Ke Alaka'i - June 2021

THE LEADER

JUNE 2021

10 DISABILITY DIDN’T STOP HER “My challenges sharpen my intelligence and increase my faith.”

JUN E 2021 1

JUNE 2021 • VOLUME 129 • ISSUE 2

LeeAnn Lambert ADVISOR

Abbie Putnam COPY EDITOR

Emily Hendrickson ART & GRAPHICS

Alexandra Clendenning MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST

Hailey Huhane EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Michael Kraft COPY EDITOR

Marlee Palmer ART & GRAPHICS

Lauren Goodwin MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST

Mark Daeson Tabbilos PHOTOGRAPHER 2 KE AL AK A‘I 2021

Emmalee Bazar CONTENT MANAGER

Katie Mower ART DIRECTOR

Serena Dugar Ioane COPY EDITOR

Sadie Madriaga ART & GRAPHICS

Xyron Levi Corpuz MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST

Anna Stephenson MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST

Ulziibayar Badamdorj PHOTOGRAPHER

Lisi Tiafau MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST

Elle Larson MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST

Uurtsaikh Nyamdeleg VIDEOGRAPHER

LE T T E R FROM T H E E D ITO R -IN -CHIEF As the editor-in-chief for the Ke Alaka‘i, I have a unique opportunity to spend many devoted and intentional hours with the articles we produce. The stories we tell at the magazine are uplifting and inspiring to me, and I often say I have the best job in the world. For this issue, we decided to focus on the second part of the University’s motto, “go forth to serve.” Here, we highlight individuals in the BYU–Hawaii community who have dedicated their time to serving others and have consecrated their lives to serving God. Since coming to BYUH, I’ve been humbled by the many quiet examples of selfless service. Like Keith Lane, I too have come to realize that our lives are not simply our own but are meant to help others and to build God’s kingdom (pg. 55).

The stories in this issue show how people linked to this University are making meaningful differences in the lives of others. Like Indra Lokatama, who teaches TVA children hapkido for free (pg. 12). Or the Bells, who every morning walk the bike path feeding the birds and picking up trash (pg. 48). From student volunteers who brought a “mini PCC” to struggling youth (pg. 18), to local musicians coming together for a concert to honor educators (pg. 66), this issue is filled with individuals who emulate BYUH’s purpose.

Now, as my time at BYUH comes to an end, I feel fortunate to have studied in a place where both my head and my heart have been nurtured. It’s now my sacred responsibility to “go forth to serve” in whatever capacity and place my life will take me. I will forever cherish my time at BYUH, and I hope this issue will leave you feeling uplifted and inspired. I know it has done so for me.

Hailey Huhane NEWS CENTER CONTACT BOX 1920 Email: ke a l a k a i @ by u h . e d u BYUH Phone: ( 8 0 8 ) 6 7 5 - 3 6 9 4 Fax: ( 8 0 8 ) 6 7 5 - 3 4 9 1 LAIE, HI 96762 Office: BY U – H awa i i A l o h a C e n t e r 1 3 4 P r i n t S e r v i c e s ON THE COVER: E d i t o r i a l , p h o t o s u b m i s s i o n s Buyanzaya Altansukh, a senior from Mongolia who & D i s t r i b u t i o n i n q u i r i e s : suffers from a nervous system disorder that makes it difficult to walk. Photo by Mark Daeson Tabbilos. kealakai@byuh.edu.

ON THE BACK: To s u b s c r i b e t o t h e R S S F E E D Photos of graduates and retiring professors the o r t o v i e w a d d i t i o n a l a r t i c l e s , g o t o Lanes. Photos by Mark Daeson Tabbilos, Ulziibayar k e a l a k a i . b y u h . e d u . Badamdorj and Emmalee Bazar.

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

The name means “the leader” in Hawaiian.What began as a monthly newsletter, evolved into a weekly newspaper, then a weekly magazine and is now a monthly news magazine with a website and a social media presence. Its vision is to increase faith, passion and perspective by sharing inspiring stories.Today, a staff of about 20 students work to fulfill our vision for BYU–Hawaii’s campus ohana and Laie’s community.

© 2021 Ke Alaka‘i BYU–Hawaii All Rights Reserved

JUN E 2021 3

C O N T E N T S

Table of

4 KE AL AK A‘I 2021

6 Art submission 7 Campus Comments 8 Country Highlight: China

GO FORTH TO SERVE 10 Disability didn’t stop her 12 Hapkido in the heart 16 Serving a mission during the pandemic 18 Drawing strength: Mini PCC 21 Recipe: Summer pasta salad

SENIOR FEATURES

22

Acting with faith: Jango Bazar

26

Hero of the chickens: Munkhzul Galbadrakh

28

One-of-a-kind Kimo Burgess

30 32

The simple things: Lily Tumursukh

34

Uncertain but unafraid: Natasha Mathurent

36

Bracing for the future: Adam Brace

Preparing to serve: Ariel Tatuil

CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY 42

Man behind the bowtie: Dr. Neil J. Anderson retirement

46

Lavulavus retirement feature

48 52 55 58 62 66 70

The Bells and the birds Brooks Haderlie retirement feature The Lanes retirement feature Fire safety

JUNE 2021

Fireknife sisters Educator Appreciation Concert Big island crushing Oahu

JUN E 2021 5

C R E AT I V E W R I T I N G/AR T/ PHOTO S UBM I S S I ON

“The Power of Pipeline”

by Tanner Quinn, a senior from California studying finance.

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

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

FOL L OW US A ROUND T HE W EB

K E A L A K A I . BY UH . E D U

6 KE AL AK A‘I 2021

CAMPUS C O M M E N T S How ca n you r m a jo r h e l p your p e o p l e an d cou n t r y w h e n you g ra d ua t e fro m BY U H ?

BY X YR ON LE VI C OR PUZ Pristine V. Domingo, a junior from the Philippines studying clinical psychology, said, “First, I want to prepare myself to be qualified so I can serve the best I can. … After I graduate, I am going to take the GRE … and do an internship so I have the experience to back up my service.” She said she also plans to apply at BYU in Provo for a doctorate in psychology. “That way I could help people with their psychotherapy and career counseling. So those are my ways of leading, helping people and building the kingdom of God after I graduate.”

Mark Maslar, a junior from California majoring in theater management, said, “Though I’m from California and I plan to learn from Hollywood in the different industries that are there, what I plan to do is take my skills back to the Philippines where my mom is from. At least then I can go to the different places where film and theatre aren’t that big and at least help it become something more than what it might be in some of the places in the Philippines.”

Lositika Vaka, a junior from Tonga majoring in mathematics and math education, said, “When I go back home, I’ll be teaching [math] in secondary schools and later on maybe go for my master’s degree. … Teaching math in Tonga is very helpful. We do have a lot of good math teachers, but I feel like there’s need of more math teachers back home.”

Solongo Norov, a junior from Mongolia majoring in marketing and economics, said she wants to help Mongolia improve how businesses use marketing strategies by moving from traditional ways to modern ways. “In Mongolia, offline marketing or traditional marketing is popular. I would like to evolve it to online or digital marketing,” she explained.

Kate Woodruff, a freshman from Idaho whose major is undecided, said, “I want to go into ultrasound, and I feel like I can help people in the medical field and teach them about OB-GYN. … I’ve always kind of wanted to go into the medical field because it just sounds like a career I want to do.”

Buyanbat Dagvadorj, a junior from Mongolia studying psychology, said, “In Mongolia, I want to help high school and middle school students to make better choices [as a school psychologist] and … [help them] to be better students in their city or college and be better moms or dads.” • Photos by Mark Daeson Tabbilos. Graphics by Katie Mower.

JUN E 2021 7

COUNTRY HIGHLIGHT: CHINA Celebrations and traditions in China bring families together, says two BYUH students

BY LAUREN GOODWIN

F

amily is at the center of Chinese culture, traditions, food and celebrations. For example, Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year, brings extended families together to decorate their homes, enjoy time away from school and eat family favorite foods, said two BYU–Hawaii sophomores from China.

They said spending time with family during holidays is a highlight of life in China.

Kefei Yu, a communications major, and Fei Liu, an accounting major, shared as a nation, they love Spring Festival traditions, like the dragon dances and exchanges of red envelopes for good luck and prosperity.

Yu said the Spring Festival is “like Christmas in the U.S. Most of the people will make

8 KE AL AK A‘I 2021

dumplings together and spend time together as a family,” and this lasts up to two weeks.

What is it like to attend BYUH as a student from China?

Compared to her high school experience in China, Liu said BYUH feels a lot more laid back. She explained in China “we only have three years to study [in high school], and it’s very hard to take the college entrance examination at the end of the year.”

The exam is competitive, she said, and causes a lot of stress for high school students.

Although the exam is somewhat catered to what they studied in school, it is very exhausting, she added.

Yu said she has noticed many differences in the classrooms at BYUH compared to the classrooms in China. In China, she said people stand up to answer questions instead of staying seated.

The education system in China uses standardized testing to meet national standards, she explained, and individual creativity was not encouraged.

At BYUH,Yu said she feels she can share her opinions on subjects and the professors learn from the students just as much as the students learn from them. She expressed her appreciation for the relationships she has with her professors and said she feels respected when she shares her thoughts or opinions in class.

What is your country most known for?

Yu said China is known for its cuisine.

“There is different food across all different provinces and each one has a signature flavor.”

She said the signature food from her province, Tianjin City, is a steamed dumpling filled with pork called goubuli baozi.

Liu said China is known for kung fu.

Foreigners associate China with martial arts and assume everyone in China knows kung fu, she added.

What are some unique cultural practices there?

During the Spring Festival, otherwise known as Chinese New Year,Yu said parents or elders give a red envelope full of money to their children or unmarried individuals.

The red color of the envelope is a symbol of good luck,Yu explained. Chinese people do this to wish others good luck and prosperity. A long time ago, many people believed evil spirits would come and take children, but if they had either the money or the envelope they would be safe, she explained. “You are protected from evil when you wear a lucky color.”

Liu said she enjoys watching the dragon dance during the Spring Festival. The dance is performed in celebration of the new year, she said, either at the end or in the middle of the festival. She said the dragons are made with red paper to symbolize power and good fortune.

The dance is believed to bring good luck and blessings to the community and cast away evil spirits, she added.

What is a major holiday in your country and how do you celebrate it?

The biggest holiday in China is the Spring Festival,Yu said. People hang up decorations and, instead of Christmas trees, they hang scrolls on their doors. She stated families also make paper decorations in the shape of the Chinese zodiac animal that represents the current year.

Liu said the Spring Festival is the most exciting holiday because for students it means they get a long break from school work. She said she loved being able to spend time with her extended family and enjoyed a lot of food.

Her family makes fish for this holiday because fish represents prosperity, she explained.

What is your country like geographically?

Yu and Liu both said they live in the heart of big cities. Liu said she is from the Jiangxi province and Yu from Tianjin City. Yu said she loves the modern feel of the city and the convenience of everything being close to her.

Liu said both the countryside and the city have advantages and disadvantages, but she prefers the city as educational opportunities are more accessible there. She loves to visit her grandparents in the country but added she enjoys being close to everything in the city.

What do you love most about your country?

Liu said she loves the strict academic programs in China. School in China was hard for her, she clarified, but said high school prepared her for college.

In Chinese high schools, all homework assignments are completed within the same day, Liu explained. Most students don’t leave the school until 9 or 10 o’clock at night, she added.

Yu said the rules China has to protect their citizens allows her to feel safe from harm.

What is the main language spoken there?

Liu said the language most people speak in mainland China is Mandarin.Yu agreed, saying, “The official language is Mandarin Chinese, but people from certain provinces speak different dialects.” In the Guangdong Province, located near Hong Kong,Yu said people speak Cantonese.

What is your favorite food from your country?

Liu said her favorite food is mapo tofu, which is usually made with tofu and a spicy sauce. The packets of sauce have three different levels of spice, and she said her favorite is the medium level. She said these packets can be found at the supermarket and are easy to make.

Yu said her favorite meal is a hot pot. A hot pot is a soup, she explained, saying you can

put any toppings you want in it, whether it be meat, seafood, vegetables or sesame seeds.Yu enjoys her hot pot with a lot of meat, sweet potato and corn.

What is the meaning of your flag?

In primary school, children learn the meaning of China’s flag,Yu explained. The red background, she said, represents the Chinese communist revolution, while the big star represents the communist party. The four stars surrounding it represent different societal classes, she added.

Liu said the smaller stars represent the working class, peasant class, urban petty bourgeoisie or middle class, and national bourgeoisie or the upper class. In addition to China’s communist revolution, she added the red background also represents the blood of their ancestors during the revolution.• Above: Fei Liu holds the China flag. Photo by Ulziibayar Badamdorj.

Left: Photos of Fei Liu celebrating Spring Festival with her family and her grandparents home in China.

Photos provided by Fei Liu.

JUN E 2021 9

DISABILITY DIDN’T

STOP HER A BYUH student with a physical disability says ‘I cannot’ is not in her vocabulary

BY SERENA DUGAR IOANE

B

uyanzaya Altansukh’s father, Altansukh Jamsranjav, said his daughter suffers from a nervous system disorder that makes it difficult to walk due to weakened joints.The disorder developed from a case of severe laryngitis she had when she was 2, resulting in a 10-day coma. She said she had great difficulty walking on her own but had a great desire to attend Institute.When she prayed, she said she “felt like someone was holding my arms to help me to go to the church.” She attended Institute every week for four years, which she said strengthened her spiritually and physically.

Altansukh, a senior from Mongolia majoring in human resources who goes by Zaya, said it is her faith in Jesus Christ that helps her overcome trials so valiantly. “As I ask for strength, He strengthens me through my difficulties. My challenges sharpen my intelligence and increase my faith. I’m still learning how to change my trials into opportunities.There is no word like ‘I cannot’ in my vocabulary.”

She said she joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in January 2004 and dreamed of attending BYU–Hawaii. After two years of preparation and four denials in a row, she was accepted. “When I finally got accepted, I couldn’t believe it. I was so shocked I didn’t even notice I was shedding tears of joy. I’m always proud of being a BYUH student.”

BYUH opened her eyes and allowed her to see the world differently, she said. It also gave her the opportunity to obtain a quality education and helped her see her potential, she added.

Jamsranjav said Altansukh went through so much pain and suffering, even when she was young, but said she is a very diligent person who never despairs when life gets hard. “She is a great example for her two siblings and for us. From her obedience and faithful example, we see how reliable and loving our Heavenly Father is.”

10 KE AL AK A‘I 2021

Overcoming limitations Altansukh said attending BYUH was her dream since she was a little girl, so she continued to apply until she was accepted.

“I wanted to get an education at BYUH and to be self-reliant.

However, there were times I doubted if I really could do it or not. But my family always supported me to pursue my goals and helped me keep going.”

She said she used to cry a lot because she was worried about the future. “I was not educated and thought I cannot be educated due to my limitations, so I won’t be able to work to support myself, but I was wrong.”

Bayarsaikhan Amarbayar, Altansukh’s sister-in-law, said Altansukh is very patient and is determined to reach her goals. “I never heard her complain about something. She has so much inner strength. No matter how hard the situation is, she always strives to overcome it.”

Altansukh said her full-time mission in the Ulaanbaatar Mongolia Mission, from 2008 to 2010, helped her gain confidence.

“My mission changed my attitude towards life and helped me to be a better communicator. I gained confidence that pushed me to do more things I thought I never could do,” she explained.

Dawn Uyehara, a former service missionary and Altansukh’s former hale mom, said, “Zaya has a wonderful positive attitude towards life.

When we first arrived at BYUH, Zaya was walking to and from her job at PCC every day, even though it was very challenging for her to do so. But she didn’t complain. Anyone who knows Zaya has been blessed by her sweet and humble personality. She’s a blessing to our hale.”

A temple guardian Altansukh served in the Laie Hawaii Temple as a guardian for over a year until the temple was closed due to COVID-19. In the temple, she said she learned how valuable each individual is in the sight of God. Micheale Webb, a former senior missionary and Altansukh’s former hale mom, said she got to know Altansukh best when she drove her to her dentist appointments. “I found her to be gentle, meek, kind and compassionate. She spoke of her love for family and friends.

“Occasionally, I would see her driving to work on her electric scooter with a smile on her face. Then, one day, I saw her walking to and from work. It troubled me as walking is a challenge for Zaya.” Webb said the next time she saw Altansukh, she asked her why she didn’t have a scooter to help her get to work. She told her she had to sell her scooter to pay tuition. “I saw her determination, tenacity and perseverance. She knew her goals and was willing to sacrifice to meet them.”

