to love other human beings.”

Connecting with friends and family serving missions BYUH ohana say they are more involved with friends and family serving missions because of the shift to remote teaching

By Adam Livingston

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ue to COVID-19, BYU–Hawaii students said they are able to communicate more frequently with friends and family serving missions. As missionaries transitioned to online teaching, their ability to actively share their progress and testimonies increased, Tanner Barnes said.

“I see a lot of my friends post videos about their testimony or singing songs, and it’s cool to see the communities they’re serving respond to their posts. It’s like I’m serving with them,” said Barnes, a sophomore from Nevada studying communications.

He explained access to technology on his mission was more limited compared to missionaries serving today. “It’s interesting to see how missionaries are using it now to spread the gospel and how creative they get because of it,” he said.

Catie Hendrickson, a sophomore from Hawaii majoring in biology, said she has a sister attending the MTC from home. She said, “Some aspects of it really remind me of when I was at the MTC. The classes have a similar structure.”

Hendrickson discussed the changes they have made in their home and said, “We don’t watch TV at night anymore or movies when she’s around, and so our schedules and activities have shifted to accommodate her being a missionary.”

Hendrickson continued, “I think as a family, we’ve become involved to a certain extent in helping her study the language too. It almost seems like she’s not a missionary yet.”

Tony Arrington, a sophomore from Washington studying marketing, said his brother has been on a mission in Lithuania for almost two years. Because of COVID-19, Arrington said he was uncertain if his brother would stay on his mission or be sent home like other missionaries.

However, he said, Lithuania did an excellent job of quarantining early and strictly, so the missionaries were able to stay and work online.

Due to COVID-19, Arrington said his missionary brother often teaches through Facebook. “He spends a lot of time making Facebook ads and teaching people online from places all over the world where the missionaries have been sent home.”

Arrington said him and his family get to visit with his brother most weeks through video calls. “He’ll come home Dec. 15, and we’re so excited for him.”

Barnes said he also uses Facebook to keep in touch with his friends serving missions.

“Because of COVID-19, most of my friends have been called to proselyte state-side. A lot of them have access to Facebook because of this

and I’ve found that a lot of mission presidents are more chill when it comes to technology.

“I keep group chats with friends out in the field where we keep in touch on the latest news in the world or what’s currently going viral and what we find funny.”

Barnes said he looks forward to Mondays every week so he can talk with his friends. “It’s cool to see them grow into better people and to hear their story in a more accessible way.”

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Haz Renewed: Style within standards BYUH business owner says her mission is to help girls feel confident in modest clothing

By Emily Cassler

H

azel Johnston has taken on the title of entrepreneur since January 2020, when she created her business, Haz Renewed, with the goal of bringing the BYU– Hawaii campus together, she said, through her love of modest clothing.

“For me, it became an opportunity to meet so many cool people who loved fashion as much as I did. The mission of my business is to help connect girls through modest fashion,” she said.

Johnston, a sophomore from California studying political science, described her business as an online thrift shop with an emphasis on community. “I would help girls at BYUH sell their clothes to other students.

I would stay in the Aloha Center every day from 12-1 p.m. and girls would come to bring me their clothes. I would then sell it on my Instagram page and take a percentage of the profit,” Johnston explained.

Johnston said when someone would buy an item she would meet up with them so they could try it on and make sure they loved it before buying. She said it was then she thinks she connected the most to girls at BYUH and formed an ohana.

“I was able to connect with so many different girls. I would meet them in person to either sell them the clothes or help them get others to buy their clothes.”

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Hazel Johnston said the mission of Haz Renewed is to help connect girls through modest fashion. Photo by Haley Irwin.

“I loved seeing girls around campus dressing cute and finding new ways to incorporate their style with the standards of the Church. I thought it would be cool to help other girls find their style by showcasing options on an Instagram page.”

-Hazel Johnston

Bella Kester said modeling for Haz Renewed has emphasized the simplicity of being herself. Photo by Hazel Johnston.

Johnston said she did not expect to form such a community within her business. After all, she explained, it started from a simple love of fashion. “I loved seeing girls around campus dressing cute and finding new ways to incorporate their style with the standards of the Church. I thought it would be cool to help other girls find their style by showcasing options on an Instagram page.”

Haley Irwin, a sophomore from Utah studying anthropology, said she has been with Hazel from the moment the dream of her business was thought up, to the execution of the business plan.

“She dreamt up this idea and immediately made it happen. As her best friend, seeing her work so hard and spend so much time evolving her vision is so awe-inspiring and beautiful. I love seeing the evolution of herself in this process and the growth of her business alongside it. It's no question she will go so far in life.”

Keeping Haz Renewed family-based was emphasized from the start when Johnston's cousin, Bella Kester, would model the clothes for her, Johnston explained. Kester, a signed model from Oahu, described the process of modeling as strenuous but said modeling for Haz Renewed is a breath of fresh air.

“Modeling took a lot away from me,” Kester said. “Mostly weight and time. But it also gave me so much. I learned what it’s like

to live in a world where you’re the person everyone looks at. But I realized I don’t need someone else to tell me I’m beautiful and take pictures of me for me to be beautiful. Just me is the most beautiful thing about me, and modeling for Haz Renewed has emphasized the simplicity of being yourself.”

With COVID-19 and students away from campus, Johnston said keeping the business going has been difficult, but said she has been able to think outside the box. “I started getting pieces from thrift stores and from anyone who would meet with me socially distanced. In order to keep the meetings safe, I would just buy the clothes outright and then resell them at a higher margin.”

The current Haz Renewed community is a tight-knit community, but Johnston said she hopes the future of her company will connect to people from all walks of life. “I want my company to be a household name, a place that comes to mind when you are getting ready to go to the mall. I want to connect girls to fashion all over the world.

“I want to help girls dress modestly, but still love their outfits. I want to help girls feel confident and comfortable in modest clothes without having to pay $5,000. I hope to also help girls style modest clothes, to show them different pieces and different ways to make the outfits work.”

Graphics by Zack Hada JANUARY 2021

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Capturing memories Atea Lee Chip Sao says photography allows him to capture life’s memorable moments while simultaneously making friends

By Xyron Levi Corpuz

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The coronavirus pandemic provided Lee Chip Sao with the perfect opportunity to develop his photography skills. Photos by Jeffery Dang.

A

tea Lee Chip Sao said a childhood friend first introduced him to photography. During the coronavirus pandemic, he said he decided to develop his photography skills. Those who have been photographed by Lee Chip Sao shared their experience working with him and said his photography has been a great contribution to the community.

Lee Chip Sao, a sophomore from Tahiti majoring in TESOL, said he did not have any experience in photography before he started in May 2020 taking photos of people around campus.

“Growing up,” he said, “I had this friend of mine, [Moe], who was my mom’s best friend, who was a photographer. When we would go out with their family she would always take pictures of us, and it was fun.”

One day when he was around 10 years old, he said he borrowed Moe’s DSLR camera.

At the time, he said he found the camera to be too complicated to learn. Still, Lee Chip Sao said he loved being behind the camera and described it as fascinating.

He commented, “When I came to BYUH, it was never my plan to be a photographer. …

But because of the coronavirus, I decided to start something new and different. The idea of photography came back to my mind.”

Lee Chip Sao said he has a close friend on campus, Isikeli Fehoko, who does landscape photography. One day, he said he asked Fehoko to show him some sample photos.

After seeing Fehoko’s pictures and how passionate he was about what he was doing, Lee Chip Sao said he was inspired and decided to buy his own camera. From there, he started taking photos of people twice a week over the summer break.

Fehoko, a junior from Tonga studying social work, explained, “[Lee Chip Sao] said he likes the way I do photography … the dark style photos, more contrast, black and white.

I think I gave him the inspiration, and he came up with his style on his own. He is very brilliant and talented.”

Fehoko said when it comes to photography, there are poses that work well for some people that might not work well for another. He said Lee Chip Sao has a natural eye for what poses will look best. “When he sees a person, he already knows what kind of poses would suit that person.”

For Lee Chip Sao, the best thing about being a photographer is his ability to interact with people. He said, “Whenever I take someone out on a photoshoot, I do not consider them clients. I try to develop a connection with them. ... After all, I am taking pictures of them and so I like to know a little bit about their personalities.”

Lee Chip Sao added he likes his photos to reflect who his clients are. He explained, “I like something that will express not only my personality through the edits, but I want them to express their personalities [too].”

“During my photoshoots,” he further described, “I always talk with my subjects, keeping a conversation [going]. It is really fun to know more about them, and it makes the job easier because you get comfortable with them. It becomes a fun experience, and it feels more like hanging out. … I am creating new friendships.”

Lee Chip Sao said he believes it is the photographers’ job to direct the model, not the model’s job to pose on their own. Tevita Tiki Nuitupuivaha Jr. and Sesika Filikitonga are among the people Lee Chip Sao has directed and had photoshoots with.

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“ Whenever I take someone out on a photo shoot I do not consider them clients. I try to develop a connection with them. ... After all, I am taking pictures of them and so I like to know a little bit about

“

their personalities.

