JA N UA RY 2 0 1 9 · Vo l u m e 1 2 2 : I s s u e 1
THE LEADER
JANUARY 2019 • VOLUME 122 • ISSUE 1
ADVISOR
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
LeeAnn Lambert
Brooklyn Redd
MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISTS
COPY EDITORS
Mackenzie Beaver Tomson Cheang Mason Cole Shannon Crowley Geena De Maio Elijah Hadley Esther Insigne Will Krueger Noah Shoaf Jemesa Snuka Haeley van der Werf Emi Wainwright
Dani Castro Anuhea Chen Bruno Maynez VIDEOGRAPHERS
Blake Ellertson Diandra Mongan Pui Hang Yau ART & GRAPHICS
Anuhea Chen Michele Crowley McKenna Locken ART DIRECTOR
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Lynne Hardy
Cameron Gardner Chad Hsieh Ho Yin Li
MANAGING EDITOR
NEWS CENTER
BOX 1920 BYUH LAIE, HI 96762 PRINTER
Pr int Ser vices Editorial, photo submissions & Distribution inquiries: k e a l a k a i @ by u h . e d u . To s u b s c r i b e t o t h e R S S F E E D or to view additional ar ticles,go to k e a l a k a i . by u h . e d u
Emily Hancock
CONTACT
Email: kealakai@byuh.edu Phone: (808) 675-3694 Fax: (808) 675-3491 Office: BYU–Hawaii Aloha Center 134 ON THE COVER:
Ella Reynolds, a senior from Oregon studying human resources, sits for a photo used for two stories in this issue: Silencing the Stigma of mental health and Precaution in Paradise about sex trafficking awareness in Hawaii. Photo by Emily Hancock and illustration by Lynne Hardy
ABO UT US
The Ke Alaka‘i began publishing the same year the university, then called Church College of Hawaii, opened. It has continued printing for more than 60 years. The name means “the leader” in Hawaiian. It began as a monthly newsletter, evolved into a weekly newspaper, then a weekly magazine, and is now a monthly news magazine with a website and a social media presence. Today a staff of about 25 students works to provide information for BYU–Hawaii’s campus ohana and Laie’s community.
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P H OTO SU BMISSIO N “Above all else, I will always be proud to call this place home.” Taken in Morro Bay, California. Photo and quote by Teva Todd
Share your photo with us and we may feature it in our next issue. E-mail us your high-resolution photo with a caption at kealakai@byuh.edu
F O L LO W U S AR O U ND THE WE B
KE A LA KA I.BYUH.EDU
JANUARY 2019
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Contents January 08
Ask the Professional
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Shaping up BYU-Hawaii
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Shifting sands
14
Polynesian football legends
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Silencing the stigma Learning how to be sensitive with mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression
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Pup Me Up
Precautions in Paradise
Great Ideas competition winners, Aubree Cortez and Kathleen Jonsson, introduce a new way to cope with stress
Experts warn people to be cautious of ‘boyfriending’ sex traffickers in Hawaii
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18
34
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Precautions in Paradise
On the cover
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Highlights
Healthy eating on campus
Temple’s 100th anniversary
Health food options and recipes on a budget
Celebrating the history of the Laie Hawaii Temple
Campus Comment:
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Pup Me Up
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15 ways to avoid the freshman 15
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World War I centennial
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Fitness meets Instagram
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Healthy eating on campus
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Healthy eating around the world
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Missionary nurse serves babies and new parents
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A path to healing
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The dangers of social media
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Silencing the Stigma
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The Latter Days
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Ten ways to study the scriptures
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Temple’s 100-year anniversary
What is a new healthy habit you hope to keep this year? JAMI FANENE , a sophomore
from Utah studying biochemistry, said, “One healthy habit I really hope to keep this year is time management. I have a bad habit of procrastinating my work and waiting until the last minute. I don’t want to stress myself out and I want to just get things done on time.”
JASMINE LAM , a senior from
Hong Kong studying communications, said, “This year I want to work out and exercise two to three times a week. I want to try to avoid eating a lot of snacks throughout the day and I want to try to eat more clean.”
BRANDON QUACH , a sopho-
more from Texas majoring in English, said, “A goal of mine this year is to really focus and pay attention to my mental health. I want to care less about what people think.”
ELLIE TOIA , a freshman from Ari-
zona studying graphic design, said, “I really want to find new ways to enjoy working out. When I do the same workouts, I get bored and it makes me not want to workout. I just ordered climbing shoes and a longboard to figure out new ways to enjoy getting some exercise in.”
ZEPH MCKEE , a sophomore
from California studying communications, said, “I want to get up earlier and begin my day sooner. I want to start my day off with maybe a good-balanced breakfast or a run to the beach.”
TIMEON TEKEIAKA , a sopho-
more from Kiribati studying accounting, said, “This year, I really want to go to sleep earlier and have an actual sleep schedule. I want to start working out more and finding things I enjoy doing.”