Webb said she was amazed by Altansukh’s “steadfast and unfaltering” testimony. “I loved seeing her as she served in the temple. Her weakness is her strength, and she lives life with gratitude and uncomplaining. I love her and feel blessed to have known her. She is a bright light in the world.”

She said she was gifted an electric scooter in 2019, which continues

to be a big help during her studies at BYUH. “One day, Sister Webb told me someone donated a brand-new electric scooter to me. It was such a blessing for me. It was actually the biggest gift I have ever received. I don’t know who the generous person is, but I am forever grateful for that person. It saves so much energy and time in my life,” Altansukh expressed.

She also said her BYUH professors are her mentors who help her overcome her discouragements. “Professor PJ Rogers taught me how to face my disability. Every time I attend his class, he shares stories about people who have various disabilities and how they overcame it. He supported me and strengthened me through his lectures.”•

“ My challenges sharpen my intelligence and increase my faith.”

Zaya Altansukh

Surrounded by angels Altansukh said wherever she lives, she is always surrounded by God’s angels. She said her parents’ care and love for her is divine. “They taught me how to be emotionally strong besides my limitations, which was the primary source of all my success,” she added.

Zaya Altansukh on her red scooter she was gifted with in 2019.

Photos by Mark Daeson Tabbilos.

JUN E 2021 11

HOLDING HAPKIDO IN THE HEART

12 KE AL AK A‘I 2021

Indra Lokatama says he is the only certified hapkido instructor on Oahu, teaches local children it for free

the more “experience, knowledge and wisdom you have,” he explained.

Back home in Indonesia, he said he coached his homeland’s international hapkido team from 2015 to 2016, where he mentored up to 50 students at one time. His athletes competed internationally and earned a gold medal at the Hong Kong championship in 2019.

Being a good role model

Lokatama began practicing hapkido outside when the pandemic started. Some local children noticed, told him they wanted to learn and

BY ABBIE PUTNAM asked if he could teach them. “They just came to me, basically,” he explained. He said he first ndra Lokatama, a senior from Indonesia started teaching these free classes in March. In majoring in psychology, said he is the only the beginning, he only had one student, but now certified hapkido instructor on the entire he has about 12 students ranging in ages 3 to 13 island of Oahu. In addition, the BYU–Hawaii years old.

Hapkido Club, which he coaches, is the first Khulan Davaakhuu, a sophomore from and only Hapkido Club on the island. He said Mongolia majoring in exercise and sport he volunteered to teach local children hapkido science, said she enrolled her daughter in classes for free after some children noticed Lokatama’s class because her daughter was him practicing outdoors and asked if he would interested in learning hapkido. She said her teach them. To sign up, parents need only sign a daughter would often watch YouTube videos of liability form. karate and gymnasts and asked her parents if she Although he is volunteering his time, he could become like the people in the videos. said he recognizes the responsibility placed on However, the only karate or gym classes his shoulders as an instructor, so he prepares offered on Oahu were quite expensive, running quality classes for his students. “You have to look around $180 per class, and were located all the in each child’s eyes and help them grow.” way in Kaneohe or Honolulu, she explained.

Lokatama has been involved with hapkido, When her husband was walking around a form of martial arts, for more than 15 Temple View Apartments with their daughter, years. “hapkido is pretty unique because the they saw Lokatama teaching some children movements are circular instead of rigid. It’s hapkido. She said her daughter “followed their more flexible compared to other [types of class even [though] she was not invited. Indra martial arts].” He said instead of focusing on was impressed when he saw her practicing. Then fighting, hapkido focuses on defense without Indra invited her to his class.” She said her family harming others. “The goal is not to hurt others. was so glad she could attend.

We try to find a win-win solution.”

Sugarmaa Bataa, a sophomore from He said this difference is much more Mongolia majoring in graphic design and apparent in the adult classes than in the marketing, said she enrolled her son in the class children’s classes because the children learn to improve his health, discipline and learn to basic movements, such as punching and kicking, protect himself. while the adults practice dodging the opponent.

Teaching a children’s hapkido class taught He said he learned hapkido directly from Lokatama the importance of appreciating a grand master from South Korea who has a children, he explained. “Appreciate your kids. A seventh-degree black belt. The more degrees, lot of people these days don’t appreciate them.

They are so pure,” he said. “Learn to appreciate them. Accept them.”

Left: Lokatama with some of his students at the BYUH Lokatama said he always strives to be Temple View Apartments. a positive role model for the students he Right: Lokatama practicing a pose. Photos by Ulziibayar Badamdorj. Graphics by Sadie Madriaga and Katie teaches because he knows everyone has

I

Mower.

“learned behavior.” Children often learn from their parents and instructors, he said, so it’s important to be a good role model for them.

“If their role model taught them to be well disciplined, they will hold it in their heart and it will help them for the rest of their life. …

When [the parents] drop the kids in my hands, they are safe. They will learn, and I promise the parents they will be good guys and girls.” He said he strives to help the children have fun but also be disciplined.

Davaakhuu said, “My favorite thing about Indra is that he is very responsible teaching and organizing his class. I noticed he enjoys what he is doing. He is a very impressive person.”

Because Lokatama is so devoted to being a good role model, he said he is also a strong believer in preparation. “A good instructor or coach always needs a plan.You actually need to see each student what they’re good at and the things they must learn to be better.” He said when he is teaching class, he pays close attention to the progress each student is making and spends time outside of class thinking of ways to help them.

“I maintain communication with their parents, ask them [if they’re practicing] at home and ask for feedback.” He said this has been one of the most important things he has done to effectively help his students.

Bataa explained, “[Lokatama] is so kind and thoughtful about the kids. He always tries to help them to be better. He also gives us feedback about healthy eating and being active.”

In fact, Lokatama said one of the parents of a student told him their child was struggling maintaining healthy eating habits. “I told [the children] if they come to class they need to eat.

If you don’t eat, I don’t want to teach you,” he told the children. Soon thereafter, he said the child began eating more.

Discipline changes behavior Lokatama’s first student was always shy and didn’t really know how to speak English. “I had never heard her voice.When she played outside, she doesn’t talk.” Because there are children in the class from around the world, such as Japan, Mongolia, India and the Solomon Islands, speaking English is basically the only way to communicate.

He said he made an effort to model the behavior of communicating by always striking up a conversation with her, even if she didn’t reply.

JUN E 2021 13

“Martial arts isn’t about fighting people, it’s about self-development.

You meet people and you learn something new.”

– Indra Lokatama

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“Now, she’s talkative,” he said. In fact, in one of the most recent classes, this student could be seen running around, laughing and holding hands with a new-made friend from class.

“Martial arts isn’t about fighting people, it’s about self-development.You meet people and you learn something new. Perhaps she learned how to communicate better in English.”

Bataa said she believes Lokatama’s class is helping her child’s communication skills. “My son is so active compared to other kids his age and is sensitive. I think he is starting to better deal with others. He is growing day by day.”

Lokatama said he has had several experiences that have made him want to focus on teaching and continuing pursuing a career in psychology.

He said throughout his years of teaching in Indonesia and Hawaii, he has come across several individuals who struggle because of traumatic experiences in their life.

One particular student of his struggled with drinking and drugs and almost flunked out of high school.

“I told them if they don’t get good grades and study, there is no future [for them.]” After he initially said this, he said the boy quit the team. However, when the boy’s mother later passed away, he fell into a depression.

“He came back on our team and said, ‘I need you to coach me.’ Psychologists are so expensive back home. I’m so impressed this guy trusted me enough to help him. By practicing on a continual basis, it actually became a habit for him to not do drugs anymore. So, learning hapkido is actually a rehabilitation program for him. Discipline changes behavior.

People are able to change with true martial arts,” Lokatama said.

He remembers and cherishes experiences like these even as he is coaching the local

children because he said he knows some of them have been through traumatic experiences. “I hope in my mind if these things are going to help the kids, I would rather help them now because I know if it helped others before, maybe it’s going to help these kids become better as well.”

Davaakhuu said Lokatama taught her daughter the importance of punctuality. She said her daughter always reminds her she would have to run in five circles if she is late.

“She is learning the days of the week and time because she wants to know which day she has practice and what time.”

She also said she has noticed her ability has improved immensely. She said her daughter has “learned a lot of kicking and punching techniques” and practices and stretches at home after class.

Some of the students are now preparing for an online competition, the Asia Pacific Qualifier. Lokatama will record the students performing different hapkido movements and, on the day of the competition, the videos will be played live for the judges.

In March 2021, two members of the BYUH Hapkido Club won awards at a similar competition: one gold and one bronze medal.

Between coaching the BYUH Hapkido Club and the children’s class, Lokatama said he spends about 10 hours per week teaching.

Despite the time commitment, he said it fits into his schedule nicely because it is a way for him to destress. •

Left: Lokatama posing with three of his students Right: One of Lokatama’s students strikes a punching pose. Photos by Ulziibayar Badamdorj.

JUN E 2021 15

The plan

of the pandemic Laie sister missionaries said altered plans during the pandemic revealed God’s perfect plan

BY ALEXANDRA CLENDENNING

A

lthough she would have loved to have an in-person experience at the Missionary Training Center, Sister Tess Jones said Heavenly Father had a different plan for her as a missionary serving during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was difficult to miss out on traditional missionary experiences, she said, but she could see the miracles accomplished despite the changes. “I totally see why Heavenly Father needed that to happen. … I wouldn’t take that back, knowing what Heavenly Father needed.”

After she completed the MTC online, she said she was released for a month while she was preparing to go out and serve. “There

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was certain family members I got to build really good relationships with who lived far away but came for that month.”

She said another reason she felt Heavenly Father needed her to do the MTC from home is it helped her prepare for being inside a lot when she first arrived at her original assignment in Texas.

Sister Richmond, from Arizona, said she has been serving her mission in Laie for seven months, although her original calling was to Leeds, England. Sister Jones, from Washington State, has been serving for 11 months in both Dallas, Texas and Laie. Both sisters attended the MTC online from their own homes.

Strength to serve For Sister Sadie Richmond, she said serving a mission was not something she planned on doing. In her first semester at Arizona State University, she said she felt lost in choosing which path to follow. After attending a stake conference that discussed missions, she said she “felt this ultimate peace when they started talking about missions.

“I’ve never felt the Spirit that strongly, and I knew I had to go on a mission after that experience.” She said it was the “most sure feeling” she had ever had and she finally felt sure of what path to choose. “I finally felt like I wasn’t so lost,” she shared.

Sister Richmond said she enjoyed doing home MTC because she was with her family while having a missionary experience simultaneously. She also was able to postpone saying goodbye to her family. “It was really nice for me because I really love my family and that was the hardest part about leaving on the mission.”

One challenge she faced was the long hours in front of a computer doing trainings and Zoom calls. With a smile, she said staying awake was a challenge because the learning and growing was intense. Sister Richmond compared the online MTC to online school.

While at BYU–Idaho, Sister Jones said she was not planning to serve but received a prompting to put her papers in. She said she was unsure if she could be the missionary Heavenly Father called her to be.

However, she said as she focused on developing good habits and communicated with the Lord. She said she received strength to serve.

She developed these habits as a student instructor for a college success class at BYU– Idaho, she explained. While there, she said she learned to pray before preparing the lesson to know what the students might need.

Attending a missionary preparation class, she added, helped balance her life and develop Christlike attributes. Doing “Come Follow

Me” with good friends also helped her receive strength to serve, she said.

Sister Jones suggested anyone who is considering serving a mission should do so.

“Just get started. I prepared and put in my papers with only the slight knowledge that nothing else felt good for me. You will not regret serving the Lord,” she said.

Sister Richmond advised future missionaries to go with no expectations of what serving will be like. “Just learn to trust the Lord. He knows what’s best for you. ... He loves us and we should learn to recognize His hand in our life.” She said it is always possible to find little miracles in your life.

Being a missionary in Laie is different than what both sisters imagined. Sister Richmond said it is a very different mission because they do not proselyte. Instead, missionaries work is mainly on the temple grounds, in the visitor’s center, at the PCC and on Facebook. They also work with inactive and new members by teaching them and inviting them to come to church.

Sister Richmond shared serving a mission has allowed her to feel the unconditional love of Heavenly Father for her and the people around her.

She said there was a time when she was feeling low about herself and turned to the Lord for help and guidance.

That difficult time, she said, was mostly due to anxiety. Ultimately, she said accepting

she was not a perfect person because Heavenly Father didn’t expect her to be perfect helped her the most.

“For me, what I realized is I am not a perfect missionary, and I am not a perfect person, but the Lord expects growth little by little.” She said slow growth is for everyone because “we have an eternity to grow.”

No matter what the challenge, she said turning to the Lord will help. “Pray to have the faith to recognize his hand in your life because He is there. Everything that happens in your life is done for your benefit, ... good or bad.”

Since she has decided to serve a mission, Sister Jones said her relationship with the Savior has changed for the better. Serving a mission has allowed her to understand the places she feels the Holy Ghost, she added, and allows her to be closer to Heavenly Father.

She urged others to, “Go find the areas where you feel the Spirit and then just build up from there.” She said seeking a relationship with God through prayer, scripture study and pondering in a holy place is helpful even if you can only do it for five or 10 minutes each day. • Sister Richmond (in orange) and Sister Jones (in blue) in front of the Laie Hawaii Temple. Photos by Mark Daeson Tabbilos.

JUN E 2021 17

DRAWING STRENGTH

FROM CULTURAL ROOTS

18 KE AL AK A‘I 2021

BYUH volunteer said bringing the PCC to “at-promise” youth taught them to endure challenging situations by understanding their cultures

BY ANNA STEPHENSON

L

ongo Huhane is just one of the students who helped bring the Polynesian Cultural Center to the Hawaii National Guard Youth Challenge Academy cadets, who are referred to as “atpromise” youth as opposed to “at-risk” youth. She said teaching the cadets about culture was impactful because it helped them realize they can draw strength from their roots.

“Our struggles, sacrifices and why we put ourselves in [challenging] situations is not only because of our future but also because of home. It’s always because of home and where we come from,” Huhane shared.

BYU–Hawaii students and PCC employees coordinated with the academy to bring the PCC to the cadets on April 1, 2021. According to its brochure, the academy is a quasi-military school for students who have difficulty completing traditional high school.

Destine Fatu, an instructor at the academy and a BYUH alumna from Waianae, said the cadets normally enjoy family days. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, visiting families became impossible. Instead, she said they instituted an ohana week to allow the cadets to learn about other cultures.

Fatu said the BYUH students’ performance was the highlight of ohana week. The student volunteers taught the cadets about Tonga, Samoa, Tahiti, New Zealand and Fiji via video clips and PowerPoint presentations. According to Fatu, some cadets used this opportunity to connect with their own cultures.

“Many students stated they have never been to [the] PCC or BYUH,” she added. “One of the cadets mentioned, ‘I felt like they were my cousins. I had so much fun.’”

Gaining encouragement Huhane, a senior interdisciplinary studies major from Tonga, was one of the students who participated in the event. She described her

experience as “very fun and inspiring.” She said the whole experience made her feel fortunate. “We could see and feel how these kids looked up to us because of what we shared.”

In the process of encouraging the academy cadets, Huhane said she felt she was the one receiving encouragement to keep pressing forward because she needed it the most. She said she was reminded of her family and her three younger siblings, realizing they help her keep going. “If they look up to me, then who am I to not believe in myself?”

She said they presented to six groups of 15 to 20 “eager” cadets, both boys and girls between 16 and 19 years old. They taught the cadets the names and meanings of the motions in Polynesian dances and invited them to dance. While some were shy at first, Huhane said, “Our team was so amazing in making them feel comfortable in dancing and they did pretty good.” She said her favorite part was seeing the cadets actually enjoying doing the dances.

“One kid said, ‘When I go home, I will show my family these new dances you guys taught me.’ Another shouted, ‘I love you guys!’” Huhane said after the performance, the cadets said they wanted to visit the PCC and even attend BYUH.

Pursuing dreams Julia Sio, a junior IT major from Samoa, was credited as the student who organized the whole event. She said she got involved in the academy thanks to Fatu, who is a family friend married to one of Sio’s ward members.

She said she saw herself in the cadets because of their similar cultural background. “We come from the islands where most of our opinions are not being heard or are mostly ignored. Most times we have no choice but to obey our parents or legal guardians’ opinions more than what we feel like doing,” she shared.

Graphics by Katie Mower.

JUN E 2021 19

The reason the cadets matter to Sio, she said, is she wants to help them follow their own dreams by teaching them about culture and the importance of higher education, and the mini PCC helped her achieve that.

