October 2021

THE LEADER

OCTOBER 2021

Hawaiian Monarchs A legacy of courage and resilience p.16

Sacred sites on Oahu p.10

OCT O BE R 2021 1

OCTOBER 2021 • VOLUME 130 • ISSUE 2

LeeAnn Lambert ADVISOR

Amanda Penrod COPY EDITOR

Abbie Putnam EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Collin Farley COPY EDITOR/ JOURNALIST

Katie Mower ART DIRECTOR

Alexandra Clendenning MULTINMEDIA JOURNALIST

Micheal Kraft SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

Leiani Brown COPY EDITOR

Levi Fuaga MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST

Lauren Goodwin MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST

Elle Larson MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST

Xyron Levi Corpuz MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST

Rahel Meyer MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST

Anna Stephenson MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST

Mahana Tepa MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST

Lisi Tiafu MULTIMEDIA JOUNRALIST

Nicole Whiteley MULTIMEDIA JOURNALIST

Emily Hendrickson ARTS & GRAPHICS

Marlee Palmer ARTS & GRAPHICS

Sugarmaa Bataa SOCIAL MEDIA GRAPHICS

Cristal Lee PHOTOGRAPHY &VIDEO

Munkhbayar Magvandorj PHOTOGRAPHY

Emarie Majors PHOTOGRAPHY

Uurtsaikh Nyamdeleg PHOTOGRAPHY &VIDEO

Mark Daeson Tabbilos PHOTOGRAPHY &VIDEO

2 K E A L A KA‘ I 2 0 2 1

LE T T E R FROM A CO PY E D I TOR While working on this issue of the Ke Alakai’i, I thought a lot about what Hawaii means to me, the opportunities it has given me and the responsibilities I have to this beautiful island.

Living in Hawaii has been the best thing for my life. I have grown so much from working at the Ke Alaka’i, gained greater love for nature and the environment, and I met my best friend and wife here. Living in Hawaii has truly blessed me more than I could have ever imagined it would.

I am so excited about this month’s issue of the Ke Alaka’i because it includes articles on Hawaiian heritage. It has been such a special time working on an issue about a place I have so much love and respect for. Whether you are a new student or have been here a while, Hawaii has so much to offer and there is so much to learn about. Check out this month’s special Hawaiian country highlight (pg. 6). Respecting the ‘aina is an important value I’ve learned since being here, so I would recommend reading about Oahu’s sacred sites and how to respectfully and responsibly take part in Hawaiian culture (pg. 9).

One of my favorite things I’ve learned since living here is the Ke Alaka’i’s motto, “Everyone has a story.” One of my favorite stories comes from a former BYUH senior missionary couple from Vietnam you can read on page 44. Working at the Ke Alaka’i since 2019 has been one of the best experiences. I get to learn new skills and grow by working with some of the most talented and creative people I know. Read up about the Ke Alaka’i ohana on page 36.

I hope you enjoy this issue as much as I enjoyed working on it. Hawaii is such a beautiful place, and we hope you all can enjoy it responsibly and respectfully!

Micheal Kraft, copy editor

NEWS CENTER BOX 1920 BYUH LAIE, HI 96762

CONTACT Email: ke a l a k a i @ by u h . e d u Phone: ( 8 0 8 ) 6 7 5 - 3 6 9 4 Fax: ( 8 0 8 ) 6 7 5 - 3 4 9 1

P r i n t S e r v i c e sOffice: BY U – H awa i i A l o h a C e n t e r 1 3 4 Editorial, photo submissions & Distribution inquiries: k e a l a k a i @ by u h . e d u .

ON THE COVER: Iolani Palace, Honolulu, Hawaii. Photo by Mark Daeson Tabbilos

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

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

The name means “the leader” in Hawaiian.What began as a monthly newsletter, evolved into a weekly newspaper, then a weekly magazine and is now a monthly news magazine with a website and a social media presence.Today, a staff of about 25 students work to provide information for BYU–Hawaii’s campus ohana and Laie’s community.

© 2021 Ke Alaka‘i BYU–Hawaii All Rights Reserved OCT O BE R 2021 3

Table of

C O N T E N T S

6 Art submission

4 K E A L A KA‘ I 2 0 2 1

7 Campus comments 8 Hawaii highlight

HAWAIIAN HERITAGE 10 Sacred sites on Oahu 14 Hawaii night marchers

16

Hawaiian monarchs

20 Honolulu Tabernacle 24 PCC Hawaiian Village

CAMPUS & COMMUNITY 26 Being raised by a magician 30 Faces behind Ke Alaka‘i 34 Breaking away from social media

38 42 44 46 50 54 56 58

The Tam’s escape from Vietnam Religious freedom Minimalist lifestyle Tour guides at PCC Passion for hairdressing Volleyball at BYUH Senior feature: Mio Tuala

OCT. 2021

New Mongolian professor

HALLOWEEN 61 64 66

Murder mystery on Oahu Halloween traditions Best Halloween movies

OCT O BE R 2021 5

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

“Friendship”

by Seini Ieremia, a sophomore from Utah studying visual art

Share your art, photos or creative writing with us to share 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 K E A L A KA‘ I 2 0 2 1

CAMPUS C O M M E N T S Where on t he i slan d h a ve you fe lt t h e m os t connected to H a wa iian cu lt u re ?

BY N IC OLE WH IT E LE Y

Randi Bingham, a freshman from Arizona majoring in exercise and sports science, said she has felt the most connected to Hawaiian culture at the Polynesian Cultural Center. “There is more than culture there. It’s a place where you can get the full experience behind every little thing about every single culture and nation that exists here. Not just at BYU-Hawaii, but on the island itself. It’s breathtaking.”

Atsushi Karino, a freshman from Japan majoring in information systems, said the palm trees and beautiful beaches connect him to Hawaiian culture. “The Hawaiian Islands are called paradise in my country, and I feel like it’s a very tropical place that reminds me of Hawaiian culture.”

John Asetre, a junior from the Philippines majoring in accounting, said he feels the most connected to Hawaiian culture when he is in the gazebo behind the temple because he can see the beaches, the people and the community. “I feel like it’s a paradise, and the people and nature are just so connected to each other. It feels so Hawaiian to me.”

Mae Bundrock, a freshman from Washington majoring in business management, said she feels the most connected to Hawaiian culture on campus because of the diversity. She said, “There is so much diversity here because everyone from around the world is here. It’s pretty nice having everyone around and being able to see the different cultures.”

Michael Calachan, a sophomore from the Philippines majoring in TESOL and social work, said he feels the most connected to Hawaiian culture in Laie. He said, “I feel the spirit of aloha here.”

Calachan said this spirit, which locals from neighboring towns have told him is especially strong in Laie, is felt because of the families in Laie.

Lizzie Johnson, a freshman from Arizona majoring in elementary education, said she felt the most connected to Hawaiian culture when she attended the “Ha: Breath of Life” show at the PCC during orientation week. She said, “I thought it was really cool to see all of the different people performing.”

Graphics by Katie Mower OCT O BE R 2021 7

THE

SUNSHINE STATE

World-class surfing and tropical sunshine are only a few reasons to love the culturally rich islands of Hawaii

BY LAUREN GOODWIN

K

awena Murray described the scenery of Hawaii as a “work of art,” including its beautiful beaches and surf. Pilialoha Haverly expressed gratitude for being raised in a place where people “innately love and trust” each other.

Mahinalani Pulotu said the ocean is her “biggest playground.”

BYU–Hawaii students and a Laie community member said there are plentiful reasons to treasure the sunshine state.

Graphics by Katie Mower.

8 K E A L A KA‘ I 2 0 2 1

What do you love most about Hawaii?

Haverly, a senior from Hauula, Oahu majoring in Hawaiian Studies, said, “The people are what I love the most. I have lived in Hawaii all my life and I have been blessed to be surrounded by not just friends, but to have the majority of my family . . . nearby.” She said she also enjoys the landscape, yearround sunshine, beaches and “luscious green mountains.”

Pulotu, a senior from Kailua Kona, Hawaii, majoring in social work, said the ocean holds a special place in her heart and is what she loves most about Hawaii.

“The ocean is a great food source for many. It brings peace and cleansing for all who are in it, and there are so many activities to enjoy from it,” she said. “It’s the biggest playground Hawaii offers.”

Murray, a Laie community member from Lahaina, Maui, said she enjoys the natural beauty that surrounds the state.

“Year round, without fail, from the sky to the ocean and everything in between, [is a] work of art,” she shared. “I am so blessed to live in such a gorgeous place.”

What is your favorite food from Hawaii?

“I love going to a family luau and being able to see all the good food people have made,” Haverly shared. “But if I had to choose some of my top favorites, in no particular order, it would be poke and rice, chicken long rice with rice or a good laulau with poi and rice for dessert.”

Pulotu said her favorite Hawaiian food is lomi salmon, which is pieces of cut up salmon mixed with tomatoes, onions and other condiments. Murray said her favorite Hawaiian food is kulolo, which is a dessert made primarily of taro and coconut.

“Who was a huge figure in the sport of surfing and swimming.” Haverly said, “As cliché as it is, Hawaii is pretty well known for its white sand beaches and the surf.

We have some beautiful beaches on all the islands and some pretty amazing surf and surfers who live here.”

What is a unique and significant cultural practice of Hawaii?

Hula is one of the most significant cultural practices, Haverly said. “We learn the meaning of the songs … how to make leis, how to be as one and how to connect and become closer to our ancestors and the land on which we live.”

In a halau, or hula school, Haverly said she wrote and printed out the lyrics to every song in both Hawaiian and English. Although What is a big holiday in Hawaii? the English translation isn’t perfect, she King Kamehameha Day, on June 11, said it allows the dancers to have a deeper is a big holiday in Hawaii, Haverly said. connection to the song they are dancing to.

“Before COVID hit, there would be parades Pulotu said Hawaii organizes the with what we call pa’u riders. That is what Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo, Big Island, the parade is very well known for.” every year in celebration of King Kalakaua.

A pa’u rider is a woman horseback rider The festival is a week-long event where who wears a long colorful skirt and many hula dancers from all over the world come different types of leis, explained Haverly. There to compete and perform in honor of King are eight riders called pa’u princesses, one for Kalakaua, she explained. each of the Hawaiian Islands, she said, and each “King Kalakua was the last king who rider wears a specific color that represents reigned in Hawaii. He was a ‘merrie’ king their island. and brought back the arts of music and “There would [also] be floats with hula, which had been suppressed for many, hula dancers and singers,” said Haverly. many years due to missionary teachings,” “Even bands from different high schools or she continued. colleges would join the festivities.” Pulotu Murray said the principle of aloha is shared the holiday is in celebration of King very unique to Hawaii. She explained, “It Kamehameha and how he conquered and means love and trust, and I think that’s united the Hawaiian Islands. where the ‘kick back’ vibe of Hawaii Murray said another holiday that is big originates from because we innately love in Hawaii is May Day, also called Lei Day, and trust one another.” She said this sense which is held on May 1 and celebrates “the of aloha and trust is expressed by calling sharing of aloha, stories, hula, adornments someone auntie or uncle or leaving house and food.” doors slightly opened or unlocked.

What do you think Hawaii is known for? What is a traditional piece of Hawaiian According to Pulotu, Hawaii is known clothing? most for surfing and Duke Kahanamoku, Pulotu said a few of her favorite pieces

of traditional clothing are lauhala hats, Ni’ihau shell leis and kihei, which is a shawl that ties over one shoulder.

Haverly stated the lei po’o, or the head lei, is her favorite piece of traditional clothing because she enjoyed making them and bonding with her mother and sister. She said, “Sometimes I get together with aunties and cousins to make lei po’o, talk story and laugh together. It’s a really fun time.”

Murray said her favorite material is kapa, or bark cloth, because of the hard work that is put into making it. The material is made out of the bark of a Wauke or Mulberry tree, and the bark is pounded and soaked in water for multiple days to create the cloth, she explained. “The [delicate process] is what makes it so special and unique to Hawaiians.”

What is it like going to BYUH having grown up in Hawaii?

Attending BYUH can be a bit of a culture shock, said Murray, because most of the students are from other parts of the world. She said she had to learn to understand the way others lived and vice versa, which pushed her to learn more about people than she had expected.

Haverly said being able to take Hawaiian Studies courses has helped her learn more about her culture. “I have learned a lot about my Hawaiian culture, my ancestors and the things they went through and how they lived,” she shared.

Having grown up in Hauula, studying so close to home is something Haverly said she really loves. “I also get to see friends that I grew up with and be able to make new friends with people from all over.” •

a h alo OCT O BE R 2021 9

SACRED SITES ON OAHU Catch a glimpse of Oahu’s rich history by learning about its sacred locations

BY ELLE LARSON AND LAUREN GOODWIN

F

rom a sacred cliff where hundreds of soldiers lost their lives fighting for unity in the Hawaiian Islands to a haunted cave thought to be the home of a shark god that kills visitors, and from a palace that hosted a luau of more than 10,000 people to a healing temple that now connects volunteers to the ‘aina, Oahu is full of sacred places.

Rebekah Walker, adjunct faculty from the Faculty of Culture, Language & Performing Arts, said she hopes as students learn about sacred places on Oahu, they will make connections to their own culture and protect their own sacred places in their home communities.

“As students from around the world come, they learn about Hawaii. They learn to respect it. They learn about our sacred places, but it always makes them think about their own [sacred] places,” she explained.

Nu‘uanu Pali Lookout

Graphics by Marlee Palmer.

10 K E A L A K A ‘ I 2 0 2 1

A windy welcome to windward Oahu, the Pali Lookout is an exciting place to discover spooky legends, brush up on Hawaiian history and hike through several interconnected trails, said Rebekah Strain, a member of the Faculty of Religious Education.

Left: Onlookers experience the strong winds of the Nu‘uanu Pali Lookout.

Right: A marker stands to welcome visitors to one of several sacred sites on Oahu.

Photos by Mark Daeson Tabbilos.

The Pali Lookout is the site of the Battle of Nu‘uanu when King Kamehameha I arrived in Waikiki in 1795, says the Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources’ plaque located at the site.

Kamehameha drove Maui forces up the Nu‘uanu Valley to the Pali Lookout, the plaque reads. The warriors fought with Hawaiian spears and western guns, but Kamehameha brought a cannon and overpowered his enemies. As the battle surged closer to the cliff, says the marker, an estimated 400 soldiers were forced off and fell to their deaths below. This was the final battle Kamehameha fought to unite the Hawaiian Islands, the plaque explains.

Because of its violent history, the Old Pali Road is a spooky hike commonly presumed to be haunted, said Strain. According to an article

by Megan Shute on the Only in Your State website, there have been several reports of the fallen warriors’ lost souls wandering the area at night.

Shute says Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire and volcanoes, and the demigod Kamapua‘a, agreed to never see each other again and chose the Old Pali Road as the border dividing their sides of the island. In her article, Shute says because pork symbolizes

Kamapua‘a, if you bring pork on the road from one side of the island to the other, your car will break down, and a woman with a dog will appear. “To continue on your way, you must feed the pork to the dog—or else,” Shute writes.