- Atea Lee Chip Sao

Lee Chip Sao said he likes to give people physical memories of their time at BYUH. Photos by Atea Lee Chip Sao.

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The coronavirus pandemic provided Lee Chip Sao with the perfect opportunity to develop his photography skills. Photo by Jeffery Dang.

When talking about his photoshoot experience with Lee Chip Sao, Nuitupuivaha, a sophomore from Tonga majoring in applied mathematics, said, “I was the first one he asked to have a photoshoot [with] and to practice his photography. It was a good experience.”

Nuitupuivaha continued, “He told me how to stand and how to pose. It was his first time doing it and I was impressed because I felt like he knew what he was doing the whole time.”

Nuitupuivaha said the lighting of Lee Chip Sao’s photos has improved from when he first started out. “I feel like he is becoming more familiar with his stuff, like with editing and lighting. I think it is a great improvement from the first time he took pictures of me.”

Sesika Faanunu Filikitonga, a senior from Tonga studying accounting, said her husband recommended Lee Chip Sao to take her photos.

She said, “My husband told me about him and how comfortable he was. The different thing about Atea is he is really passionate.” Filikitonga

said Lee Chip Sao would sometimes sit and even lay down in order to get the perfect photo.

She continued, “He doesn’t care if he gets muddy or dirty. … He even forgot his backpack at one of the places we did a photo shoot but that just tells me he is passionate.”

Filikitonga said Lee Chip Sao made her feel comfortable and said in the future she would ask him to take photos of her again.

“He likes talking a lot, and you can connect to him.”

Filikitonga also said photo shoots with him are affordable for students and said he is quick to edit the photos as well.

Contribution to the community As the one who inspired Lee Chip Sao to pursue photography, Fehoko said Lee Chip Sao could also be an inspiration for someone else.

He explained, “There are some people who are scared to show their talents. … [Lee Chip Sao] is helping people in the BYUH community

build and grow their talents.”

Nuitupuivaha said Lee Chip Sao has made a great contribution to the community by capturing the students’ memorable times while attending BYUH. He shared Lee Chip Sao takes students’ graduation photos and said this gives students something to look back on. By being there as the photographer, taking good photos and devoting his time, Nuitupuivaha said Lee Chip Sao helps make people feel special and recognized for their achievements.

Lee Chip Sao echoed Nuitupuivaha and said, “For those I have done graduation pictures [for], … I helped them save memories they can keep for themselves of their success here at BYUH. “They already have their knowledge and experiences to keep, but [now] they have something physical, like pictures, to keep and remind them of their times at the school.”

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Success through storytelling BYUH alumni say Jeff Collins’ ability to connect emotionally through films makes them impactful

By Alexander Tumalip

J

eff Collins said he has always had a passion for video making, but considered it a hobby until he entered the 2020 Faith Counts video competition. After receiving an honorable mention in the highly competitive contest, he credited his success to his time at Ke Alaka‘i for allowing him to develop his creativity and talent.

According to its website, Faith Counts is a nonprofit, nondenominational organization comprised of faith communities representing nearly 100 million Americans, including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Every year, the organization holds a video contest, which highlights “how faith changes lives, relationships and communities for the better.”

Collins, a 2015 BYUH alumnus, said when his cousin invited him to enter the video contest in August 2020, he wasn't interested, explaining videos were his hobby, not his job.Yet, he was still intrigued because of the contest’s aim, he said, and the organization’s goal to promote faith in society. “I thought, ‘If I can create a good video, I can impact somebody’s life.’”

The organization awarded Collins an honorable mention for his video submission. Collins credited his cousin’s encouragement for his award. “There are numerous entries, so the chances of winning awards are

remote,” he said. “My cousin’s convincing made me step out of my comfort zone. I could have made up multiple excuses, but I decided to go for it.”

Fellow BYUH alumnus, Reid Crickmore, said Collins lets his videos speak for him. “Jeff’s creativity really comes out when he gets into it,” he said. “He has the talent to go against the best of the best, but it was at Ke Alaka‘i he began to expand his creative horizons.You can clearly see the impact it has had over time.”

Another fellow alumnus, James Astle, said Collins was an example of someone who never focused on himself despite having tremendous talent. “The way the story came together and how he found the individual was perfect,” he said. “Being able to use his own raw talent was so cool to see.”

Collins explained his submission was the story of a refugee from Uganda named Bob Okot, whose father was killed by rebel fighters, then he lived in refugee camps, and was eventually selected to come to America. The video used ocean tides to outline the challenges in adjusting to life in the United States and relying on faith. “Life’s hardships are like the tides,” he explained. “Even in our hardest times, the tides will rise again, and things will get better.”

Collins’ award winning video used ocean tides to outline the challenges refugees face when adjusting to life in the United States.

Photo provided by Jeff Collins.

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Collins’ said he interviewed the subject of his video, Bob Okot, (pictured above) and put together a script.

Photo provided by Jeff Collins.

newscasts loosely based on Saturday Night Live’s “Weekend Update.”

One project Collins recalled doing with Crickmore was a story about a group of crosscountry runners who sang in the locker room at BYUH.

Life's hardships are like the tides.

Even in our hardest times, the tides will rise again, and things will get better.

- Jeff Collins

“There was a lot of personality on the cross-country team back then, and they used to call themselves the Lilikoi Boys,” Crickmore recalled, adding one of the runners on the team once ran the entire coast of Peru.

However, he said the video came when BYUH was deciding whether or not to cut the athletics program. “Sports gave the university something to enjoy,” Crickmore said. “We wanted to do something to unite the

community and provide comedic relief in a bittersweet moment.”

According to Collins, that video received an award from the College Media Association, which boosted his confidence. Crickmore said the award was unexpected. “Jeff texted me one day and said we won an award, and I could not believe it,” he said. “To see an idea come to fruition and have people appreciate it that much was an incredible feeling.”

Astle also said he worked with Collins on multiple projects, including a time-lapse for another news competition. “It did not feel like work,” Astle explained. “We were constantly thinking about how to create the story of BYUH in different places and times.”

The collaboration taught them how filmmakers express their own ideas, Astle added. He said he and Collins used different locations around campus, like the library and the cafeteria, to capture the diversity of the BYUH student body and the unique setting of the campus.

Astle said that video also received an award. “To be recognized with an award, it gives you energy,” he said. However, to him, the greatest reward is seeing people be inspired, he explained. “It affirms to you maybe what you are doing is important.”

Crickmore remembered joining Ke Alaka‘i with Collins in 2013. “I was working in the bookstore and was looking to do something different,” he recalled. “I enjoyed writing at the time, and [Collins] wanted to express his creativity.”

“

“

The way the story came together was Collins’ favorite part, he said. He recalled how his father started a nonprofit organization in San Diego to assist refugees in transitioning to life in the United States.

“I have heard so many amazing, yet tragic stories of their upbringing in their native countries,” he said. “Some were born into difficult circumstances, often surrounded by chaos or war. Often, people think when refugees arrive they are out of harm’s way, but they are faced with entirely different challenges.”

Astle said the storytelling element is a critical part of making films. “The goal of storytelling is to make someone feel something. How you do it is your decision,” he said. “We become who we are through stories, whether it is our own or someone else’s.”

Collins shared even though the story was great, the biggest challenge was putting the script together. “I spent time interviewing my subject and writing down all the details, then fitting it all into two minutes,” Collins recalled. Even though time was short, Collins said it still worked out great. He said the easiest path to making the video was to use the defining moments in his subject’s life.

Collins said his defining moment in making videos came when he was at BYUH. Collins said he started getting into video making about six months before he joined Ke Alaka‘i. Crickmore said Collins would do GoPro videos when the two went surfing at Pounders Beach, and they also did weekly

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Crickmore said he had known Collins since they were young, growing up 45 minutes away from each other in Encinitas, Calif., a small suburb outside of San Diego. He said they became roommates while at BYUH, but at the Ke Alaka‘i, he saw Collins’ talent firsthand.

Crickmore credits Collins’ growth to Leeann Lambert, the current advisor at Ke alaka‘i and an instructor in the Faculty of Arts & Letters.

“Jeff used his time to expand his current horizons and that came because of Sister Lambert,” he recalled. “She provided the tools, like Adobe, video equipment and layouts, and that produced amazing talent like Jeff.”

Astle said he joined the magazine in 2015 and worked with Collins for two semesters.

Like Crickmore, Astle said Collins’ talent impacted him the most.

“Jeff was always super humble, and he would never tell you what he was doing,” Astle said. “He is such an easygoing person, yet he is willing to try new things.”

Astle also credited his time at Ke Alaka‘i for his ability to create media, including his recent Amazon Prime documentary, “Rolling Moments.”

“They gave us all the resources we needed to succeed, and that is such a blessing,” he said.

“We were always encouraged to be as creative as possible, and Ke Alaka‘i has always found a way to tap into every person’s creativity.”

Collins said his honorable mention award from Faith Counts was more significant than any award he received at Ke Alaka‘i. “The competition was so intense,” he said. “The organization notified me when I entered the top 10, and hearing I was selected out of 900 entries was surprising, yet exciting.”