“Some of us come to school because our parents want us to and not because we want to,” Sio explained. “We do a lot of things for the sake of impressing our parents and making them feel proud and happy. It is the most selfless thing we ever do, but also it is very selfish because we are not speaking up and pursuing our own dreams.”

Fatu contacted Sio in March to present different cultures to the cadets in the same manner they present them at the PCC, Sio explained.

“She wanted us to … encourage the students to attend BYU.” Sio said the Youth Challenge Academy has tried to connect with BYUH in the past as a way of encouraging the cadets to pursue a higher education.

“It was hard to organize a group in a small amount of time,” Sio said. “I spent a lot of time pondering and praying.” Relying on a network of friends and roommates, she said she was able to gather enough volunteers in only four or five days to pull it off.

The cadet’s confidence grew as they practiced. “They were able to do it,” she said proudly. “It was fun.” Despite the stress of the last minute preparation and planning, Sio said she ultimately felt excited before and satisfied after the event.

There are youths out there who need help, she said, and the help they need is the support and encouragement to pursue education and learn. Despite the challenges the academy cadets face in their lives, from broken homes to lack of direction, Sio said forging a meaningful cultural connection has left both BYUH students and the Challenge Academy cadets feeling uplifted.•

BYUH volunteers presented a mini PCC to “at-promise” youth at the Hawaii National Guard Youth Challenge Academy on April 1, 2021.

Photos provided by Destine Fatu and Longo Huhane.

20 KE AL AK A‘I 2021

SUM MER

PASTA

BY ALEXANDRA CLENDENNING

Enjoy a healthy and refreshing cold pasta dish that’s perfect for a summer picnic, barbecue or any other occasion. Eat it as a main course or enjoy it as a side to your favorite foods.

1 box of penne pasta or pasta of choice 2 tablespoons of olive oil Cherry tomatoes Fresh basil leaves Arugula Red onion Salt and pepper Garlic powder Parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast

Bring water to a boil, add pasta and cook until soft.

After pasta is cooked, strain and move it to a large serving bowl.

Let pasta cool as you cut the cherry tomatoes into halves and slice the onion.

Once pasta is cooled, add in cherry tomatoes, onion and arugula.

Drizzle olive oil over pasta and toss.

Add salt, pepper and garlic to the pasta and mix.

After all ingredients are mixed thoroughly, top with fresh basil leaves and parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast and enjoy!

Photo by Mark Daeson Tabbilos.

Graphics by Sadie Madriaga.

JUN E 2021 21

ACTING with FAITH Jango Bazar said it took faith and courage to apply for and earn the area manager position at Amazon

BY XYRON LEVI CORPUZ

W

orried about where he would work after graduating in June from BYU–Hawaii, Jango Bazar said he dedicated many nights and one whole week of long hours searching online for job opportunities. He found a job he wanted to apply for at Amazon, even though he said he thought it was too high of a position for a recent college graduate.

However, after practicing interviewing everyday with his wife, on his own and with others, he said he passed the interview and was offered a job as an area manager.

Bazar shared he has two mottos in life that inspire him. “If you don’t ask, the answer will always be no,” he said. “The second motto is, ‘If you don’t move forward, you will always be 22 KE AL AK A‘I 2021

in the same place,’ which means if you don’t work, act and do something, you’re not going to grow, improve and become better.”

Offer to work at Amazon Bazar is a senior from Taguig City, Philippines, majoring in business management with two concentrations in supply chain and human resources. In March, he said he and his wife went skydiving. The experience reminded him of what graduating college will be like because he is not sure what the future holds, so moving forward will require trust and faith.

Emmalee Bazar, an alumna from Virginia and Jango Bazar’s wife, said her husband has been preparing for life after graduation by job hunting. “He was on it so much. He would get up at 6 a.m. and start applying for jobs until late at night.” She said it would be 11 p.m. or after midnight before he finished.

Jango Bazar said his wife was at his side all throughout the process and she practiced interviewing him every day. “She helped me to become better with my answers,” he explained.

Emmalee Bazar shared, “He is super hard working when he feels like he needs to get something done. So, it really wasn’t me, but he wanted my help with interviewing.” She said he

was drawn to the job at Amazon so he prepared a sheet of questions and asked her to help him practice. He also asked her to come up with her own questions she felt would be helpful.

A father’s advice Jango Bazar said he credits his friends, leaders and his parents for helping him reach the milestone of getting admitted to BYUH. He said his father, Fernando Bazar, and late mother, Angelita Bazar, are his inspiration to work towards achieving his dreams.

Before Bazar left for BYUH, he said he and his father were able to spend a week together.

Even though his father is not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he still supports his son. He said when he served a two-year mission and then came to a Church school his father was saddened.

“He felt like the Church was keeping his son away from him. But he never stopped supporting me, and he’s always there loving me unconditionally. … I’m very grateful for him.”

Even though his father is a man of few words, Bazar said one piece of advice his father gave him has always stuck with him: “Whatever can make you happy, do it.”

Bazar said he applied his father’s advice

in every major decision he has made in his life. Following that motto helped him decide to marry his wife because he said he knew it would make him happy despite not knowing what the future may bring.

“It’s a tough decision because you don’t know what’s going to happen in the future, but I know my father told me as long as I’m happy, I should do it.”

Emmalee Bazar said her husband is supportive of everything she wants to do. “In fact, he’s the one who is always telling me I need to go do my master’s and do more in life.”

She said she appreciates his support because she values her career. “I am really passionate about my career, and that’s something that’s important to me.” She said she didn’t want to get stuck in a position where she gave up her career completely to stay at home and her husband has supported her in those goals.

Friends turned into family Jango Bazar said he will treasure the memories of meeting special people at BYUH. His advice to other Seasiders is to take advantage of making good friends. “It’s just great because in this place you will find a family,” he said.

JUN E 2021 23

Banjoe Calma is Bazar’s best friend and a senior from Pampanga, Philippines, studying psychology and human resources. Since his friend is graduating soon, Calma said he feels like he is losing a family member. “When Jango graduates, I feel I will lose a brother. … I don’t think it will be the same when [Jango and Emmalee] are gone.”

Calma said Bazar is a brother to him because Bazar cares about others so much and is easy to love. “He’s just an amazing guy,” he shared.

When Calma went through a difficult breakup, he said Jango and Emmalee Bazar helped him move on by giving him advice and helping him be more prepared when it comes to dating. “When I have problems, I actually run to Jango’s house and talk to him.”

Calma said he will always remember when Jango and Emmalee got married. He helped Jango prepare to propose to Emmalee and was also Bazar’s best man and helped with the wedding preparations. “Being a best friend and good friend of his, it is a satisfying and fulfilling experience to witness him get married in the temple to the love of his life. … Inside of me, I’m so happy for them that they met each other and they got married,” he commented.

Calma said Bazar is adventurous and loves hiking. He explained Bazar is the leader because he has been on the most hikes on Oahu.

“While I was inside the temple, the answer was very clear,” he said, explaining how he knew he should apply to BYUH. “So, I did it, and then I applied and took the Michigan Test.

I thought I wasn’t going to pass the exam, but then I made it.”

He said although he was happy to be accepted, he realized it would be a financial challenge to attend BYUH. “It’s not cheap to come here,” he commented.

However, Bazar said God miraculously helped him obtain everything he needed to attend BYUH, including the means, resources and right people.

He said he felt privileged to attend BYUH. There is large population of Latter-day Saints in the Philippines who desire to attend a Church school, but there are a limited number of spots for Filipino applicants, he explained, which makes it difficult to get in.

“I’m very blessed, I would say, because I’ve been part of the very few people who got here and had the privilege to study here.”

As his time at BYUH comes to a close, he said, “I’m very excited I’m moving into the next

The journey to BYUH When Bazar was around 18 years old, he said Ara Meha, who is currently the manager of the Office of Honor, visited the Philippines. “He visited one stake in Makati, and I attended with my friend. It was the first time I heard about BYUH.” He said he listened to Ara Meha explain BYUH’s program and found out later one of his Filipino friends was accepted to BYUH. Still, he said he did not develop a strong interest in BYUH until after his mission.

When he served his mission at age 19, his friends and companions from the mission field applied to BYUH. Bazar decided to work and go to school at home in the Philippines.

After being home for two years, Bazar said he prayed and fasted about attending BYUH. He also said he went to the temple and opened up to his Father in Heaven about studying in Hawaii.

24 KE AL AK A‘I 2021

chapter of my life. But at the same time, I’m also sad because I’ve learned to love this beautiful place, people and community.”•

Top left: Jango and Emmalee Bazar. Photo by Banjoe Calma. Bottom Left: Jango Bazar and his friend Banjoe Calma. All other photos: Jango Bazar said he’s followed his father’s advice: “Whatever can make you happy, do it.” Photos by Emmalee Bazar.

Hero of the chickens Manager of the BYUH Sustainability Center said Mongolia will have a hard time keeping up with graduating senior Munkhzul Galbadrakh

26 KE AL AK A‘I 2021

BY SERENA DUGAR IOANE

M

unkhzul Galbadrakh, who goes

by Muugii, has worked at BYU– Hawaii’s Sustainability Center as a chicken team lead for two years.

From the skills she’s gained while working at the center, she said she feels confident she could live without a grocery store. She also developed a great love for the chickens she’s looked after.

Galbadrakh, a senior from Mongolia majoring in hospitality and tourism management, said when she started working at the Sustainability Center there were 40 chickens, and now there are over 200.

As the chicken team lead, she raises chickens from the egg to adulthood. “I work in all kinds of weather conditions, even when it’s rainy and stormy or [on] Sunday. “Because I put so much effort and care into my chickens, I love them with all my heart. When I leave, I will miss them so bad. My friends tease me as a chicken hero,” she said.

Leslie Harper, manager of the Sustainability Center, said, “Muugii is steadfast and funny. She has such a love and concern for her animals. She would do anything for them.

She is driven to succeed. Mongolia will have trouble keeping up to her.”

Galbadrakh said when she came to BYUH, she was unsure of what career to pursue because she had yet to discover her talents.

However, she said her BYUH experience helped her find it.

“I am graduating with a clear vision of my future, confidence, necessary knowledge and skills I need to achieve my goals.” She said her love for traveling, nature and animals inspired her to pursue a career in hospitality and tourism management.

Dedicated chicken farmer Galbadrakh said, “I never knew how much I could do until I worked for the center. I can plant vegetables and raise chickens. I can be self-reliant no matter what happens to the economy and the market.”

Galbadrakh said she used to dream of living in a skyscraper and with everything automatized. “I was dreaming of having robot servants that cook my food, brush my teeth and put clothes on me just like the Hollywood movies. But I realized that living close to nature is the right way of life. Now my dream is to have my own land and have an organic farm where I can produce my own food,” she commented.

Working at the farm also helped her to overcome laziness, she said, because she learned to fix bikes and build wooden objects.

“If there are the proper tools and materials, then I can build things. My first goal is to build a nice house for my dog.”

She said these skills are valuable to her because she no longer has to rely on others for help.

Galbadrakh said raising chickens helped her learn gospel principles. “God really loves us and cares for us, just like the hen gathers her chicks under her wings.

“Some of my chickens escaped from me and got lost in the farm. I knew there were dangers waiting for them, such as dogs and mongooses.

I know what is best for them and try to keep them safe. Just like that, the gospel and the commandments are given to us to protect from potential dangers.”

Otgontuya Tumursukh, a senior from Mongolia majoring in TESOL, said she knew Galbadrakh in Mongolia and later developed a friendship with her at BYUH. “I work with her at the Sustainability Center and am amazed how much she loves her chickens. She will do anything for them,” she shared.

JUN E 2021 27

From hobby to career Because she loves nature, traveling and new experiences, Galbadrakh said she chose to major in hospitality and tourism management.

“During my college years, I traveled a lot around the island and the mainland because I wanted to see how people run hospitality and tourism businesses. My travels and internship helped me to see potential business ideas I can do back home.”

Galbadrakh said she did her internship in Montana for four months at a resort located next to the town West Yellowstone. “They keep the Hebgen Lake busy by doing all kinds of fun water activities, such as boating, knee boarding, wake boarding, kayaking, water skiing and so on,” she explained. “The owners of the resort utilize that lake to earn a lot of money.”

Galbadrakh said Mongolia has a beautiful natural landscape with forests, deserts, miles of flat steppes, mountains and many big bodies of water. “I realized Mongolia is full of resources to develop tourist attractions,” she shared.

Visiting Disneyland, Universal Studios and other famous tourist attractions helped her gain similar insights and experiences related to her major and future career. Galbadrakh said she saw how tourist business employees handle

28 KE AL AK A‘I 2021

problems, such as helping lost customers, running lost and found and many other potential problems.

Tumursukh shared, “We both love traveling so we are travel partners. We traveled around the mainland together and created many wonderful memories together. She is good at planning and is very funny. She is energetic and persistent.”

Galbadrakh said she worked at the Polynesian Cultural Center where she gained customer service, teamwork and leadership skills which will be beneficial for her future career.

Molly Duersch, an alumna who graduated in the Fall of 2018 and majored in political science, said she met Galbadrakh when she was her EIL tutor.

“I love Muugii. We became good friends when we had a swim class together. We would meet up frequently each week to get in our swimming hours and that time quickly turned to some of my favorite memories. Muugii is such a special person to me. She is hilarious and being around her, you always know that you will laugh.”

Galbadrakh served her full-time mission from 2012 to 2014, where she said she gave her best to the Lord. She also served in the

Laie Hawaii Temple for over three years until the temple closed due to COVID-19. She said her temple service helped her to understand her covenants and their significance on a deeper level.

Munkhzul Bat-Erdene, a senior from Mongolia majoring in TESOL and a friend of Galbadrakh, said, “Muugii understands her responsibilities very well and always fulfills them in high quality. She served in the temple for a while and never skipped her temple shifts no matter how tired and how busy she is. She served in the morning shifts, so she wakes up very early to serve. I admire her persistence and her desire to serve the Lord.”

Galbadrakh said she is grateful for the IWORK donors who enabled her to study at BYUH. “My parents are middle-class workers, and I am the youngest of four, so if it wasn’t for the IWORK program, it would be financially impossible for me to study abroad.” •

Muugii Galbadrakh looking after the chickens at the BYUH Sustainability Center and preparing to graduate.

Photos by Mark Daeson Tabbilos.

“ She wakes up early to serve. I admire her persistence and her desire to serve the Lord.”

Munkhzul Bat-Erdene

JUN E 2021 29

One-of-a- KIND KIMO Senior says his new position in the local government will allow him to serve his community, share aloha and ‘impact people for good’

BY ALEXANDRA CLENDENNING

B

efore coming to BYU–Hawaii, Kimo Burgess said he didn’t have many close friends. Now, because of the opportunities to meet new people at BYUH, he said he has “hundreds of friends” he considers family. He said he was careful to always be friendly and say aloha to his fellow classmates.

He urged other students to do the same.

Elijah Hadley, a BYUH alumnus from Delaware currently serving a mission in Los Angeles, said he was introduced to Burgess through a mutual friend. He expressed his love for Burgess. “Kimo is one of the most Christlike people I know. He is kind, strong, hard-working and cares deeply about other

30 KE AL AK A‘I 2021

people. I have never met the Savior face to face, but I’ve been privileged to meet a few people who emulate his characteristics. Kimo is one of them.”

One day, Hadley said he was feeling down and began questioning his worth. He said he felt comfortable enough to talk with his good friend Burgess who showed him “kindness I did not think I deserved. I was very depressed at the time and could not muster any energy to be kind to myself. … I’m still amazed by the kindness and understanding he showed me.”

Burgess, a senior from Aiea majoring in political science, said after graduation he plans to apply the things he learned while serving the

BYUH community to his new position on the local governance neighborhood board in Aiea.

The journey to BYUH After attending a school fair and leadership conference while enrolled in Leeward Community College, Burgess said he undoubtedly wanted to apply for and attend BYUH. He said he was amazed by the University’s environment and community.

“I doubted I would be accepted and thought to myself, ‘Oh man, I’m not going to get in.’” Despite his doubts, however, he was accepted in September 2018 and began classes in January 2019.

Burgess said he was overjoyed to finally become part of the BYUH ohana and adjust to life on his own. Integrating himself on campus, he added, was unlike anything he had experienced before.

“It was a whole new chapter for me. This was the first time I ever became independent, and I learned how to live on my own. I really changed my mindset about meeting new people and everybody from around the world.”

Applying his education Burgess said the knowledge, experiences and growth he has gained at BYUH will translate into his future career, life and family.

“Gaining the knowledge here at the school and then using it to serve other people outside of school is very important.”