Before tunnels were built for cars to get from Laie to town, the quickest option was to hike the trail over the Pali cliffs, says Hawaii’s DLNR’s plaque. This was a regular journey for farmers in Kailua bringing produce to town from home, the plaque says.

Over time, the trail broadened and the government commissioned several projects to establish the path as a highway, the department says on the plaque. Kristen Pedersen of the Historic Hawaii Foundation writes, “By 1931, more than 2,000 cars were navigating the 22 hairpin turns of the Old Pali Highway every day.”

Gliding enthusiast and Second Lieutenant William A. Cocke used the strong trade wind over the Pali Lookout to break a world gliding record in his homemade glider “Nighthawk,” says National Soaring Museum’s marker at the lookout.

According to Burl Burlingame of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Cocke’s glide lasted 21 hours and 34 minutes. He flew 3,454 feet

in the air, breaking both the world and United States’ duration and height powerless flight records.

Peter Young writes in his article “Soaring of Nighthawk,” the world record has since been broken, but this fateful December 1931 flight remains the longest glide in U.S. history.

Strain, who called herself an avid hiker, said there are several fun hikes to trek around the Pali Lookout. She recommended exploring the Old Pali Highway, Likeke Falls or V Falls.

“It’s beautiful. There are some beautiful viewpoints, wild peppercorn and wild guava,” she said. She laughed, remembering her family even found a chameleon on the trail, which they promptly added to the family as a pet.

People can access the Old Pali Highway and other hikes around the Pali from Ko‘olau Golf Course, said Strain. “It’s a fun area because it is so lush and green, and the waterfalls, when they’re flowing, are beautiful.” Strain said the history and the lore of the Pali add to the fun of the trip.

She said to stay away from hiking Pali Puka and Pali Notches, which are other hikes in the area. “Those are closed and extremely dangerous.

I would definitely not recommend them.”

Strain advised, “Always know the trail. Be informed before you go. Know the length, the OCT O BE R 2021 11

Maunawila Heiau, a sacred Hawaiian temple located in Hauula, has undergone extensive restoration with the help of volunteers from the community and BYUH. Photos provided by Rebekah Walker.

difficulty, and where to go. Bring water and good shoes. Tell someone where you’re going and have a map.”

The haunted Makua Cave Although there are many myths and legends surrounding the Makua Cave, one Hawaiian legend describes the upper cave as the home of the shark god Nanaue. Alohalani Housman, associate professor in the Faculty of Culture, Language & Performing Arts, said Nanaue “could assume the form of a man or a shark.”

According to an article written by Diane Lee for the Honolulu Magazine, Nanaue disguises himself as a man to lure visitors into a false sense of security.

Lee states, according to Hawaiian legend, those who go to the cave at night are invited to join an old Hawaiian man tending to meat at a fire. When the traveler becomes dizzy from eating the food, the man turns into a shark, kills them and later eats them. Lee writes, “Makua Cave is supposedly an active hotspot for the spirits of those who died there.”

In an article on sacred-destinations.com, the legend says the Hawaiian people killed Nanaue long ago.

“Honoring this colorful history, the cave has been the site of magic, ritual and religious ceremonies,” the article states. “The area around the cave has been considered sacred 12 K E A L A K A ‘ I 2 0 2 1

and kapu by local communities in recent times.”

The cave can be found on the Southwest Coast of Oahu off of Farrington Highway, according to sacred-destinations.com. Hikers should be cautious, wear correct footwear and bring a flashlight, the article states.

On the Outdoor Project website, Patrick Nichols writes the formation of Makua Cave was formed volcanically by lava dikes. “Years of wave erosion has since exposed the ancient lava, forming the cave we see today,” Nichols explains.

Kaniakapupu: King Kamehameha III’s summer palace Although the stone and rope are slowly crumbling, Marjorie Perlas says on theculturetrip.com the legends and history of the ruins of Kaniakapupu are kept sacred by the Hawaiian people.

Perlas writes, “The area around Nu‘uanu Valley, where the ruins stand today, is riddled with wartime ghost stories and Hawaiian superstitions. The strongest of them being the supposed presence of night marchers or Huaka‘ipo.” She describes how one of the windows in the summer home was built offcenter, which was believed to keep people out of direct eyesight of the night marchers.

According to Perlas, the ruins are considered kapu, meaning sacred and forbidden.

In a Focus Hawaii video made in the early 2000’s, BYU–Hawaii librarians Riley Moffat and Zane Clark explain how the summer palace of King Kamehameha III and Queen Kalama was used as a getaway to escape the summer heat.

Moffat explains the palace was also used as a school to teach the traditional ways of life as a royal. Once they even hosted a luau, Moffat added, celebrating the restoration of the Hawaiian Kingdom, which around 10,000 people attended.

During the celebration, Moffat says, King Kamehameha III established the motto of the kingdom: “The life of the land is perpetuated by righteousness.”

Recently, Hawaii’s DLNR put out a statement that the Divisions of Forestry and Wildlife and the State Historic Preservation Division have restricted access to the ruins due to vandalism.

The statement explains those vandalizing the ruins “violate both state and federal laws and can result in hefty fines.” Visitors are now required to obtain a permit before entering the ruins, according to the DLNR. Crews are also “constructing a low-impact barrier” around the perimeter of the ruins and plan to post signs to warn visitors the area is closed, says DLNR. Ryan Peralta, from the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife, explains, “We know

people come up here, even though it’s closed, so we want to arm them with information to help them appreciate the cultural significance of Kaniakapupu.”

The Maunawila Heiau Years of service rendered by students at BYUH, members of the Hawaii Land Trust and community members have helped conserve the Hawaiian temple named Maunawila Heiau in Hauula, explained Walker.

She said at a Hauula Community Association meeting in 2011, an archaeologist suggested a project to survey Maunawila Heiau Complex and mark it as a historical site.

After hearing about the project, she said she was excited to involve her students in the hands-on experience where they could serve the community and learn about archaeology.

The heiau in Hauula is believed to have been a healing temple, or Heiau Ho‘ola, used for spiritual and physical healing rituals, explained Walker.

Walker added the site has been linked to Makuaka‘ūmana, who Walker said sailed from Kahiki during the early voyaging era in the Pacific. Makuaka‘ūmana was the caretaker of the heiau and brought over many Hawaiian religious practices, she said.

The land containing the Maunawila Heiau was purchased by the McGregor family in the late 1800s, explained Walker, but they moved from the property in the early 1900s after a house fire and other family misfortunes.

Walker said in 2009, about 100 years after moving off the property, the McGregor family wanted to find a way to preserve the heiau and other historical sites.

Before the archeology project, Walker said the overgrown site was a scary area in Hauula, so people stayed away. However, she said the site is now a place where community members visit and assist in preserving the heiau. Volunteers have helped by pulling weeds, finding historical artifacts and clearing the landscape in and around the heiau site, shared Walker.

According to the Hawaii Land Trust website, the “Maunawila Heiau Complex has become a center for cultural connection and ‘aina-based education.”

Rosanna Thurman, principal investigator and archaeologist on the Maunawila Heiau Complex project, explained the project has many benefits.

“Community archaeology at Maunawila has been such a positive opportunity for the sharing of science, education, and cultural history and for individuals to respectfully enjoy and participate in stewardship of a treasured space.”

Walker said BYUH volunteers come with great attitudes and work hard. “The BYUH volunteers are the best because we get busloads of young, able-bodied, happy-golucky [people].”

Hekili Gibby, a senior from Oahu, Hawaii, majoring in Hawaiian Studies, said being raised in Hauula created a connection between him and the site. “I am part Hawaiian . . . and having that connection back to the land and to the ‘aina was amazing,” Gibby shared. “Being able to be in my hometown was an added experience.”

Gibby said he didn’t know much about the history of the site before working at Maunawila. After volunteering and doing an internship at the Maunawila Heiau, he said his knowledge of the heiau and Hawaiian history expanded.

Gibby also expressed his desire to remember the values and lessons he learned during the project, like malama ‘aina, or caring for the land, so he can implement them into his life.

Maunawila is open to the public and has workdays every second Saturday. The Hawaii Land Trust website lists other opportunities to visit or volunteer on their website hilt.org/ volunteer.

Maunawila is located on the south end of Hauula Homestead Road.• Student volunteers in 2019 help out at the Maunawila Heiau by clearing the landscape.

Photos by Chad Hsieh.

OCT O BE R 2021 13

SHUT YOUR

EYES

Hawaiian legends say one glance at the night marchers could mean the end of your life

BY XYRON LEVI CORPUZ

T

he spirits of ancient warriors previously tasked with protecting Hawaiian chiefs, known as the night marchers, can still be spotted in Laie and other places in the Hawaiian Islands, says the To-Hawaii website.

According to Hawaiian myth, if someone happens to encounter the night marchers, they must lie face down on the ground, shut their eyes and pretend to be dead, says the HowStuffWorks People website.

“While most ghost hunters are out looking for spirits, there are some ghosts you should never look at,” says the Honolulu Magazine website.

What is a night marcher?

According to the Honolulu Magazine website, “Hawaii’s night marchers, the phantoms of ancient Hawaiian warriors, are said to roam the islands at night.”

The Culture Trip website adds, “Night marchers, known as huaka‘i pō in the Hawaiian language, are death-dealing ghosts.

“Folklore describes them as a group of spirits—sometimes traveling with ancient Hawaiian gods or goddesses in their midst—that march down the mountainside after sunset. The procession is often accompanied by the sounds of the conch shell, rhythmic drumming and oli (chants).”

The Honolulu Magazine website explains, “In life, these warriors supposedly traveled at night to protect people so sacred that the common man was never allowed to look at them. Breaking that rule meant death.”

14 K E A L A K A ‘ I 2 0 2 1

Early recorded sightings of night marchers According to the OluKai website, the night marchers were first spotted in 1883, described in archives as “a mighty phantom army … proudly led by the spirit of King Kamehameha, pacing angrily about on the Big Island of Hawaii.”

The website says residents “tell ghostly tales of rhythmic chanting, horn blowing, and the beating of distant drums carried on the evening tradewinds. Both locals and visitors report bright torches sighted in the darkness in areas of dense jungle with no trails.

“On nights of the full moon, numerous credible sightings of bands of tall and muscular warriors, bronzed and beautiful to behold, are reported. The warriors are described as marching with a god as their leader accompanied by a band of torchbearers leading the way.”

In case of an encounter According to the HowStuffWorks People website, people should always be hopeful the “ghost warriors take mercy” on them, whether or not they hear them approaching due to wind or being in the wrong place at the wrong time. If the night marchers are not merciful, people will “hear a shreak of ‘O-ia!’, which means, ‘Let him be pierced,’” and death will follow.

However, the website explains if the person is lucky and is related, even distantly, to any of the night marchers, they will be spared. “They’ll shout, ‘Na‘u,’ which means ‘mine,’ indicating one of the warriors has recognized [them] as a descendant. The procession will pass [them] by without causing [them] harm.”

The To-Hawaii website says, “Areas like the Nu‘uanu Pali Lookout, Ka‘a‘awa Valley and Kalihi Valley on Oahu are rumored sites of night marcher trails, and nighttime visitors are encouraged to be wary.” The website also includes Laie and Kualoa Ranch as locations where night marchers have been spotted.

Origins of the night marchers The Honolulu Magazine website quotes storyteller Lopaka Kapanui, who said, “The night marchers’ job wasn’t to terrorize people.

It was simply to protect the most sacred, high-ranking chiefs … The night marchers showed mercy by traveling at night to spare people from harm.”

The Culture Trip website explains the night marcher legend has its roots in ancient Hawaii. Traditionally, when a chief traveled through a village, the warriors would blow conch shells and beat drums to make others aware he had arrived.

“Commoners were expected to stare at the ground, never, ever making eye contact. The consequence of disobeying this kapu (taboo) was death.”

The website says chiefs were thought of “as physical representations of the gods,” so the night marchers believed their duties to protect them continued into the afterlife.• Graphics by Marlee Palmer.

SEP T E M BE R 2021 15

A LEGACY OF

Courage & Resilience Students and alumni share how Hawaiian monarchs’ stories inspire them to live with patience, virtue, and bravery

BY RAHEL MEYER

B

YU–Hawaii alumna, native Hawaiian Alohilani Housman, who majored in Hawaiian Studies, shared when she visited Iolani Palace for the first time, she felt its special presence and it helped her connect with Hawaiian history.

“We have these sacred places to remind us of our connection with the land, our ancestors, and God. Sacred places [such as Iolani Palace] are necessary because they teach us who we are and where we come from.” She said learning about these special places and their stories is something every BYUH student should do.

Taking a guided tour in the palace During the summer break, members of the Ke Alaka‘i staff toured Iolani Palace. While entering the doors to the Iolani Palace, the tour guide emphasized the deep meaning of the historic landmark.

“It has beautiful memories of grand halls and public hula festivals, along with painful ones of Queen Lili‘uokalani’s imprisonment and the eventual overthrow,” explained the tour guide and volunteer docent while guests explored and took pictures of the entrance hall, which is decorated with vases and presents from all over the world for the Hawaiian monarchy.

While the guide led visitors up the staircase to the second floor, where the private 16 K E A L A K A ‘ I 2 0 2 1

suites of the monarchs are showcased, she explained Iolani Palace was first built in 1879

by King David Kalakaua, who is also known as the Merrie Monarch due to his cheerful personality.

The guide explained King Kalakaua was inspired to build the palace due to his travels around the world where he saw the grand palaces owned by other monarchs. She added the king dreamed of a royal palace built for a modern state such as Hawaii.

After his return to Hawaii, he commissioned the construction of Iolani Palace, and his vision created a palace that was ahead of its time—with electricity, an indoor plumbing system, meaning flushing toilets and running water, and the telephone—shared the tour guide when leading the tour group into the king’s office.

While pointing out the electric lights on the ceiling, the tour guide explained King Kalakaua was interested in modern technology and connected with leaders in technology around the world.

“He met with Thomas Edison, and Edison convinced the King to use electric lights instead of gas lights. With this, the Iolani Palace used electricity even before the White House or Buckingham Palace did.”

Moving through the Queen’s bedroom and the music room showcasing sheet music

of Queen Lili‘uokalani’s famous song “Aloha ‘Oe,” the tour guide stopped in a connecting room where a framed photograph on an easel portrays female hula dancers in front of the palace.

The guide explained public hula dancing had previously been banned in Hawaii due to it being deemed immoral by Christian converts, but King Kalakaua revived the tradition by celebrating it at his coronation and birthday jubilee.

The guide then guided the guests through a hall that leads to a room where a quilt is laid out on a table in the middle of the room.

She shared this is the room where Queen Lili‘uokalani, the last Hawaiian monarch, was imprisoned after the overthrow.

The Queen was convicted and lived in solitude, not able to leave the room or receive any visitors for eight months, shared the guide.

In those months, the tour guide explained the Queen wrote music and poems and created the quilt on display in the room.