Crickmore said even though he made videos when he was surfing and skateboarding in his hometown, he never had the passion Collins has. “Jeff can literally bring an idea to life,” he said. “You feel immersed in it emotionally, especially in his video submission for the contest.”

To Collins, that emotional connection through storytelling makes films what they are.

“That’s what makes me feel successful: If someone is able to feel something, like sadness, happiness or motivation,” he said. “The market for films may be competitive, but it comes down to the story you share.”

To see Jeff Collin's video "Faith in Tides" see here: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=8scpIBkV-Zk.

BYUH alumnus Jeff Collins, right, is pictured with Bob Okot, the subject of his award-winning video, a refugee from Uganda. For Collins, a successful video is one that makes the audience feel something. Photo provided by Jeff Collins 26

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Keeping hope when dreams are delayed Freshmen international students unable to travel to campus, share their hopes and sacrifices to attend BYUH in person

By Xyron Levi Corpuz

F

reshmen students from the Philippines, Japan and Thailand shared why they decided to attend BYU–Hawaii, as well as their preparations to come to campus during the pandemic. They said they choose to be optimistic despite being unable to attend classes in person.

Unexpected change of plans Christine Joy Encarguez, a freshman from the Philippines majoring in visual arts, said, “I was frustrated and devastated I could not travel to Hawaii.” Two weeks before her visa interview, Encarguez said she flew to Manila, the capital of the Philippines, to go to the United States Embassy for her visa application.

She said, “The lockdown happened [while I was in Manila], and it was really a hard time for me.” With tears building in her eyes, she shared, “I got stuck in Manila for four months.” After wiping the tears from her eyes, she continued to share what happened. “The U.S. Embassy decided not to accept any visa interviews a week after I got to Manila.” She

said she then found out BYUH would not be accepting any international students, but later was accepted.

Yoshihiro Ogata, a freshman from Japan majoring in accounting, shared, “When I got the email university classes would be remote, I did not know what kind of classes I would take. I did not know how I would attend online classes and how I would adjust to Hawaii time. … I felt a little bit frustrated because I was excited, but I could not go [to Hawaii].

“The beginning of the semester was a little bit hard. It was difficult for me because of the time difference between Japan and Hawaii. I have to wake up at 2:30 in the morning.”

Ogata said despite the difficulty of adjusting to the time differences and not traveling to campus, he is still worried for his family to travel because of the possibility of contracting the virus along the way.

For Sirawit Kitwongpak, a freshman from Thailand majoring in accounting, it turned out it was a blessing for him to stay in his home country. He said he was relieved when he found

out he would not travel to Hawaii because of his concerns about COVID-19.

“There were a lot of cases in America. …

I don’t have to travel now to Hawaii, but I can still study at BYUH remotely.”

Why BYU–Hawaii?

Encarguez said she decided to attend BYUH because she has friends studying here and they encouraged her to give it a shot.

She shared she is interested in studying the arts, but art programs in her home country are very expensive. She said, “One of the reasons I want to attend BYUH [is] because of the programs they offer for students who have a passion for the arts.”

Kitwongpak shared, “When I was 16 years old, before joining the Church, I met a member who graduated from BYUH. This person saw potential in me to be a future student at BYUH because I was so enthusiastic to learn more about the Church.”

Ogata stated, “My Father and my mission president suggested I attend BYUH.” Ogata

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Yoshihiro Ogata, a student from Japan, with his wife and two daughters.

Photo by Kazunobu Daibatake.

said he wants to work as an accountant and be a business translator in the near future.

Acceptance to BYUH Sharing she was once denied admission, Encarguez said, “After the experience, I decided not to let it go. I was obsessed with getting admitted. I [was] willing to wait. When I received the second letter, I got accepted. I cried because of happiness.”

For Kitwongpak, BYUH is the only university he wanted to attend and, he said, he kept applying until he got in. “I tried four times to get in. … When I got the acceptance letter, I was so excited and happy. My dream came true and Heavenly Father answered my prayers at the right time.”

Recalling his BYUH acceptance, Ogata said, “I was very excited. I could not imagine I would be a student at BYUH. My wife and my children were also excited.”

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Sirawit Kitwongpak, a student from Thailand. Photo by Khwanjai Saelee.

Preparations and sacrifices Encarguez shared she decided to transfer from a university in the Philippines to BYUH to study art, her real passion. She was studying information systems previously, she explained.

Now, at BYUH, she is majoring in visual arts.

She commented, “One sacrifice I made to come to BYUH is I went away for a year far from my family to work as a data processor at a call center company to prepare myself financially to go to Hawaii.”

Ogata said he left his current job for a part-time job in preparation to travel to campus. He continued, “My wife quit her job.

She sacrificed her career. We prepared to move to Hawaii and bought the stuff we needed. We studied the Book of Mormon and the gospel as a family to have a strong faith.”

Kitwongpak shared he is preparing physically, spiritually and financially before coming to campus. He said, “Preparation for coming to BYUH is like going on a mission. I

need to be healthy so I can work at the PCC. I have been exercising for that purpose.

“I have been preparing spiritually by reading the scriptures every day and attending institute class here in Thailand. I try to save as much money as I can so I can buy my plane ticket and process my visa.”

Optimistic despite challenges Encarguez shared, “The good thing was, when I heard the university would do remote classes for Fall Semester, I had hope because at least, through online classes, I could start studying at BYUH. It is a blessing I can still be part of the school.”

She said she is taking EIL 201 remotely at BYUH, which is about preparing international students for life on campus, including the location of buildings and the different foods available. Encarguez said she has been going to the gym for a month now and is learning how to cook healthy food. She also shared she is

spending a lot of time with her family so she can bring those memories with her to Hawaii.

She commented, “I have learned to be patient because I have waited for a long time to be at BYUH, and then the COVID-19 pandemic made it more difficult. I learned how to accept my situation in life because we cannot control the things around us. It is up to Heavenly Father when He will give the blessings we asked for.”

Ogata shared, “Even if the classes are [remote], it is very worth it to attend BYUH because I can learn by myself. I learned to manage my schedule, use my time wisely and finish the modules on time. My classmates and teachers are very kind, awesome and they are very considerate people.”

Ogata said during the pandemic he learned the importance of having a stable faith and good family relationships. He continued, “We need a strong relationship with our families to

overcome this pandemic. We need a strong faith to have hope for a brighter future.”

Kitwongpak said he feels the timing is not yet right for him to come to Hawaii. He shared, “Because of remote learning, I can still serve in my calling at church as an executive secretary in my stake. If I went to Hawaii this semester, it would be difficult to find a new person to replace my calling.”

Looking forward to the future Encarguez said she would still love to go to Hawaii because she already made sacrifices to go there. She shared, “I am looking forward to meeting new friends, working at different jobs and enjoying classes in person.

“Being on campus is enough for me. I want to utilize the different resources the campus has to offer for the betterment of my education. I also want to visit the beaches near the campus.”

Ogata shared, “We are looking forward to visiting the PCC. My little kid loves the movie ‘Moana,’ and she [wants] to go to PCC so bad.

We would like to see what kind of stuff we can experience there. We would like to visit Ala Moana too because it is famous for Japanese tourists.”

Kitwongpak said he is planning to do different activities when he gets to Hawaii. He shared, “There are a lot of things I am looking forward to doing in Hawaii. I want to meet my friends from my mission. I’d like to go to PCC and see what it is like. I recently learned about Pearl Harbor and I found out it is located on the island of O’ahu. Hawaii is a paradise for me. I would stroll around, swim and eat different food.”

Kitwongpak added he would love to be a dancer at the PCC. “It is my dream to dance with the Polynesians.”

“I learned how to accept my situation in life because we cannot control the things around us. It is up to Heavenly Father when He will give the blessings we asked for.”

- Christine Joy Encarguez

Christine Joy Encarguez, a student from the Philippines. Photo by Adreil Paul Maguale.

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The Sustainability Center increased their workforce to 50 employees during the pandemic. Photo by Emmalee Bazar.

Positive effects of COVID-19 on the BYUH Sustainability Center Center employees explain growth, expansion and transformation of their facilities and projects during the COVID-19 pandemic

By Serena Dugar Ioane

L

eslie Harper, manager of the BYU– Hawaii Sustainability Center, said the extra work force he received because of the COVID-19 pandemic helped the center expand. According to Harper, they have harvested more than 2,000 pounds of vegetables every month and have over 200 chickens.

Additionally, Harper said the center’s honey production increased by 50 percent, the Give & Take has been better organized and beautified, and they are starting a training program aimed to help students become selfsustaining.

Harper, a sophomore from Canada majoring in business management supply chain, said he usually has 20 student employees which, according to him, was barely enough to maintain the center. However, since the Polynesian Culture Center closed, he was able to hire 50 more student employees, which he said made a big difference.

After the pandemic begin, Harper said, “The PCC held their student employees for a short period of time and couldn’t do it anymore, so students were invited to work for

BYUH. I see it as a great opportunity to expand our center.”