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Letter from
the Editor As a young girl, I may have been frustrated with my parents when they prepared salads for breakfast and brownies or cheesecake made out of dates and cashews, as well as exchanging our Halloween candy for a bottle of Kombucha. But now that I am older, I appreciate it because this is how my mother personally expressed her love for us. So in expressing our love to you as the Ke Alaka‘i family, we hope to bring monthly themes with the first theme being on health and mental wellness. My mother truly believed living a healthy lifestyle was the best solution for getting the most out of life. Upon returning to campus, we can see changes in friends, from new hairstyles to being engaged, overall expressing a sense of “new year, new me.” The Ke Alaka‘i, which means “the leader” in Hawaiian, also hopes to incorporate a few changes of its own. To celebrate the “new year, new issue,” the staff is starting the year off focusing on health and mental wellness. Being healthy can seem impossible as college students, and every year we tell ourselves, “I am going to go to the gym every day and eat healthier.” As a new year has begun, we hope to become better versions of ourselves. As members of the Ke Alaka‘i, we also hope to become a better version as we have implemented new changes in quality content and design to ensure a “new year, new issue.” It can be difficult to eat healthy on campus (page 34), and find quick and easy recipes. Sometimes we are bombarded with the pressures of social media (page 44) or the stigmas of depression and anxiety (page 46). “Ask the Professional” is another new monthly addition replacing “Day in the Life.” For this month, an Exercise and Sport Science professor answers our health-related concerns (page 8). Being spiritually healthy is also important and learning how to get the most out of our scripture studies (page 53) can help. Remember your body is a temple. So celebrate monthly with us as we prepare for the 100th year Laie Hawaii Temple anniversary in November (page 54). A story about the temple will appear in every month's issue during 2019. With another goal in mind in defining our purpose as “the leader,” we have taken the lead in bringing you content on social issues like sex trafficking (page 18) and answered questions and concerns regarding a local beach in Laie (page 12). Creating this issue has personally kept me mentally sane because I know I am surrounded by a team of talented artists and writers who have worked hard to inspire you to fulfill your 2019 goals. Our hope is to help you reach the true potential our Father in Heaven has planned for us all as we personally achieve our best selves. So let's make the most of this New Year!
-Editor-in-Chief 6
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Community JANUARY 2019
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ASK THE PROFESSIONAL
CA M P US LIF E
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Photos by Chad Hsieh
BY MASON COLE The following is taken from an email discussion between Dr. Joel Reece, assistant professor of Exercise and Sport Science at BYU—Hawaii, who explained and reviewed concepts of health and fitness for BYUH students that often go overlooked.
WHAT EXERCISES SHOULD COLLEGE STUDENTS BE DOING? “College students should do the type of exercise they enjoy most. The best exercise is the kind you do. Also, I would strongly recommend strength training for college students, because those are the years when their bones are developing peak bone density.”
WHAT SHOULD THEIR DIETS BE LIKE OR DO THEY EVEN NEED TO DIET? “Nutrition is a critical component to healthy living. I don't like the word diet because it denotes a temporary change. I think we should strive to eat healthy in a sustainable way. Is it really sustainable to never eat another cookie or scoop of ice cream again in your life? Maybe for the strong willed, but not for me. I would recommend no more than 10-to-15 percent of your total calories in a day come from sweets or junk food. College is a great time to make decisions that will shape your lifestyle for the future.You get to make decisions on what you want to eat at the Cafeteria or what you buy at the store.”
WHAT IS THE KEY TO STAYING FIT?
“Social accountability– If you can get involved with others who are also trying to be active, it goes a long way. Some faculty and staff meet three times a week for noon ball. We might not be the fittest people around, but just the act of moving up and down the court on a regular basis helps. Participate in intramurals, sign up for an [Exercise and Sport Science] (EXS) activity class, join educational outreach fitness classes, form a walking group. I frequently go walking with a group of friends just to chat and hang out. We call it our ‘Book Club,’ but we don't read any books. We just walk and talk.”
HOW LONG SHOULD STUDENTS EXERCISE? “The minimum recommendations to see health benefits from exercise is 150 minutes per week of moderate intensity exercise.”
WHEN SHOULD STUDENTS WEIGHT LIFT? “Strength training recommendations are 2-to-3 times per week.You don't have to get too picky with exactly when, but if you want to, I would recommend sandwiching your strength training in between your sandwich. What I mean is eat half of your meal, go lift, and then eat the other half of your meal.”
WHEN SHOULD STUDENTS DO CARDIO? Anytime, but be aware of a couple things. If you go first thing in the morning without eating any breakfast, pay attention to how you feel.You may experience hypoglycemia when you are exercising or feel too fatigued to enjoy or push through your workout. Also, I would recommend waiting about 60 minutes after you eat to allow for your insulin levels to normal out... or go exercise within about 10 minutes after eating something light, before your insulin levels have a chance to increase. By doing this you will decrease your chances of having a sugar crash after you start exercising.”
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR SOMEONE TO SEE RESULTS? “You can have acute effects of working out, meaning you can feel some of the positive benefits of working out after just one session. Studies that usually evaluate the effects of exercise go for at least eight weeks. After the first four weeks a lot of the strength adaptations seen are because of neurological changes, while the next four weeks are because of actual muscle gains.”
WHY IS EXERCISE IMPORTANT FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS? “There are so many benefits to exercise. Many of these benefits are associated with physical health, such as weight control, reducing risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, strengthening bones and muscles, sleeping better, and may even reduce the risk of some cancers. But the benefits go far beyond physical health.You can improve your quality of life, mental health, and mood.You can even use exercise as a vehicle to improve your social life. We even recently presented research at a conference showing how physical activity is related to spiritual wellbeing. Enjoy being active. Look around campus to see how to get involved.”
HOW OFTEN SHOULD STUDENTS EXERCISE? “Exercise should be performed most days of the week and recommended to be accumulated in at least 10-minute bouts.”