A legacy left behind Eugene Lucerna, a BYUH alumnus from the Philippines who majored in Hawaiian Studies, said people should know Hawaiian monarchs were humble royals who were there for the people and intelligent in every way.

The exterior of Iolani Palace, showcasing the intricate stonework and carvings throughout the palace.

Photos by Mark Daeson Tabbilos.

“It’s important for the [monarchs’] story to live on. I think monarchs wanted their people to be united. To fight for their land and protect their culture. King Kalakaua revitalized the culture, and it is still lived upon to this day.” Lucerna said he looks up

to a lot of women, and Queen Lili‘uokalani became one of them when he came to Hawaii and learned about her story. “Her intelligence, her grace, how she fought for the people, her resilience, and that she never gave up speaks to me. I think of her as such a

powerful woman. She is one with the people, and the people love her.”

Lucerna said his love for music and poems is another reason he relates to the Queen. One of his favorite hymns written by the Queen is a song entitled “Ke Aloha O Ka Haku” or “The OCT O BE R 2021 17

Queen’s Prayer,” which she wrote during her imprisonment and, Lucerna added, “showcases her power as a Queen but also as a woman.”

The translation of the hymn into English is as follows, according to Kalena: Your loving mercy Is as high as Heaven And your truth So perfect I live in sorrow Imprisoned You are my light Your glory, my support Behold not with malevolence The sins of man But forgive And cleanse And so, o Lord Protect us beneath your wings And let peace be our portion

18 K E A L A K A ‘ I 2 0 2 1

Now and forever more Amen.

Mana Borden, a junior from Pearl City, Hawaii, majoring in accounting and Hawaiian Studies, said she is amazed by the Queen’s integrity and patience.

“She didn’t have to endure all that she did. She could have rebelled very easily, but she didn’t. She had a bigger vision and a compassionate mind and heart. She hoped for the best.”

Borden explained those stories have lessons we can learn from. Even though she had every right to, he said Queen Lili‘uokalani did not hate and was patient all throughout her imprisonment.

“You could tell from each generation what [the monarchs] did was for the people.

You can see the love or aloha they had for their people by learning those stories. They tell us something about who they were and what kind of vision they had for the future.”

Embracing Hawaiian culture Housman emphasized a huge part of Hawaiian history is genealogy. There are four core aspects of Hawaiian culture, said Housman, which are genealogy, language, loving behavior and spirituality.

“Those four make up our culture as a whole. All these intertwine into who we are as Kanaka Hawaii.”

Housman said royals exemplified those core values and learning about those four aspects can help people who want to learn about and connect with the culture today.

In the case of Queen Lili‘uokalani, Housman shared, “She put her feelings into her music for us. She left that for us to feel what she was feeling and to connect with our culture in a different way. •

Below left: Queen Lili'uokalani's dress and pendant Above right: The stairs in Iolani Palace.

Below right: Queen Lilii‘uokalani’s handmade quilt.

Photos by Mark Daeson Tabbilos..

Your loving mercy Is as high as Heaven And your truth So perfect I live in sorrow Imprisoned You are my light Your glory, my support Behold not with malevolence The sins of man But forgive And cleanse And so, o Lord Protect us beneath your wings And let peace be our portion Now and forever more Amen.

OCT O BE R 2021 19

20 K E A L A K A ‘ I 2 0 2 1

80 80

YEARS OF THE HONOLULU TABERNACLE David O. McKay asked God to safeguard the tabernacle from war. 80 years later it still stands

BY XYRON LEVI CORPUS

T

he Honolulu Tabernacle, which was dedicated in 1941, was the final tabernacle built by the Church anywhere in the world, said Brooks Haderlie, the now retired BYU– Hawaii archivist. In a 1997 archived article from thechurchnews.com called “Honolulu Tabernacle to be Renovated” by Thomas E. Daniels, it says the Honolulu Tabernacle was dedicated in August 1941, only four months before the Pearl Harbor attack of December 1941.

Daniels wrote, “In his dedicatory prayer, President David O. McKay, then second counselor in the First Presidency, blessed the edifice that no missile would strike it in any war.”

Haderlie explained, “Most people knew when war was coming, but at that point, literally no one knew Hawaii would be bombed. Everybody assumed Hawaii would be invaded by Japanese troops, but they were not expecting a bombing.”

From its miraculous protection from war to its unique stature, the Honolulu Tabernacle is an icon on Oahu.

James Emerson Hallstrom Jr., former temple president of the Laie Hawaii Temple, said, “When you look at the tabernacle from the street, it’s an icon that’s not typical of a [Latterday Saint] building.You see it from the street and it pulls you in.” He said what makes the building

unique is the Christus and its high tower, which was one of the highest landmarks in downtown Honolulu for many years.

Daniels says, “Perhaps the [Honolulu] Tabernacle’s most identifiable feature is the large tile mosaic representing Christ which adorns the front of the chapel. It was done

by Eugene Savage, who was head of the art department at Columbia University. The mosaic is made up of at least 100,000 tiny ceramic tiles.”

Daniels explains in the article, “For many years the illuminated tower of the tabernacle, rising 141 feet, served as a beacon even for ships at sea. It was exceeded in height only by the Aloha Tower. Today, the skyline is dominated by numerous high-rise apartments, hotels and office buildings.”

He adds Harold W. Burton, who designed the Laie Hawaii Temple, was the tabernacle architect. The Oahu stake, “the first stake to be organized off the United States mainland,” attended meetings in the Honolulu Tabernacle.

Haderlie said, “People sometimes refer to the tabernacle as the temple of [The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints], and vice versa. A temple is where [Church] members go to make higher order covenants with their Father in Heaven, whereas the tabernacle is

Left: The exterior of the Honolulu Tabernacle Photos by Mark Daeson Tabbilos.

OCT O BE R 2021 21

open to the public for all the common worship and socialization in the gymnasiums,” he explained.

The Honolulu Tabernacle is “clearly not a temple [and] was never dedicated as a temple. … There’s really no difference between a tabernacle and a normal meeting house,” he said, emphasizing how the structure is still one of a kind. He added the Church has built other tabernacles as meeting houses, such as the Brigham City Tabernacle in Utah.

Hallstrom said the tabernacle was always the gathering spot. “Everything that was done, whether it was social, athletic or religious, it was always at the tabernacle.” He said the Church didn’t have a lot of other buildings back then, so the tabernacle was the central place.

Because the Honolulu Tabernacle is the final tabernacle that was built, Haderlie said some of the others “are in disrepair … They’ve torn them down and replaced them with nice modern church buildings.”

Hallstrom said the tabernacle was built in the city because that’s where the majority of the population lived. In addition, traveling to Laie took several days because the tunnels, which pass through the mountains,weren’t built yet.

22 K E A L A K A ‘ I 2 0 2 1

“Coming to Kailua was an all day trip over the mountain and down and up the mountain and down the mountain. Laie was on the other side of the earth. … It was a long trek and you couldn’t have a building like the tabernacle [in Laie] because Laie was a refuge and rural,” he explained.

In Hallstrom’s opinion, the Church’s construction of the Honolulu Tabernacle in 1935 helped the Church’s establishment as a mainstream religion in urban Honolulu.

“The building helped give credibility from an urban sense,” he said. “[At that time], we already had the Book of Mormon in Hawaiian.

We already had strong membership and wonderful saints, but to have a building … really helped the church gain a foothold and establish itself,” he said. • The interior and exterior of the Honolulu Tabernacle, including the 100,000 tile mosaic.

Photos by Mark Daeson Tabbilos.

“

We already had strong membership and wonderful saints, but to have a building … really helped the church gain a foothold and establish itself James Emerson Hallstrom Jr. OCT O BE R 2021 23

aloha

Understanding PCC Hawaiian Village manager says Hawaiians believe all things have a spirit and must be respected

BY XYRON LEVI CORPUZ & MAHANA TEPA

T

erry Naauao Panee, manager of the Islands of Hawaii at the Polynesian Cultural Center, said Hawaiian culture is known for being superstitious because there are many different gods. “The Hawaiians understand that everything has a spirit,” he explained. In the gospel, all things were created spiritually first before physically, he added.

For example, he said Hawaiian people always ask permission from mother nature before cutting things down or taking anything with them.

“Before they go and cut down a tree, they pray to know if that’s the right tree for them to cut out out not,” he explained. “In the old Hawaiian ways, there was one supreme God,‘Io’,’’ he said.

“So, we’re praying to Heavenly Father to ask him to allow our spirit to commune with the spirit of the tree, or whatever it is, to let us know if it’s okay [to cut it]. That’s how our Hawaiian ancestors viewed everything.”

The same principle applies when going to the ocean, he shared.

“They weren’t praying to the ocean god, they were praying to have the spirit of the ocean let them know it’s okay to go. If it didn’t feel right, they wouldn’t go. They wouldn’t go fishing, they wouldn’t go swimming, they wouldn’t do anything, because it wasn’t right.”

He said the best thing about his job is sharing his culture with guests and students because he enjoys teaching. He said he has also been an adjunct faculty in the Faculty of Culture, Language & Performing Arts, teaching Hawaiian language and Hawaiian Studies, at BYU–Hawaii since 1988.

Showing respect Panee said in the short time the visitors are in the Hawaiian Village at the PCC, workers try to help them understand how Hawaiians connect with nature.

“When you really understand why the people you’re visiting do certain things, you get a bigger appreciation for the people and place and experiences you have,” he said.

He said aloha is not just a way to say “Hello,” “Goodbye” and “I love you.” Aloha also means respect between people and mother nature.

24 K E A L A K A ‘ I 2 0 2 1

“Everything stems from aloha. Without aloha, all the other cultural values [we have] really don’t have the strength to stand on their own,” he explained. “It’s not just aloha between people. It’s also aloha between people and nature. It’s aloha between you and the ocean [through] how you interact, treat and take care of it.”

Panee, who is half Hawaiian and half Chinese, said for Hawaiians, aloha is what they share with the visitors and what they want them to remember the most.

Sharing stories In the Hawaiian Village at the PCC, Panee said they present the hula. “We take from the traditional chant all the way to modern dance,” he explained. The traditional chant, which does not go along with dance, is called the Oli. Through the years, he said Hawaiians started to chant and dance at the same time.

“Hula tells a story,” he said, emphasizing how they try to show visitors the story is the same whether it is shared through chanting, dancing or modern dancing, called the hula ‘auana.

The chant they currently use in their presentation is called ‘O Kalapana, kai leo nui, he said. “Kalapana is about a small fishing village on a Big Island. … It’s no longer there [because] in 1990, a lava flow

came and wiped out the whole bay and town of Kalapana.” He said even though the place was wiped out, its memory lives on through the chant, which is passed down through generations.

Sili‘ilagi Moeai, a junior from Maui majoring in computer science, is a performer at the Hawaiian Village. She said she hopes when the guests return home from their visit, they will have a better understanding of the deeper meaning of the hula, which is their way of sharing their culture, ancestors, history and who they are as Hawaiians.

Origin of taro Panee said the sky father, Wakea, and earth mother, Papahanaumoku, had an argument. One day, the sky father had an affair with one of his daughters, Ho’ohokukalani. They had a son, who was born stillborn, so they buried him at the corner of their house.

A taro grew from his grave, he explained.

He said the name of the stillborn son was Haloanakalaukapalili.

They had another son called Haloa, which is believed to be where the Hawaiian race came from, he explained. “In Hawaiian culture, taro is considered to be our older brother. ... That’s why Hawaiians have a deep respect for the taro,” he said.

When some varieties of taro are cut, a red sap comes out. “It bleeds. The Hawaiians will say, ‘See, it bleeds like us.’ We believe it’s to show it’s akin to the Hawaiians,” he shared.

In the Hawaiian Village, Panee said they showcase different kinds of taro every day, including Tahitian taro varieties. “If you’ve never

photo caption goes here.

had different varieties, you can come, check, try and taste to see the [different] characteristics,” he said.The village has been using the taro they raised at the PCC for their poi and taro demonstrations since the center reopened, although they previously bought it from an outside source, he said.

Performing at the village David Auna, originally from Hauula, is a performer and singer in the Hawaiian Village at the PCC. He served as a full-time missionary for the Church in Arizona, where he said his companions taught him to love, share and cherish his own culture.

When he returned home from his mission, Auna said, “I had this great desire to experience and deeply learn about my culture and to share it with the world.”

As the opportunity arose for him to work at the Hawaiian Village, he said, “I knew this is where I need to be, and where I really want to be. ... I am really proud to live my culture every day.” • Hawaiian Village performer and artifacts.

Photos by Christal Lee. Graphics by Emily Hendrickson.

SEP T E M BE R 2021 25

Raised with

MAGIC Growing up with a famous magician dad and 15 pet tigers in his backyard seemed ordinary to one BYUH student

BY ELLE LARSON

26 K E A L A K A ‘ I 2 0 2 1

B

randon Thomas said getting pounced on by a tiger as a 4 year old is just the tip of the iceberg in his exciting childhood because his dad performs magic in Las Vegas, Nevada.

As a child, Thomas said he thought the magic in his home was normal. “As I think of the experiences I had, playing with tigers and the macaws [parrots] or going to my dad’s showroom and seeing him perform, I came to realize I didn’t live a ‘normal’ childhood.”

Thomas said the older he gets, the more he appreciates how he grew up.

Becoming a “real” tiger A BYU–Hawaii a junior studying computer science, Thomas said he started working for his dad when he was 14. He said his magic career included helping with the animals in the show, including cockatoos, macaws, doves and Great Pyrenees.

He said he did it all, other than working with his dad’s small army of 15 tigers. “No guy wants his kids with the tigers,” he said with a smile.

He said the 15 tigers living in his backyard were part of the family. He added when tigers are growing up, they don’t know

they are tigers. “A tiger is really no different from a housecat,” he said. “Have you ever had a cat randomly come up to you and smack you? It’s the same with tigers.”

His dad, Rick Thomas, a world-renowned illusionist, explained until they are about 6 months old, the cats are harmless enough to play with and even sleep in a person’s bed.

However, he said there comes a time when natural instincts kick in and the tiger isn’t so safe to play with anymore.

For example, Rick Thomas said one day “one of my [young] tigers grabbed [4-yearold] Brandon and pulled him to the ground. It started acting like a tiger.”

Brandon Thomas recalled the experience.

“The tiger pinned me to the back of the couch.

I was freaking out of course. It started smacking me in the head with its paw. My dad took it off me, and I went sprinting out of there.”

He said he sat in his room and cried afterwards because he thought he was in serious danger.

Rick Thomas explained the tiger’s pounce was simply a natural instinct. He said when he pulled the cat off his son , he realized it was time to put the tiger in its habitat.

“No matter what, there comes a moment in a tiger’s life that they figure out who they are, and once they do, they become a real tiger,” Rick Thomas said.

He likened the tiger to his son. “Brandon, in that same respect, is a person who is soon to find out who he is.”

He explained, “There will come a time in Brandon’s life where he’s going to know what to do. Whatever is in him will direct his life and show him what he needs to do to become someone of great strength,” he said. “Once he does, he’ll be a tiger.”

“I believed he could fly.”