“I had so many students. I couldn’t manage them all, but I taught them the grand vision, and they took charge and did great work on their own.”

Temple View Learning Garden Akane Sasaki, a junior from Japan majoring in elementary education and a lead of the garden team, said, “When I started to work in May, most of our garden boxes were empty and the few plants we had were dying. But now, our garden boxes are all so green and full of growing plants.

“People who used to come before the pandemic were surprised when they came back,” Sasaki said. They planted watermelon, taro, tomato, ginger, white turmeric, basil, rosemary, sweet potato, pumpkin, dragon fruit, Chinese cabbage, green pepper, lettuce, okra, chives, onions, green onions, aloe and more.

Harper said they have a banana farm that produces each month between 1,000 and 1,500 pounds of bananas. He also shared they planted hundreds of fruit trees in an acre and a half field

Harper encourages and invites people to learn how to garden. Photo by Emmalee Bazar.

that required care in the beginning, but will eventually be a food forest that does not require any care from humans.

“We planted citrus, papaya, mango, breadfruit, avocado, mangosteen and guava.

We will extend the food forest with more trees later. We also built swells to capture rainwater for our farm,” Harper said.

The center, he explained, has 78 garden boxes people can use and learn about gardening. Harper and Sasaki invited and encouraged the BYUH ohana to come and learn how to garden. “Working in a garden is edifying and rewarding. If you learn to grow your own food wherever you go your knowledge and experience will be with you and you can be more self-sustaining,” Harper commented.

Chickens Mandukhai Mendsaikhan, a sophomore from Mongolia majoring in English and a chicken team lead, said they used to have 40 chickens. Now, she said, they have more than 200. “Instead of giving away our eggs, we started to incubate them and hatch them. Every 21 days we hatch 30-to-42 eggs,” she explained.

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Mandukhai Mendsaikhan said every 21 days, the center hatches 30-to-42 eggs. Photo by Emmalee Bazar.

Harper shared they used to have a pen for the chickens, which couldn’t protect the chickens from sun, rain and animals.

“Mongoose and dogs constantly attacked and killed our chickens. Their cages were smelly all the time, but now our chickens have much better living conditions,” he shared.

Over the summer, Harper said, they built three chicken houses, each 1,000 square feet, that are well ventilated and shelter the chickens from rain and sun.

Mendsaikhan explained, “Since the PCC was closed, we were struggling to find food for our chickens. We asked students and faculty to donate their food waste and put buckets around the hales, TVA, Pounders Restaurant and collect them back.” Recently, they started to work with BYUH Food Services, and use their waste to feed the chickens, Mendsaikhan said.

Still, Harper invited people to continue donating because their chickens are multiplying

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fast. He explained they are planning to raise other animals if they have enough food supply.

“Chickens are natural pest control. They eat all of the backyard bugs, critters, spiders, slugs, mice and so on,” Mendsaikhan said. “They also fertilize our garden soil with their feces.”

Give & Take During the summer, the Give & Take was transformed and started to “almost look like a real retail store,” Harper said. “It was just operating, but now it is beautiful and organized.”

Harper said the Give & Take received so many donations during the Spring 2020 Semester, the facility couldn’t contain it all.

So, he said they stored the surplus in a shipping container. With the Nov. 25 announcement inviting all students back to campus, he said, “When they come back, we will be ready to help them.”

Onon Dalaikhuu, a sophomore from Mongolia majoring in communications and a Give & Take team member, said, at the beginning, Give & Take was just an idea from one student. However, since its establishment, she said it has blessed students, faculty and community members.

Kiaran Loefke, a Fall 2020 graduate from California who majored in hospitality and tourism management and a member of the Give & Take team, said the pandemic allowed them to focus on cleaning from the ground up, from painting the floors to sorting baby clothes by size.

Dalaikhuu said students are usually busy, so in order to save them time and help them find the things they need, the Give &Take team worked hard to organize it. “Before, the Give & Take was so messy and dirty, but now it is much better organized and clean. We also painted

everything, including walls, floors, shelves, fences and drew nice drawings,” she said.

Loefke said some people wanted to come and simply look at the Christmas section.

Some, she said, even chose to sit and read on their work breaks, enjoying the environment they created.

Dalaikhuu said their next goal is to build walls to protect the items from rain. “When it rains, some of the good things, such as books, notebooks and other school supplies become useless.”

their houses, so we are planning to capture and bring them as well.”

Harper said before the pandemic he did not have enough employees to assign to the bees. “Since Emma started to constantly care for the bees, they are doing much better.”

“There was no one to take care of the bees,” Lance-Li explained. “Only one girl came once in a couple months and checked them.

I asked her to teach me, and I became the beekeeper. Bees are very interesting, and I love my job.”

The technical module, Harper said, consists of carpentry, welding, mechanics, bike shop, power tools, nuts and bolts, fuel, combustion, cutting steel and wood, saws and drills.

The Give & Take module will be about retail sales and supply chain. Harper said professors at BYUH have been invited to teach some of the sections.

“Since we are producing a lot of food, we are going to teach about food preservation as well.” He invited people to donate glass jars.

Bees and honey Harper said honey production has increased by 50 percent and they moved their beehives to a better location. “Bees were at the front of the farm, but we moved it to the back, which has less distraction,” he said. “Since our garden has more plants now, bees have more nectar, and they pollinate our plants.”

Emma Lance-Li, a senior from Georgia majoring in peacebuilding and a beekeeper at the center, said they captured two beehives from the temple and the Polynesian Cultural Center and brought them to their apiary.

“People reported they found beehives around

Training program The center plans to start a training program in January 2021 to train their employees and students who are interested.

Harper said the training will have five modules, including animal husbandry, horticulture, technicals, aquaponics and hydroponics, and Give & Take.

Harper shared the horticulture module will include photosynthesis, plant nutrition, water quality, genetics, pest control, pollination, suitability and maintenance.

Animal husbandry includes raising and maintaining animals such as bees and chickens, he explained.

Other projects The hydroponic and aquaponic projects were just a corner of the center, but now have expanded and have their own house, Harper said. It has more fish tanks for the fish, and more variety of plants were planted, he added.

Harper shared their next project is a corn field. They are planning to plant corn in a 2,000-square-foot field and will expand it later on.

Since March 2020, the Sustainability Center has baked and given away 50 loaves of bread every Sunday and continues doing it, Harper explained.

Dermont Christensen, a volunteer of the center from Seattle, said his four children graduated from BYUH so he wanted to give back by volunteering. He said he was an engineer for Boeing before he retired.

“I served my mission in Hawaii in 1970, and when I retired, I wanted to do something productive,” Christensen shared. “I love volunteering for the Sustainability Center. It is very fulfilling and rewarding.”

Emma Lance-Li has become the center’s beekeeper. Photo by Emmalee Bazar.

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Cambodia Club members gather for a photo before the pandemic. Photo provided by Amreth Phirun.

CAMBODIA CLUB: C CONNECTIVITY, SUPPORT AND CULTURE PROMOTING Club members stay connected remotely and promote cultural awareness through online communication and virtual events

By Xyron Levi Corpuz 34

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ambodia Club members shared how they were able to operate remotely during the Fall 2020 Semester and still have fun. The club presidency shared how they supported the club through technology and the organization’s goal to make members feel loved and spread awareness on campus about the club.

Operating remotely Club President Amreth (LeGrand) Phirun, a senior from Cambodia majoring in communications, shared the Cambodia club’s mission. “Our mission is to invite other students from all over the place and make them

The Cambodia Club dancing for the preview video for Culture Night 2020. Photo provided by BYU–Hawaii.

feel part of a big family. We help members to be leaders in their chosen fields and in the church,” Phirun shared.

Namonikeo Khen, a sophomore from Cambodia studying human resources and the club’s first vice president, said the club’s primary purpose this semester is to connect people during a disconnected time.

“We know a lot of students are away from the campus, but we try to bring everyone together through Zoom meetings and activities,” Khen shared.

Vannanoeun Roth, a senior from Cambodia majoring in human resources and second vice

president, said their club is different during the pandemic because they were not able to host the activities they wanted. “We had the opening social. It was good, and we had 10 people who joined via Zoom. We have a new member, [Kate Woodruff], who joined from Idaho. She wanted to explore, and she read about the club description...more about our culture.”

Kate Woodruff, a freshman from Idaho with an undeclared major, shared, “I was a bit nervous joining the opening social because it was my first time joining a virtual college club. I knew I wouldn’t know a single person there, but I wanted to be able to meet people

attending college, especially at BYU–Hawaii.”

She continued, “I also have a love for learning about people and places around the world, so I was excited to hear about Cambodia. When I arrived, I immediately felt welcome, even though I was one of the few people who had not previously been a member.

I introduced myself and then was already a part of the group.”