In February 2021, Burgess said he was elected to be a part of the local governance neighborhood board in his community in Aiea, which he will begin in August 2021. He said he will serve by using the knowledge he learned in his classes at BYUH to better his community.

Burgess said his new position in the local government will allow him to fully put the school’s motto, “Enter to learn, go forth to serve,” into place because he can impact people for good.

“While I serve in this new position, it will be as if I am also serving God and His people.

What I want to do for my future work is to be serving others like I’m serving God.” Burgess encouraged students to take their learning seriously so they can serve in their fullest capacity when they get a career. “For me, it’s all about serving or helping other people who need it most.”

One of his professor’s emphasized this application of knowledge. He said his professor told him, “Even if you like to get the grades or a high GPA, what really matters is how you use the knowledge you gained at the school after graduation.”

Friends for life Burgess suggested students try to make as many friends as possible while studying at BYUH. “For the new students coming to this school, make as many friends as possible. Say aloha to everybody. Whenever you pass by somebody in the hallway, be a friendly face.”

According to Burgess, the students at BYUH greatly impacted his experience. “If it wasn’t for the remarkable students at this school, I would have struggled in my education. Everyone treats everybody here like family, making it such an inviting place to be and learn.”

Michael Waters, a sophomore from Oregon studying political science, said he admires Burgess’ openness. “Kimo is really firm in his own stance about the Church

and political issues, while also being open to hearing the input of others. … He’s really willing to listen to other people’s views and doesn’t get caught up in thinking that he has all the answers.”

Waters added Burgess has inspired him to be a better student at BYUH. “I’ve learned about how to be a good student and a good friend.

I sometimes struggle with remembering the importance of being a good student, but people like Kimo remind me that being a good student is worthwhile.” • Kimo Burgess said the traits and knowledge he developed at BYUH will help him serve his community.

Photos by Mark Daeson Tabbilos.

“ Whenever you pass by somebody in the hallway, be a friendly face.”

Appreciating the simple things

Senior says she wears her dirty farm clothes with pride after finding joy working in the garden and reaping its rewards

BY SERENA DUGAR IOANE

A

s a former biology teacher in Mongolia, Otgontuya Lily Tumursukh said while growing plants at the Sustainability Center’s garden she has come to value hard work, getting dirty and the joy of eating food she grew herself.

Tumursukh, a senior majoring in TESOL, said, “Working at the Sustainability Center helped me understand how simple life is.

There is no need for competition and coveting because it will make you lose [sight of] the meaning of your life,” Tumursukh expressed.

“You may not achieve great things in life, such as becoming filthy rich or becoming a president. But when you realize the true worth of a single apple on the store shelf, you will realize how rich life is and how meaningful your existence is.”

Since becoming a farmer on campus, she said she realized how much work and effort

it requires to plant just one vegetable. “I understand why we are not supposed to waste food. Every single veggie and fruit we buy from the store is a result of someone’s hard work of many hours.”

She explained she didn’t like to get dirty before, but now understands being dirty is not shameful. It is a sign of hard work. “When you work at a farm, it is hard to be clean all the time. But now, when I go to the cafeteria in my dirty clothes, I am not embarrassed. But I am proud of it.”

Tumursukh said she studied at the Mongolian University of Education for four years to become a biology and geography teacher and taught for five years in Mongolia.

Teacher to farmer “I never planted anything before, even though I teach biology. But when I started to

work for the Sustainability Center, I saw how hard it is to grow things in real life,” she shared.

Planting something and watching it growing, she added, is edifying because eating food you’ve grown yourself is more satisfying than eating food bought from a store.

Leslie Harper, manager of the Sustainability Center, said, “Lily is forever the teacher. I am sure she was a great science teacher in Mongolia. However, with the new skills and knowledge she has gained at BYUH, she will be amazing. I am confident she will change lives.”

Tumursukh said BYU–Hawaii’s Sustainability Center’s farm is called the Temple View Learning Garden, and is where students can learn useful skills. “My manager, Brother Harper, always tells us this is the time to make mistakes and learn from them. But in real life, we won’t have the time and budget to make mistakes,” she shared.

Otgontuya Lily Tumursukh said working as a farmer on campus has taught her the value of a single vegetable.

Photos by Ulziibayar Badamdorj.

JUN E 2021 33

“

You will learn many life lessons from your student experience at BYUH. it won’t be easy, but never give up.

-LILY TUMURSUKH

Besides learning skills, Tumursukh said she also learned gospel principles. “When Adam left the Garden of Eden, God told him to labor to feed his family. I thought it was a curse, but while working in the garden, I realized it was not a curse at all, but it was a blessing. Working and growing your own food gives much more meaning to your life,” she explained.

Additionally, Tumursukh learned to build and paint picnic tables. She said she wants to utilize these skills to design her future backyard. “I see how important it is to work physically. I release my mental stress through my physical labor. I struggled to learn all these skills, but I am going forward with confidence and skills. Being close to nature and planting vegetables is my new hobby.”

Munkhzul Galbadrakh, a senior from Mongolia majoring in hospitality and tourism management, said she became fast friends with Tumursukh because of their shared love of animals and Harry Potter. “She is very knowledgeable about lots of things, especially animals and plants. I learned a lot from her about animals and many other things,” Galbadrakh said.

Learning and teaching While studying at BYUH, Tumursukh also worked as a security guard where she became first aid certified and as a pastry chef at Pounders Restaurant. As a pastry chef, she learned to cook different foods. “I used to hate cooking, but when I was working at Pounders,

34 KE AL AK A‘I 2021

I had to prepare a plate within a couple of minutes. As a kitchen team, we cooked 50 to 100 plates within an hour. It was a very tough job, but the cooking skills I learned there will bless me for the rest of my life.”

Ganchimeg Gantulga, a sophomore from Mongolia majoring in hospitality and tourism management, said she has been roommates with Tumursukh for more than two years.

“I have prayed a lot to be a roommate with someone who can teach me and help me to be a better person. Lily was the answer to my prayers, and she taught me a lot.

“She is a very intelligent person who knows everything and can do everything. I always ask questions from her, so she jokes that she is my personal Google,” Gantulga shared. “Her enthusiastic spirit always lifts up people around her.

Her humor makes me laugh all the time.”

Tumursukh said she tried to use all the resources BYUH offers, including an internship funded by the Yamagata fund.

She also participated in the Empower Your Dream business competition and reached the semifinal.

Coming to BYUH has also given her opportunities to travel, she explained. She’s been to Japan, Korea, Utah, California, and around Oahu. “Since I was young, it has been my dream to visit Disneyland and Universal Studios. I was able to do so during my student years,” she explained.

Galbadrakh shared, “We both like traveling, so we traveled around the U.S. together. Lily is

”

funny and reliable to travel with. She is a very enthusiastic person and has a talent to build an exciting atmosphere.”

Tumursukh also loves dancing, so she took several BYUH dance classes, including hula, ballroom and modern dance. She also performed at Culture Night every year to represent her culture, which she said is one of her favorite memories.

As an IWORK student, she said she couldn’t thank the IWORK donors enough. “They are the people who enabled me to learn many life lessons, skills and made my dreams come true.

Following their examples, I will do my best to bless others’ lives in the future.”

She advised new and prospective students to never give up. “You will learn many life lessons from your student experience at BYUH. It won’t be easy, but never give up. Please never suffer alone. Open up and get help from others if you struggle,” she advised.

Tumursukh said she will miss the people she met at BYUH and the aloha spirit of the Laie community and the University. “Everyone is so nice and polite to each other here. I will definitely miss that sweet atmosphere.” • Otgontuya Lily Tumursukh expressed gratitude for IWORK donors and said she hopes to pass on their generosity in the future. Photos by Ulziibayar Badamdorj.

JUN E 2021 35

Preparing to serve his people Senior says he is inspired by the Polynesian food in Hawaii and aspires to bring these island dishes to his people in Indonesia

BY XYRON LEVI CORPUZ

A

riel Velasco Tatuil said his father, a BYU–Hawaii alumnus, set an example for him of returning home after graduation to serve the Indonesian people.

Although his father had an opportunity to work in the United States, he said he decided to return to his homeland to serve his family and the Church.

Some of his father’s jobs after graduation included managing an English tutoring company and translating for the Church. Tatuil said with four other people, he also helped revise the Book of Mormon in Indonesian.

In addition, he said his parents taught him about the importance of education. “Indonesia is a developing country. … Some of the people back in Indonesia don’t have a chance to have an education because they’re living in poverty. I believe education is the medicine to fight poverty.

That’s what my parents taught me, and I also stand by that statement. That’s why I’m also very serious about my education,” Tatuil shared.

Tatuil’s friend, Andino Bima Mahreza, a senior from Indonesia majoring in hospitality and tourism management, said Tatuil is an example to him of dedication.

“If he has goals in mind, he will try his best to do it. He is such a hard worker, dreamer and believer.”

Serving his home country Tatuil, a senior from Jakarta, Indonesia, majoring in business management, said BYUH’s motto, “Enter to learn, go forth to serve,” has touched his heart because it alludes to his goal of going back to Indonesia to build the kingdom of God there.

“I’m going to learn here, and then I will go back to Indonesia and help my family first and then everyone.”

He said he thinks one of the best ways to serve the people in his homeland is by faithfully fulfilling his Church callings.

He said he wants to open a culinary business because he is inspired by the Polynesian food in Hawaii. He would like to introduce food such as ahi, poke, poi and umu pork to Indonesia.

Tatuil said he values taking care of himself and goes to the gym to work on his physical and mental health so he is able to help others.

Nowadays, he said people focus so much on making money they disregard their mental and physical well-being. He believes there will come a time when his family will need help with something that requires physical strength, so he wants to be prepared.

Ibrahim Syifa Raharjo, a junior from Indonesia majoring in business management with an emphasis in finance, said, “Ariel is a fun person.

Arial Tatuil’s parents taught him that education is the “medicine to fight poverty.” Photos by Mark Daeson Tabbilos.

36 KE AL AK A‘I 2021

… He loves to play soccer, and he loves to go to the gym.” In fact, he said Tatuil’s frequent gymgoing inspired him to do the same.

Pineapple smoothies Tatuil said he worked as a pineapple seller at the Polynesian Cultural Center in 2017 and was promoted to team lead in 2018. He managed eight to 12 students until the center closed because of the pandemic.

He said he was also promoted to assistant risk manager, where he reported on the number of sales and profit generated so he and his bosses could set goals to improve performance.

This work was also important to analyze sales and predict how many people would visit the PCC so they could forecast how many pineapple smoothies should be prepared.

Working for PCC concessions, he said, helped him gain more experience in his business management major. As an assistant risk manager, he said he helped control the inventory of the department by visiting the different shops and counting their inventories.

Mahreza said Tatuil’s dedication led him to become a student lead at his job in concessions and become one of the vice presidents of the Indonesian Club.

-

Hidden talents Dhika Naraputraka, a BYUH alumnus from Indonesia and childhood friend of Tatuil, said Tatuil consistently has a goal he wants to achieve.

“For example, he always goes to the gym and is very committed every day.” Not only does he influence his friends positively, but Raharjo said Tatuil is also generous because he shares his food with him and their other roommates. “He always shares what he has with us.”

Raharjo said what he admires most about Tatuil is his persistence and determination.

When he wants to achieve something, he puts forth effort until he achieves it, he said. In fact, he said Tatuil has never skipped a day of going to the gym.

Mahreza shared, “Ariel is such a great person.

He might seem so quiet, but he has so many things in mind. I have known him since we were in Primary, and I never had a bad experience with him. We never fight, argue or even disagree because he is such an easy-going person.”

He said Tatuil is also very talented and said he sings, plays guitar and the piano. He is also knowledgeable about business, math and decision making, he added. However, because he is shy, Mahreza said people do not know about these talents.

His favorite memory of Tatuil, Mahreza shared, is the first time he ever heard him sing and play guitar in public at their bishop’s house.

Mahreza said he found this out after three years of being his roommate.

Never giving up Tatuil said he dreamed of attending BYUH, but it took him three times to pass the Michigan Test, a required English test for international students. On his third try, he said he scored a 75, which was the passing score.

He said he believes one of the blessings he received for serving a full-time mission in the Indonesia Jakarta Mission was finally being able to pass the test and be admitted to BYUH. He decided to attend school in Laie a long time ago because of the IWORK Program, a scholarship for international students. Another reason is BYUH is a Church institution, so he said he feels safe being surrounded by Church members. He said people he met, such as his bishop in the YSA ward and his co-workers, were a good influence on him.

The next step for him is graduate school in Indonesia to get his MBA degree, but he will need to take some examinations before being admitted to the program. He said he is looking forward to going home but knows he will miss the friends he met at BYUH and PCC. •

Graphics by Sadie Madriaga.

JUN E 2021 37

DIAGNOSIS: UNCERTAIN BUT UNAFRAID Biomedical science major says doing her part and having faith God will do His is how she handles life’s challenges

BY LAUREN GOODWIN

I

nspired by the COVID-19 pandemic to consider becoming a doctor, a senior majoring in biomedical science has been volunteering at Kahuku Medical Center through the Cope Health Scholar program that helps students get in-person hospital experience.

Natasha Mathurent from Venezuela, said, “I have 101 different interests. So, I don’t know what direction I want to take, but I think that’s fine.”

Even though her future seems unclear, she said having faith in the Lord while doing her best helps her accomplish the things she needs to do.

She stated, “Even though faith should be enough, and it is for a lot of people, I just can’t sit there and do nothing. I think we still need to do our part, and where you can’t, God will come and help us.” To do her part, Mathurent said she loves to plan ahead, know her options and solve the problems life throws at her.

38 KE AL AK A‘I 2021

She said sometimes she feels like she’s walking blindly towards a decision, but more often than not, God will tell her if it’s the wrong one. She asserted, “I have my trust in facts, but I also have my faith and trust in God. I feel that in order to give myself the best shot, I need to do my part in helping my situation.” She recognizes her situation isn’t ideal, but said dwelling on negativity only leads to a miserable life.

Mathurent said even though COVID-19 restrictions are easing up, being able to get volunteer time and clinical hours for medical school applications during the pandemic is difficult.

The Cope Health Scholar program allows students to get in-person experience in different areas of the hospital that count toward volunteer hours for medical school, she explained. She said the program has shown her

options within the field of biomedical science, but she is still figuring out what she wants to do after graduation.

To be a part of the program, applicants have to go through an interview process, be accepted and then take a test, Mathurent explained. Once they pass the test, she said they can start working with the nurses at the hospital and learn the everyday tasks nurses do.

The amount of hands-on experience people have, she said, depends on the nurse they work with that day.

She said helping the nurses with small procedures was more impactful than doing simple jobs like taking out the trash or cleaning.

Mathurent said she once helped a nurse in the ICU intubate a patient and said being involved in the process increased her interest in the field.

“I would tell similar majors to start getting experience as soon as possible. ... Getting that

experience early helps with managing [the stress of] dealing with all your other classes and helps you realize if this is something you want to do.” If not, she said, people can change their majors and explore their other interests. “[As students], we were told that if we got a degree there would be job security, but that isn’t always the case. Sometimes it’s a stepping stone to the next step.”

One of her close friends, Mahonri Eteru, a senior majoring in psychology from Australia, said he admires Mathurent’s work ethic and drive to get things done, while also putting time aside to have fun.

He shared, “She embodies so many Christlike attributes and is definitely an example and light amongst all students here at BYUH.” Another close friend of Mathurent described her as the hardest worker she knows.

Jillian Ruby, a senior majoring in elementary education from Colorado, explained Mathurent is exceptional at time management and will put her homework before anything else. Ruby said she finds it admirable that, despite her friend’s tight and demanding schedule, she still finds time to reach out to others and stay in contact with her friends.

Mathurent said life can really take a toll on people and while working at the hospital she learned the importance of taking care of herself and her body. After she graduates, she said she is excited to not worry about school. However, taking time for herself allows her to keep pushing forward.

Mathurent described herself as an immigrant child never staying in one place too long growing up. She explained she hasn’t lived in a house for more than five years and has learned to accept change. She said she doesn’t

want to live with regret and feels people too often get too comfortable being comfortable.

For Mathurent, she said, “Progress happens within change.” She said her mother always tells her, “You have to do different things to see different results or you’re going to stay at the same level.”

Mathurent said she tells herself when things get hard, if she quits, she will regret it later, and she’ll miss out on the progress she could’ve made. •

Natasha Mathurent is able to work at the Kahuku Medical Center through the Cope Health Scholarship program. Photos by Ulziibayar Badamdorj.

“ You have to do different things to see different results.”

-Natasha Mathurent

Bracing for

the future

Senior says BYUH has broadened his worldview and his circle of friends

BY XYRON LEVI CORPUZ

T

hey met when a mutual friend picked them up to go to the beach. He was silent during the car ride. They bonded over a cookie. She made the first move.