Talkiing about growing up with a father who is a magicaian, Brandon Thomas shared “As a kid, you believe it all. I believed [my dad] could fly.”

He said he can’t remember exactly when he discovered his dad’s tricks were illusions and not genuine magic.

Left: Brandon Thomas is a trained magician.

Photo by Ulziibayar Badamdorj.

Below: Brandon Thomas and his father during a magic show.

Photo provided by Brandon Thomas.

Graphics by Elle Larson.

OCT O BE R 2021 27

Watching how the tricks worked backstage just confused him, Brandon Thomas said. “I’d be backstage. I’d see it happen right in front of me, but then I’d be like, ‘Well, dad is magic, but what’s going on back here is weird.’”

“There’s never a dull moment backstage.”

Even after working backstage and studying magic with his dad, Brandon Thomas said the magic show still enchants him. “When you learn how it’s done, you come to respect it. It’s impressive, and it leaves an impact. The magic’s still there, you just understand it now.”

He assisted his dad with the magic tricks, sets, sounds and lighting for the shows, he explained. It is an exciting challenge, he added, because one little mistake could reveal the trick.

“In a magic show, there’s no going back. If the trick is revealed, there’s not much you can do after that.” Brandon Thomas said he’s made his fair share of blunders, but he has never revealed so much that the trick couldn’t be done. Rick Thomas’ team of 10 to 12 people is smaller than most magic crews, Brandon 28 K E A L A K A ‘ I 2 0 2 1

Thomas explained. They work together in the fast-paced, time-bound entertainment environment where he said if they don’t do everything just right, the magic is lost.

“When something needs to be done, any of us could be called to do it on the spot,” he said. “And of course, in a magic show, there’s always a sense of urgency when something needs to be done right then.”

For example, he said sometimes one of the doves will fly into the audience. “You have to go into the audience and go get the dove and take it backstage.”

Brandon Thomas said he often oversaw big sets being moved on and off the stage.

He explained it is a dangerous job because everything is dark, people are all around and everything is rushed. He added he has almost been crushed while working backstage. “You always have to be super aware of what goes on around you, especially when everyone is doing things so fast.You have to be able to think and work on the fly.”

“Girls like tricks.”

Rick Thomas said he never wanted to force his children into his magic show because

he wanted them to find their career paths.

He said when Brandon Thomas asked to learn magic, he asked him why.

He said his son responded with, “Well, because I can perform tricks for girls, and girls like tricks.”

Rick Thomas continued, “So I began teaching him my magic, and he began working backstage.”

He explained, “It was good for him to see what I do for a living, to be part of it, and to realize what it takes to pull it off. Many things you’d never imagine have to be done to make a show work on stage.”

Their work together strengthened their relationship to be “more than a father and son,” he said. When his son started working with him, Rick Thomas said their camaraderie became more solid.

He said although his son may get frustrated with his mistakes, Brandon Thomas’ determination to do things right is his biggest strength. “All of us fail. All of us have frustrations. All of us stumble,” said Rick Thomas. “It’s who gets back up and who tries again who becomes great. He’s always done that.”

“Performing runs in the family.”

Though Brandon Thomas said magic doesn’t necessarily run in the family, he added, “Performing runs in the family.”

A natural performer, Brandon Thomas said he is more interested in creating music than performing magic. With any performing career, he said, “It’s just a matter of jumping in the water and seeing how far you can swim.”

Roche Donato, an exercise and sport science alumnus from Qatar and a friend of Brandon Thomas, said his friend demonstrates his performing abilities with the way he is.

“He’s a performer. He even walks a little differently than us.”

Donato said whenever he and Thomas meet girls on the beach, Thomas always speaks

in a deep performance voice to introduce himself. Donato said people usually introduce their hometown in their natural voice, but when Thomas does it, he gives you a smirk, looks to the side and says in a low-pitched, spirited tone, “I’m from… Las Vegas, Nevada.”

Donato added with a laugh, “We always teased Brandon about that. It’s a real good voice.”

He said their friendship grew through dance. Brandon Thomas also explained his family has always had a strong background in teaching and performing dance. “My grandparents taught professional ballroom dancing, so we love to dance.”

Brandon Thomas has taught and choreographed dances for two Culture Nights

in the Latin American Club, Donato said.

Most of the club’s activities revolved around dancing, and Donato said Brandon Thomas showed off his dance moves, passion for Latin America and leadership skills as the club’s president.

“He’s very bold. He’s not shy. He’s got 100 percent confidence,” Donato said.

Whenever he would ask Brandon how to do a certain dance move, he said he would demonstrate it right then, ready to turn the music on and get to work. • Upper left page: Brandon Thomas performing his act onstage.

Photo provided by Brandon Thomas.

Graphics by Elle Larson.

Brandon’s to-do list 1. PLAY WITH TIGERS 1. PLAY 2. DANCE 2.

DANCE BACHATA 3. SAW 3.

SAW WOMAN IN HALF

OCT O BE R 2021 29

THE FACES BEHIND

KE ALAKA’I Student employee who dreamed of working at school magazine is now a multimedia journalist

BY XYRON LEVI CORPUZ

“I

was [Ke Alaka’i’s] biggest fan for the longest time … It would be a dream to work for Ke Alaka’i,” revealed Elle Larson, a sophomore studying business management and finance from Oregon.

In fact, she said before arriving to campus in Spring 2021, she had already watched all of the Ke Alaka’i YouTube videos, listened to the podcasts and read some of the articles produced by the Campus News department.

When the pandemic started, Larson explained although she couldn’t be at school in person, she still wanted to know what it was like to be in Hawaii. She said she discovered Ke Alaka’i because she used all the resources available online to learn more about BYU– Hawaii’s campus, such as what it was like living in the community and the cultures of the people who reside there.

Larson, who now works at Ke Alaka’i as a multimedia journalist, offered advice to students who want to be journalists. “I wasn’t a huge writer before I started. I just wanted to meet people and tell their stories. By practicing, [one] becomes a better writer and 30 K E A L A K A ‘ I 2 0 2 1

gets faster at it. Don’t be scared of writing, because you can do it.”

Ke Alaka’i’s employees said they enjoy working at Campus News because the coworkers are supportive, their advisor has experience and knowledge in the industry and it’s a safe place where the environment allows their imaginations to be unrestrained.

Multimedia journalist Larson explained when she is at work, she spends most of her time writing. Part of her assignment, she said, is coming up with story ideas she can write about. Sometimes, team members give the journalists suggestions for stories they can cover, she added.

“We interview at least three people per story. We do feature stories or we cover events. Once a month, we’re supposed to do a multimedia project, which can be graphic design or helping with a video or podcast. It’s for us to grow our resume and our skill set,” she shared.

Part of her role is to “inform people about things they are curious about,” Larson explained. If she hears a lot of people discussing a specific topic, she said it is her

job to learn more about it. For example, she heard people chatting about the University’s clock tower ringing pattern, so she decided to research and write about it.

Larson added it is the best job she’s ever had. “I love this job! I love meeting new people.” She added it was previously difficult for her to approach people because she didn’t know how to initiate conversation. However, she said her job as a journalist has helped her with her communication skills.

“I have an excuse to go up and talk to people,” she laughed. “I can nail them with good questions, and they’ll give me good answers. I get really good discussions going with new people I wouldn’t ever talk to [otherwise.]”

Graphic designer Marlee Palmer, a junior from Utah majoring in graphic design, said, “My sister’s a graphic designer. I loved watching her do it, so I tried it out and I loved it. It doesn’t feel like school, it’s just a hobby and it’s super fun.”

She said she started school with plans to become a pharmacist but hated taking chemistry and biology. “I switched it up and I

decided I would try designing. I really loved all the classes.”

Palmer, who works as a graphic designer at Ke Alaka’i, said the role of the writers, photographers and copy editors is to submit stories and photos. Her role is to put their work together to make it look more visually appealing.

“We create graphics and illustrations to put onto the pages. We [also] add in color and nice titles so it all looks aesthetically pleasing,” she explained. “We have to read [the article] and understand it in order to make the graphics and illustrations match the story.”

Palmer shared she has learned the value of making conversation with everyone. “I have learned from reading all the stories the writers have written that everybody has a story.You can learn something from everyone,” she said.

“You can grab something and learn a lesson from each person you talk to, but it’s up to you if you want to listen to them.”

Marlee Palmer being creative.

Photo by Mark Daeson Tabbilos.

Graphics by Emily Hendrickson.

OCT O BE R 2021 31

Uurtsaikh Nyamdeleg working on a video in the Ke Alaka’i office.

Photo by Mark Daeson Tabbilos.

Graphics by Emily Hendrickson.

Videographer Uurtsaikh Nyamdeleg, a junior studying hospitality and tourism management from Mongolia, said her and her husband “do adventure vlogs for memory purposes. It’s just for fun.” She shared how she never took any video editing classes but learned how to make videos by practicing for over a year editing with her husband.

Besides improving her skills as a videographer, she said her whole purpose of working at Ke Alaka’i is to meet different people from around the world. “As students, we are very busy and we don’t have enough time to hang out with other people,” she explained. “Through our work, one can meet many people and get to know them. That is a unique experience.”

She said she has met fire knife dancers from the community. “Getting to know them [also includes] getting to know their culture.

We never had any fire knife dancers back in Mongolia, so that was a new thing [for me.]”

Nyamdeleg said part of her job is to sometimes attend interviews and “make a 32 K E A L A K A ‘ I 2 0 2 1

video feature.” She said she covers different events on campus by filming activities and sharing them on social media. Recently, she filmed the Shaka Steel Band musical event and the bridal fashion show.

She said she creates a variety of videos, such as hiking tips and informational videos.

Photographer Mark Daeson Tabbilos, a senior from the Philippines majoring in TESOL education, is one of Ke Alaka’i’s photographers. He said he takes photographs for the journalists’ stories, whether it’s a photo of a person, place, University VIP or community event. “I love photography a lot. So, when I heard they are hiring photographers, I decided to apply for the job,” he said.

Tabbilos said the recent events he photographed were the Fire Knife Competition, 2021 Culture Night and the COVID-19 vaccination event.

In terms of taking photos of University VIPs, he said he has photographed Napua

Kalama Baker, the first female Church Educational System vice president, and Theresa Meyers Ducret, the former president of the Laie Community Association.

Tabbilos said he has also photographed former Academic Vice President John Bell and University President John Kauwe.

Tabbilos said he gets photo ideas by imagining what is happening in the written articles. “I often ask our writers what the story is about so I can visualize what shots I need to do because the shots I take need to be connected to the story,” he said. “I also ask for ideas from my co-workers.”

Favorite projects Larson said her favorite project was working with Elder and Sister Tam. “They were a missionary couple in my ward. They told me their story of immigrating to the United States from Vietnam during the Vietnam War. From that, I grew this great relationship with this cute couple.”

Palmer said she enjoys making layouts because “every single one is different.” Her

favorite project was making a map of Oahu, which included a bucket list of places students can visit, such as the Makapu’u Lighthouse and the Dole Plantation.

Nyamdeleg said her favorite project was creating a video detailing the digitization of the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price in the Hawaiian language for the Church’s Gospel Library app. She said it was an inspiring and spiritual experience for her.

Tabbilos said it has always been his dream to take photos of Culture Night.Working for Ke Alaka’i has fulfilled that dream. “I was able to take [the Culture Night] photos I’ve been dreaming of. It was a big thing,” he shared. “It was published

together with the articles. It was posted on the Facebook and Instagram pages.”

Advisor and colleagues

The Ke Alaka’i advisor, Leeann Lambert, is “a wealth of wisdom,” shared Larson. “If you don’t know who to interview [for your story,] she’ll know somebody or she’ll know somebody who knows somebody who you can interview.”

She continued, “[Lambert] really understands the students [because] she’s been here forever, and she gets the college mindset.

She’s funny and she’s fun to hang out with.”

Tabbilos said he loves Lambert’s story telling time, where she shares stories about her experiences as a journalist in the field.

“If [students] want a job working with other people, then this is the job for them.”

Larson said Ke Alaka’i has a great team because it’s a professional but relaxed environment. Palmer said she would recommend students work at Ke Alaka’i because it is an environment where people help each other and it is “a very safe place to let one’s creativity flow.”

Nyamdeleg shared, “Ke Alaka’i has the best team you can work with. … It will give you more opportunities to learn from others, and also learn on your own. I think that’s the best thing [the job] can offer for you.” • .

OCT O BE R 2021 33

34 K E A L A K A ‘ I 2 0 2 1

FINDING

liberation

Investing in hobbies instead of social media boosts self-confidence, say BYUH students

BY RAHEL MEYER

S

ophie Rolie said deleting social media will help people regain their social life.

For example, instead of sitting on her phone for 30 minutes, Rolie said she decided to take a walk to the temple, where she met a young family. “I ended up offering to babysit their children, and we still have contact after three months. I’m planning to visit them.”

Three months ago, Rolie, a sophomore from Oregon studying political science and intercultural peacebuilding, said she decided to delete all her social media because she realized she stopped being fully present in her life. “I feel totally liberated,” she said.

She shared since then, she has not only gained more confidence, but also found her passion for film photography. “You actually begin to explore yourself. … You gain a sense of self,” Rolie explained.

Lina Kiessieh demonstrating what life can be like when breaking free from social media.

Photos by Mark Daeson Tabbilos.

Graphic by Katie Mower.

SEP T E M BE R 2021 35

Mental and physical health According to Medium and the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, social media reduces creativity and has negative effects on well-being, primarily increasing depression and loneliness. BYUH students said their break from social media platforms helped them recognize the negative effects of social media, build more meaningful relationships and improve their mental health.

Hellen Nuti Taanoa, a junior from Australia studying social work, said the pandemic made her reconsider her priorities and improve her self-care routine. She said her break from social media was the reason she got into fitness.

“I didn’t waste my day anymore. I got out of my comfort zone, especially with fitness. Fitness and I weren’t good with each other [before],” Taaona laughed. “I found different spots to read a book and went out for walks. [There were] a lot of firsts for me that improved my health. I didn’t realize how much social media affected my health.”

Since then, Taanoa said she has stuck with fitness and become more cautious in the way she uses social media. “There are so many things I can fit in a day when I am off social media.”

Building confidence Summer Edwards, a senior from Utah studying exercise and sports science, explained how her three month social media cleanse built her confidence.

“I was living my best life. I was having deeper connections and conversations with people. It actually [gave me] time to build meaningful relationships. I was less anxious because I was less focused on my appearance.”

Edwards explained she had previously felt absent from her own life, felt left out and often had the feeling she wasn’t enough. She explained scrolling through Instagram and seeing others reach their

milestones made her feel like she wasn’t going anywhere in life. “I realized as I put them up higher. I put myself lower.”

A new perspective Rolie said, “Once I let the perception of other people dictate how I lived my life, it wasn’t even my life anymore.” Since her social media cleanse, Rolie said she realized she became more aware of who her friends are.

“It weeded out who was there for me and who wasn’t,” she explained, emphasizing how taking a break from social media helped her create new relationships and be intentional.