Roth shared how they were able to hold the activity remotely. “We introduced our culture to those who were not familiar with us. We had games and attendees could win a prize, which was an Amazon gift card. Our JANUARY 2021

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Roth said they were able to keep the club going through remote activities. Photos provided by Amreth Phirun.

club president had a good presentation about the country and shared it with the attendees so they would know what Cambodian people are like, how we live, eat, dance, etc. We played a Kahoot game where the participants answered questions about the culture and geography of Cambodia.”

Woodruff commented, “We learned about the history, geography and customs of Cambodia, including the history of the Khmer Genocide and Cambodian wedding customs. I still have my notes I took during the presentation because it was so interesting. ... I got second place both times [in Kahoot]. Everyone was having a great time racing to remember the answer. I was smiling the entire time.”

Roth said during this pandemic they want people to know they are still operating. She said, “We still support the members even though it is a slow time right now and not a lot of people are joining. The pandemic makes it difficult to contribute a lot, but we are still doing our best to be involved with a lot of students and organize different activities.”

Roth said when the club meets together remotely, they can check in on each other and talk about life and their stresses. Expressing feelings, she said, is cool so others in the same shoes can relate.

Phirun shared during this disconnected time he wants to help the club members stay connected. He continued, “We can keep Support and connectivity our relationship with others even [during] a Phirun said everyone is welcome to join the pandemic. Nothing can prevent us from having club. He shared, “Whoever joins the club will a good relationship with each other because be treated equally and will not discriminate. We of the technology we can use. There are so invite people from all over the place to come and many ways we can be connected and help the join our club and appreciate each other’s culture. I members to feel loved, even if we are far away truly believe the more we learn from each other’s from each other.” cultures, the more we will have respect towards During the pandemic, Phirun said he other cultures.” emails and sends text messages to the club members asking how they are doing. He said, 36

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“Even though I do not get a response, I still keep asking how they are doing to get everyone connected. I am grateful for the technology that makes all of this possible.”

Khen said he believes the Lord provided modern technology in order for everyone to survive this pandemic.

Roth said their goal is for the Cambodia Club to continue even though most of the club officers are graduating soon. “We are looking forward to more Cambodian students coming to BYUH. The Cambodia Club is a source to support them emotionally and physically.

“We can be very helpful. We would serve as a support team for them. We also extend our help to whoever wants to be part of the club and learn more about the culture.”

Promoting the club Roth said they want people to know their club exists on the campus. She shared, “Because we are the minority group at BYUH, whatever we do, we just want to introduce ourselves to others, that we are the people from Cambodia, and that we exist at BYUH. We want to promote our country and to show others we

also have our own culture. We want people to be aware of us.”

Phirun echoed Roth about promoting the club and said, “The reason why I want to keep the club open [during the pandemic] is to promote our culture and country. Unlike other countries, most people do not know where Cambodia is located and that it exists on the world map.”

Khen said they could introduce their food to the students on campus, especially during the previous Food Fest. According to her, people started to get to know their food,

especially the “rice pork.” They not only cook Cambodian food for the club activities but also for their friends and unit mates.

Roth commented, “When we joined the previous Culture Night, there were only 13 of us. People were surprised by who we were and that we exist. Even though we were small, we were able to showcase ourselves. We were able to influence other chapters, like the Vietnamese Club, to continue. Even though we are both small clubs, we still kept on going.”

Nothing can prevent us from having a good relationship with each other because of the technology we can use.

— Amreth Phirun

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Sharing culture through the Spanish language For Beristain, the most fulfilling aspect of being a Spanish tutor is the friendships she develops with her students

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By Xyron Levi Corpuz

A

s a Spanish tutor at BYU–Hawaii, Carolina Beristain shared the advantages of learning Spanish and gives helpful advice to those learning a new language. Beristain said she has been able to see her students progress in their Spanish skills and her students say she is a reliable source of help, even outside of their tutoring sessions.

Beristain, a senior from Mexico majoring in supply chain and marketing, said one day she was a guest at a Spanish class on campus where she was asked to share something in Spanish to the whole class.

After sharing, Hermana Elaine McArthur, the teacher, said she wanted Beristain to be one of the tutors for the class. At the time, Beristain was working as a residential advisor for one of the hales but agreed to become a Spanish tutor.

Now, she said she has been a Spanish tutor for almost two years.

Beristain said she had been a tutor for Spanish 101 and 102. As a tutor at BYUH, Beristain said she has worked with students from all over the world, including the U.S. mainland, the Philippines and Canada. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she said she is tutoring her students mostly online via Zoom and Facebook Messenger.

For Beristain, one of the most fulfilling parts of tutoring students is becoming friends with them. However, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, she said it is more challenging to connect with them.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, Beristain said she used to walk with her students because she liked learning to be more Graphics by Sadie Madriaga. Photo by Emmalee Bazar.

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interactive, rather than just sitting down and added she likes creating friendships with people from other countries.

Braxton Chavez, a freshman from Utah majoring in biochemistry and a tutee of Beristain, commented, “Carolina has been a really good tutor. Honestly, with this whole pandemic and this whole online learning, all of my Zoom [classes] have not been mandatory and you can just watch the recorded videos.”

He continued, “The only true interaction I had consecutively, on a weekly basis, has been with Carolina, and that has been super cool.”

Chavez said it was extremely difficult to not be able to communicate in person, especially when trying to learn another language. “You always want to have a conversation to be able to work on your learning skills and Carolina was perfect for that because of the way our meetings were set up.

“We would talk predominantly in Spanish and I just did my best to speak. She would text me English translations for certain words she knew I was unfamiliar with while she was on an interview with me [via video call].

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“[It] was super helpful because, while she was saying it, I could kind of get the translation ingrained in my brain.”

Another student of Beristain’s, Tauma Tekurio, a sophomore from Tahiti studying hospitality and tourism management, said, “Carolina is super nice, friendly and helpful.

She is always available if we have any questions, even [if] we are not tutoring.”

He said Beristain is helpful because she focuses on the specific concepts her students struggle with. For him, learning the past tenses and conjugations of the words was particularly difficult. Tekurio commented, “She gave me super easy examples and she is super clear in her explanations.”

Beristain shared she not only teaches her students the language, but she said she is also a friend who helps them when needed. “For example, one time I helped one of my students with her business homework. Although it is not teaching Spanish, I knew how to do [her homework]. I [helped her] and explained it to her. [During this time], everything was online.

It was hard to get resources from their TAs.

Beristain shared, “I have seen the learning and progress of the students. I have students who basically started with no knowledge of the language and at the end of Spanish 101 and 102, we could have a conversation [in Spanish] with each other.

“I have many students who I can have conversations with [in Spanish]. It makes me feel happy because they are using [what they have learned].” She continued, “When I see [students] taking a Spanish class and then they get their mission call to serve in Mexico, or any Spanish speaking countries, sometimes I follow them on social media. I have some students who are [missionaries] who share the gospel through social media in Spanish.

“It just makes me happy and surprised that their Spanish has gotten better, and, once they come back from their missions, it is going to be perfect.”

Beristain said learning Spanish could be a valuable asset in the workforce, especially on the U.S. mainland where she said there are many Latinos. “It will be [helpful] for your work environment and for your Spanish coworkers,” she explained.

She also said Spanish is helpful for tour guides at PCC, where they occasionally have Spanish speaking guests. Even learning a few simple words, like “Hola,” she said, would allow the guides to better communicate with visitors.

Beristain said people study Spanish today because there are Spanish-speaking, Latina artists, like Ariana Grande. She also said traveling is another reason people learn Spanish. She explained, “If you know [Spanish], you can travel to many places.”

Her advice to people who want to learn a new language is to, first, have a desire. Beristain said once a person has a desire to learn, they can do so many things. She added, “Pray in Spanish. Learn the same way a missionary does.

They pray and read the scriptures in English and in Spanish.”

She continued, “Listen to Spanish music and whatever Spanish media [you] have.

Whatever [you] are learning, try to practice it in [your] head. Every time [you] walk from one class to another, practice it in [your] mind.”

Even though BYUH has a diverse student body, Beristain said there are not many Latinos.

However, as a Spanish tutor, Beristain said she is contributing to the diversity of the campus by sharing her culture with those she teaches.

JANUARY 2021 Bazar.

41 Spanish tutor Carolina Beristain connects with students using technology.. Photos

by Emmalee

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There is always hope One year after experiencing a school shooting, Kiki Egetoe paints portraits of victims and assailant to help community recover

BY MCKENZIE CONNELL

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n Nov. 14, 2019, three students were killed in the Saugus High School shooting in Santa Clarita, Calif. Now, one year after the incident, Saugus graduate, Kiki Egetoe, shared she painted portraits of the victims to serve and assist her community in healing.

Kiki Egetoe, a freshman from California majoring in art and psychology, was in her choir class when the first shots were fired, she explained. “I've been in choir for four years, and I thought previously if a school shooting happened, I would hide in the [storage room],” she said. Never expecting something like that to happen, Egetoe said she was in shock the entire time.

“I was just praying for everyone's safety. I was praying for my safety. … I was just praying a lot,” Egetoe said. These prayers helped calm her, she said, until she walked off campus into her parents’ arms. School was shut down for a month to allow students and teachers time to cope, she said, but the first week back was the hardest. “I was numb for an entire week; I didn't cry at all. It made me feel like a robot and I was so confused,” she said. “In the end, you can't handle things like it,” she added.