Graphic by McKenna Zohner
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CA P US LIF E COM MMUNITY
Holmes Finau runs past the hales on his way to the gy. Professor Joel Reece aims to prepare wellness
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classes for students to balance spiritual, physical, social and intellectual health. Photo by Chad Hsieh
Shaping up BYU-Hawaii Seasider Wellness Program’s goal is to improve all aspects of wellness by setting challenges, says organizer By Bruno Maynez and Noah Shoaf
Joel Reece, an Exercise and Sport Science professor, said he envisions the new Seasider Wellness Program as a way for students and faculty to improve their quality of life. Reece said his passion is helping people improve their health and in return their lives. “There are different dimensions to wellness,” Reece said. “There is the physical, spiritual, social, and intellectual. They are all intertwined with one another. The Seasider Wellness Program encompasses and reminds us of total well-being. We set challenges to meet those aspects of wellness.” According to Reese, the program is accessible via Canvas. Students and faculty can sign up there and participate in the challenges. This semester, Reece’s goal for the Seasider Wellness Program is to create more challenges emphasizing all aspects of wellness and to try and make fun ways to do them. Practicing what he preaches, Reese said he participates in the wellness challenges. “Doing these challenges is more of a grassroots effort. We want the students and faculty to be involved.” He looks to Christ’s example in Luke 2:52 where it says people can follow the Savior’s example and “increase in wisdom and stature.” Vance Smith, a senior missionary, helps with the Wellness Program and said, “Most illnesses are associated with a lack of exercise. The Lord gave us the Word of Wisdom and expects us to run and not be weary. The Wellness Program will help.”
Wellness Symposiums
Reece said, “Part of my classes are for the students to organize symposiums. We want to share things like stress management, weight loss, or even corporate wellness. This is our way of serving the school.” Symposiums on fitness, nutrition, and stress management are scheduled for March 20, 25, and 27. A weight loss workshop is scheduled for April.
After Schmutz completed the “Holoholo,” she said she felt good because she had accomplished it for herself and thinks activities like the “Lazy Ironman” are great ways to establish regular exercise. “I was proud of myself because the challenge motivated me to be healthier. It also showed me the importance of exercise. Exercise helps relieve the stress of classes.”
Holoholo
At the end of last year, Seasider Wellness hosted a Holoholo Ironman Triathlon Challenge. The triathlon was deemed “Holoholo” because participants could complete the Ironman at their own pace. Holoholo in Hawaiian mean going out for a pleasure walk or stroll anywhere or aimlessly, according to the website wehewehe.org. Pyper Schmutz, a freshman from Utah studying marine biology, said the triathlon was what she hoped to get out of the challenge. Schmutz said between Oct. 15 through Dec. 8 she had to swim 2.4 miles, walk or run 26.22 miles, and bicycle for 112 miles to complete the Ironman and earn a shirt, which was the finisher’s prize. She stated it was harder than she initially expected. “It was hard to find the time to complete the challenge because I was taking a lot of classes, so I ended up having to cram 14 miles of biking and 20 laps of swimming on the final days.”
Rachel Roundy pauses her run Photo by Chad Hsieh
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Shifting sands CA M P US LIF E
Hawaii Reserves, Inc., cuts down damaged trees and plans to enlarge and improve Hukilau Beach Park with new bathrooms and showers BY HAELEY VAN DER WERF
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ue to safety concerns, and in order to allow for more campers, Hawaii Reserves, Inc. announced plans on it website to change the Hukilau Beach Park campground area. The plans include trimming and removal of trees, as well as expansion of the campground and changes to reservations to use the campground. Park improvements According to the HRI website, “In order to ensure the safety of campers and the general public, many of the trees at the Hukilau Beach Park are being removed or trimmed. “We all have had branches break unexpectedly at the camp area, and we are taking proactive steps to ensure the safety of all campers and guests,” said Jeffrey Tyau, vicepresident of Operations at HRI in a statement on HRI’s social media page. Tyau noted how in the future, the camp area will also be expanded to accommodate more guests. The HRI team explained it took down all of the trees because of the safety issues involved, as well as to open up the space for expanding the campgrounds.
“We have had past incidents where ironwood trees broke unexpectedly, so our staff inspected all trees at the campgrounds and many showed signs of weakening due to fires or termite damage. We later found the trunks of many removed ironwood trees had been hollowed out by termites and ants, even though some looked healthy on the outside.” The HRI team said it is planning to landscape the area with more grass and to plant shrubs and trees that are safer and better suited for a windy, beach environment. HRI also announced beginning in Spring 2019 two large group campsites will be available. Additionally, plans are being made to build a restroom facility and additional outdoor showers. HRI is also designing a new entryway off the highway with an expanded parking area for the campgrounds. To cover the costs of these improvements and the ongoing maintenance costs of these campgrounds, beginning in the year 2020 camp user fees will be charged, says HRI information. Changes to reservations According to HRI, more than 8,000 attempted reservation calls are made for Hukilau campgrounds. HRI information explains how most reservations are made by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint’s wards in the Laie Hawaii and Laie Hawaii North stakes. Effective June 1, 2019, Hukilau campgrounds will be reserved for the wards in these stakes during the summer break. “As agreed upon with local stake leaders, each stake will allocate reserved weeks among their respective wards. The reserved weeks will alternate and be evenly divided between the two stakes. Groups, other than the local community stake units, will continue to use the phone reservations system to reserve Hukilau campsites for the remaining weeks of the year,” says HRI’s website. Community reactions Community members on social media remembered visiting the park and going to ward camps at Hukilau Beach. Two commenters remembered an incident that happened at a camp at Hukilau in which a tree branch fell just a few feet from a young woman’s head. They said they were sad to see the trees go but understood it was a necessity for the safety of the campers. Others expressed their disappointment at the removal of the trees saying they wished only some of the trees were cut down.
Additional information and updates can be found at https://www.hawaiireserves.com/news.htm and additional questions can be directed to contact_us@hawaiireserves.com.