“I don’t think he said a word to me in the car,” said Elizabeth Brace about meeting her husband, Adam. “But when we saw each other later in the library, I always noticed he was really fun to talk to.”

“One time he gave me a cookie, and I was like, ‘Oh wow! This guy’s really nice for giving me a cookie,’” she shared laughing. As the one to make the first move, she said jokingly, “So I guess this is all my fault.”

As an introvert, Adam Brace, a senior from Southern California majoring in accounting, said it was difficult for him to make friends when he first came to BYU–Hawaii. However,

40 KE AL AK A‘I 2021

he said people reached out and made him feel included, including his wife, Elizabeth Brace, and his two best friends, who along with him, call themselves “the trio.”

“He was definitely shy at first,” said Elizabeth Brace. “In fact, if you don’t know him really well, he might not talk a lot when he first meets you. But it’s really surprising when you do get to know him because he’s really open and fun and funny.”

“The trio” BYUH student Leata Wilson said she, Adam Brace and third member of “the trio,” Geun Young (Ryan) Hong from South Korea, were always found together at Church activities, like family home evenings, temple nights and ward movie nights.

“It didn’t take long before I considered Adam as my white brother and Ryan my Asian brother. We became really close and somewhat inseparable at ward activities. Anyone who was new to the ward knew we were really close.”

She joked they even fought like siblings.

“It was when they became comfortable with hitting me and being hit by me that I realized I was stuck with them no matter how much I wanted to get rid of both of them.The rest was history.”

Wilson, a senior from New Zealand majoring in exercise sport science with a biomedical emphasis, said she is so grateful to have met Brace. “This might sound like I’m boasting, but I admire his courage to befriend and accept someone like me who is completely the opposite of him. Although we come from totally different cultural backgrounds and

don’t share the same views on some things, he still managed to become someone who is as important to me as my own family is.”

Wilson continued, “Ryan and I easily became friends because we were both loud and kind of crazy.” Because Brace is shy, she said, “It took him a while to warm up to Ryan and I. But when he did, we easily became the best of friends.”

Brace’s sincerity is undoubtable, Wilson shared, emphasizing how he will always help when asked. “He’s one of those people who is impossible to know and not know Christ.”

After serving his mission in Atlanta, Georgia, Brace said he knew he wanted to experience more diversity in his life. Attending BYUH has fulfilled that, he expressed.

Brace said he has learned to embrace diversity and culture in Hawaii. “I think so many times, especially as a student from the mainland, we get caught up in our own culture and our own circle,” he shared. “The biggest thing I learned here was to reach out and expand your circle as much as you can.”

Brace recalled a favorite memory from his YSA ward when they went to his bishop’s house and made Fijian curry with a Fijian student. “It was super cool to have that experience, and I don’t think if I was in Provo [or] Idaho or anywhere else on the mainland that I would be making curry with three students from other countries. … So I think those

experiences are what makes the school so different.”

Married life Adam Brace said he and his wife were married in December 2019 at the start of the pandemic.

Elizabeth Brace recalled what those first few months were like. She said they lived in Oregon and spent most of their time studying.

“I remember we went outside for a walk one time, and he saw the most adorable cat. His face just lit up. He really loves cats and cute animals.

I think something else I really liked about him is very small things can bring him a lot of joy.”

She said little moments like that carried them through the difficult times of the pandemic.

“Adam is a really great husband. His strength comes from communicating. He’s really open about his feelings when you ask him, and he’s just a lot of fun, too. He doesn’t need skydiving or crazy adventures. He just is really fun to go out on a bike ride with or play board games,” she added.

family. My dad ended up taking over the stayat-home dad role to continue taking care of the kids while we were at home.”

He said he has been inspired by his own family and his friend’s families with parents who have successful careers.

His wife said they are sad their BYUH journey is coming to end. “We have both been here for four years. I graduated last semester, and he will graduate this semester, so we are wrapping up a chapter,” she explained.

Adam Brace said he was accepted to the University of Utah’s graduate school. “Some people who graduated from [BYUH] are heading to school for a master’s program in the same program I’m in. So we’ll have plenty of friends there, and my wife’s sister lives there,” he shared.

Looking back, he said he can’t believe how fast graduation has come. He encouraged BYUH students to “find experiences here to cherish and remember for the rest of [their] lives because it truly is a unique place to be.” •

Starting a new chapter Adam Brace said seeing his family, especially his mom, working so hard motivates him to succeed in his own work and studies. “My mom was the primary worker in my family. … She’s a nurse and typically worked four nights a week for 10 or 12 hour shifts and then worked overtime on top of that to provide for our

Left: As his time at BYUH ends, Adam Brace prepares for graduate school at the University of Utah.

Above: Adam Brace is pictured with his wife, Elizabeth.

Photos by Mark Daeson Tabbilos.

JUN E 2021 41

THE MAN BEHIND

THE BOWTIE Elevating BYUH with TESOL expertise, Dr. Neil J. Anderson reflects on his 41 years of research and teaching

BY ELLE LARSON

W

hile he appears to be an average, bow-tie wearing professor, Dr. Neil J. Anderson is known as a “TESOL international rockstar,” a name dubbed by BYU–Hawaii Dean Mark Wolfersberger. Anderson, a professor in the Faculty of English & Social Work, shared experiences from his 41-year career as an internationally-acclaimed TESOL professor and researcher. He plans to retire from BYUH after the Spring 2021 Semester.

Dean of the Faculty of English & Social Work, Wolfersberger said Anderson’s connections raised the profile of BYUH in the TESOL field. “He has connected students to people in the TESOL world that there is no way they would be able to connect without his influence,” Wolfersberger explained.

Although internationally renowned, Wolfesberger said, “When you see him here at BYU–Hawaii, you don’t know that because you don’t

42 KE AL AK A‘I 2021

JUN E 2021 43

know all the high-profile people that he’s rubbed shoulders with throughout his career.”

This group of scholars Anderson knows includes Dr. Andy Curtis, former TESOL International President, and Dr. Rebecca Oxford of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. They both visited and taught on campus, which gave students valuable networking opportunities, Wolfersberger said.

Wolfersberger laughed, “I always tell my students, ‘When you apply for a job, make sure they know you took a class from Neil Anderson.’”

Dr. Nancy Tarawhiti, professor in the Faculty of English & Social Work, said Anderson served as chair of TESOL International for two years and hosted a convention in 2020 with more than 6,000 attendees.

He also worked on the TESOL International board for four more years, and that was where he made all his connections, said Tarawhiti.

“I went to a conference with him once,” Tarawhiti recalled, “and we were walking across the conference hall. Everywhere we went, people stopped him and took photos with him. I was like ‘Oh my gosh! You’re like a rockstar! I need a shirt that says, ‘I’m with Neil!’”

But Anderson accredits BYUH’s TESOL success to his colleagues. He said, “The EIL program here is very well respected beyond BYU–Hawaii.

There have been absolutely phenomenal educators in this program from the beginning. … There’s such a harmonious relationship with all my colleagues here. We all work together in really strong ways.”

According to Wolfersberger, Anderson has written more than 50 books, textbook chapters and journal articles in his area of expertise, including the number one selling reading textbook for TESOL in the world, “ACTIVE Skills for Reading.”

After graduating from BYU in Provo’s TESOL master’s program and getting his doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin, Anderson said he taught at the Ohio State University and BYU in Provo. With more than 40 years of experience and dozens of awards, Anderson said he came to BYUH in 2014 and decided to conclude his career in Laie.

“When he decided to apply here, everybody couldn’t believe we were gonna get Neil Anderson. We had talked about it, and I was like, ‘Ah, yeah you’re gonna fit in well here, and you’re gonna love it here,’” Tarawhiti said.

Wolfersberger expressed awe and gratitude for Anderson and his willingness to share his talents with the BYUH ohana. “[Neil] firmly believes in the mission of the Church schools and is a man of deep faith. He understands the impact that BYU Provo, Idaho and Hawaii have on people’s lives.”

Anderson encouraged students at BYUH to carefully utilize every minute they are here to fulfill their divine potential. “Laie is a sacred place. This campus, because it’s so small, allows you to form relationships with faculty and with fellow students in ways that you would not be able to form in any other location. The closeness of the temple, the student wards, the [Polynesian Cultural Center] – all of that comes together in helping us fulfill our divine potential.”

As a young university student, Anderson said he did not expect to become a TESOL expert. Instead, he said he was studying to enter law school. At the conclusion of his mission in Guatemala, he met with his mission president and shared his career plans. “[President] went silent for what seemed to me to be forever. It might’ve only been about 30 seconds, but it seemed forever. … [President] said, ‘Elder Anderson, law school is not for you. I don’t know what the Lord has intended for you, but law school is not for you.’ And then we moved on to other questions and just left it there.”

44 KE AL AK A‘I 2021

Anderson explained he went through a “degree crisis” in the middle of getting his business management degree. His wife suggested he try TESOL. “I started taking coursework in TESOL and from my very first class I knew this was for me.”

After graduating from the TESOL master’s program in Provo, Anderson moved his family to the Philippines to work with the United States refugee program. At the time, Anderson explained, thousands of refugees were fleeing Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos to escape the Vietnam War. He went to refugee camps sponsored by the United Nations located in Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines, where refugees spent 20 weeks learning English.

While he was there, Anderson said he tested the refugees’ reading proficiency, traveling between the three camps. His objective was to let the United States government know if the program was worth the millions of dollars spent instructing and resettling the refugees.

“By giving the refugees the language training they needed, helping them start thinking about employment and getting [them] accustomed to U.S. culture, [it] made that transition easier. … It was an extremely rewarding period of time,” Anderson said.

Tarawhiti described Anderson’s teaching as “very animated.”

Tarawhiti said although Anderson can be stern at times, “he always does it in such a Christlike manner. He really does have Christ as the focus of his learning, his teaching and the way he conducts himself.”

Soon after researching in Costa Rica, Tarawhiti remembered Anderson taught her first TESOL class at BYU in Provo. Tarawhiti was born in New Zealand and studied in BYU’s TESOL program. “I got to Provo, and I hated everything. I hated the food. I hated the weather. I hated the people. … I remember getting on my knees one day and said to Heavenly Father, ‘I’m ready to pack up and go home. I don’t like it here.’

“And I felt a strong impression that Heavenly Father was going to send me a friend.”

Tarawhiti said she walked through campus that day smiling at everyone, hoping to find her special friend. Then, she entered Anderson’s class.

“Instantly, I was thinking, ‘Are you serious? This is my friend? This old man with a bowtie?’”

After 18 years of friendship, Tarawhiti said Anderson also befriends the students at BYUH. “If he sees someone that he knows walking across campus, he’ll stop and ask, ‘How’s it going, brother? How are your classes? How are you doing?’ and he does it to figure out if there’s any way he can help them.

“When Neil talks to you, you know he’s on your side, like he’s your biggest cheerleader,” Tarawhiti said.

Anderson said he is ready to retire, but he hasn’t worked out all the details yet. “I am confident that Heavenly Father will guide the path, and things will unfold for both my wife and me and my family as they need to unfold.”

While the details are unknown, he said some things will never change. “I’ll keep running and keep serving in the temple, loving my family and all those other things will fall into place.”

Anderson concluded, “It’s been a rich and rewarding 41 years, and I wouldn’t change one thing that has happened in the last 41 years in terms of my career.”• Dr. Anderson said he is ready for retirement and is confident Heavenly Father will guide his path. Photos by Ulziibayar Badamdorj.

“IT’S BEEN A RICH AND REWARDING 41 YEARS, AND I WOULDN’T CHANGE ONE THING.”

JUN E 2021 45

Labor of love Retiring from BYUH after more than 20 years, the Lavulavu’s say they love and treat students as their own children

BY ELLE LARSON

A

couple from Tonga, Mele and Tevita Lavulavu said they were grateful for the kindness of the leaders and students on campus who they encountered during their 23 years of work. The roles they tried to fill as parent figures for BYU– Hawaii students, they said, were just as important as their jobs.

Tevita Lavulavu worked as a Grounds tech and his wife, Mele Lavulavu, was a custodian for Campus Property Services. They both retired on May 31, 2021.

Mele Lavulavu said her job isn’t about scrubbing toilets or replacing paper towels.

She said working with students on campus has helped her fulfill her divine destiny. “My patriarchal blessing said that I would have lots of children. Unfortunately, I only have four.”

She said the Lord has given her an opportunity to be a mother-figure for the students she works with. “Sometimes I tell them, ‘Your mothers are not here, and I don’t want to take their places, but I want to help you.’… I look at my students as if they are my own children. So, I try to help them and teach them to do their best,” Mele Lavulavu said.

Tevita Lavulavu said he feels the same about the students that help him beautify campus grounds. “I really love the students like my own kids,” he said.

Tears filled his eyes as he expressed heartfelt appreciation for the leaders on

46 KE AL AK A‘I 2021

campus for their kindness and the students who made his years of work meaningful. He said, “I really appreciated the time they let me work for the University” and take care of beautifying the campus.

Campus Property Services Manager Janeen Kaka said she was impressed by Tevita Lavulavu’s hard work. “Like Mele, [Tevita] was always dependable, always there to do his work and go the extra mile. I would see it around campus. He’s a hard-working man.”

Mele Lavulavu said she also appreciates her time working at BYUH. “It is a blessing to be here and work at this University. I’m so grateful for it. It doesn’t matter which job you work.

When you set your priorities right, everything will be okay.”

She spent more than 20 years keeping the BYUH campus clean and supervising student custodians. Kaka said she was also impressed

by Mele Lavulavu’s work. “[Mele] makes my job easy. She never complains, she’s positive and well-liked by her students. She’s always been dependable all these years.”

After two decades of working with students from all over the world, Mele and Tevita Lavulavu said the most fulfilling part of their jobs is seeing their students succeed. Mele Lavulavu said she makes a special effort to encourage her students to graduate from school.

When school gets difficult, she said she tells students to endure and stick it out to the end.

Mele and Tevita Lavulavu said the students at BYUH have made their years of work meaningful.

Photos by Emmalee Bazar.

“It’s just like a tunnel.You’re walking through it and you haven’t seen the light on the other side.

Until you see the light, that’s when you can stop.

For now, you keep on going,” she said.

One such student is Bayartsogt Lkhagvajav, a junior from Mongolia studying business management who started working with Mele Lavulavu in July 2020. He said, “I am always impressed that she has a positive attitude to do something, even when she is getting old.”

Kaka described how the custodial students feel about Mele Lavulavu. “They said things like,‘I loved working with you.’‘You were always so funny in the morning or at work.’‘You always made us feel like we were somebody [important].’”

Mele and Tevita Lavulavu said they worked odd hours of the day. The couple said every day they woke up and went to work together. While Mele started her shift at 4 a.m., Tevita would sleep in the car and take a caption goes here Photo walk or exercise at the gym until he started work at 6 a.m. “We supported each other,” said Mele Lavulavu. Despite being retired, the couple jokingly said they may not ever get used to sleeping in. The couple regularly served in the temple, Kaka explained. “[Mele’s] a very spiritual person. Everything to her is always about the gospel. That’s just how she is, and it shows in her countenance.”

After retiring, Mele and Tevita Lavulavu said they plan to continue serving in the temple and spend more time with their six grandchildren. •

JUN E 2021 47

THE BELLS

&THE BIRDS

Academic Vice President John Bell said his associations, the temple, the birds and music are among his cherished BYUH memories

BY ABBIE PUTNAM

A

cademic Vice President John Bell is retiring after six years at BYU–Hawaii, and said he has many memories he will cherish upon his return to Provo, where he taught at BYU before coming to Laie.

“I’m going to tell you three things that have been very important to me, among many.”

First, he said, “The associations I’ve had with people here has meant so much to me. ... I’ve had the opportunity to serve in various capacities in the temple here ... as an ordinance worker and a sealer. That’s been huge for me.”

48 KE AL AK A‘I 2021

He said he also played the bassoon in the campus band and orchestra alongside BYUH students.

“Another thing, which may seem like a small thing but has been really important to me, is I had a chance after a 35-year hiatus to play in a band and orchestra again, to rekindle something left undone for essentially all of my professional career.”

His wife, Rhonda Bell, said some of her most cherished memories from her time on Oahu is feeding and watching the birds every morning on their daily walk to

Kahuku. She said they walk with plastic bags picking up litter.

John Bell added, “There’s birds that know us along the way and they come down to us.”

Former president of BYUH, John Tanner, explained, “The community also knows they ‘plog’ together – meaning to pick up trash where one walks or jogs. They set a quiet example of malama ka aina – care for the land.”