Egetoe’s friends are still coping, she said.

“My best friend, she has PTSD from it. ... If she hears fireworks, she runs.” She added this was one of the reasons why her friend was unable to move to Laie with Egetoe due to the frequent fireworks in the town. “I think I've been blessed that I don't have PTSD from it,” she said, a blessing that assisted in her move to Laie less than a year after the event.

What is post-traumatic stress disorder?

Rachel Kekaula, the director of Counseling Services at BYU–Hawaii, said a traumatic event is an event that causes intense horror and threatens life and safety. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), she said, is a mental health diagnosis that results from a traumatic event, through either direct or secondary observance.

Some basic symptoms that assist in the diagnosis of PTSD, including hyper vigilance/ arousal, re-experiencing, night terrors and mood disturbances, she added.

“Hyper arousal is when the person is continuously in a state of survival: the fight, flight or freeze. … They're always hyper vigilant, always aware that something else is going to happen,” Kekaula said. Reexperiencing comes in the form of flashbacks, she explained, and are actually much more intense than just the memory or thought. “They actually take the person back to the traumatic event. … They have physiological responses to the flashback.”

Individuals will also begin to avoid places and things that may remind them of a traumatic event, she said. These are triggers and are what make counseling so necessary, Kekaula added, saying daily life is full of triggers, intentional or not, and are almost impossible to completely avoid. This disturbance of daily life, she said, can have a negative effect on an individual.

Kekaula said the Counseling Center provides the gold standard for treating trauma and PTSD. While she has never had the personal experience of working with a student recovering or addressing trauma from a school shooting, Kekaula said the counselors are trained in treating all traumas in students.

Kekaula advised any students struggling with symptoms to please come in and visit. “I would say there is hope. … Counseling therapy, it helps,” she said.

What to expect long term Lauren Goodwin, a junior from Colorado majoring in social work, attended

“I would say that there is hope...

Counseling therapy, it helps.”

Pictured is a portrait Egetoe painted of Gracie Muehlberger, one of the school shooting victims. Photo provided by Egetoe.

- Rachel Kekaula

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“It's like what they say in the scriptures, if you do one good thing Heavenly Father will bless you 10 times more. There's a lot of blessings I've seen that have come out of this traumatic experience.”

- Kiki Egetoe Columbine High School until graduating in 2018. The year Goodwin was born, Columbine became the location of one of the largest school shootings in the United State’s history, she explained. Her brother was four at the time, she said. “Luckily, [my family] was not directly impacted. We didn’t have any family or extended family that went to the school. We just lived in the community,” she said.

Until Goodwin’s junior year of high school, the shooting was not a constant thought, she said. As the 20th anniversary approached, the students at Columbine High School were experiencing two to three lockdowns a month over the course of four months, Goodwin said. Students were used to the threats, but the increased number of lockdowns shocked the students, Goodwin added.

Due to Columbine being a well-known location, Goodwin said it has become a tourist attraction. Tourists will stand across the street and take pictures and hold signs outside the school, she said. “It’s just really disheartening,” Goodwin added, “because when those people show up, they don’t realize we obviously take security very seriously and our school goes on shut down because they don’t know who these people are.”

Goodwin reflected on the affect the Columbine shooting had on her life. “It’s definitely made me think a lot more about how I go about interacting with people and being sensitive to who they are and what they might

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be going through and understanding that we all have a story,” she said.

Saugus students and faculty returned to the school after the break, Egetoe explained. When she returned, Egetoe said she remembered the prayers she said in the closet. “God really helped [me] the last semester of high school,” she said, adding it was almost like He saved all the blessings from the past three years and dumped them on her at the end. Her biggest blessing, she said, came a month before the shooting, which prepared her for the service she would provide to the victims’ families.

“In order for me to cope with this shooting, I literally never felt like it before. I sprang into action,” Egetoe said.

The beginning of Kiki Egetoe Art “A month before it happened, I started painting,” Egetoe said. She classified her painting under a group of styles, including abstract, expressionist, fauvism and neo expressionism. Three days before the shooting, Egetoe said she posted her first piece in this new style on Facebook. She used bright, rainbow colors in all of her pieces, something she has made distinctly her own.

After the shooting, Egetoe began painting portraits of the three victims to give to each of the families. Although she was concerned it would cause controversy, she included a portrait of Nathan Berhow, the assailant, on her Instagram art page. “[His mom] was getting

some [support], but it was barely any,” she said, and she deserved just as much support because her child had just died too.

“I remember my dad walking into the family room where I was painting and just shaking his head. He said, ‘You better be careful,’” Egetoe said. “But I was so worried about his mom. I had so much compassion for her.” So, along with the portrait, Egetoe collected letters of love and support and gave those to Nathan’s mother as well.

Her reaction was amazing, Egetoe said. She saw the painting and started crying and gave me the biggest hug. After finishing the paintings, a job that took over 100 hours, Heavenly Father just packed in the blessings, she said.

“It’s like what they say in the scriptures, if you do one good thing Heavenly Father will bless you 10 times more,” Egetoe said. “There’s a lot of blessings that I’ve seen that have come out of this traumatic experience. … I’m just really grateful.”

A fund has been established through the Gracie Strong Foundation to help provide support for youth to “SPEAK UP” and can be found at graciestrong.org. Kiki Egetoe’s art can also be found at kikiegetoe.com. Stickers can be found on the website, and all the proceeds will be donated to the Gracie Strong Fund, Egetoe explained.

Pictured is a portrait Egetoe painted of Dominic Blackwell, one of the school shooting victims. Photo provided by Egetoe.

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Jack and Lise Taleni pictured during their days studying at BYU–Hawaii.. Photo provided by the Talenis.

A trip down memory lane

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Alumni express gratitude for time at BYUH and their daughter says she’s excited to follow in their footsteps

By Lisi Tiafau

usband and wife duo, Jack and Lise Taleni, both BYU–Hawaii alumni from Samoa, said the challenges and lessons they learned at BYUH helped them grow and excel in their personal lives. Today, they are both leaders at the Church College of Pesega and Pesega Middle School in Samoa where they encouraged students to pursue an education at BYUH. Jack Taleni, an alumnus from Samoa who majored in computer studies, is now the principal of the Church College of Pesega.

Looking back on his time at BYUH, he said, “I was excited and had a lot of expectations for BYU–Hawaii.” He stated he enjoyed learning, the school’s atmosphere and the culture.

“After my mission, I came back to BYUH and I was more mature. I got my degree in time,” Jack Taleni said. He stated his mission helped him mature and change. He also shared he worked at the Polynesian Cultural Center in the Samoan Village.

“What I love about BYU–Hawaii is the opportunity to meet all kinds of people from 46

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different parts of the world.” He said when he first came to BYUH, he was a shy person and his job at the Center helped him gain confidence.

Jack Taleni explained he would greet guests in the Samoan Village by saying, “Talofa!

Welcome to the Samoa Village!” That, he said, is how he started to gain confidence in himself.

He said another reason he loved BYUH was the many activities held on campus and said he specifically missed weddings. “I remember the weddings there.You don’t need an invitation to be invited.You just walk in and grab some food.” He shared his favorite weddings were the Tongan weddings because of the food.

Lise Taleni, an alumna from Samoa who majored in accounting and is now the vice principal of Pesega Middle School, was a recent convert to the Church when she came to BYUH in 1992.

She stated she focused on her education and knew other things would follow. “I love BYUH because of its peaceful environment and

the opportunities it offers to meet and interact with many people from different cultures.

“What I loved the most about BYUH is I got to learn so many different things. I got to learn different dances from different cultures and much more,” Lise Taleni said. She added, as a student, she worked many jobs, from waiting tables to being a tour guide in the Samoan Village at the Polynesian Cultural Center.

She added she learned a lot of new things from BYUH and the Center. “The people are friendly and it is centered around the gospel.”

Jack and Lise Taleni said they married in 1995, and Lise Taleni graduated in June 1996.

She went on to say, “There are people who have a negative mindset and think BYUH is a place of matchmaking, a place to find your soulmate, but that is not [what] BYUH is all about.” She encouraged and advised students to focus on their education in addition to dating.

“I found my companion there and I am grateful and blessed that I have gone through BYUH. So, I would recommend [BYUH] to a lot of young people.” Lise Taleni stated.

Now educational leaders in Samoa, BYUH graduates Jack and Lise Taleni said they encourage the youth there to pursue an education at BYUH. Photos provided by the Talenis.

Jack Taleni said, “BYUH is a wonderful place.You meet a lot of different people and if you prepare well to go there and go for your education, you will get a lot out of BYUH.” “It is a wonderful place to be,” Lise Taleni added. “If you have your priorities straight and focus, you can have an education, family, gospel and everything to complete your life there at BYUH.” Jack Taleni said, “When you prepare yourself well and have an open mind with a positive attitude and go there with a willingness to focus on your education and don’t forget to enjoy the many activities at BYUH, you will have a great experience.”