Rolie said her experiences showed her what she missed out on while being focused only on her online appearance. She said she improved her communication skills and increased her daily in-person conversations by staying off social media.

“I am not having all that junk influencing my brain all the time.

I have deeper questions and deeper thoughts. I start having ideas [because] it forces me to think.”

Rolie emphasized not everything about social media is bad, and there are many advantages to it, but she would advise everyone to try a social media cleanse.

“What’s the worst thing that could happen? It’s going to be uncomfortable, but the love you feel for people is amazing. I saw instant change in myself.”

Deleting social media for the sake of deleting is not the right intention, Rolie added. “I am deleting social media not to delete it, but to achieve goals. Focus on yourself, take a break from people, and you’ll regain your social life.” •

Lina Kiessieh exercising on the BYUH campus.

Photo by Mark Daeson Tabbilos.

36 K E A L A K A ‘ I 2 0 2 1

“ I am deleting

social media not to delete it, but to achieve goals.

Focus on yourself, take a break from people, and you’ll regain your social life. ” Sophie Rolie

SEP T E M BE R 2021 37

w

JOURNEY TO

FREEDOM Elder and Sister Tam say they escaped from the violent Vietnam War, got separated from their families but found safety in America

BY ELLE LARSON

38 K E A L A K A ‘ I 2 0 2 1

*map not drawn to scale Graphics by Katie Mower

S

urrounded by the death and chaos of the Vietnam War as children, Alexander and Janette Tam shared their survival stories of near-death attacks from pirates with swords and communist guerilla fighters, to their escape on boats and airplanes through three different countries to arrive in the United States, where the former BYU–Hawaii missionary couple first met.

Sister Janette Tam said during the Vietnam War, she and her family were filled with fear and uncertainty. “I was 16 at the time, and my family was afraid I would be drafted. [The government] didn’t care if you were a woman or a man. As long as you could hold a gun, they would take you. … It was chaos. We were glued to the radio station and the TV to find out what happened. Everyone wanted to escape.

You can imagine people running everywhere trying to escape.”

Under communist occupation Elder Alexander Tam said he was born in 1955 in a remote central Vietnamese village 40

miles south of the border dividing the country.

The communists occupied the North, and the republic ruled the South, he explained.

Near the dividing border, Elder Tam said he grew up watching battles fought in his backyard. “We lived in a war. We saw the fighting every day. Sometimes it was even fun for us as children to see the war only a mile away. It was like entertainment.”

In 1967, Elder Tam said the communists from the North occupied his village in the night. “They would come in the middle of the night to draft men who were old enough to carry a gun in their army,” explained Elder Tam, who was 12 years old at the time.

The following year, Elder Tam said he enjoyed a three-day cease-fire to celebrate Tet, Vietnam’s Lunar New Year. Not a minute after the new year, Elder Tam said communist guerrilla fighters banged on his door and forced the young family out into the rice fields in the dead of night.

“It was dark, totally dark, and we walked toward the village’s gate. Behind us were the

guerrillas with their guns urging us to march forward.” Elder Tam said he saw streaks of light shooting toward them and heard the sound of machine guns. “We were used as human shields,” he said. Elder Tam said he and his family laid cold and wet in the muddy rice paddy; the threat of leeches in the fields was as imminent as the gunshots fired above their heads. “I don’t recall how long the gunshot exchange lasted, but it seemed like an eternity.”

The following day, after the fighting subsided, he said his family discovered his toddler sister covered in blood. She had been shot in the arm and lost consciousness. “We took her to the clinic nearby, and they bandaged her arm. We were blessed that her injury was not life-threatening.”

For the next four weeks, Elder Tam said the communists bombarded the city two miles away from his village. He said the communists occupying his city were violent. “They killed a lot of people. Four or five hundred people were buried alive because they were part of the Southern government.

OCT O BE R 2021 39

‘

“They came and knocked on the door, and if they were part of the Southern military, they’d say, ‘Here’s a shovel, you dig your own grave,’ and they’d bury them alive,” Elder Tam described.

As a teenager, Tam said his everyday life included witnessing convoys of army trucks carrying coffins from the battlefield to the city and nightly shelling bombardments. He said he slept in a bunker every night praying the roof over his head would still be standing the next morning.

Life in the South Six hundred miles south of Vietnam’s dividing border in Saigon, now called Ho Chi Minh City, Sister Janette Tam said she also faced the effects of living in a war-torn country.

Sister Tam said she was 13 years old, the oldest daughter in a family of four, when Northern Vietnam invaded the South in 1975. Over the next three years, she said her family lived under communist rule and in constant fear.

“They killed people. They buried them alive. They saw how rich the people of the South were at the time, and they would frame them so they could imprison them and take their house.” Sister Tam said her family was not wealthy, but her father was a retired policeman, which she said meant trouble.

According to Sister Tam, there was a rumor of more war coming to Vietnam. As a result, the communist government started to draft young people. Fearing the draft, Sister Tam said her family planned to flee the country any way they could.

40 K E A L A K A ‘ I 2 0 2 1

At the time, thousands of people were equally desperate to leave Vietnam. From this distress, the “Boat People” emerged, Sister Tam explained.

The Boat People Thousands of Southern Vietnamese people like Sister Tam sold everything they had to pay their fare for a boat ride out of Vietnam, she said. They became refugees, willing to travel on any boat, to any destination, as long as it was not Vietnam.

Elder Tam said refugees traveled to Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, praying they would arrive safely and could immigrate to the United States, Canada, Australia or Europe.

Mason Sansonia, from The Borgen Project, writes, “An estimated 62,000 Vietnamese Boat People sought refuge throughout Southeast Asia by 1978. This number rose to 350,000 by mid-1979, with another 200,000 having moved to permanent residence in other countries.”

These Boat People faced countless dangers on their journeys away from Vietnam, Sister Tam said. “Often, the boats were too small and ill-equipped for a long journey.

“Most of the time [the passengers] got killed or raped by [Thai] fishermen. The pirates saw these vulnerable people and, instead of helping, they would take advantage of them.”

Sister Tam’s family made plans to send her and her father on a Chinese export boat. She said it cost them 20 thin, one-ounce sheets of pure gold to pay their fare, and there was not enough money to bring the whole family.

.

Sister Tam said she and her father made fake Chinese papers and went by fake Chinese names to get on the boat. Everything had to be secret so the government would not know their escape plans. She said to be safe, they would not “say anything straight out. ... I did not know I would be leaving my family. We had to keep it a secret ... so they did not tell me.”

Sister Tam said she packed a backpack with some clothes and said goodbye to her loved ones, not realizing the permanence of her voyage. “This is like a journey where you step into the unknown. We prepared as much as we could.”

Sister Tam’s escape by boat The three-tiered boat she escaped on was about 1,500 square feet and housed more than 300 refugees, Sister Tam said. “It was like a slave ship. A lot of people wanted to escape [the country]. We would do anything for the price of freedom.”

The boat traveled south toward Malaysia and, while they were in the South China Sea, Sister Tam said her boat was approached by a ship of Thai pirates. The pirates were armed with swords and weapons, but no guns, she said. On her boat, they had one small pistol. “[We] pointed it out and said, ‘Don’t come close! We have a gun!’ So, they were scared and they left us alone. Otherwise, I would be history.”

After two weeks of sea travel, Sister Tam said she arrived to a small island in Indonesia.

Fearing the Indonesians would send them away because so many refugees had come before

them, the passengers waited until low tide.

She said they dug a hole in the bottom of the boat to ensure they would not be able to leave Indonesia. Then, as they sank, they raised the white flag, putting themselves at the mercy of those on the shore.

Fortunately, the island’s inhabitants welcomed the refugees sympathetically, she said. She and her fellow passengers rejoiced to be on land. “Everyone was yelling in gratitude ‘Oh yeah! We’re alive!’” Sister Tam recalled.

Elder Tam’s escape by plane Meanwhile, in the North, Elder Tam said he enlisted in the Vietnamese Air Force at 17 years old and worked as an auto mechanic for a few years. When Northern Vietnam invaded the South in 1975, he was ordered to move to Saigon and then to Bien Hoa, 20 miles from Southern Vietnam’s capital.

“On Monday, April 28 of 1975, our base [in Bien Hoa] was bombarded for two days,” he said. He and his comrades decided to leave.

They found a runway where Elder Tam took a cargo helicopter 20 miles away to a new base, Sai Gon, where he met his cousin.

The next day, Elder Tam said the Sai Gon base was bombarded, and he and his cousin fled to the city outside of the airbase by running through the runway of the airport. There, they found choas. Fires burned. People ran in panic while cargo planes slowly taxied around.

Tam said he and his cousin found a huge C130 cargo plane with the rim of the airplane open.

Hundreds of Air Force members and their families, men, women and children, ran and

jumped on the airplane. Elder Tam joined them.

“It was open, so we jumped on it.There were more than 200 people on board the plane,” Elder Tam said. “We couldn’t even sit down. It was packed.” They flew three hours to an unknown destination, trusting that wherever they landed would be safer than where they came from.

They arrived at an American Air Force base called U-Tapao in Thailand. Elder Tam said he realized that night he would never see his family again. “I couldn’t sleep. I was too homesick. I was very, very sad. I turned on the radio Wednesday, April 30, 1975 and found out the communists had already taken over the country.”

With the help of the United States, Elder Tam said he left Thailand and found his way to Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. There, he said he befriended a captain who was a member of the Church.

The captain found Elder Tam a sponsor family, the Ellis’ from Provo, Utah, who were also members of the Church. Elder Tam studied at Utah Technical College, now Utah Valley University, to become an electrical engineer.

He said he took the missionary lessons and was baptized as a member of the Church.

Journey to America Sister Tam said she and her father stayed in Indonesia for nine months, where they spoke with representatives from the United States.

She said they made their way to Santa Clara, Calif., where a friend of her father’s sponsored them.

Sister Tam graduated high school and attended Mission College in Santa Clara. “I had

to deal with a new culture, a new language and a new environment. I was really sad. I missed my family. Every night, I dreamt of going back and visiting my family.”

At the time, communist Vietnam had no contact with the United States and letters would take months to arrive. “We had to accept we would probably never meet each other again. That thought was killing,” Sister Tam said.

Lonely, Sister Tam said she turned to prayer for comfort, though she didn’t belong to an organized faith at the time. “I prayed a lot. I was like, ‘Please send me a friend. I’m so lonesome.’”

Elder Tam was studying at Santa Clara University to get his master’s in electrical engineering, and he said he went to Mission College at night to learn how to play piano.

Sister Tam said she started taking a piano class as well. One day before class, she was playing prelude music, and “Elder Tam walked in. All of a sudden, I looked up, and I saw his back.There was a voice telling me clearly in my ear, ‘He’s the one.

He will take care of you for the rest of your life.’”

The Tams dated and were married in 1984, they said. Sister Tam explained she took lessons from the missionaries and was baptized while she was pregnant with their first child. After fleeing Vietnam, Sister Tam reunited with her mother and the rest of her family in 1989 and Elder Tam with his two sisters and one brother and their families in 2009. • Left: The Tams on their wedding day.

Photo provided by the Tams.

Right: Elder and Sister Tam at BYU–Hawaii.

Photos by Ulziibayar Badamdorj.

OCT O BE R 2021 41

IN THE NAME OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM Students, professors and donors create a new initiative promoting religious freedom and human dignity

BY RAHEL MEYER

F

or the last couple of months, a small group of students within the Political Science Department have been preparing the agenda for a new initiative at BYU–Hawaii, explained student lead of the initiative, Taylor Nikolaus, a senior from Arizona majoring in political science.

Nikolaus said the initiative, which focuses on religious freedom and human dignity, is the beginning of an international network beneficial for BYUH students’ future careers and personal lives.

Dr. Troy Smith, professor in the Faculty of Business & Government and one of three faculty advisors for the initiative, said, “It’s about raising awareness so students can think through those issues [of limitations of religious freedom] themselves, rather than just following whoever has the loudest or most emotional voice or what maybe seems most reasonable.”

Thomas Nebeker, a senior from California majoring in political science and student fellow (paid student) of the initiative, said the initiative is not a response to what has happened on campus, but rather 42 K E A L A K A ‘ I 2 0 2 1

what the student body will do after they leave campus.

“I’m most excited to see the people actually get active and realize this is the beginning of an international network,” Nebekar said.

A student-based initiative The mission statement for the initiative is: “The religious freedom and human dignity initiative seeks to advance international awareness and support for religious liberties and human dignity for all.

It is housed in the BYUH political science program.”

Smith said the initiative started when donors reached out to the BYUH Political Science Department wanting to fund a program for religious freedom.

“The donors wanted to promote religious freedom. We wanted to promote other things, and it was our side that insisted on adding human dignity [to the initiative]. They agreed to it,” said Dr. Smith.

After setting terms on both sides, they set up the structure, he said.

In addition to himself, Dr. Smith said there are two other faculty advisors for the initiative: Associate Professor Michael Murdock and Adjunct Assistant Professor II Jennifer Kajiyama Tinkham, as well as a group of student fellows who make up the executive committee.

Smith said all the funding from the donors goes to the students. None of it goes to the professors because they have encouraged the students to take the lead, he said.

“We [told the students], ‘We’re advisors, but you guys are the ones who have to figure out what to do and how to promote the mission of the initiative.’

So, it’s been a real pleasure to watch the students work through and figure this out,” Smith explained.

Nebeker said they have been researching, planning events and talking to professionals from all over the world for the last couple of months. “We’re really excited to kick off the Fall Semester and help students understand how [religious freedom and human dignity] affect us.”

Smith said getting the student body engaged in this issue can help students develop professional skills.

Angela Morales, a senior from the Philippines majoring in political science, said, “It is a program made for the students.

It is about advancing religious freedom and human dignity in their own countries.”

Morales added it does not matter what church the individual belongs to. “It’s not a matter of religion. It’s a matter of religious liberty.”

[BYUH students] to understand the value of religious freedom and human dignity, to understand how it’s being limited and oftentimes constrained in unnecessary ways, and what can be done to help foster and promote religious freedom.”

One of the initiative’s main goals, Smith said, is to help students think through the debate regarding religious freedom. “It gives students a skill set of how to advocate for these ideas, from anywhere from city council meetings to larger international organizations.”

Why religious freedom and human dignity

Opportunities for students

Nikolaus said if a student isn’t studying political science, they can still join because the topic applies to everybody. “It affects our daily lives. It affects whether you are religious or not. It’s not just the freedom of religion. It’s the freedom of conscience and thought.”

Their work is focused on portraying how religious freedom helps societies grow and flourish and creates happy individuals, Nikolaus said.

“Religious freedom isn’t only about practicing your religion. It is also the freedom not to practice a religion,” she said.

Smith said the topic has become more important since there has been a growing intolerance for religious freedom in today’s society, which often is justified in the name of tolerance. He said, “It’s important for

Nikolaus said she is excited for the student body to become involved since they have been working mostly with volunteers from around the world, including the head of the International Center of Law and Religious Studies at BYU Law. Attending forums, joining discussions and connecting with other students around campus are just some of the many opportunities students have to support the initiative, she said.