HRI said it plans to landscape the area with shrubs, trees and more grass to create a safer community environment. Photo by Cameron Gardner
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Polynesian football legends honored at annual ceremony Inductees emphasize how Polynesian culture, faith, and respect helped them through their football careers
BY WILL KRUEGER / PHOTOS BY CAMERON GARDNER
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Inductees and Polynesian Football Hall of Fame players of the year were recognized at the PCC on Jan. 19.
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olynesian football legends, current National Football League [NFL] stars, and college football players shared how their Polynesian culture had taught them humility, respect, and discipline at the annual Polynesian Football Hall of Fame ceremonies that took place at the Polynesian Cultural Center [PCC] on Jan. 19. Raymond Daniel Saleaumua, who spent 12 seasons in the NFL and received a Pro Bowl Selection in 1995, encouraged others in his acceptance speech, “I am where I am today because of how I was brought up. Discipline and respect … that’s Polynesian culture.” President of the PCC Alfred Grace said, “More than one million people have come through and pass by [The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame]. The players honored in The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame show the values we all hold dear are still strong. Being Polynesian is a matter of sticking together.” Jesse Sapolu, a four-time Super Bowl champion with the San Francisco 49ers, and chairman of the hall of fame echoed Grace’s comments about Polynesians by saying, “We’re about humility and respect.” The day was filled with many jokes and laughter as the honorees were asked questions by the media and later gave their acceptance speeches in the enshrinement ceremony. Tua Tagovailoa, current Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback and winner of The 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship, won the 2018 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year. Tagovailoa, originally from Ewa Beach, Oahu, was asked what it meant to him to be a part of the ceremony honoring the Polynesian football legends. He said, “I watched these guys growing up and played as them on video games.” Saleaumua, one of the 2019 inductees, had everyone laughing with his response to Tagovailoa, “I played the same video games that Tua did.” Saleaumua is 34 years older. INDUCTEES HONOR FAMILY AND SHARE ENCOURAGEMENTS There were also messages and tributes to family, faith, and culture. Words of
encouragement were shared throughout the day to the Polynesian community and aspiring Polynesian football players. Tagovailoa encouraged young Polynesian football players to honor their parents and said, “God honors you when you honor your parents. Go to church first, then work hard.” Joe Salave’a, who spent 13 seasons in the NFL and is currently a coach at Oregon, spoke in his native tongue, Samoan, as he accepted his award into the hall of fame. Salave’a spoke of his upbringing in American Samoa and how his family and faith helped him to succeed. He expressed, “Nothing was going to stand in the way of me and what God called me to be ... Faith sustained us.” Mosiula Mea’alofa “Lofa” Tatupu, former Seattle Seahawks star who spent six seasons in Seattle garnering three Pro Bowl selections (2005-2007) in his tenure, paid homage to and honored his late father, former USC Trojan and New England Patriot, Mosi Tatupu, who is also in the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame. Tatupu paid his respects to his father as he emotionally accepted the award surrounded by his family. Marques Tavita Tuiasosopo began his acceptance speech by acknowledging God. “The honor goes to Him. That’s where it starts and ends.” Tuiasosopo spent eight seasons in the NFL as an Oakland Raiders and New York Jets quarterback, and he was named Rose Bowl MVP as a college senior after defeating Drew Brees’ Purdue team in 2000. Tuiasosopo acknowledged his father, Super Bowl Champion Manu Tuiasosopo, who is also in the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame. Tuiasosopo said, “Set a goal for yourself, believe in yourself, and do everything possible to achieve that.” THE POLYNESIAN FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES The 2019 inductees to the hall of fame were Marques Tavita Tuiasosopo, Joe Fagaone Salave’a, Raymond Daniel Saleaumua and Mosiula Mea’alofa “Lofa” Tatupu. Additionally, current NFL Pittsburgh Steelers star Juju Smith-Schuster and Alabama Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa were honored at the event as 2018 professional and collegiate football Polynesian Players of the Year.
On the top left: Inductees, PCC President Alfred Grace, and warriors representing the PCC’s villages pose together for a photo. Performers welcome and honor guests.
Jesse Sapolu said, “Polynesian football has exploded onto the scene.” Vai Sikahema, the first ever Tongan to play in the NFL and received two Pro Bowl selections (1986, 1987), was the Master of Ceremonies for the event and said of the honorees, “These names are familiar to many in the Polynesian community and beyond.” PLAYER INDUCTEES JOE FAGAONE SALAVEA (Samoan ancestry)
A defensive tackle, Salavea played for the Houston Oilers, Baltimore Ravens, San Diego Chargers and Washington Redskins. Salavea is currently the defensive line coach and associate head coach for the University of Oregon. RAYMOND DANIEL SALEAUMUA (Samoan ancestry)
Drafted by the Detroit Lions as a defensive tackle, Saleaumua earned All-Pro (1990) and Pro Bowl (1995) honors. He also played for the Kansas City Chiefs, where he still holds the record for fumble recoveries, and for the Seattle Seahawks.
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MOSIULA MEAALOFA “LOFA” TATUPU (Samoan Ancestry)
Tagovailoa signs autographs.
A first team All-American selection with the University of Southern California, Tatupu played six seasons for the Seattle Seahawks where he was a first-team All-Pro selection in 2007, was named to three Pro Bowls, and was selected to the Seahawks 35th Anniversary Team. His father, the late Mosi Tatupu, was inducted in the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame class of 2015.