Lise and Jack Taleni, now educational leaders in Samoa, said they encourage the youth there to not miss out on the opportunities and experiences offered at BYUH. Lise Taleni said, “It has become a memorable experience we will forever hold dear to our hearts.”

Quadaela Taleni, a freshman from Samoa majoring in political science, is the youngest daughter of Jack and Lise Taleni. Due to

COVID-19, she was unable to come to BYUH for her first semester in Fall 2020.

She said, “Hearing so many great things from my parents about BYUH made me want to go there someday and experience it for myself.”

She stated BYUH had played a big role in her parents’ life and career. “My parents shared how shy they were when they first went to BYUH. They became more confident and that helped them both in their future careers and still [helps them] today,” she said.

Quadaela Taleni said all three of her siblings are attending different universities, but said she wanted to be the one to attend BYUH. “Even though I am not physically on campus, so far I am enjoying my online experience this semester. I am excited to start my journey at BYUH and experience what my parents experienced when they were at BYUH,” Quadaela Taleni said.

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A FAITHFUL CONVERT AND TRUSTED FRIEND

A Myanmar student joins the Church through studying the Book of Mormon despite her difficulty reading English

BY XYRON LEVI CORPUZ

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u Myat (Rachel) Yadanar Shin said she and her family were taught the gospel by senior missionaries in their home in Myanmar in 2009. She said they decided to learn more about the Church because of a friend’s invitation to attend. Eventually, Shin said they gained testimonies and joined the Church. Nine years later, Shin arrived at BYU– Hawaii.

A chance meeting with the missionaries Su Myat Yadanar Shin, a sophomore from Myanmar majoring in biochemistry, shared, “Our family investigated the Church for a year. ... [The missionaries] visited our home and started teaching the lessons. It took a while, but our whole family joined the church together in November of 2010.”

Yan Shin Fawn, Shin’s father, and Myat Myat Soe, Shin’s mother, both said God knew they were looking for the true church and said they were guided to a chance meeting with the senior missionaries. Shin’s parents said they and their family invited the missionaries to their home and were taught about the Book of Mormon and the restored gospel, which they had never heard before.

Shin said her family were previously members of the Baptist church so it was not hard for them to understand who Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father were. Other concepts, she said, were more difficult to understand.

“It is kind of hard to understand about the Prophet Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon,” shared Shin. “We only knew the Bible. It took us a long time to gain a testimony, but we do believe the Church is true, so we got baptized.”

Shin said her and her family have attended many different churches, but when they found

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she said they have stayed ever since.

Converted by the Book of Mormon Shin said The Book of Mormon was one of the reasons she gained a testimony of the Church.

Even though there was no Myanmar translation of the book at the time, she said she tried her best to read it. “It was really interesting. My English was really bad back in the day. It was so hard for me to read it and understand it, but I tried so hard because I really wanted to understand it.”

Shin added she could feel the Spirit as she read the Book of Mormon. “I was curious as I read chapter by chapter. I was really interested in reading and wanted to know more. I do believe the Holy Spirit helped me to understand it.”

She continued, “Can you imagine? My English is not really good, but I know the Book of Mormon is true. It’s awesome.”

Challenges as a Latter-day Saint Shin explained she had a high school teacher who did not understand her Christian commitment to the Church. She shared, “We

“Can you imagine?

My English is not really good, but I know the Book of Mormon is true.

It’s awesome.”

- Su Myat Yadanar Shin

Above: Shin and her family. The meet with missionaries for a year before joining the Church.

Left: Shin in traditional Myanmar dress. Photos by San Yate (Insain).

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Shin (left) said she is very close with her coworker, Ioanna Beia (right). Photos provided by Su Myat Yadanar Shin.

would have a study group, and then the teacher would ask me what I am going to do on Sunday, and I would say I am going to church.

“Sometimes we had exams on Sundays and I would tell them I cannot come because I need to go to church. I tried my best to help my teacher to understand me.”

Shin said, in high school, she was the only Christian while the rest of her friends were Buddhist. “I had friends from different religious backgrounds, and we all get along, and they are good friends too.”

One day, Shin said a classmate from school began to question her beliefs. When he found out she was giving a talk at church, Shin said he was surprised because she is a woman.

She explained, “He is also a Christian, but the women in his church do not give talks at the pulpit.”

She continued, “He started teasing me in a mocking way all the time after that. It is hard for him to accept it. He was mocking me in front of my friends all the time and it was difficult.”

After serving in the Salt Lake City, Temple Square Mission, Shin said she worked as a Quality Control Inspector for an underwear company. She said she was one of the most important employees because she could speak English. When her boss would ask her to work on Sundays, Shin said she would refuse.

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“They asked me why I do not work on Sundays and told me that if I work on Sundays, I would get more money. They said I am just wasting my time just sitting in church every Sunday.”

Friends of the same faith Shin said her experience studying at BYUH is different than any other school she’s attended. She said, “I love it. It is a different feeling. I’ve never had this kind of experience before. I am really happy to be in school and study with all my friends who have the same beliefs. We go to church together, we study together and we have family home evenings, so it’s really cool.”

Shin said she feels both lucky and blessed to have not only friends, but also teachers of the same faith. This, she said, allows them to connect more easily.

Shin expressed appreciation for the diversity on campus and is interested in learning about different cultures. Even though there are not many students from Myanmar on campus, she said she has made friends with students from different countries around the world.

When talking about her best friend, Shin said, “I am really close to Ioanna [Beia]. People will see me hanging out with her. She is my co-worker and sometimes we attend the same

classes. Even though we are different, we are enjoying each other’s company. She is my best friend.”

Ioanna Beia, a sophomore from Kiribati majoring in hospitality and tourism management, shared, “[Shin] is the kindest friend I ever knew. She even waits for me ... beside my room so that we can go to work at the same time. I’m so surprised when someone calls my name outside my window. She is loving to everyone and talkative. We share our laughter, secrets and problems. She is a trusted friend for me.”

Marie Joy (MJ) Ritual Arao, a junior from the Philippines studying English education, shared life lessons she’s learned from Shin. “[Shin] taught me whatever life throws at you, or whatever criticisms you receive, accept them wholeheartedly, and it will be up to you on how to make a change. She taught me how to be more humble.”

Shin described BYUH as one big family.

“Sometimes I do not understand different cultures and different languages, but because of the gospel, we are all brothers and sisters in Christ and that is how we become an ohana.”

Left, top and bottom: Shin said she is happy to study with friends who have the same beliefs. Top right: Shin and her family at the Manila Philippines Temple.

Photos provided by Su Myat Yadanar Shin.

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Ray Yusheng Xu and his team took second place in the Willes Center’s Great Ideas competition.

A PASSION

FOR PROGRAMMING Ray Yusheng Xu says he designed the BYUH Student app to guide and help incoming students

By Adam Livingston

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Xu and a teammate pose for a photo with their competition presentation. Photos provided by Ray Yusheng Xu.

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ay Yusheng Xu, a senior from China majoring in computer science, said he has enjoyed his time at BYU–Hawaii where he met his wife, created the BYUH Student app and made good friends.

Xu grew up on the island Hainan, which he described as a “tropical island below mainland China.” Because the climate there is similar to Hawaii’s, Xu said he was used to life on an island.

When he was young, Xu said he learned about BYUH from his peers. “My friends in church were talking about it and my mom always talked about it, so I kind of had a desire to come here when I was young. Lots of people praised BYUH, so I set it as my goal.”

Upon coming to BYUH, Xu said, “There was a little bit of a culture shock, although I did have American companions on my mission.

However, studying in English and learning courses in an American way was a bit of a culture shock and it took me a bit of time to adjust and turn in assignments.”

While at BYUH, Xu said he focused on iOS development and developing apps for the

iPhone. In 2019, he created the BYUH Student app. It serves as a “guide to helping students.”

He said, “I created it to help new students. I hope to add more updates to it in the coming new year.”

The app includes a map of campus, the cafeteria menu, and other academic tools designed for daily use to assist BYUH students.

Kenneth Kalama, the Career Services manager, said the app was helpful for them as a way to advertise their events for the Asia-Pacific Career Conference (APCC).

Kalama said Xu and his team “were able to take the information we had for our events and advertise them on their app in a very short amount of time. On top of that, they were able to help us stay within a budget that allowed us to do more with a quick turnaround time.”

Xu’s team was very responsive, Kalama said, and their contributions “helped make APCC a success despite the challenges we faced with the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

One of Xu’s close friends, Houan Zhu, a senior from Taiwan majoring in graphic design,

said, “Ray is a very determined and hardworking person. Being his friend and coworker, I often got to see the result of that. He gets what he wants through hard work.

“He got a raise, he got a full scholarship, he got a girlfriend, and then he got married.”

Zhu continued, “That’s who Ray is. He goes according to plan and hits the goals he sets.”

Xu’s wife, Xiaoxiao Xiong, a sophomore from China majoring in TESOL, said she first met Xu when he picked her up from the airport when she first came to Hawaii. Looking back, she said she is amazed at how far her husband has come.