Tanner described John Bell through Elder Neal A. Maxwell’s words, saying he “described some people as ‘high yield and

low maintenance.’ That’s John Bell. He’s a work horse, not a show horse. He doesn’t seek recognition, praise or the limelight. He just wants to move the work forward and do what is in the best interest of the University and the Church.”

Current BYUH President John S.K. Kauwe said of John Bell, “John has led our academic programs with wisdom and love.

His influence is felt around the world and will impact many generations. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity I have had to work with him personally. I am certain he and Rhonda will continue their servicebased approach to life and bless many more people and communities. We will miss them dearly and they will always be welcomed as ohana here at BYU–Hawaii.”

Ultimately, John Bell summarized his experience at BYUH and said, “When things have been tough, and they have been sometimes as a natural consequence of serving in this kind of position, I had my associations, the temple, the birds, which is symbolic really of time spent with [my wife], and I had the music.”

Treasured lessons John Bell said he learned two main lessons during his time at BYUH. “One, I feel like I’ve learned more what it means to dedicate one’s life to the service of God. I also feel like I’ve learned the value of living a life that is simpler and a little slower paced.” He cited his long morning walks with his wife as an example of a slower-paced life.

Rhonda Bell said BYUH magnified the importance of friendship for her. “You can find friendships anywhere. … When I first got here, I wondered how long it was going to be until I found friends, but it wasn’t hard. People were friendly and made sure I felt welcome.”

John Bell added, “This is a place where you can come and make connections easily, … even though we were strangers from another place.”

Tanner said John Bell set a great example for others, such as wisdom, devotion, loyalty and modesty. “I don’t know what I would have done without him. He was a key figure in every major decision and often an initiator of some of the most dramatic innovations in my administration. He leaves a remarkable legacy.”

He added he is an example of a leader who is good, wise and honest. “I am so grateful to have served with him. I count him as a dear colleague and friend.”

John and Rhonda Bell on their daily walks on the bike path from Laie to Kahuku.

Photos by Mark Daeson Tabbilos.

A living laboratory During his time at BYUH, John Bell was involved in many positive improvements to the University. These accomplishments include changing the University calendar to its current format, upgrading the academic policy, creating the academic governance policy and a procedure for resolving disputes between employees, being involved in the accreditation reaffirmation in 2017, writing the accreditation interim report in 2021 and creating the Holokai curriculum and the Ho‘okele department. John Bell said he was also involved in writing what he referred to as the “living laboratory document.” He explained in January 1973, when the Aloha Center was built and dedicated, Elder Marrion G. Romney referred to BYUH as a “living laboratory.”

He read from a book with the dedicatory speech and quoted Romney, “Because the student body here is such a marvelous representative group, this college is a living laboratory in which individuals who share the teachings of a master teacher develop appreciation, tolerance and esteem for one another. For what can be done here in a small way is what mankind must

do on a large scale if we are ever to have real brotherhood on this earth.”

He said he grasped the concept Romney introduced and translated it to life on campus today, where students experience what it is like to be with others from various backgrounds. He said the goal is to apply the “unifying link of the gospel of Jesus Christ” to the BYUH community.

He recognized what Romney said as “not putting up with, but really loving each other and working together and accomplishing the Lord’s work together” in a “harmonious, productive” and diverse environment.

In fact, he said these principles should be “built into their hearts” so students can take them back to their homeland. He said BYUH is not only a place to receive a good education or become firm in the gospel, but it is also a place to “understand what it takes for the world to work together.”

The document highlighted what the faculty and staff can do to create this kind of environment, he explained. “We don’t want to be the ironic university or the hypocritical university, we want to be what we’re asking the students to become” by having a diverse faculty who foster this kind of environment.

JUN E 2021 49

He cited Sister Joy D. Jones in her general conference talk, “Essential Conversations,” by saying change does not happen by chance.

“This University can’t be what it needs to be by random chance, it needs to be done intentionally. … You’ve got to work at it.”

He said he wants the students to come and experience this unity so they can export it to their homelands.

Where the journey began At the end of 2014, John Bell said he was contacted by then BYUH President Steven Wheelwright, who told him he needed a new vice president, and he was on his short list of candidates. He said he asked him if he would be willing to be considered, interviewed him and asked him to write answers to a few questions.

“Based on that, he decided I was the person he wanted to recommend to the Board of Trustees,” he said.

Because this all happened during the transition to John Tanner’s presidency, he said Tanner also had a chance to look at the

50 KE AL AK A‘I 2021

recommended candidates and decided to ask John Bell to be the vice president.

“What we haven’t said is we both felt a spiritual call to this place,” John Bell said, emphasizing during the 25 years he spent as a faculty member at BYU in Provo, he and his wife didn’t know much about BYUH. “As we learned more about it, … we felt prompted this was something we should accept if it was offered to us.”

John Bell said his time here has been an overall blessing to his life. He explained one reason why they may have felt a spiritual call to his place is he can see some circumstances where his personality was a match for what was needed at the time.

Additionally, Rhonda Bell said she can see events in their lives that prepared them for their experience at BYUH. John Bell explained, “We can actually look back quite far into our past and see things that lead us in this direction without knowing it.”

He said all the way back in his teenage years he developed a love for the ocean and

tropical islands when he learned to scuba dive.

Additionally, his work as a dean at BYU in Provo led to his understanding of general education, accreditation and “a variety of personal challenges” and helped him develop the ideas he applied during his time at BYUH. He said previous callings in the Church also prepared him spiritually for the position.

“We also made plans to retire when I was at BYU before we were invited to take this job that helped me prepare by shutting down my research program and stop accepting graduate students. When the call came to come here rather suddenly, I was already emotionally and physically prepared to end the research program and come.”

Rhonda Bell said she was excited when she heard the news, even though she knew she would miss her family very much.

“I knew it would be a great adventure, and it was.”

Making others happy During her time at BYUH, Rhonda Bell said she was involved in family history work. Because she did family history in the Family History Center in Provo for 20 years, she said she really wanted to continue. Family history work was her most fulfilling work in Hawaii, she said, even though it got partially upset because of the pandemic.

She said she also participated in the BYUH Women’s Organization. She enjoyed her time

there saying, “It’s a great service organization. I had a lot of fun being a part of that.”

They would get together once per month for a lunch and donated the profits from the lunch to a student book scholarship fund.

Rhonda Bell also cited her time serving in the BYUH Sewing Center as a wonderful experience because she said the students enjoy having that resource.

“I love being able to serve others and make others happy,” she said with a smile.

Tanner described Rhonda Bell as “cheerful and service-oriented” because she looks for new ways to help others. “She is always looking for and finding ways to serve, whether it be in the Sewing Center or in tending triplets for a widowed father or in family history.” He said together, the Bell’s make a great team.

Upon returning to Provo, Rhonda Bell said they are looking forward to seeing their family, who they have missed, traveling, relaxing and not having to be up early for meetings. “We will not be idle, … we’re really looking forward to the next stage.”

John Bell added they are looking forward to continue scuba diving together as well.

Tanner said he has been scuba diving with the Bells before. “It was a joy to see how they share a love for the sport and for nature.” •

Left: The couple poses behind John Bell’s desk.

Right: Rhonda Bell said some of her most cherished experiences on Oahu are feeding the birds on the bike path to Kahuku. Photos by Mark Daeson Tabbilos.

JUN E 2021 51

A HISTORIAN’S JOURNEY University archivist says his love for the community came through learning and preserving Hawaiian history

52 KE AL AK A‘I 2021

BY LAUREN GOODWIN

R

eading the core texts of Hawaiian and Church history in the Pacific has helped BYU–Hawaii’s Archivist Brooks Haderlie go through a “cultural refocus” and increased his love for the community and the culture.

After four and a half years of working in the Joseph F. Smith Library and more than 20 years of experience working as an archivist, Haderlie will be retiring in September.

“I made it my goal to understand people who live here today, their ancestors and how they have come here.”

Haderlie and his wife, Laurie Haderlie, have traveled to all six of the accessible islands to visit special Church and Hawaiian historical sites and gained a better understanding of the Hawaiian people. He said he is grateful his wife is enthusiastic about Church history in the Pacific since she has gone to all the locations with him.

They enjoy seeing where people worshiped God while also seeing their sense of ohana and focus on family, he said. “[My wife and I] are serious about preserving the culture and the history of the place.”

He said they have been to Pulehu to visit the oldest Church chapel in Hawaii; Kalaupapa and the leper colony; Lanai, the original gathering place for saints in the Pacific; and the Ka’ahumanu Church on Maui.

According to Haderlie, the Ka’ahumanu Church is where George Q. Cannon, the co-translator of the Book of Mormon into Hawaiian, attended a service in a church building in front of Jonathan Napela’s house where Reverend Conde railed against the “Mormons.” After the service, Elder Cannon had a discussion with the Reverend about the falsehoods he was preaching. This discussion eventually led to Napela’s conversion. Napela helped Elder Cannon translate the Book of Mormon into Hawaiian.

Haderlie said he is a hands-on learner, so learning about these sites and having the opportunity to visit them allowed him to gain more understanding of the history and culture and to help preserve them.

Marynelle Chew, head of Access & Collections Services in the Joseph F. Smith Library, said ever since Haderlie arrived at BYUH, he enthusiastically embraced all Hawaii had to offer and wanted to learn everything he could about Hawaii.

Haderlie said, “From day one, people were open and welcoming. My wife and I started looking for places to learn about, … and we would go as often as we could and post our experience[s] on Facebook. What was interesting was our neighbors would ask us where we’re going [every] weekend, which has … [helped us] assimilate faster into the community.”

Coming to Laie Before working at BYUH, Haderlie said he worked at the BYU in Provo and BYU–Idaho campuses, in Germany and in Ohio.

He said he found out about the position in Laie at an annual librarian and archivist convention. Initially, he and his wife joked about applying for the position, he said.

However, later he was interviewed and offered the job.

He said when he was offered his job at BYUH, he received a spiritual impression to go to the temple and pray about the decision. “[My wife and I] received the strongest spiritual

Brooks Haderlie in the Archives office.

Photos by Mark Daeson Tabbilos.

JUN E 2021 53

confirmation in our entire lives that this was what we were supposed to do.”

Haderlie said, “What an exciting thing to think that Heavenly Father knows us and knows where we need to be. All our experiences have helped me see why we needed to be here. It’s not just one aspect, but the bigger picture.”

When he arrived on campus, he said there was work to do. He recalled talking about a prominent European figure in history, but the person he was talking to didn’t know who he was. “That’s when it hit me with full force that I am in a different environment, and I needed to switch from having a European-centric mindset to having a Polynesian and Pacific mindset.”

After this experience, he said he spent every night reading books about Hawaiian history and culture, in conjunction with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint’s history in the Pacific.

He said reading will only take people so far in understanding the culture. True understanding comes from living amongst the people to learn who they are, their stories, testimonies and faith, he explained.

Digitizing the Archives During his time on campus, Haderlie created a class for non-science majors on information literacy and helped create a

database where people can see all the artifacts in the Archives along with oral histories, he shared. He said he has been working with others in the library on making all the things in the Archives universally accessible.

Haderlie observed, “Archivists have changed from being protectors to publishers, and we want to make things accessible to people.”

Eric Marlowe, an associate professor in the Faculty of Religious Education, said Haderlie creating a database for the archives to be accessible increases the ability for people to view and use the archives. Marlowe said this will have an impact for years.

Marlowe expressed his appreciation of Haderlie’s contributions as well as his ability to find information. He stated, “The campus community and interested historians are all better off for what Brooks has done to enhance our library archives, and his personal and ‘extra mile’ willingness to help will be missed.”

Haderlie said the Lord works in mysterious ways and, over the years, he has been able to help with the research for three books that have been written about the history of the Church and the temple.

Mark James, a retired BYUH professor in the Faculty of Education & Social Work, and a friend of Haderlie, said, “I have relied

on his expertise and resources many times, particularly during the 2019 centennial celebrations for the Laie Hawaii Temple.”

For the 100-year anniversary of the Laie Hawaii Temple in 2019, Marlowe and Clinton Christensen, from the Church’s History Department, wrote two books about the temple and worked with Haderlie to gather information and photos.

Additionally, Haderlie said because of his research on Laie and the Language Training Mission that was on campus, he has been able to uncover information about the early years of the school and missionaries who were here at that time.

According to the Church’s official website, Laie served as a Language Training Mission in the 1970s, where missionaries would be sent at the beginning of their mission to learn a new language. In Laie, Japanese, Cantonese, Mandarin, Samoan, Tongan, Korean and Tahitian were taught.

Retirement With retirement approaching, he said he is excited to return to Idaho and spend time with his children and grandchildren. Even though they don’t have any set plans yet, Haderlie said as they settle into retirement, he is looking forward to possibly going on a mission or two with his wife and to travel more. •

Brooks and Laurie Haderlie at the leper colony in Kalaupapa on the island of Molokai. Photos provided by Brooks Haderlie.

54 KE AL AK A‘I 2021

discipleship

S C H O L A R LY

Jennifer and Keith Lane combine scholarship and the power of the Holy Ghost to help BYUH students receive revelation

BY ABBIE PUTNAM

J

ennifer and Keith Lane, who have been working in Religious Education at BYU– Hawaii since Fall 2002, are leaving the University after 19 years. Jennifer Lane said she treasures her sacred memories of students coming to class prepared and honestly sharing their feelings. Keith Lane said throughout his time at BYUH, he has enjoyed altering his teaching strategies to apply to different cultures and witnessing the Lord’s willingness to help students and faculty with their studies.

Marcus Martins, associate professor of Religious Education and former a dean from Brazil, has known the Lanes since they first came to BYUH. He said they have taught him to “exemplify excellence” through “scholarly discipleship, or the quality of grounding one’s intellectual pursuits in a foundation of faith and discipleship in Jesus Christ.” He said he has observed them creating environments where those they are teaching will feel the inspiration that comes from the Holy Ghost.

Keith Lane said he is retiring with plans to continue studying, writing and hiking.

Jennifer Lane said she is going back to BYU in Provo to work at the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship for three

years. While there, she said she will focus on the history of Christianity and “analysis of scripture and theology,” including “how Christians sought access to the holiness of Jerusalem from a distance.”

She said she is also going to study the Atonement of Jesus Christ and “the connection between wealth, worship and idolatry.” Afterwards, they hope to serve a mission together.

Sacred memories Martins recalled a fond memory he shared with the Lanes. He said when he was the associate dean in 2002, he and his wife went to the Polynesian Cultural Center with the Lanes.While there, he and Keith Lane “danced, or something almost like it, together at the Tahitian Village. I knew then we would be good colleagues.”

Keith Lane, associate professor of Religious Education from Idaho, said he can remember two specific experiences, one in 2003 and one in 2005, where a student made a comment during class that has stuck with him through all these years. “I’ve quoted these students just as you might quote a scholar that says something brilliant for years after.”

JUN E 2021 55

Left: Jennifer and Keith Lane are leaving BYUH after 19 years.

Above: Jennifer Lane said students’ love for the Savior invites the spirit into her classroom.

Right: Keith Lane said he has enjoyed altering his teaching strategies to apply to different cultures. Photos by Mark Daeson Tabbilos.

In one instance, he and his class were discussing an aspect of the law of consecration when they came across a piece of doctrine that stated a bishop can preside without counselors if he is a descendant of Aaron. He said one of his students raised their hand and said, “It would be so different, but it seems like something they can need and use in the millennium.”

Keith Lane said this comment of looking at the doctrine within a millennial context broke barriers and limits instead of putting people’s views into a box. He said, “That fresh perspective can be inspired.”

In another instance, he said some of his class members were troubled in their studies of the history of race and the priesthood. “One of the students raised his hand and said answers come to things like this, not like the end of a math equation, but rather an answer that’s a kind of peace and resolution with things,” he said. “It really was a brilliant comment.”

He said he keeps in touch with this student through Facebook and will message him nearly every year when he quotes his comment in a class discussion. “It’s the student’s way of putting it that gives it a kind of clarity and insight that is striking and helpful.”

Jennifer Lane is originally from Virginia and is the dean of Religious Education and an associate professor of Religious Education. She said her favorite moments of teaching occur when her students come to class prepared, having read the assigned reading and willing to learn, because that is what invites revelation.

56 KE AL AK A‘I 2021

“There’s sacred moments. The love they have for the Savior invites the Holy Ghost.”

She said she can remember a few instances in class where there was “a spirit of unity, love and [students] wanting to understand the text.

“The spiritual witness came, people could feel it, and it wasn’t me. It was collectively everybody because they were honestly sharing their feelings and were not distracted, all in the spirit of learning together and from each other.”