Students who decide they want to do more than participate in activities can become volunteers to write reports, work with the student fellows, attend meetings, create events and have the liberty to choose what they want to do for the initiative, Morales explained.

“We don’t just present something to [the student body],” said Nebeker, who is

the event coordinator. “Students can help present and have an opportunity to do research themselves to learn and teach others.”

He continued, “It’s a way of getting your foot in the door.” The volunteers can move up and fill the spots for the student fellows while making connections at BYU Law and attending conferences in Washington, D.C., Nebeker said.

Go forth to serve Morales said, “Our motto is to enter to learn, go forth to serve. We want people to be aware of this concept and be educated so they can see the implications of religious freedom and how it’s essential for their own countries. That’s our mission.”

Nikolaus said, “It’s one of those opportunities that doesn’t come very often, especially as undergraduates. This is our future. We want societies that are happy and flourishing with people who are growing.

Liberties, like religious freedom and human dignity, do that.” • Facebook page: Religious Freedom and Human Dignity Initiative at BYUH Instagram: @byuhrfhd Students pose in positions of prayer used in various faiths.

Photos by Emarie Majors.

OCT O BE R 2021 43

THE SIMPLE LIFE

BYUH student says he decided to leave most of his belongings behind to simplify his life

BY LISI TIAFAU

D

avaadorj Sukhbaatar, who began living as a minimalist after observing the Japanese people living that way while living in Japan from 2017 to 2019, said he owns only six outfits and his Sunday clothes. He said his lifestyle has helped him travel more and save more money for his future. His friend, Emilia Anderson, said she admires Sukhbaatar’s way of life.“I admire his mindset of prioritizing experiences above objects,” she explained.

When Sukhbaatar, a sophomore studying business management from Mongolia, first traveled to Japan, he said he had one large bag, a suitcase and a backpack. Sukhbaatar explained the challenge of bringing all his belongings with him weighed heavily on his mind, so he said he decided to become a minimalist.

“The benefits of living a minimalist life include living a simple life by not having things you don’t need or use at all.”

Sukhbaatar said, “Keep less, worry less.”

On his next trip home to Mongolia for the summer, Sukhbaatar said he left almost all of his belongings, traveling back to Japan with only one suitcase. “I took almost nothing, and when I got to Japan, I went shopping and bought simply the necessities,” he explained.

How to become a minimalist Sukhbaatar described himself as an outdoorsy and extroverted individual who

44 K E A L A K A ‘ I 2 0 2 1

enjoys hikes, trips to the beach and meeting new people.

Everything he needs can fit in his suitcase, and he said he uses each item on a daily basis.

Packed in his suitcase, Sukhbaatar has six of the same-colored T-shirts, six pants and Sunday clothes.

“I try to limit my wardrobe to at least six pieces since it is easier to maintain and care for. If you don’t use it, you don’t need it. It is cluttered, and if you do not clear it away, it may place a significant load and weight on you.”

He also owns one pair each of hiking shoes, running shoes, slippers and casual shoes he wears on Sundays and special occasions.

Sukhbaatar shared while he may lack some things, he doesn’t feel the need to carry or collect items he doesn’t use every day. “When I need anything, I may sometimes ask or borrow it from folks or friends.”

Expanded perspectives Anderson, a freshman from California majoring in elementary education, said she met Sukhbaatar through a mutual friend. “He’s a really cool guy, and he’s definitely expanded my perspective on different ways of thinking and living.”

They would often talk about travel, shared Anderson, and he gave her advice on how to travel light and live with necessities only.

Anderson said she has considered living a minimalist lifestyle because she finds peace of mind in keeping things tidy and simple. “I like to be able to keep track of everything I own rather than collecting and being overwhelmed by having too much stuff.”

Being misunderstood Sukhbaatar described an incident with officers at an airport as one of the downsides of living a minimalist lifestyle. On his way to BYU–Hawaii, he said was pulled aside by police officers and questioned about his luggage.

He shared, “The police officer asked me, ‘Is this all your luggage for four years?’ He was suspicious.

“The most challenging part of living a simple life is having others misunderstand or assume I lack materialistic things.”

Uncovering his love for travel Sukhbaatar said, “It was amazing to arrive at BYUH with less luggage and to have to live a

Left: Davaadorj Sukhbaatar posing with the contents of his one suitcase.

Right: A close-up of all of Davaadorj Sukhbaatar’s belongings.

Photos by Ulziibayar Badamdorj.

basic life. It provided me with the opportunity to discover a new love, which is travel. It provided me with the chance to discover and pursue my passion.”

Since studying at BYUH, he shared how he has been able to visit more places and pursue other interests. “A minimalist lifestyle allows me to save more money for the future.”

Sukhbaatar said not having to stress about his belongings allows him to focus on what matters most.

“It’s incredible how much free time and productivity you gain when you empty out your luggage of needless items.”

laundry is very simple to clean and tidy.”

Although Narantuya has seen many of the positive ways minimalism has affected his roommate’s life, he said he decided the lifestyle is not for him. “I don’t see myself living a minimalist lifestyle because I love all my stuff,” he said.

A minimalist lifestyle can work with either married or single individuals, Sukhbaatar shared. “I have friends who are married and tried it out, but it is challenging with children.”

He explained some people might need much more. “Others might have 10 suitcases and use every single item in it. That depends on a person’s needs.” •

Minimalism: not for everyone Sukhbaatar said minimalism is also an excellent way to maintain a neat home.

Purevsuren Narantuya, one of Sukhbaatar’s roommates and a junior business finance and economics major from Mongolia, added, “Sukhbaatar’s minimalist life is very interesting and cool. ... His room is not messy and his OCT O BE R 2021 45

More than

a job PCC tour guide says helping a widower celebrate his anniversary without his wife elevated his job to the next level

BY RAHEL MEYER

46 K E A L A K A ‘ I 2 0 2 1

R

afael Tzanis, a tour guide at the Polynesian Cultural Center, said he once guided a man through a VIP tour who was celebrating his wedding anniversary, but the man was alone.

The guests’ wife passed away two years ago, but since it was always the couple’s dream to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary at the PCC, Tzanis said his guest decided to make the journey by himself on their anniversary.

This experience taught him the impact he can have on the guests, shared Tzanis, a junior from Australia majoring in political science and intercultural peacebuilding.

When they arrived in the Hawaiian Village during the tour, he said, they went into the Hale Mu’a and talked about the impact women had on their lives.

“He stopped and started crying. I’m looking at him crying and I had to start crying. And he was like, ‘Raf, I can feel her with me right now.’ I started bawling,” Tzanis shared.

“It is experiences like that where this becomes more than a job.You really see people

Rafael Tzanis and Faye Kioa in their PCC tour guide uniforms.

Photos by Emarie Majors.

as people and not just as guests. It elevates it to the next level.”

Despite cultural differences, PCC tour guides said their experiences with their guests and co-workers create a sense of family and prepare them for their future careers.

The Guest Services Department at the PCC has one of the most diverse teams because it represents countries from each continent and offers tours in six different languages, said Sia Lasa, a junior from New Zealand majoring in social work.

“We all have different backgrounds. We may be different colors and from different countries, but at work, we are all the same,” shared Lasa. She explained rather than focusing on their different backgrounds, they focus on how they can serve the PCC guests better together.

Lasa said the pressure also binds the tour guides together. “We are all excited about our guests. We all think about our schedules,” she said. “At work, we are the same people because we struggle together.”

OCT O BE R 2021 47

Tzanis said, “It’s such a dynamic job. So, to share this with your co-workers, bounce ideas around and help each other, I think it forces you into a relationship. It keeps you excited about having those things in common.”

Finding family Tzanis said when he first came to BYUH, he found his campus family at the Guest Services Department.

“This is one of the few places where you have a family that is not determined by where you’re from. There is no clique.You all come from different places, and that connects you.”

Tzanis said tour guides work 19 hours a week, taking either VIP or ambassador tours of up to 20 people around the PCC. He said they must be flexible, because each day they have different guests with different expectations under different circumstances.

Hayeon Lee, a junior from South Korea majoring in hospitality and tourism management, said, “It’s stressful, but it’s worth it.” He said the opportunity to meet lots of people helps him make friends, but can also be overwhelming at times.

Lasa said the job is a big part of her life because of the genuine empathy she has developed for her guests. She said the experience of taking a guest with down syndrome on a tour has stayed with her through the years.

“At first I didn’t know how to react or what to do with her,” she shared. “Her parents told me, ‘Just do what you’ve planned’.”

She gave the little girl her pink water bottle, and it made the girl’s day, Lasa said with a smile. The girl wanted to carry it the whole day, and she said since the girl dropped the water bottle several times, it became all crooked.

“It was fine to me,” Lasa laughed. “I just let her be. Just before I went home, the girl asked me to be her tour guide again. She was like, ‘Can I see you again?’ That stayed with me.”

“Being a tour guide is home” Lisa Agafili Neiufi, a recent BYUH alumna from New Zealand, said it is the way the working environment is set up for tour guides that brings everybody together and creates a sense of family.

Not only are guides supportive of each other and genuinely congratulate each other

48 K E A L A K A ‘ I 2 0 2 1

on their tips, Neiufi said but also the leadership team in the department cares about each guide individually.

She said, “We have been understaffed, and the canoe guys were working so hard. So the boss made huge ice creams for them. I think little things like that make us feel appreciated.”

Setting up talent shows, recreating the Olympic games, going ice skating together, recreating the Huki Show as tour guides and organizing scavenger hunts at night in the PCC has strengthened the relationships among the team, Neiufi explained.

“You make lifelong friends. Alumni keep in contact on the Facebook page after decades.

[Being a] tour guide is home.”

Broadening horizons Still, Neiufi said being a tour guide is not just about conducting tours or making friends.

“You learn your own culture in a different way.

I have newfound respect for my culture and my identity just from being here.”

Lee explained everybody connects differently with their guests and language is not a priority. She said, “It’s like a puzzle. If we fit on one side, we can connect. We don’t have to fit perfectly.”

Neiufi said being a tour guide has prepared her for her future career in speech therapy. The language and speaking skills she has developed while being a guide have given her the needed experience and trust in herself when going into interviews, she explained. “[Being a] tour guide gave me the confidence to talk in front of a large group of people, to speak up and to step out of my comfort zone,” Neiufi added.

Lasa explained the gravity of the skills she developed as a guide. “I have three main skills I learned as a guide, which are customer service skills, being able to talk to anybody–which also includes building relationships with strangers in a very short amount of time–and being able to work under pressure.” • Rafael Tzanis and Faye Kioa below the Hukilau Marketplace sign in front of the PCC. Photo by Emarie Majors.

OCT O BE R 2021 49

50 K E A L A K A ‘ I 2 0 2 1

Ochbayar Jargalsaikhan cutting hair.

Photos by Mark Daeson Tabbilos. Graphics by Marlee Palmer.

BYUH student and professional hairdresser says he quit his job at a high-end salon to provide more affordable hair care

BY RAHEL MEYER

O

chbayar Jargalsaikhan said he worked at a high-end barbershop and hair salon in his home country of Mongolia. He said it was then he realized high prices prevented people from receiving affordable, high-quality haircuts.

To help those who could not afford expensive haircuts, Jargalsaikhan, a freshman majoring in business management, said he quit his job and opened his own business. His goal was to give people an amazing haircut and hair care without the high price tag, he said. “It doesn’t have to be expensive. I can do it easily, on a professional level and offer a good price for the people.”

He rented his own studio and has worked privately since 2019 giving people their desired haircut at a price that is, at most, 19 percent of the typical price at a hair salon, he stated.

For example, instead of paying $80 for a hair treatment, Jargalsaikhan said he charges $15.

“Once you do [your job as a hairdresser] well, and it becomes easier for you, you start to charge more money,” Jargalsaikhan explained. He emphasized this was one of the reasons he quit his job at the expensive downtown hair salon in Mongolia.

Desire to become a hairdresser “I want to make people feel beautiful inside and outside, and some people cannot express how they want to look,” Jargalsaikhan

explained, stating he loves giving people confidence in their appearance by giving them the style that suits them.

He explained he can look at a person and immediately think what haircut or hair color would suit that person the best.

The urge to help people look better is one of the main reasons he wanted to become a hairdresser, Jargalsaikhan said. He added seeing people’s self-confidence increase due to their new hairstyle makes him feel successful and good about his work.

Early beginnings “Ochbayar has a natural talent,” explained his wife, Dulguunzaya Mashbat, a freshman majoring in hospitality & tourism management from Mongolia. She said she has supported him and encouraged him to follow his dream ever since he decided to make his passion his profession.

Shortly after Jargalsaikhan decided to start his training to become certified, Mashbat said his talent became more obvious.

“Ochbayar impressed all his teachers when he finished his certificate to become a hairdresser in only three months,” she stated. “Many couldn’t believe how fast he was [because he had] no previous experience.”

Jargalsaikhan said during his certification process, his wife supported him in his career

by being his first female hair model. “He did my hair all the time. I had around 10 different hair colors in a little over a year. Orange, reddish, grey, lots of different colors,” Mashbat said with a laugh.

After being certified, she said Jargalsaikhan immediately got a job at an expensive hair salon in downtown Mongolia.

After working there for several months, Jargalsaikhan stated he became more aware of how much they were charging for the salon experience, not the quality of the product.

Jargalsaikhan explained he soon realized the salon could still make a good income without charging too much, and for him, this opened the possibility of helping people who could not afford the high price. After quitting his job, opened his own studio and offered his services at an affordable price, he said he always had the desire to learn more.

“I always try to top myself and become faster and more professional,” Jargalsaikhan remarked. He and his wife, Mashbat, who also wants to expand her business in the tourism industry, said they decided to come to BYU– Hawaii to gain the necessary skill set.

“We’ve been working on ourselves just to make our future brighter, and we wanted to get a good education [before expanding our businesses],” said Mashbat. She added their journey to BYUH has been a trial of faith for them both.

OCT O BE R 2021 51

Sacrifices along the way When Jargalsaikhan and Mashbat got married in 2017, Mashbat said they set goals for their future. One of their goals was to be sealed in the temple, and the other one was to come to BYUH, she explained.

She shared after Jargalsaikhan was baptized in 2017, the couple wrote the two important goals with the intended date on the back cover of their Book of Mormon: ● June 2019: Temple Marriage ● 2020: Attend BYUH “People didn’t understand us. They were saying we were wasting our time, and they would say we couldn’t know when we would end up [at BYUH],” she added.

Mashbat shared their dream was to be accepted to the IWORK program, but they were denied three times. “It was difficult,” Mashbat said. “It was a whole year of not knowing where we would end up.”

Mashbat explained she and Jargalsaikhan were constantly working— Jargalsaikhan in his private hair salon and Mashbat as a tour guide— to be able to raise the money to get sealed in the Hong Kong Temple and attend BYUH. During those years of hard work and continuous rejection, they would keep going because they knew Heavenly Father had a plan for them, Mashbat said. “God has his own timing, and he knows what you’re going through.”