“Seeing Ray’s journey at BYUH has amazed me. He likes to serve. He [works with] people around him. He loves coding. When the idea about making an app for BYUH came up, he was so enthusiastic and obsessed about it.

“He wants to help students on campus have a better experience here. I think he did an amazing job. The journey he has had here is amazing.”

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While serving as a missionary, Seina Hamano said she fell in love with the kindness and spirituality of Laie.

Photo provided by Seina Hamano.

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A missionary and a Seasider Former Hawaii Honolulu missionary returns to BYU–Hawaii as a student

By Xyron Levi Corpuz

W

hile serving in the Hawaii Honolulu Mission, Seina Hamano said she fell in love with the kindness and spirituality of Laie and decided to attend BYU–Hawaii. Now, in her sophomore year, she said she learns from her friends and coworkers and tries to give back to the university by tutoring students in Japanese.

Destined to be in Laie Hamano, a sophomore from Japan majoring in intercultural peacebuilding, said she was happy she was called to serve in the Hawaii Honolulu Mission as a full-time missionary. She explained her sister served in the same mission and was a student at BYUH. “Me and my sister share a deep connection with this university,” Hamano said.

Saaya Hamano Knight, a BYUH alumna and sister of Hamano, said, “When Seina read it

was the Hawaii Honolulu Mission, I couldn’t be happier for her. I had just finished my mission there and absolutely fell in love with the mission and the people. I was so excited and happy because I knew they would take really good care of her.”

Hamano shared, “When I arrived in Hawaii for my mission, my sister was just about to get married. On the fourth day of my mission, my sister got married in the temple, and she eventually flew to Utah with her husband, and we only just met for a few days. It was so cool I was able to attend her wedding.”

Falling in love with Laie When Hamano arrived as a missionary to Laie, she said she enjoyed the people.

She explained, “Of course the place is very beautiful, but I feel more impressed with the people, how selfless they are and how warm

they are to us. Through them, I understood the meaning of ohana by the way they live their lives.”

Hamano said Laie is very different from Japan, where she said most people do not believe in God and do not have religion. She continued, “Laie is a gathering place for the members and there are a lot of people who have a strong faith. I was surprised how big the Church is in the community.”

Knight echoed her sister’s love of the people of Laie and said Laie is full of energy and a good spirit which, she said, is contagious.

“That special spirit and energy becomes part of you as you live in the community,” Knight said. “I have so much love for the people [in Laie]. Many of the greatest people I have met were from the Laie community and BYUH campus. And for that, this community will always have my heart.”

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During Hamano’s time as a missionary, she said she served in many YSA wards where she had many opportunities to serve among the BYUH students. She said she loves how the school has a blessed environment for the students where the people always help each other.

“Serving with the students increased my desire to want to come to the university because there is such a great example of service amongst them. I know they are busy, but they still feed us, help us and work with us missionaries.

“I wanted to be like the students who continued to do missionary work even after their missions. They made a great impression on me.”

Surrounded by great friends Hamano said she has met a lot of great friends while attending BYUH. She said her friends have inspired her to be kind and compassionate to others, to work hard, to do her best and even to get out of her comfort zone.

“Because this is a Church university, I knew I would have great friends and great spirituality while I am studying as a student,” said Hamano.

MeLisa Oaks, a sophomore from Utah studying graphic design, said, “Seina is a good friend. She is very sincere, gentle, understanding, and I feel comfortable in her presence. She always says nice things about other people.

“She sees the good in other people, [gives] people the benefit of the doubt and also acknowledges good qualities about them,” Oaks added.

Hamano said she wants to be better at serving the people around her while attending BYUH. She said, “I am still learning, through my friends’ and coworkers’ examples, on how to support the people around me and how people around me can support me.”

Kanoko Yonei, a junior from Japan majoring in psychology, said, “I think [Hamano] is a very energetic person and she works hard in every aspect of her life. I am not a very outgoing person, but because of her example, I came to try to interact with other people like my classmates and roommates.

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“She taught me to do my best in everything I deal with. She also taught me to be myself just the way I am.”

Contributing to the BYUH ohana As a Seasider, Hamano said she feels she contributes to the BYUH community in her own simple ways. She said one of her contributions is by being a Japanese tutor for students who want to learn the language.

“I am a Japanese tutor for Japanese 101 and 102. BYUH has a lot of international

students. People who are learning different languages can get help from native speakers. I have no formal training on being a tutor, but I am grateful I can help the students who need assistance in learning the language.”

Hamano added she is also contributing to the campus by being part of the Relief Society presidency in her ward. “I have a lot of opportunities to go out and reach out to people in the ward, and it is a great experience for me.”

Hamano said the people of Laie show her the meaning of ohana by the way they live their lives.

Photos provides by Seina Hamano.

Top: Seina Hamano with her friend MeLisa Oaks.

Bottom: Seina Hamano attending her sister Saaya’s wedding during her mission. Photos provided by Seina Hamano.

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A future so bright Ariana Guido says BYU–Hawaii offered her more opportunities than any university ever could

By Emily Cassler

A

Ariana Guido said she felt her beliefs and values were understood by the professors at BYUH. Photo provided by Ariana Guido.

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r iana Guido, a senior from Simi Valley, California, transferred to BYU–Hawaii from a junior college in Southern California in 2018. Guido explained she originally came to BYUH to reconnect the distance she felt between herself and her academic journey. This distance, she said, stemmed from the lack of understanding she felt from teachers and peers who were not aware of her religion and values.

“I decided to come to BYUH because I was originally studying at a junior college in Southern California where I lived, and I just felt like I really wanted to go to a school where I felt like my beliefs were understood by my professors because I just felt that disconnect between my professors at my previous school and the students also.”

Guido said it was difficult to have certain classes with professors who didn’t understand her religious views. This, she said, led to some discomfort that began to affect her learning.

Eventually, Guido said, she started to consider the idea of coming to BYUH. “I just felt really special energy about this place and it stuck with me for years. So I applied and I got in. It was actually the only school I applied to.”

Guido decided to continue studying communications and said today’s culture, as well as her previous junior college credits, led her to make that decision. She explained, “In our world, I feel like communications can really translate well into a real job. It was such a great decision because I’ve loved being in this program. I think the communications program is really great here and has a lot to offer.”

Guido’s fiance, Ben Cranney, a senior from California studying communications, said he first noticed Guido in their communications class where they worked alongside each other. After being introduced to each other in 2019, Cranney said he noticed Guido’s work

Ariana Guido advised current students to slow down and appreciate every moment. Photo provided by Ariana Guido.

ethic, not only in her school work, but also in pursuing her dreams of acting.

“Somedays she’ll have a bunch of assignments due and her agent will call her and say, ‘I want you to audition for this,’ so she’ll drop everything and get it done. She does such a great job. After that, she still does all of her homework, and it’s just really impressive to me,” explained Cranney.

When looking back at her time spent at BYUH, Guido said the unique atmosphere of the university led to great experiences she could not encounter anywhere else.

“The diversity of BYUH has allowed its students to experience different cultures,” Guido shared. “My roommate and I love to dance and we love to participate in the dance groups, so we were able to perform at Food Fest and that was really fun.

“I just love all the cultural events and Culture Night. Even though we didn’t get to perform this [past] Winter Semester, the rehearsals were such fun and the energy there was just like it. It was awesome. I just love that

we bring together so many different kinds of people.”

Guido’s roommate, Emily Hendrickson, a junior from Arizona studying graphic design, said she was able to see firsthand the positive impact Guido has made at BYUH. She said, “Ari is a very hard worker and puts a lot of effort, not only into school, but also into her career and into her friendships.”

Guido said she wanted to express her gratitude for the opportunities BYUH has offered her. She was recently a co-host on a live face-to-face event with Elder Ronald A. Rasband. As a co-host, Guido attributed her studies to helping her prosper in that atmosphere.

She said, “Without my professors and my time in my communications classes, I feel like they really helped me out at that moment. The opportunity to co-host was one of the first accomplishments I was able to relate back to school.”

As a graduating senior, Guido offered advice to current students she said she wished

she understood sooner. “I learned how to slow down and appreciate the moment and appreciate what’s around me. I feel like that’s the only thing that balanced out my crazy stress levels when I was trying to get assignments done. I think just being here in Hawaii, it really helped me learn that lesson and I think it’s super valuable.”

Guido expressed how much value was added to her life through connecting with her peers. She said, “Community around you is one of the most important elements of education.”

As for life after graduation, Guido said she is moving back to Los Angeles to continue her professional pursuits.

Despite graduating in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, which Guido said has placed her in a difficult position as opportunities are not as abundant as they once were, she said she remains excited for the future. Guido added she is “pretty hopeful and happy to be done. Almost done.”

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Some of the BYU–Hawaii ohana members featured in this issue are, left to right, Munkhzul Galbadrakh, Leslie Harper, Atea Lee Chip Sao, Dermont Christensen and Akane Sasaki. Photo by Mark Tabbilos.