She said moments like this don’t happen every class, but when they do, she recognizes them as an “extraordinary blessing and privilege where inspired words are said and the Lord is letting us learn together through His spirit.

Those sacred memories are treasures to me.”

Ultimately, she quoted Doctrine and Covenants 88 and said it is when people are willing to teach and share that they will be “instructed more perfectly.”

She said the online class environment has invited more students than normal to share their thoughts. “In class, five to eight people usually dominate the conversation. But this way, everybody is sharing. We’re hearing a lot more voices and comments.”

She explained, “It has been very rewarding to hear at length from all students, even those who would never have felt comfortable speaking in class. My time spent listening to them in their writing and then responding to them individually is something I would never have time for during a normal class period.”

Valuable lessons Jennifer Lane said the most valuable lesson she learned while teaching at BYUH was a solidification of her testimony that Heavenly Father’s plan is merciful because He wants all of His children to return to Him. She said she knows there are no barriers to receiving everything Heavenly Father has except our own. He won’t force His children to receive His blessings, she explained. They have to want to become like Him and choose Christ every single day.

“Faith and daily repentance and keeping your covenants is what matters. I knew it before, but there is nothing else. That is it.

That’s what I know.”

Keith Lane added, “I’ve really come to see there is a fairness and goodness and real truth about the gospel of Jesus Christ. It’s the simple things that really go deep.

“With university life, what I’ve come to appreciate more is the law of consecration, the idea of our lives not simply being our own. For faculty and students, there can be a consecration for our lives that builds us up to help people and help build God’s kingdom.

We’ll have an accounting to do of the time we’ve been given.”

He said this means people can make their everyday activities holy, including what they do for work and school. Jennifer Lane spoke of her husband’s passion for this topic and said he gave a devotional address on campus in 2010, called, “Consecration of Our Studies.”

She said, “If I had my way, every single student would watch that.”

Ultimately, Keith Lane said the biggest lesson he has learned is “the Lord is willing to help us and can be involved in our studies.

I really believe that. … It doesn’t mean everybody will get straight As, but it’s support.

Your studies can be spiritual and grace shall be as your day.” He said this support often comes in the form of inspiration, ideas and help getting through the day.

Jennifer Lane said it is important to remember “it’s never about us. Once we take the name of Christ upon us, it is never about us anymore. Everything we are and have belongs to Him. We are His stewards. Our life, time and resources belong to Him. The one thing that’s ours is our agency.”

She said gratitude can be shown to Heavenly Father through the choices people make, which is why it is important to take the time to be a serious student. “All we have is the Lord investing in us so He can do His work better.”

She said although it can be scary, it is important to believe “the Lord will qualify who He calls. … We don’t have to be afraid.

We can go forward with confidence and without pride. It’s His power that comes from our covenant relationship.”

The universal gospel When asked what her favorite part about working at BYUH is, Jennifer Lane said she has loved watching the students’ “understanding of the gospel and faith in Christ increase and their understanding of and love for the scriptures deepen.”

Keith Lane said, “It’s both a privilege and a challenge to teach the variety of students here. That will be the case anywhere, but the variety is so dramatic here with the cultural background and assumptions, life experiences and ways of looking at things.”

The goal is to teach so all students will both understand and be challenged, he said. “It makes you rethink certain areas of the gospel to see what is really crucial and fundamental and be able to give examples that cut across many cultures.”

He said although a person’s background can limit what they see, it also provides a way for doors to be opened to new perspectives they wouldn’t otherwise see. The most interesting comments he hears in his classes, he said, are those that help him to see things

a different way, especially in learning how the gospel is understood in cultures different from his own.

For example, he said, although the Church emphasizes being kind, “kindness is expressed or manifested differently from culture to culture.”

Jennifer Lane elaborated this principle by saying the key is to “speak to the universal realities of a spiritual life. … We’re all invited to learn to hear the universal call of the gospel.”

She said it never gets old seeing students’ progress through life, and it reinforces to her the importance of studying together. These experiences, she said, are often “little quiet things” where she witnesses people making important connections. She said because of this, she believes the most important thing is to help people study in a way they can recognize the voice of the Lord for themselves, which often comes by understanding the context of the scriptures.

“Additional education can make the scriptures more accessible. It’s not a barrier, but a window to hearing the voice of the Lord. … Becoming holy is an onward journey.”

A passion for learning Jennifer and Keith Lane met at BYU in Provo because they were in the same ward and Keith was auditing a class Jennifer Lane was taking. She said they came to BYUH because

it felt right for them to take the opportunity to teach here, even though they had never previously considered moving to Hawaii.

Jennifer Lane said she was a history major in her undergraduate studies but was always drawn towards religious history specifically.

After her mission in Bordeaux, France from 1989-1991, she said she wanted to return to school to study ancient texts and language.

She studied Greek and Hebrew and earned a master’s degree in Near Eastern studies at BYU in Provo and then a doctorate in religion with emphasis in the history of Christianity from Claremont Graduate University. “I don’t want to just teach history, but teach the gospel and understand the scriptures better.”

Keith Lane said after he served a mission in Arequipa, Peru from 1978-1980, he received a master’s degree in English with a minor in philosophy and theology at BYU in Provo.

While he was studying, he also taught writing at BYU in Provo for four years. However, when he began applying to doctoral programs, he said he realized what he wants to do fits more in the philosophy and theology category, so he earned a doctorate in that instead of English at Claremont Graduate University.•

After retiring, Keith Lane said he plans to continue studying writing and hiking. Jennifer Lane will be studying at the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for three years.

Photo by Mark Daeson Tabbilos.

JUN E 2021 57

PREVENTING FIRES ONE STEP AT A TIME Honolulu Fire Department Fire Captain said most fires are preventable. Here’s how:

BY ABBIE PUTNAM

H

aving been a firefighter for the Honolulu Fire Department for 11 years, Jared Kimbler said his coworkers at Station 13 in Kahuku have become like a second family as they’re together 24 hours a day. “Firemen are just big kids who refuse to grow up no matter what.

Ninety-nine percent of our day is spent laughing and having fun and hanging out with the guys. It’s like a family away from your own family.”

Originally from Ohio, Kimbler said he started working as a firefighter shortly after he finished his last year of military service. He said because his dad, grandfather and father were all firefighters he originally wanted to take his own path. However, he said as he got older, he realized what a good job it is because of the similarities it holds to the military lifestyle.

“It’s really similar to the military lifestyle because of the closeness you get with your teammates, the excitement, challenge, teamwork and being involved in the community with fire safety inspections and helping others.”

Cris Bartolome, fire captain at the HFD from Honolulu, said regular fire inspections, done by The Community Relations Office and Codes Enforcement section of the HFD, help ensure the community, including BYU–Hawaii, are following fire safety protocol so they can prevent as many fires as possible.

“Almost any fire not caused by Mother Nature is preventable. From kitchen fires where the occupant went to watch TV and fell asleep while cooking, to connecting multiple extension cords to power a fan causing a short and igniting surrounding flammable material,” Bartolome said.

Ryan Lager of the HFD came into the Ke Alaka‘i office in February 2021 for the routine fire safety checks that happen periodically on campus.

Upon inspecting the office, he suggested moving the microwave because it was plugged into an extension cord. He said it was a necessity to have the microwave plugged into a direct outlet to reduce the fire hazard.

Kimbler explained, “The one thing we see a lot at homes would be extension cords used permanently, which is a big no-no. A lot of people

58 KE AL AK A‘I 2021

Left: Jared Kimbler of the Honolulu Fire Department standing in front of Station 13 in Kahuku.

Right: A Honolulu Fire Department fire engine. Photos by Mark Daeson Tabbilos.

don’t realize that. Those things are not rated for long-term use, so they will overheat, and they will cause fires.”

The Consumer Product Safety Commission website explains extension cords are dangerous because they also have a greater potential of becoming damaged, which poses a high risk for fires.

Bartolome said people should be particularly wary of appliances that produce heat. He gave a few examples, such as a microwave, coffee maker, toaster oven, Instapot or slow cooker, advising these appliances should also be plugged into a direct outlet. He said this advice also applies to bigger everyday appliances such as the refrigerator, stove, dishwasher or air conditioning.

Preventing house fires In addition to not using extension cords as a long-term power source indoors, there are other safety precautions that should be taken.

Kimbler said having a working smoke alarm is often overlooked by community members.

“The No. 1 thing is having a working smoke detector you check every month.Those save so many lives that it’s unbelievable and a lot of people neglect it.” He said local people may discover the battery in their alarm is dead.

Kimbler emphasized although many smoke detectors are good for 10 years, locals should stay on top of checking them monthly to be certain they are safe. “I test mine by cooking poorly and making smoke, and then I know it works,” he joked.

According to the Red Cross website, home fires claim seven lives every day, but this can be prevented by following simple fire prevention steps, such as being sure the smoke alarm is working properly.

Bartolome said these home fires are commonly from unattended cooking, which is the No. 1 cause of structure fires. He advised to never leave the kitchen while cooking.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, about 173,000 kitchen fires happen in the United States each year. Of these fires, about 550 of them were fatal, 820 resulted in injury and about $1.2 billion in damage was done. The good news is these fires are highly preventable.

Besides never leaving cooking unattended, Bartolome suggested to avoid cooking when feeling tired, whether the drowsiness comes from medication, alcohol or life stresses and responsibilities.

What the public should know While checking for fire hazards during inspections, Bartolome said the HFD also tries to take advantage of opportunities to educate the public about fire prevention.

Bartolome explained there is more information about fire safety on the NFPA website. He said there are print outs for offices and businesses to put up. He suggested leadership should replace the print out with an updated one each month and be sure their employees are educated about what is included in the notices.

These safety tip handouts cover topics such as grilling, how to stay safe when travelling, and children and pets.

When grilling, NFPA advises people to use the grill far away from the home or tree branches and to keep the grill clean. Only light the grill once the lid is open and keep children and pets at least three feet away from the grill at all times.

In addition, the website says extension cords should be used for outdoor electric charcoal starters, which do not use fire. For propane grills, NFPA advises grillers to be sure to check for leaks by applying soap and water to the hose. If bubbles appear, the grill should be repaired before use. In addition, if the grill smells like gas, they should “immediately get away from the grill and call the fire department. Do not move the grill,” the website says.

JUN E 2021 59

Lastly, the NFPA recommended pets be included in the family’s “wildfire evacuation plan.” They even suggested to go so far as to “build an evacuation kit for each pet in our household” that can be easily transported. Heartbreakingly, the website also says people should never go back into a burning building to rescue a pet, they should alert a firefighter instead.

This goes along with NFPA’s advisement to always plan ahead. “You may have only a few minutes to get out safely once the smoke alarm sounds. Everyone needs to know what to do and where to go if there is a fire.” Despite the importance of keeping the household safe, only one in three households have implemented this practice, the website says.

Creating an effective escape plan

Jared Kimbler turns on the fire engine lights.. Photo by Mark Daeson Tabbilos.

Lastly, if the flame on the propane grill goes out, NFPA advice is to turn off the grill and gas and wait at least five minutes before attempting to use it again.

Even when on vacation, NFPA suggests include checking for smoke alarms and fire extinguishers and having an evacuation plan.

When it comes to protecting children, the website says punishing children who misuse fire could actually make the problem worse.

Instead, NFPA suggests close supervision, education and being a good example. Ultimately, talking openly with the child and establishing clear rules and consequences about fire safety is the best way to prevent a tragedy from occurring, it explains.

“All children are at risk for using fire unsafely. Many fires happen simply because matches and lighters are left within a child’s reach.”

Regarding pets, the NFPA website says although pets give us comfort, friendship and unconditional love, pets and wild animals are responsible for starting about 750 home fires each year.

These fires involve cooking equipment, fireplaces and chimneys, space heaters, lamps, bulbs, wiring and candles. They advised being sure to keep animals away from cooking equipment, candles, lamps and space heaters. In fact, they also suggest considering flameless candles.

Fireplaces are also a dangerous place for pets. They advise the public to keep pets at least three feet away from the fireplace and cover it with tempered glass.

Another important piece of advice is to keep an eye on what pets chew up; it could be very dangerous if they chewed through electrical cords.

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“Roughly six out of seven fires in dormitories are started by cooking,” the NFPA website says. Such fires often occur after 5 p.m. or on weekends. Thus, the advice for having an escape plan applies even to college students who live either on or off campus, NFPA says.

Luckily, the website offers some tips for how to create an effective evacuation plan. First, they suggest drawing a map of the home with all of the possible exit points so everyone in the home can become familiar with it. Two ways to get out of each room in the home would be ideal.

Household members should also be aware of where to go once they escape from the burning home, the website says. For perfect execution, the household should practice the drill at least twice a year using different escape routes.

When escaping, be sure to close all of the doors, as this may slow the spread of the fire, NFPA admonishes online. The Red Cross website says household members should have a plan that will allow them to escape within two minutes. In worst case scenarios, where the escape must be made when there is smoke in the home, the websites says the best way to safely do so is to duck down as low as possible while moving.

Kimbler said it is important for the public to be sure the exits in their home are easily accessible and free of clutter. Additionally, he recommended that whenever possible, the public keep a nice, working fire extinguisher in their home that is replaced annually.

“If you get a new one every year, you’re guaranteed to have it when you need it. … You should know exactly where it is and be able to get to it even in the dark.”

Bartolome said community members are welcome to contact the Honolulu Fire Department office and request a fire safety presentation for groups, such as businesses or clubs.

The HFD also participates in several annual safety campaigns, he said, including NFPA Fire Prevention Week, National Home Fire Sprinkler Week and Smoke Alarms for Everyone. They are also on social media putting out the word on Fire Safety and Prevention, he said. They can be found on any platform by searching “Honolulu Fire Department.”

The Honolulu Fire Department also produces an annual Fire Fighter Safety Guide for all elementary schools across the state.•

Graphics by Emily Hendrickson.

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&

FIRE, STRENGTH HISTORY Jeralee Galeai says her drive, even in the face of setbacks, led her to becoming the first female fireknife soloist at the PCC night show

BY ABBIE PUTNAM

W

hen Jeralee Galeai was 10 years old, she picked up a stick and wanted to practice fireknife dancing, or siva afi, with her older cousins.

She said her father, David Galeai, who was teaching them, saw her potential and started working with her.

One day while at practice, she said she threw the knife in the air and it hooked onto her shirt on the way back down. She was running with the fireknife on her shirt when her dad helped her remove it and then said, “No more fire for you.”

She said she was initially saddened by her father’s comment but then felt determined. “I said, ‘No, I will keep doing it.’ My dad saw my drive, and from there he kept pushing me.”

At first, her father thought fireknife dancing was not be for her, she said, “I showed him I wanted to do it, and he hasn’t given up on me since. He’s played a really big part in where I am at today. He’s actually the whole reason why.”

Jeralee Galeai is a junior majoring in business finance originally from the Cook Islands but was raised in Laie. She said she is now the first female soloist fireknife dancer at the Polynesian Cultural Center’s night show.

David Galeai, from Laie, said he is proud of his daughter for her accomplishments because he knows how much hard work and dedication she put in. “It’s an honor to be the first [woman] to do it. It’s a huge accomplishment for her and me.”

Above: Jeralee Galeai; right top (from left to right): Aaliyah Ava, Jeralee Galeai and Chandae Ava; bottom right: The girls dancing at the 2021 World Fireknife Competition at the PCC. Photos by Mark Daeson Tabbilos.

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He too performs siva afi at the PCC night show. “Fireknife dancing means a lot. It means everything. It’s a way of life and has taught me a lot about myself, … [such as] respect, love and hard work.”

David Galeai emphasized the excitement he feels because of the journey it took to fireknife dance at the night show. “To not only have Jeralee on that stage but also the twins, Aaliyah and Chandae, … is a proud moment for me.”

Twin sisters Aaliyah and Chandae Ava, Jeralee Galeai’s cousins, are both freshmen from

Laie majoring in business. They both started fire dancing when they were 9 years old. Together, they are the first women fireknife dancers to perform a group routine at the PCC night show.

Aaliyah Ava said David Galeai tried to have the trio dance at the PCC for almost three years. However, she said this year was the first year the PCC told them, “Let’s see what you guys got.” After they performed for the first time, she said they began performing at the night show every night.

Aaliyah Ava said she is honored to be part of the first group of women fireknife dancers at

PCC. It’s good to know girls can do something mostly men do, she stated.

“I’ve heard there’s other girls looking up to us, so I think it’s really good to inspire them to do what they want to do,” Ava said.

Siva afi is typically known to be for men in the Samoan culture, she explained, especially because it is a dangerous art.