2018 POLYNESIAN COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR Tuanigamanuolepola “Tua” Tagovailoa (Samoan ancestry) A graduate of Saint Louis School in Honolulu,Tagovailoa came off the bench as a freshman after the first half of the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship game to lead the Alabama Crimson Tide to a dramatic come-from-behind overtime victory against Georgia.This past season, Tagovailoa led Alabama to a 14-1 record while throwing for 43 touchdowns and nearly 4,000 yards. Tagovailoa earned numerous national honors, being named a consensus All-American, the Sporting News Player of theYear, and winner of the Maxwell Award, and the Walter Camp Award.
MARQUES TAVITA TUIASOSOPO (Samoan ancestry)
Smith-Schuster hosts his own YouTube channel featuring daily videos.
The Pac-12 Player of the Year as a quarterback for the University of Washington in 2000, Tuiasosopo was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2001 Rose Bowl. He played eight seasons in the NFL for the Oakland Raiders New York Jets. His father, Manu Tuiasosopo, was inducted in the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame class of 2018.
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2018 POLYNESIAN PRO FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR John Shermn “JuJu” Smith-Schuster (Samoan ancestry) Smith-Schuster earned this award for the second straight year through his outstanding play for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Only 22 years old, he has already established himself as one of the NFL’s top receivers. In 2018, Smith-Schuster caught 111 passes for 1,426 yards and seven touchdowns, and had eight 100-yard receiving games. 2018 KUPONO AWARD OF EXCELLENCE John Christian Kaiminoeauloamekaikeokekumupaa “Kaimi” Fairbairn (Hawaiian ancestry) A graduate of Punahou School in Honolulu, Fairbairn has played two seasons for the Houston Texans and led the NFL in field goals made (37) during the 2018 season. In week 15 of the season, he was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. An All-American with the UCLA Bruins, he was the school’s first player to score at least 100 points in all four seasons.
Feature JANUARY 2019
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The majority of trafficking is targeted to youth and teens, according to Shemaina Maeve. Photo by Emily Hancock
PRECAUTIONS IN PARADISE Experts say sex traffickers are most often people you know and warn youth and women to always be aware of their surroundings BY GEENA DEMAIO
Sex trafficking can result from “boyfriending,” contrary to preconceived notions, experts say, and on Oahu sex trafficking is unique because of its Pacific location between Asia and the U.S. mainland since victims can be quickly transported off island. Annually hundreds of victims, a majority being young girls, expert say, are exploited in Hawaii for human and sex trafficking. Nicholas Sensley, a retired police chief from California, said Hawaii’s location serves as a platform in paradise for the rapid sex tourism industry. “Often with sex trafficking and gender-based violence, when we think of these scenarios, it’s a stranger in the dark. In reality, instances of domestic violence or relationship violence is drastically more common with people we know,” said Shemaina Maeve, from California, director of peacebuilding at BYU-Hawaii who is working to debunk and change preconceived sex trafficking notions. Kathryn Xian, co-founder of Pacific Alliance to Stop Slavery (PASS), in a Hawaii News Now story, “Sex trafficking in paradise,” says, “There are about 150 brothels on Oahu alone that we know about [not including those in private homes]. For each brothel, there are between three to 15 girls, mostly from Asia and some youth victims. This doesn’t include the street prostitution and online scene.” “Clients are usually men with money, some military, some tourists,” Xian says. “Many come from Asia or mainland United States, but there are local clients as well.” Xian adds after a few months, girls are shipped to the United States and sold in major cities. She said the underground business holds prostitutes at a high monetary cost. “It is hard to quantify, but by our estimates, the number of females trafficked for sex in Hawaii each year is most likely in the thousands,” said Xian. Hawaii was the last state in the United States to declare modern slavery illegal. On Tuesday, July 5, 2016, in Honolulu, Hawaii Gov. David Ige signed the bill to ban sex trafficking.
“Boyfriending” approach
Clarifying sex trafficking, Maeve said the majority of trafficking is targeted to youth and teens. “Typically how sex trafficking works is someone will go into a high school looking for youth. Someone will come in as the older boyfriend and start to lure and gain trust to build a relationship.” The beginning stages of being trafficked is when the traffickers request for the individual to do something for them one time and in JANUARY 2019
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According to Maeve, when women are trained in self-defense with physical and verbal skills, experiencing violence drops 63 percent. Photo by Emily Hancock
return the individual will be paid or compensated otherwise, explained Maeve. “A big part of being aware shouldn’t be only confined to looking behind your back or the physical surroundings, but also being aware of your relationships and being aware of your friend’s relationships and looking for warning signs,” she said.
How to identify survivors
Maeve listed some ways to recognize when someone could be a target for sex trafficking, “All of a sudden your friend has lots of money, is really hard to get a hold of, is gone for multiple days at a time, is emotionally distant or unavailable and other red flags that show the relationship is unhealthy. “Teachers and professors could be aware of not only signs of physical abuse, but also of a really exhausted student where normally they would be pretty bright, awake, and active in class. If they stop engaging and are exhausted in class and don’t contribute, it can be something that can be good to just be mindful of as well. If your friend is dating someone you don’t know, or they are not 20
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from your friend circle, find out as much as you can about them and the relationship. Especially if they are from somewhere else on the island.”