52 K E A L A K A ‘ I 2 0 2 1

Their faith helped the couple to keep pushing forward, Mashbat explained. She said by putting their trust in God, they knew what they needed to do, and that was to continue following their dreams and working towards their goals.

Then, in June 2019, the couple had raised enough money to make it to the Hong Kong Temple, and they were sealed to each other and their daughter, Mashbat said.

“It was such a special experience. And then, right after the sealing, we came back to Mongolia and received the notification that we got accepted [to the BYUH IWORK program]. We started school in 2020, and now we are actually here in person in 2021.”

Mashbat said after years of planning and patience, the happiness she felt after finally arriving in Hawaii could not be dampened by anything. “I was so happy to be in quarantine, even if it was for 10 days,” Mashbat said, explaining just being in Hawaii was enough for her. “People would stop by, and I would greet them and wave to them from behind closed windows.”

Looking back to 2017, Mashbat said it is incredible to see how far they have come as a family. “The hard work pays off. We still have the Book of Mormon where we wrote down our goals on the back cover,” said Mashbat.

She added how astonishing it is to her that the dates she and Jargalsaikhan set as goals came true in the end.

“I’m so grateful for my husband because he made my dream possible. I am so thankful

for his hard work, patience and kindness he has shown me, his friends and family and his dedication to every single one of our goals throughout the years.”

Customer reviews Jargalsaikhan said the longer he worked as a hairdresser, the more respect he gained for the job. Not only did he improve his communication skills and expand his network, but he said he also gained a higher appreciation for other people in the industry, since the physical aspect of the job can often be overlooked.

“Standing the whole day can be very exhausting,” stated Jargalsaikhan. He added getting to know customers, giving fitting advice and understanding the individual’s wishes make hairdressing a highly demanding job.

Ulziibayar Badamdorj, a senior from Mongolia majoring in information technology, stated how impressed he was by Jargalsaikhan’s professionalism. “I was amazed by his skill.

He was super fast. After I got my haircut, I couldn’t recognize myself. I’d highly recommend him to others.”

Follow Jargalsaikhan on Facebook @ochkobarber. • Left and bottom right:: Ochbayar Jargalsaikhan providing hair care to customers, including Uurtsaikh Nyamdeleg and Ulziibayar Badamdorj.

Photos by Mark Daeson Tabbilos.

Right: Ochbayar Jargalsaikhan, Dulguunzaya Mashbat and their daughter on the BYUH campus.

Photos by Emarie Majors.

OCT O BE R 2021 53

SETTING FOR LIFE BYUH students say you don’t have to be good at volleyball to join the games

BY RAHEL MEYER

B

efore walking into the old gym at 8 p.m., people can hear the laughter and loud music coming from the volleyball open play every night. Upon entrance to the gym, students chat with one another while they wait for their turn to join the game. Players are focused, spiking and hitting the ball with strength and precision. When someone misses a ball or spikes it out of the field, the players tease and laugh with each other.

“It doesn’t matter where we’re from,” said Nuuausala Taituuga, a junior from Samoa studying hospitality and tourism management.

“Volleyball brought us together. … You get to meet different people from different parts of the world, and that’s amazing.

“When I play in a great environment where I am surrounded by family and friends,

54 K E A L A K A ‘ I 2 0 2 1

I get to build that relationship with them.

We love what we’re doing, and we create our happiness.”

A diverse, loving environment Taituuga explained the fun between diverse players is what creates the welcoming environment. For example, she said she and one of her co-workers connected over their love for volleyball. She invited her to come to the open play. The following day, she said they played together and have since become closer as friends.

“It really helps me to build good friendships with other people, which is awesome,” Taituuga said. “Volleyball is something you don’t have to be serious about. You can have fun and smile and be entertained.”

Jason Katonivere, a junior from Fiji studying biomedical science, said because he is from the islands, he knows mainly Polynesians who know how to play volleyball.

He added meeting people from different countries who know how to play connects him to more students on campus. “They know how to play, and we see we have similarities. We come together, and it is the best. It connects different cultures.”

Friendly competition Katonivere said sometimes students get really competitive, but they don’t take themselves too seriously. “We still have the mentality that we are students, and we came here to play just for fun.”

Letoee Taituuga, a senior from Samoa studying biochemistry, said, “Sometimes it seems very competitive, but most of the time people are very friendly and inviting.”

Since coming to the games, Letoee Taituuga explained she has seen lots of students become better at playing. “I noticed there were some students who didn’t know how to play when they first started, but after one week, I could see their improvements.”

Nuuausala Taituuga explained there was one girl who caught her attention because she came even though she wasn’t good at playing.

She said she realized the student wanted to come to have fun and enjoyed herself hitting the ball any way she could.

“It created that feeling of happiness, and we just laughed a lot, “ Nuuausala Taituuga said. “That’s the thing for me. Going to volleyball makes me laugh and share a smile with other people.”

Promoting a balanced life Nuuausala Taituuga said volleyball serves as a means of balance in her life because it helps her calm her nerves, especially during finals. She said she would go to the gym whenever she felt overwhelmed with her studies.

“Even just playing one hit of the ball, just one game, that’s it for me. It really uplifts me a lot, and I come home with a different feeling and can finish whatever I was stuck with.”

She added volleyball recharges her focus and motivates her to finish her schoolwork so she can have time to play.

Letoee Taituuga explained some students experience difficult days where they struggle, maybe because they miss their family, but volleyball can help them leave their worries behind. “It’s like playing with your family.

You’re having fun and forget about your struggles. It’ll make your day.”

All are welcome Letoee Taituuga said it is hard for her to open up to people, but volleyball has helped

her gain confidence by stepping out of her comfort zone. “If you come with shyness, you’re going to come out as a different person.”

She said she understands students who are intimidated at first, but advised them to simply try it out. She has seen students open up, get better and gain confidence after a few days of playing. “Students need to go and see how loving the people are over there.You will find friends for life.”

Nuuausala Taituuga emphasized a simple “Hello,” and a smile can open doors for friendships. She explained asking players how their day was and trying to get to know them helps people feel more connected.

Katonivere said when he invites people to come to volleyball, they often say they are not good enough to play. He said the first step is to simply come.

“Just come and try. One of my friends who I invited first said no, but now comes every night because he loves it. You will automatically love volleyball.”

He added coming with an open mind is essential no matter the years one has played

or one’s experience. “You can learn a lot from other students, like strategies and rules.

Sometimes I apply it and say to myself, ‘I need to do this or apply this.’”

A rekindled love Letoee Taituuga said she has been playing volleyball for as long as she can remember and uses it as medicine to destress.

She said she has played in ward and stake tournaments and for school and college teams.

In addition, Letoee Taituuga said she joined a volleyball team with friends, where she competed for Teuila festivals and Samoa Independence Day. In Samoa, she said it came to a point where she was tired of playing volleyball every day, but coming to BYUH rekindled her love for the sport. “Back home, it was hard for me to go back to volleyball. Here, it is hard for me to stop.” • Students gather nightly at 8 p.m. to play volleyball at the old gym during open gym hours.

Photos by Mark Daeson Tabbilos. Graphics by Emily Hendrickson.

OCT O BE R 2021 55

BLESSED IN ADVERSITY

Losing both her parents in a year wasn’t easy, but Mio Tuala says she knows God’s hand directs her path

56 K E A L A K A ‘ I 2 0 2 1

BY ELLE LARSON

M

io Tuala’s parents both passed away within a year of each other. She said she can see she was prepared for this trial because being at BYU–Hawaii allowed her to be closer to Samoa to take care of her father in his last living months. In addition, her mission to Samoa prepared her to take care of him in Samoa by teaching her to speak the language, understand the culture and do simple things like getting groceries and riding the bus. “I have been blessed in too many ways to count,” Tuala said.

Tuafafine (sister) Tuala Tuala, a senior from California studying Pacific Islands Studies, said she originally didn’t know if serving a mission was for her.

One Sunday, she said she was walking home while contemplating the blessings of serving when the thought “Go and serve. You will be blessed,” came into her mind.

Additionally, a week before her mission call came, she said she had a dream she received a package with a mission tag that said, “Sister Tuala, Samoa Apia Mission.”

She said she was overjoyed at the prospect of serving in Samoa because it is the country of her heritage. “I remember I woke up and just started crying.”

Opening her mission call only a few weeks later in the Aloha Center with dozens of friends is her favorite memory of BYUH, she explained. She was assigned to serve in her father’s native land of Samoa. “When I read it, I knew for sure that was where I was supposed to serve.” She said she didn’t know what a blessing her service would be to prepare her for the trials ahead.

When Tuala was about to start high school, she said her dad was sent to his home country, Samoa, because he didn’t have papers to stay in the United States. After high school, she said she decided to attend BYUH because it was the perfect half-way point between her dad in Samoa and her mom in California.

Tuala said although she visited Samoa a few times during her first year at BYUH, her Samoan connections became powerful when she served her mission because she had a unique opportunity to learn about the language, culture and people of her heritage,

including family she had never met. In her last transfer, she said she even served in her father’s stake.

Invaluable preparation After studying a few more semesters in Hawaii, she said, “I got word my dad got sick.

I took a semester off and went to Samoa,” she shared. “I was there for nine months, and then my dad passed away.”

She said she believes she came to BYUH for a reason. “I don’t think it was a coincidence I came to school here.” Because BYUH was so close, she said she could fly to Samoa and take care of her dad.

Tuala said the skill set she gained from her mission became essential when her dad got sick. She explained doing things like getting groceries and taking the bus, which would be daunting for a foreigner unfamiliar with the place, were easy for Tuala because she’d done it on her mission. “I’m the only one of my siblings who knew the language because I served in Samoa,” she added.

Another grief Julia Sio, an information technology junior from Samoa and the BYUH Samoa Club President, said she got Tuala involved with the Samoa Club as the technology specialist in 2019. As they served together, Sio said their friendship grew.

When the pandemic hit, she said they parted ways, staying with family in different states. However, they made plans to celebrate Independence Day together. As the holiday approached, Sio said she felt like something was wrong.

She said she checked up on Tuala and learned her mother was in the hospital.

Tuala told her she wouldn’t be able to celebrate Independence Day with her.

“Right when she said she couldn’t come, I understood,” Sio said. “She couldn’t leave her mom.”

Tuala’s mother worked as a middle school lunch lady and was on dialysis several times a week, Tuala explained. Despite the health threat, Tuala said her mother kept working because she wanted to keep busy.

After being misdiagnosed and going in and out of the hospital for a month, Tuala said

her mother passed away in July 2020, not yet a year after her father passed.

When she found out about her mother’s passing, she said, “It was probably the hardest day of my life, knowing they weren’t there anymore. It was hard to take that all in.”

Tuala lived with her brothers in California at the time, and she said they were “busy planning funerals and trying to figure out where [they’d] all live.”

She said she struggled doing online school while facing a life with neither of her parents.

Enduring faithfully Relying on her faith and friends, Tuala said she continued her education and returned to Hawaii in the spring. Now, Sio said she can be found quietly sitting at activities, telling jokes or making late night McDonald’s trips with friends. Sio said with a smile, “She’s a keeper.”

Sister Dawn Uyehara, a senior missionary from New Zealand, is also Tuala’s supervisor at work. She said Tuala’s biggest strength is her faith. “I think her faith probably helps her a lot.

She’s very faithful and has a full understanding of the whole plan of salvation. She knows she’s going to see her parents again.”

Uyehara said she believes Tuala’s experiences will continue to bless her in her service. “I feel what she’s been through gives her a measure of understanding of people who go through similar things, which is really helpful. She can understand what they need and be there for them.”

Tuala said she was able to face her parents’ death because she knew they were sealed in the temple and understood Heavenly Father’s plan for his children.

After she graduates, Tuala said she wants to return to Samoa to work at a Church school. She shared she’s always had a deep interest and love for Polynesian culture.

She advised BYUH students, “Continue living as Heavenly Father would want you to. Magnify your callings and strive to be your best self. After school, as we go on our different paths, we will be able to take all the knowledge we’ve learned here and apply it to our lives.” • Mio Tuala posing with a photo of her late parents.

Photo by Mark Daeson Tabbilos.

OCT O BE R 2021 57

KEEPING THE

VISION

Appointment of new Mongolian business professor renews hope for Mongolian students to follow their dreams and fulfill prophecy

BY ELLE LARSON

T

setsgee Enkhbold, a senior from Mongolia majoring in business management and president of the Amiable Mongolian Club, said the Mongolian students are overjoyed to welcome a new professor from home. Tserennyam Sukhbaatar filled a new position in the Faculty of Business & Government as the first BYU–Hawaii faculty member from Mongolia.

“It’s a wild experience having a faculty member from our country. I never thought it would be possible,” said Solongo Norov, a senior from Mongolia majoring in business management. “I think it gives us Mongolians lots of hope that we can one day come back and teach. He’s given us a really good example of getting educated and coming back to help the same people. I think it’s really cool.”

Enkhbold added, “The Mongolians are really excited.” She explained over one half of Mongolian students at BYUH are business management majors and many study marketing. “I’m excited for the marketing department.

They’re getting somebody who is 100 percent passionate about what he’s going to be teaching,” she said.

Norov said the Church members in Mongolia are a tight-knit group, like the BYUH community, where everyone is close and

58 K E A L A K A ‘ I 2 0 2 1

united. “When I heard [Sukhbaatar] was coming, I was like, ‘My heart is melting.’ I was so excited. I love all the professors I have had but, you know, he’s part of our family. He’s very close to our hearts,” she said.

Paving the path to success Suukhbaatar said working at BYUH is a big shift from the business world. “It’s a different industry working for a non-profit organization.”

He also moved his young family of six 6,000 miles to a new country and culture. Despite the shift, Suukhbaatar said he is excited to share his knowledge and experiences with the students.

“When I go to BYUH,” said Sukhbaatar, “I would like to help students as much as possible.

I really want them to succeed. I really want them to make a difference in the world.”

He said he developed a love for the youth when he served as a stake president in one of Mongolia’s two stakes.

As a stake president, Sukhbaatar said he focused his efforts on helping the youth achieve their goals and motivated them to get an education. “Sometimes they lose the vision, the goal and the mindset.”

He explained he hopes his support helps young Mongolian members of the

The Sukhbaatar family.

Photos by Ulziibayar Badmadorj

OCT O BE R 2021 59

Church succeed both temporally and spiritually.

Enkhbold said Sukhbaatar has had a profound impact on many of the students he counseled in Mongolia­­. She said she is a prime example because Sukhbaatar was her bishop growing up in Ulaanbaatar.

In an interview with him when she was 12 years old, Enkhbold said Sukhbaatar laid out a plan for her life to follow. She said he created a “Success Path forYouth,” a system he shared with the children and young adults he counseled. In it, he suggested youth closely follow the path he took to success, starting in Primary.The plan includes going to Seminary, serving a mission and learning English.

As she tried to follow the path he laid out, Enkhbold said her opportunities increased.

“When I was young, BYUH was almost like a dream,” she said, explaining she came from a poor family in Mongolia. She said her family barely had the basic necessities to live.