Jeralee Galeai said they dance with a dull blade and hook attached to a long stick. They wrap the blade in a towel, attach it with ply wire and then soak it with gas before lighting it on fire.

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Above photos: The girls dancing at the PCC’s night show.

Photos provided by the Polynesian Cultural Center.

Bottom photos left to right: Chandae Ava, the girls and Aaliyah Ava. Photos by Mark Daeson Tabbilos.

The current style of fireknife dancing was created by her “papa Pulefano,” her grandfather’s brother, who initiated the World Fireknife Competition at PCC, and her grandpa, Tafili Saunoa.

Jeralee Galeai said siva afi is a traditional Samoan war dance, so when she dances she represents warriors preparing for a fight. “I think it’s a story of telling history and where our ancestors come from.”

A family legacy Jeralee Galeai said when she was 12, she started fireknife dancing at the luaus at PCC with Chandae and Aaliyah Ava. Now, as the first female fireknife soloist at the night show, she said she enjoys entertaining the crowds by sharing her talents.

Aaliyah and Chandae Ava started dancing together as a group at the night show in 2019, shortly before Jeralee Galeai.

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Jeralee Galeai said she typically starts her routine by spinning one knife. She then brings out another knife and dances with two.

It is a routine she practices every day until she knows it well. Sometimes she will incorporate something new to her routine to switch it up, she added.

“I like to build it up. I’ll start with basic motions and move up the height of my throws or the difficulty of the throws. I set it up in a way I can slowly lead on the audience and build up to the end.”

Jeralee Galeai said her and her father were happy when they began dancing at night show because fireknife dancing is a big part of their family.

“It means so much, being that my family, my grandma Vai, created a legacy in her own time. I am very grateful and humbled to be able to carry on that legacy and create history.” She said her grandma Vai was an instructor for the

night show and thus created a family tradition for her relatives who fireknife dance.

“Fireknife dancing makes me feel like I’m connected with my ancestors from before because they did what I am doing now,” Jeralee Galeai explained. “Every performance I do, I always look and am grateful and humbled because I remember where I came from and why I’m there.”

Ava said she learned to fireknife dance to continue her family’s legacy.

Jeralee Galeai said her family created a “modern” type of fireknife dancing, combining hip hop with tradition. They sometimes perform this style at gigs, she said.

Where it started David Galeai said he knew from the start his daughter was a “natural spinner” and all he had to do was be consistent in working with her. He said his favorite moment of teaching

her to fireknife dance was the first time she ever danced with fire.

She was 11 the first time she tried siva afi with fire, Jeralee Galeai said. “When I tried it with fire, it was a whole different story because you’re risking yourself getting burned or cut.”

Despite the risk, she said she still enjoyed the exhilaration and wanted to keep doing it over and over again.

Although she has burnt her hair and cut herself, she said the excitement carries her through. “I guess in the moment you don’t really feel it because of adrenaline.”

Jeralee Galeai said having her father as her teacher meant she felt more comfortable asking for help and said it allowed him to push her more.

“I feel like he pushed me much harder. He was hard on me, but it was fun,” she said. “I feel like I was more comfortable because he is my dad, so I could always let him know the motions I was struggling with or [the ones] I didn’t like doing.”

When she and her father first started practicing, she said he would sometimes feel stressed when she didn’t get the motions down. “My best way of learning is when he’s frustrated because I want to show him I can do it. I tell myself, ‘You think I can’t do it? I’ll do it.’ He knows that and uses it to motivate me, and it works.”

Aaliyah Ava said her and her sister learned how to fireknife dance along with Jeralee Galeai and learned from both David Galeai and Pulefano Galeai. She said they taught them throughout the years to prepare them for gigs, parties and weddings, aside from the PCC. Her favorite memory of learning to fireknife dance is learning with her siblings and cousins. She said learning to fireknife dance paved the way to her life now and has allowed her to travel and perform with her family.

So far, Ava said she has been to New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Japan and California

to perform vaimatina, or family fireknife dancing. Most of the time they were competing, she said, but when they were in New Zealand, they danced at Polyfest, which is a celebration of their culture.

Jeralee Galeai said she wants to pass her talent of fire dancing on to her children and anyone else who wants to learn. She also wants to travel and see the world. “It would be awesome to perform in different countries. I would love to get the opportunity to share my talents with others on different stages and in different parts of the world.”

She said she would even like to conduct workshops so she can spread the art to younger generations. •

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Something worth

CELEBRATING BYUH hosts the first ever Educator Appreciation Concert to celebrate overcoming the challenges of teaching during the pandemic

BY ABBIE PUTNAM

H

undreds of educators were sitting in silence, the Cannon Activity Center completely dark except for the lights shining on the stage where musician Josh Tatofi was sitting. As the first sounds of Hawaiian music reverberated in the air, the audience swayed in their seats, the evidence of their mask-hidden smiles found in the wrinkles at the corners of their eyes.

As the second song began, several educators wandered down to the floor beneath the stage. They smiled with glistening eyes as they hula danced to the sounds of home.

For Esita Krystal Fakatava Foliaki, a BYU– Hawaii alumna from Tonga and fourth grade teacher at Sunset Beach Elementary School, her first-year teaching was also the year the world was rocked because of the pandemic.

She said everything was different from what she was taught in school and was learning a lot of new things on top of being a new teacher.

The week before the end of the school year, she said she went to retrieve her items from her box and looked through them during recess. It was then she found an invitation to the educator appreciation concert held on Friday, May 28, 2021.

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Educators from all around the North Shore gathered at the CAC to enjoy a concert held in their honor. Josh Tatofi and Kapena sang.

Shirley “Kura” Tovey, coordinator of student development at Seasider Sports & Activities, was involved in planning and organizing the concert. In her seven years of working at BYUH, she said this is the first event put on specifically for educators.

Sia Afeaki Tonga, who greeted the guests at the concert, said educators are “some of the most underappreciated people we know. … Because of the year we’ve had, I’m so incredibly blessed to be a part of this night in a small way.”

She made sure to thank even those responsible for groundskeeping for their hard work.

“That Friday, our grades were in and we had sent report cards out.That was the very first time I actually didn’t have to worry about school-related things,” Foliaki said, emphasizing how much she appreciated being able to destress and have a good time with people who endured challenges similar to hers during the school year.

“It was a sweet thing for me to be able to go out and enjoy Kapena and Josh Tatofi, especially because I grew up listening to Kapena and, since moving to Hawaii, I’ve learned to appreciate Hawaiian music and love Tatofi’s music.”

She said the event meant a lot to her because she knew “someone went out of their way. They didn’t have to do it, and they created such an amazing event and invited tons of educators just to show them they are appreciated.”

She said it was also meaningful because she knew those who helped organize the event might not even have children at Sunset Elementary, but they still invited the staff there. “It just made me appreciate it a lot more,” she explained.

Tovey said, “It was such a successful event.

I’m seeing comments on Facebook where the teachers felt like they were appreciated and posting videos of what a fun evening they had.… Someone mentioned what a way to end the crazy year of COVID.” Brandyn Akana, head of Sports & Student Activities from Molokai, said, “My favorite part was seeing how excited our educators were to be in attendance. It was appreciation for them. We wanted to recognize them and honor them. It was great to see the turnout of the teachers from our community to join the event. That was the highlight for me.”

Educators from the North Shore enjoyed an evening of music and dance with performers Josh Totofi and Kapena.

Photos by Mark Daeson Tabbilos.

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Leolani “Lilo” Tuala, the Kapena bass guitarist performed at the concert honoring educators. Photo by Mark Daeson Tabbilos.

Rallying together Upon arriving to the concert, the educators were greeted with a path lined by students leading to a balloon arch, dancing and loud music.

Tovey explained, “We also had a deejay help at the entrance for the welcoming part. His name is Vili Toilolo, and he did not want to be paid. He just wanted to show his appreciation, so he did it for free. He was so good because he was [also] the emcee, he was welcoming the teachers and playing the music while people were coming in.”

Tovey said it was originally the BYUH President’s Council who had the idea to put together the educator appreciation concert.

She said Brandyn Akana was the main person assigned to organize the event, so he delegated tasks and the team helped.

Akana said they made an effort to involve BYUH students in the event, especially when it came to ushering and check in. He said they are planning on doing more events like this in the future.

Tovey said Akana delegated tasks to several departments. Campus Safety & Security, Admissions, Residential Life, Media Productions, technicians, the CAC events management committee, Facilities Management, New Student Orientation and the Seasider Sports &

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Activities team all helped organize and put on the concert.

In addition, she said community members donated decorations, food and their time for the event. She said the Kahuku High School girls’ volleyball team were the ones lining the path to greet the teachers. “I thought that was beautiful. It was like the icing on the cake.”

Sharing mahalo Educators from each institution were greeted separately, including Kaawa, Hauula, Laie, Kahuku and Sunset elementary schools, as well as Kahuku Intermediate and High School and BYU–Hawaii.

Tonga announced the concert as a way of saying mahalo to the educators for all they’ve had to endure during the pandemic. The first performer, Josh Tatofi, is her nephew. She said, “I’m so glad he was able to fit us in because you are important, and what you do for our children is so important.”

Before Tatofi was welcomed on stage, BYUH President John Kauwe shared an opening statement. Upon his arrival to the stage, several rows of audience members stood up and performed the chant “Hiki Mai” to welcome him.

Tovey explained at BYUH, “We usually use that chant to welcome newcomers [and invite them] to come and learn from ancestors.”

After the chant, President Kauwe expressed gratitude for those who prepared the event. “As I’ve come here during the pandemic, I’ve experienced great challenges and sacrifices like you have. … I’m so grateful for the staff and the ideas they had to honor you.”

He said despite the challenges the past year brought, they can enjoy the “generous offering of talent” from the performers.

Tonga then welcomed Tatofi to the stage, saying to the audience he “started singing as soon as he could talk” and has won several awards, such as album of the year, male vocalist of the year and favorite entertainer. She said he was also nominated for a Grammy. He was joined on stage by band members Travis Kaka and Laupepa Letuli.

“I do love him personally. … I’m proud he’s my nephew. All the awards could never amount to his humility and love for family and God,” Tonga expressed.

Tatofi only made it through one song before a few members of the audience made their way to the floor in front of the stage to dance.

The dancing continued throughout the night, whether it was a slow or a fast-paced hula.

At one point, Tatofi noticed a particularly enthusiastic dancer. At the end of the song, he joked, “The song I was singing and the song she was dancing to was almost the same song.”

Also performing during the concert were members of Kekela Miller’s local hula halau.

The group performed during several songs both Tatofi and Kapena sang.

At the close of Tatofi’s performance, he expressed his feelings to the educators. “Thank you for doing what you guys do all year round. … We could never do what you guys do. …

Keep our teachers in your prayers.”

The audience proceeded to thank Tatofi with a standing ovation. Tonga exclaimed, “Look at this, Josh. Everybody is standing up for you.Your music, your voice is a gift. Truly a gift. And I can’t think of a more deserving audience than the educators and the staff who are here tonight. … He made it all the way to the CAC to honor all of you.”

She then encouraged community members to support local music on all digital platforms.

Rocking the house While Kapena prepared to perform, the educators viewed two videos thanking them for their hard work.

The first video opened with these words on the screen: “Dear teachers, sometimes it may seem like people have forgotten how important you really are.Your creativity, your dedication, your passion. It’s time for a reminder.”

The video then highlighted how teachers help children gain confidence and a passion for learning and reminded the educators they are appreciated “even when it seems like no one is watching or people have forgotten just how special teachers really are.”

The second video displayed several clips of all of the trials faced by the world in 2020 and the impact it had on teachers, such as Zoom calls “with a wall of black screens.” However, the video then took a hopeful turn and commended educators for their perseverance.

“Right now, there is a student who feels known and heard because of you,” it said in the video. “There are students who will

remember you forever as someone who was there for them in these dark times. You are changing the world even when you can’t see it. So, thank you.”

After that, Kapena was then welcomed onto the stage with applause by the audience.

The leader of Kapena, Kelly Boy DeLima, thanked God for the opportunity to perform for the educators with his family. “It’s an indescribable feeling,” he said, referring to seeing his children carry on the “Kapena legacy.” Others on stage included Kelly Boy’s two daughters, Kalena and Lilo, and his son, Kapena.

A few audience members couldn’t help but dance in the area in front of the stage. In fact, for the last song, Akana said they played a traditional Hawaiian farewell song that brought almost the entire audience onto the floor, holding hands and swaying.

Tovey explained, “We could not control the crowds at the end because every time you hear that, everybody needs to hold hands above their heads and sing that song.”

She said she used to sing that song at a Hawaiian parent-child program. She said the song brings “the mana, spirit, unity, love and care for everybody.”

Akana said Josh Tatofi and Kapena were selected to perform at the concert because they are local. One of Josh Tatofi’s band members is from Laie, and Kapena is from Kaneohe.

“That’s why both groups were selected, and we requested to have them.”

Tovey said she enjoyed how Josh Tatofi’s songs are used for hula dances and Kapena knows a variety of songs from Polynesian cultures. They “recognize different Polynesian cultures and they did rock the house.”

Although it was a lot of work to put on the event, Tovey said, “It was rewarding to see our educators being appreciated and recognized. …

It was a great boost for all the teachers to see they are valued, even though we don’t see them face to face.

She said, “It was amazing, I really enjoyed it.

The next day I had a backache, but it was worth it. Everybody was so happy and were dancing.” •

Concert goers danced to the music. Photos by Mark Daeson Tabbilos.

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TOO BIG

TO TO BE BE TRUE

BYUH professor says the claim that 500 mph 100-foot waves could someday hit Oahu sounds more like a “poorly-written disaster movie”

70 KE AL AK A‘I 2021

BY ANNA STEPHENSON

A

viral post from a 2018 Big Island Now article claims that the Kilauea volcano on the Big Island, which is slowly slipping into the ocean, could break off and cause a catastrophic tsunami to strike Oahu. BYU–Hawaii geology professor, Dr. Benjamin Jordan, weighed in.

“In the end, the statement sounds like a plot from a really poorly-written disaster movie,” said Jordan, a professor in the Faculty of Sciences.

The viral post, which has gained traction again on Facebook, discusses the possibility that a piece of land on the south side of Kilauea could break off and tumble into the ocean. This piece of land is known as the Hilina Slump and is roughly the size of Manhattan. Such a huge piece of land falling into the sea would generate, according to the claims investigated by Big Island Now, “a tsunami … with 100-plus foot waves moving at 500 miles [an] hour.”

Furthermore, the original claim from Big Island Now includes the assertion that the possibility of the Hilina Slump causing such a disaster has been deliberately covered up by the United States Geological Survey. “The bosses at USGS know about this and are intentionally concealing the information for fear of causing panic,” the original post said. “Media outlets have been told not to say anything about this possibility for the same reasons.”

In response to the viral post, Jordan said, “Why would anyone want to hide such information? It does not make any rational sense.

If such an event were going to happen anytime soon, geologists and community leaders would be doing everything they could to warn people and develop hazard mitigation processes to protect people.

That’s what geologists do. Anyone that has taken a geology class that discusses the Hawaiian Islands, including any of mine, knows about the

potential for mega-tsunamis caused by landslide collapses of volcanic islands. There is nothing hidden about it. A simple Google search will turn up a load of information on the subject.”

The danger posed by the Hilina Slump is minimal. “The likelihood of it happening anywhere in the next 100,000 years is almost nonexistent,” Jordan said. “This [article] is from three years ago, and if anything, Kilauea, although erupting again, has settled down since then. It is following a pattern that has been occurring for at least the last 200 years.”

Oahu is no stranger to landslides or tsunamis. According to Live Science, 15 giant landslides have occurred in the Hawaiian Islands in the past 4 million years. The most recent one occurred on Oahu a staggering 100,000 years ago. As for tsunamis, a landslide triggered

by Mauna Loa volcano caused one which left telltale deposits on the Big Island 50,000 years ago.

According to Gary McMurty, a University of Hawaii professor who was interviewed by Live Science, these events happen every 100,000 years. He said it should be noted that the volcanoes that originally formed Oahu are no longer active because the shifting of the Earth has gradually moved the island away from the hotspot which creates volcanoes.

Jordan said, “There is potential for volcanic island collapse. … It is a potential that exists at all volcanic islands worldwide, not just Hawaii.

While there have been small coastal-collapses that have generated tsunamis [in the past 200 years], none have been mega-tsunamis. All have had limited local impacts, although some led to tragic deaths.”

A list of mega-tsunamis compiled by PBS NOVA noted that the two most recent ones, in Chile in 1960 and the Indian Ocean in 2004, were caused by massive earthquakes.•

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