Take precautions
Discussing the crisis overall, Maeve said, “Being aware as a community is a shared responsibility to stay awake and alive to each other. Laie is sacred. It’s really beautiful. But just like anywhere in the world there is still systemic violence that finds its way wherever you are. Having the same level of awareness that you would in another place or city or region in the world is important.” Maeve noted studies have shown when parents and teachers are aware of sex trafficking and how to identify it, the rates drop. She said when women are trained in self-defense with physical and verbal skills, the rate of experiencing violence drops 63 percent. The BYUH campus is not immune to trafficking, said Jocelyn Stephenson, a freshman from Illinois majoring in biochemistry. “It could easily happen on campus. If you’re off campus for the weekend, having
even a day trip, be careful of your surroundings.” Maeve shared the insight that sex traffickers search for vulnerability. She emphasized, “Be aware as much as possible. Be aware when you are going to town in Waikiki or even when you are here on the North Shore. “If you’re hitchhiking and you don’t know the person, that’s a risk. It’s one of the easiest ways that sex trafficking occurs on this side of the island.” She encouraged people to make safe, educated decisions; but “if you are going to hitchhike, be hyper aware of who you get into a car with. Make sure you are communicating with your friends, so they know where you are, where you are going, or when you are supposed to arrive somewhere. In the context of Waikiki, be as aware as you can of all your surroundings.” Stephenson added to use a geographical security app downloaded on a cell phone while walking alone. Especially at night while walking alone, Stephenson suggested to call someone to have company and additional safety. While walking if there is the option for multiple paths, Stephenson
their trauma, an increased sense of self-worth, and the confidence and ability to successfully reintegrate into their family and the community,” as stated on its web page. In the Hawaiian language, Hoʻōla Nā Pua means “New Life for our Children.” The organization’s website says, “Hoʻōla means healing and new BYUH partnership life; pua means flower and is also a A group of 80 BYU-Hawaii term of endearment when referring to students has partnered with Ho’ola children.” Na Pua. They work with victims at As part of National Make a a Ho’ōla Nā Pua facility and serve Difference Day, Hoʻōla Nā Pua joined the community, shared Maeve. with other non-profit organizations, Although the organization focuses on churches, and groups on Oahu to come girls, Maeve explained all genders and take part in a service project. are susceptible to sex trafficking. Maeve said the peacebuilding “Awareness and education are meant to give us all tools for the realities we discipline at BYUH wanted to make a better connection with the students to face so we each feel comfortable and powerful in every situation,” she said. the community with the opportunity to Maeve said she has been connected go and serve. She explained, “This is what the center is all about – engaging with Ho’ōla Nā Pua for three years with the community and making ties and went through its outreach to community members and helping educational training programs. “The whole spectrum of sex trafficking and the students to be involved outside the gender-balanced violence and working bubble of campus. In so many ways, to prevent and raise awareness is what that’s where the real learning happens: When [students] engage with the I’m really passionate about. I try to community.” engage as much I can.” Bridge talked about being able Ho’ōla Nā Pua has “an incredible to meet community activists while volunteer program, doing numerous doing service with Hoʻōla Nā Pua. things from mentoring survivors of She said, “We get there, and we are sex trafficking to raising awareness,” meeting people who are activists in the shared Maeve. After training, Maeve said she has volunteered in a number of community for domestic violence and different capacities from fund raising, sex crimes, and they were there trying to outreach, to coordinating community to get more involvement for that.” She added there was an overall feeling of service projects. being secure and empowered. A number of BYUH students who Pearl Haven is Hawaii’s first have undergone educational training now travel throughout Oahu to middle long-term licensed residential special schools and high schools – the targeted treatment campus for underage females (ages 11-17) rescued from age for sex trafficking – to share sexual exploitation. It’s a sanctuary of information and increase awareness. healing, according to the Ho’ōla Nā In workshops, they talk about the signs of sex trafficking specific to the Pua website page. Maeve added the safehouse is island and how to prevent the cycle, opened twice a year for people to serve she said. there. Although the location is not BYUH students are working disclosed for privacy and protection, if with survivors, activists, and interested, screening is offered to those other volunteers to build trusting who would like to participate. All are relationships. The purpose is to bring welcome to the volunteer orientation people together for unity, explained for Ho’ōla Nā Pua from 8:30 a.m. Brittany Bridge, a freshman from to noon on Feb. 9 in the McKay Maryland studying biochemistry. Classroom 127. Ho’ōla Nā Pua’s vision is “to provide girls who are rescued or escape from the abuse of sex trafficking with a path to restoration and healing from urged to take the path with more lighting, walk along bigger roads with more people on them and to walk with confidence. A personal alarm system that causes noise, such as a whistle or mini alarm that is loud, is also recommended by Stephenson.