Although her parents are hardworking people, she said they never had the opportunity for an education. As the oldest daughter in her family, Enkhbold said in her interview, Sukhbaatar said, “You are your family’s chance to get out of this.”

Sukhbaatar’s comment impacted her vision for herself, Enkhbold said. “[I realized] coming here and getting an education was not only my thing.” Since coming to BYUH, she said she has enjoyed many opportunities and has paved the way for her younger sister and brother to come too. As they study, Enkhbold said they can change their parent’s lives.

“Leaders like [Sukhbaatar] help you keep the vision,” Enkhbold said.

Seeing with new eyes As a BYUH alumnus, Sukhbaatar shared his experience at BYUH made him want to help Mongolian youth to come study in Hawaii.

“When I went to BYUH as a student many years ago, America opened my eyes in many different ways,” he said.

When comparing his life in Mongolia to life at BYUH, he said he was surprised at the difference he found.

“It’s a very different lifestyle. There are very different opportunities and very different perspectives and circumstances. Students at BYUH have tons of privileges and resources compared to students and children in Mongolia.

After seeing that, I really wanted to help kids in Mongolia.”

60 K E A L A K A ‘ I 2 0 2 1

Sukhbaatar said he uses his experience to help motivate the youth he works with. He said he tells them, “You also can do this.You can learn English, go to America, get an education and change your life. It will open your eyes. It will help you become a world citizen. After seeing the blessing of America, I wanted to share that blessing with others.”

that he would teach at a school like BYUH. …

It’s literally a fulfillment of the prophecy of David O. McKay.”

Life lessons

Enkhbold said she respects him because he leads by example. “There are a lot of leaders who can tell you what to do, but he leads by righteous example,” she said.

“I’m not saying if he falls off the covenant Fulfilling prophecy path I will fall with him, but I am saying he is As a former IWORK student, Sukhbaatar one of the main people I can count on who will is what Ann Springer, assistant professor in the Faculty of Business & Government, called “gen- follow through,” explained Enkhbold.

Sukhbaatar said he is taking notes on how uine gold,” the type of person David O. McKay to best serve the students he teaches this Fall envisioned coming forth from the University.

Semester. He said he wants to focus his lesSpringer said Sukhbaatar is an example sons on practical skills by sharing the real-life to international students who don’t feel they experiences and knowledge he has gained as a can be successful in their home country.

“Whatever your circumstances are, you can be professional marketer.

Professionally, Sukbaatar said, he has self-sufficient because of this kind of skill set.” worked on many different campaigns with With the skill set he built at BYUH, Springer worldwide brands like Apple, Sony, Dell, Acer and Caterpillar.

Norov said, as a marketing student, she is excited for his class and looks forward to hearing about how he developed his skills through his experiences.

Springer said of Sukhbaatar, “He’s had these really great opportunities, and he’s been able to utilize those. That’s what we hope for all of our students. When you’re living your life on the principles of the gospel,” said Springer, “you’re going to be led to opportunities that will not just bless you, but allow you to bless others. I’m positive he’s been prepared for this opportunity for a long time.”

Sukhbaatar was not expecting to be Tsetsgee Enkhbold offered the position to teach at BYUH, he said, but he was thrilled to accept the job. “I truly said Sukhbaatar was able to create a successful believe and feel Heavenly Father has a plan. I don’t know what it is, but he has some kind of career. plan for us. We’re just following that.”

The key to a fulfilling life, Springer He counseled, “As long as you follow the continued, is being able to provide for one’s family in a field one is passionate about. She promptings of the Spirit and Heavenly Father, everything should be fine and everything should shared she is sure Sukhbaatar has done just be good.You will be happy.” • that with his career in marketing.

“He’s the living, breathing example of what we hope all of our students do. To be an IWORK student and to return to your home country to serve in the Church, to serve in your community, to provide for your family, be successful and to share the gospel with many other people. That’s fulfilling the McKay vision,” Springer exclaimed.

Enkhbold said she is inspired by Sukhbaatar’s appointment. “It’s pretty inspiring

“There are a lot of leaders who can tell you what to do, but he leads by righteous example.”

OAHU MURDER MYSTERY The tragic deaths of five women and an escaped murderer known as the “Honolulu Strangler”

BY LAUREN GOODWIN

This story is heavily based on information provided by the “Case File Podcast”, or “Casefile”–an award-winning Australian crime podcast with an anonymous host.

Any other sources used in the story will be stated.

H photo caption goes here.

e walked into the Honolulu Police Department and claimed to know where her body was. The police followed the suspicious informant in hopes of finding answers to four other unsolved murders.

SEP T E M BE R 2021 61

The First Victim: Vicki Purdy Vicki Purdy, age 25, was described as a feisty woman who could hold her own. Her husband said she always dreamed of living in Hawaii.

Although she struggled to adjust to the laid-back lifestyle on Oahu, she became more settled when she started working at a video store.

On May 29, 1984, after a night out with friends, Purdy was reported missing. She was last seen at midnight by a taxi driver who dropped her off at her car.

Her husband said Purdy planned to be home around 9 p.m. When he went looking for her, he found her car parked in the same place she left it with a new dent and no sign of Purdy.

The Honolulu Police Department later received a phone call reporting a body in the Keehi Lagoon. It was Purdy. She was found in the same clothes she was wearing the night she disappeared and had injuries consistent with homicide.

The True Crime Database said after months of no leads, the case went cold until the morning of Jan.14, 1986, when the second victim was found.

y

d r u p i Vick The Third Victim: Denise Hughes

According to The True Crime Database, two weeks after they found Sakamoto, they found the body of 21-year-old Denise Hughes.

She lived in Pearl City with her husband and took the bus every day to work. One day, she was believed to be at the bus stop earlier than usual and was later reported missing.

She was found by three teenagers in a drainage canal around the same area where Purdy and Sakamoto were found. She had similar injuries to the two previous victims.

Once it was confirmed these cases were related, the police created a task force to solve the murders with help from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The True Crime Database shared the FBI’s profile of the killer, saying, “[He] was an opportunistic but organized killer because he left very little evidence. He most likely works or resides in the area.”

TO

KAMO A S A N I EG

R

The Second Victim: Regina Sakamoto Regina Sakamoto, age 17, went missing after calling her boyfriend to let him know she would be late to school. According to serialdispatches.com, she took local transit because she missed the school bus and was last seen waiting at the bus stop.

No alarm was raised until later that night when she didn’t return home from school. Her family called the police and reported her missing.

Sakamoto’s body was found in the Keehi Lagoon, less than one mile from the location where Vicki Purdy’s body was found. Due to the similarities of the two murders, the police began to believe they were facing a serial killer.

62 K E A L A K A ‘ I 2 0 2 1

Den is

e hu

ghe

s

The Fourth Victim: Louise Medeiros Seven weeks after Hughes’ body was found, 24-year-old Louise Medeiros’ body was found. She was three months pregnant.

Medeiros had returned home from visiting family in Kauai and planned on catching a bus from the airport to her boyfriend’s apartment. She was last seen at the Honolulu airport bus stop and was reported missing on March 26, 1986.

Road workers found Medeiros’ body under a freeway overpass near Waikele Stream. Her body had the same injuries as the other women.

Major Louise Susa, the head of the task force, said the department didn’t have any leads, but women were warned to be on high alert and avoid public transportation.

A Suspect Gay was arrested for Pesce’s murder on May 9, 1986 and was questioned for several hours. When confronted directly about the crime, Gay put his head down and said he didn’t do it.

According to the Penn State University website, Gay’s girlfriend “told investigators that some nights when they fought, he would leave the house. These nights were the same nights the murders occurred.”

One woman claimed she saw a man with Pesce on the night she was killed and picked Gay out of a lineup. However, the woman did not consent to be a witness in court out of worry for her safety.

The police were convinced they found the deemed “Honolulu Strangler.” However, there was not sufficient evidence to convict him.

Gay died in 2003 and was never charged for the murders of Vicki Purdy, Regina Sakamoto, Denise Hughes, Louise Medeiros or Linda Pesce. There have been no other murders linked to this case.•

s

e

s Loui

iro e d e m

The Fifth Victim: Linda Pesce Linda Pesce, age 36, was known as streetwise and tough. When she moved to Hawaii, she was married and had a daughter. However, she later separated from her husband and moved in with one of her friends.

She was reported missing by her roommate on April 29, 1986.

The police found Pesce’s car on the side of Nimitz Highway. They theorized she had car trouble and left on foot to the bus stop.

A Penn State University website reports witnesses reported seeing “a light-colored van nearby and a possibly Caucasian man near her car.”

Four days after Pesce’s disappearance, a man matching the witnesses’ description walked into the Honolulu Police Department claiming a psychic told him where they could find Pesce’s body.

Howard Gay, age 43, took the police to Sand Island, but was noticeably avoiding one area. The police moved to this spot and found Pesce’s body with injuries similar to the other victims.

Linda pesce Photos provided by the Penn State University website.

SEP T E M BE R 2021 63

FALL HOLIDAYS around the world BYUH students say they celebrate fall holidays by dressing up in costumes, honoring ancestors and sharing favorite foods

BY LAUREN GOODWIN

F

rom parades and Cosplay to solemn traditions to honor deceased family members, BYU–Hawaii students from around the world described what fall holidays they celebrate back home.

Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead Daniela Quintana de Flores, a sophomore from Mexico majoring in exercise science, said although the name of the holiday sounds sad, Dia de los Muertos is one of the happier days of the year.

“On this day, we believe our family members can come from another world and visit us to celebrate their lives with everything they used to love,” she explained.

Traditionally, people put food and other possessions the deceased family member enjoyed on an altar for them, said Flores. “When they arrive, they will find everything they used to love when they were here with us.”

Flores continued, “This day is really important to us because we get to celebrate and remember the life of our family members who have passed away.

“As a member of the Church, I feel like I get to enjoy this day a lot more because I know it is true. [I know] I will see my family again.

Death is just one more step to eternity. It’s definitely not the end of everything.”

64 K E A L A K A ‘ I 2 0 2 1

Sapporo City Halloween Hikari Domon, a senior from Japan majoring in music, said Halloween has become more popular in Japan.

On Oct. 31, Domon explained Sapporo, Japan, holds a parade in the city where people dress up in costumes and have a Cosplay competition. She said it is even broadcasted on television.

Double Ninth Festival Esther Lam, a senior from Hong Kong majoring in applied mathematics, said during the sacred holiday held on Sept. 9, families bring food, money and candles to honor their ancestors. Lam explained, “We will go to the mountain, or where their ashes are buried, and give them food and money and burn candles to show remembrance of our ancestors.”

She said when the candles are done burning, their ancestors are finished eating.

Lam shared the day is often deemed as saddening. However, she said it is also a time to honor family members who have passed on.

All Souls Day and All Saints Day All Saints Day is celebrated on Nov. 1 and All Souls Day on Nov. 2, explained Marwin Jay Villegas, a senior from the Philippines majoring in exercise science with an emphasis in human health and performance. He said it is a week-long celebration of ancestors.

Villegas shared his family goes to their ancestors’ graves to clean and repaint them to make them nice again. Families set up tents and buy flowers and candies to celebrate with family, he added. •

Left page: Skulls are a popular decoration for Day of the Dead. Photos provided by Daniela Quintana de Flores.

Right page upper left, lower left and upper center: Halloween celebrations in Sapporo, Japan. Photos provided by Hikari Domon.

Right page middle right: A cemetery in Philippines. Photo by Norbert Staudt.

Graphics by Marlee Palmer and Katie Mower.

OCT O BE R 2021 65

BEST MOVIES TO WATCH IN OCTOBER

Check out these movies from the BYUH library to get into the Halloween spirit this fall

BY LAUREN GOODWIN

W

hether students are interested in slightly spooky movies or Halloween classics, the BYU–Hawaii library has plenty of options to help them celebrate the season.

CORPSE BRIDE

Victor, a man preparing to be married, goes out to the woods to rehearse his lines for his wedding. After accidentally proposing to a dead woman named Emily, he is dragged down to the land of the dead and must find his way back home.

Ellie Toia Valdez, a senior from Arizona majoring in graphic design, said “Corpse Bride” is her favorite Halloween movie because although it’s “weird and a little creepy,” she loves the clay animation. She said she watches the movie every year to celebrate Halloween.

Hannah Beckstrand, a senior from Utah majoring in psychology, said “Corpse Bride” is one of her favorites as well. “I love it because it’s not too scary, but it has everything that a Halloween movie should have, like ghouls, a corpse and an interesting plot,” she explained.

CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST

Known as a young friendly ghost, Casper haunts an abandoned mansion with his mischievous uncles. Trickery, romance and hysterics ensue when an after-life therapist and his teenage daughter investigate the house and its ghosts.

Kelly Beazer, a junior from Arizona majoring in psychology, said “Casper” is her favorite movie to watch around Halloween because it reminds her of spending time at her grandparents’ house. Beazer said she enjoyed watching the movie when she was younger because it wasn’t too scary.

66 K E A L A K A ‘ I 2 0 2 1

HOCUS POCUS

After Max Dennison moves to Salem, Massachusetts, he explores an abandoned house with his sister and friend. Although he doesn’t believe in superstitions, he jokingly frees a coven of witches and, with the help of a magical cat, tries to save the town from the evil witches.

Averi Strickenberger, a senior from Colorado majoring in psychology, said she “used to dress up as a witch for almost every Halloween because of how much [she] loved the movie [“Hocus Pocus”] growing up.”

PRACTICAL MAGIC

Sally and Gillain Owens explore magical powers after Gillain’s boyfriend dies unexpectedly.

After teaching themselves a crash course in magic, they are tasked with alleviating the suspicions of the town and fighting off an evil spirit.

Olive Phillips, a sophomore from Idaho and Kuwait majoring in intercultural peacebuilding and political science, said “Practical Magic” is her favorite movie to watch during Halloween because it has the “perfect 90’s spooky vibe.” The humor, interesting plot and actress Sandra Bullock make it one of the best Halloween movies, she said.

MONSTER HOUSE

Three young teenagers struggle to convince the adults in their town that a neighbor’s house is a living creature that is out to harm them. Afraid the house will hurt innocent trickor-treaters, the teenagers set out to destroy the house.

Spencer Mordy, a senior from California majoring in exercise science, said one of his favorite Halloween movies is “Monster House.” He said with a smile, “It’s thrilling, but not scary enough you are going to pee your pants.”

Illiana Sua’ava, a senior from Hawaii majoring in human resources, said “Monster House” is a throwback movie for her family because she watched it every Halloween with her siblings.

GHOSTBUSTERS

After scientists lose their jobs at a university, they set out to battle supernatural activity in New York City. During their fight, they come across another dimension and must destroy the gateway to save the city.

Mark Tabbilos, a senior from the Philippines majoring in TESOL, said “Ghostbusters” is fun, hilarious and has a great sense of adventure. • Photo by Munbayar Magvandorj.

Graphics by Katie Mower.

OCT O BE R 2021 67

68 K E A L A K A ‘ I 2 0 2 1