Graphic by McKenna Zohner
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Pup Me Up Winners of the Great Ideas Competition encourage mental health awareness through spending time with puppies
O
BY MACKENZIE BEAVER
ne simple conversation at the BYU–Hawaii Mail Center lead Aubree Cortez and Kathleen Jonsson to a winning idea at the Great Ideas Competition held by the BYUH Willes Center–and will potentially lead them to improving mental health and wellness. On Nov. 15, 2018, the Great Ideas Competition was held and the winners were anxious to carry out their business ideas. Cortez, a senior graphic design major from Utah, and Jonsson, a junior psychology major from Idaho, were announced as first-place winners in the pre-revenue category for their idea, Pup Me Up. Pup Me Up is a service for students and full-time employees where they can sign up for a time slot and have a dog brought to them. During this time, the dog will be there to play and hangout with them with no other distractions. The idea to create this program was to reduce mental illness and to ease worries, troubles, or anxieties. Cortez said, “We want to have a company that will de-stress individuals. We will probably only have a few dogs, and we will make sure they are highly trained. This isn’t like Puppy Barn. The dogs aren’t up for adoption.” Cortez added the dogs would strictly be there for the clients to enjoy. HOW DID YOU BOTH COME UP WITH THIS IDEA? Jonsson and Cortez said they both worked at the BYUH Mail Center. Jonsson said, “One day we were at work and we were talking about dogs, and I remember feeling really stressed and telling Aubree I just really wanted to snuggle a dog.” This simple statement sparked an idea in their heads, and they said they started the project together. Jonsson and Cortez said they put a lot of thought into their project and they were confident in their idea. WHAT IS YOUR MAIN PURPOSE FOR THIS PROJECT? Cortez and Jonsson said they want to encourage people to be more open about their mental health issues and hopefully make a difference. They said a lot of people fear opening up about their mental illness and struggles. Stress is normal, they continued, and Pup Me Up wants
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to inform people that seeking help and de-stressing should not be seen as a negative thing. Cortez said, “Even if people don’t necessarily have mental health issues, we all face stress. We want our idea to reach the lives of everyone who needs a pick-up from a hard day or just a break from reality.” Jonsson added, “We want to create a fun and happy environment for people to seek comfort. Playing with a dog and not thinking for an hour or two has a greater impact than we think.” Paul Wilson, a BYUH professor in digital entrepreneurship, was Cortez’s and Jonsson’s professor during the Great Ideas Competition. Wilson said, “What makes Pup Me Up truly innovative is its ability to focus on an individual's mental health. There are numerous studies showing how a pet increases people’s overall wellbeing but particularly their mental and emotional stability. “Businesses are investing millions of dollars into corporate wellness programs. However, these programs are only onedimensional, focusing solely on physical wellness. I think Pup Me Up is going to find a strong interest in their offering. I’ve spoken to them about one multi-billion dollar organization who would be open to providing their services for their employees. It’ll only take a few of these organizations before we start to see Pup Me Up getting some real traction in the market."
We want to create a fun and happy environment for people to seek comfort. Playing with a dog and not thinking for an hour or two has a greater impact than we think. -Kathleen Jonsson
Great Idea winners, Aubree Cortez and Kathleen Jonsson says Pup Me Up helps students to de-stress by playing with a puppy. Photo by Ho Yin Li
WHAT’S NEXT? Since owning a dog is a difficult, a long process in Hawaii, the two said they are thinking about taking their idea somewhere else for now. Jonsson explained she and Cortez really want to make this happen. “If we are going to start this, we really would start it on the mainland in Utah or something like that. On the mainland, it would just be a lot easier.” Cortez added the pair both feels there is a huge market in Utah, especially with the amount of universities and large corporations there. Cortez continued, “Our target audience is college students and full-time workers, so we feel this would be a huge success on the mainland, and one day we might even franchise the idea. Stress relievers are needed everywhere, not just in one town or one state.” • JANUARY 2019
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15 ways to avoid
CA M P US LIF E
CA M P US LIFE
the freshman 15 BY MACKENZIE BEAVER
Belief in the freshman 15 is common among college freshmen, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s website. Dawn Akana, an Exercise and Sport Science professor
at BYU-Hawaii, said, “‘Freshman 15’ is the 15 pounds that most freshmen put on during their first
semester or year away from home.” Fifteen students on campus were asked how they stay healthy at school or what advice they have for other students to be healthy.
pal
ness
myfit FOO
XER D E
CISE
BLO
G
tarts ess s t you Fitn ha w h wit eat.
1.
2.
Megan Bills, a freshman from California studying
Zaylie Evans, freshman from Washington majoring
TESOL, said, “I try to make it a habit to not eat when
in biology, said, “The MyFitnessPal app is an app
I’m bored. When I am doing homework, I sometimes
that counts calories and keeps track of your steps.
find myself eating, and I’m starting to become aware of
It allows you to input how much fat, carbs, proteins
that. Being aware of it helps me to not eat while I am
you want to eat in a day. This app helps users keep
doing other things to distract myself.”
themselves accountable.”
MONDAY
TUESDAY
GYM
4.
3. Kapua Rivera, a freshman from Wahiawa studying HTM, said,
Lina Legorreta, a freshman from Virginia studying
“I actually haven’t really been avoiding gaining weight at all. I
computer science, said, “I meal prep for the week.
usually just eat whatever. But I do make sure I go to the gym
Doing this helps me have meals ready when I am
and workout. One of my roommates loves working out so it
too tired to cook. I also just listen to my body and
has been really easy for me to have motivation to go to the
eat when I’m hungry and not when I’m bored.”
gym when they go, and I have someone to workout with.” 24
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5.
Hannah Leiataua, a freshman from Utah studying psychology, said, “I don’t like working out at the gym or the Fitness Center, so I swim laps at the pool to try to avoid gaining weight at school.”
20 water
6.
Alex Reed, a freshman from Miliani studying elementary education, said, “I go to the fitness classes the school offers, which is a fun way to stay in shape as well as get your exercise in for the day.”
7.
Kaylee Heck, a freshman from Alaska with an undecided major, said, “I am really conscious about exercising because I don’t want to gain weight at school. Working out and being healthy is a lifestyle I’ve always had so that has helped me stay fit.”
8. Skyler Geddie, a sophomore from California
11. Isabel Frandsen, a freshman from California
14. Kekoa Jensen, a sophomore from California
studying business management, said, “The best way to
majoring clinical psychology, said, “I think one big
majoring in political science, said, “One thing I did to
avoid the freshman 15 is to eat three meals a day and
thing I do to make sure I stay healthy is I give myself
avoid the freshman 15 is I forced myself to workout.
try not to snack .... Doing this combined with being
time to relax or do other things besides school work.
On those days I really didn’t have any motivation, I
active for at least an hour a day keeps your metabolism
My favorite things to do are either go to the gym or
just forced myself to do it and get it done. I am super
constantly working, therefore making it easier to avoid
go out for a surf session, even if it is for only a couple
grateful I did because now I don’t have to force myself
the freshman 15.”
of hours. Something I always make sure to have in
anymore, and I actually enjoy working out.”
my dorm room is healthy snacks that I enjoy eating. 9. Kaleah Liechty, a freshman from Provo, Utah,
That way I can have a snack while studying but still be
15. Ethan Pisciotta, a freshman from Nevada study-
majoring in communications, said, “To avoid the
healthy.”
ing biomedicine, said, “I think avoiding the freshman
freshman 15, I have been exercising and eating healthy.
15 goes along with a good diet. A healthy lifestyle is
I have made it a point to control my portion sizes and
12. Dong-Gu Cooper Lee, a junior from South
70 percent diet and 30 percent exercise and being
be picky with what I eat, as well as run as often as
Korea majoring in HTM, said, “I am trying to eat more
consistent with it. If you are not consistent, then you
possible.” She said this semester she has cut off three
fruits and vegetables at school so that I am bettering
fall into these bad habits that relate to putting on
minutes from her 5K time.
my health.”
weight and getting the freshman 15.”
10. Max Moncur, a senior from California majoring
13. Abi Nielsen, a freshman from Utah with an
in business finance, said, “One thing I did to stay in
undeclared major, said, “I walk everywhere I go to help
shape was I ran every morning except for Sundays.”
burn off some calories and avoid putting on weight.”
Graphics by Lynne Hardy
JANUARY 2019
25
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WWI centennial: Hawaii, terrorism and media in an evolving world 100 years after the end of war, a BYUH Political Science professor says terrorism and the media affect how the world handles international conflict By Haeley van der Werf In 1914, H.G. Wells, a science fiction writer, predicted World War I was going to be, “The war to end all war.” While war has not yet ceased, Rick Hampton, a journalist at USA Today, says WWI was “the beginning of the end” because it decreased the number of wars between nations. However, in the 100 years since World War I ended in 1919, there has been a rise in terrorist attacks and a change in how the world views war, due to the worldwide connections made by the media, said Brian Houghton, a BYU– Hawaii Political Science professor. While Hawaii was not yet a U.S. state during WWI, it assisted in the war effort through its involvement in the Red Cross, according to the WWI centennial website.
Brian Houghton explained how WWI changed how the world views war. Photos by AP
Hawaii's Red Cross effort during WWI
Throughout the war, Hawaiians sent relief aide, individuals had volunteered as soldiers and ambulance drivers, and sympathized when tragic events occurred, such as when American lives were lost. However, the war became personal after six Hawaiians were among the 28 killed when a German U-boat sank the civilian freighter SS Aztec, according to the Hawaii World War One Centennial Task Force.
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In an article titled “The Great War – Now It’s Personal,” the press used loaded language to inform the American and Hawaiian public of the tragic event. The article says, “The press used fighting words in reporting the loss: victims, doom, murder, Prussian pirates, sea-sneak, no mercy. Here was proof Germany was, as Pres. Woodrow Wilson said in asking Congress to declare war, ‘a menace to the world.’” Although it was still a U.S. territory during WWI, Hawaii’s War Relief Committee merged with the Red
Cross in 1917 to assist with the war effort. According to an article titled “The Great War – Hawaii and the Red Cross” on the WWI centennial website, “A 2-page ad encouraging Red Cross donations was signed by Queen Liliuokalani and Representative to Congress J. Kuhio Kalanianaole.” Pres. Woodrow Wilson, the president of the United States at the time, followed the ad with a full-page thank you note to the queen on the next page. “In 1 day, 16,330 Hawaii folks enrolled in ‘the Army all can join,’” says information on the WWI centennial. Queen Liliuokalani donated $100, the article says, and became one of the 16,000 members of the Red Cross army. Several fund raising drives were held to raise money and clothing
donations for military personnel. One group in particular, Elks Lodge 616, was particularly involved in the Red Cross efforts, continues the website. Members consistently brainstormed fund raising ideas and offered rooms in their lodge for meetings. The article continued, “One Red Cross project recruited citizen knitters to make warm clothing for military men. Elks 616 voted to offer the lodge room for knitting parties. When the Red Cross solicited cash for a Wool Fund, 616 gave $148.50 in 12 months.” Another group that was involved in the Red Cross effort was the Daughters of Hawaiian Warriors. According to the article, “Members began clicking their needles toward 450 sweaters, watch caps, and socks on March 20, 1918, at Princess Kawananakoa’s home. After a 3-hour knit-in by 75 women, each departed with a yarn allotment supplied by the Princess and other ranking members of the group. Many members had sons or close relatives ‘in Uncle Sam’s service … Enthusiasm is spontaneous because [the sweaters] are to clothe our boys of Hawaii.’” Olympic swimmer Duke Kahanamoku participated in the knitting drive by knitting publicly to normalize boys knitting. School children, churches, nuns, and cab drivers also participated, competing against rivals to see who could knit more clothing items to “warm American soldiers,” says the article. In the end, the Territory of Hawaii finished 58,241 items for the Red Cross.
The role of terrorism changes after WWI
Houghton said terrorism is a problem faced by the whole world, even more than the United States. “Terrorism as a whole is something a lot of countries are faced with. Frankly, Americans deal a lot less with terrorism than the rest of the world. The United States has been a target of terrorism for decades, but it is not the target of terrorism.”
Photos by AP
Graphics by Lynne Hardy
He explained the triggers behind why terrorist cells form, saying it stems from “individuals and groups in various different societies that are frustrated, angry, and weak. They are looking for a way to lash out against what they see as the stronger oppressor.” Houghton also explained the effects of terrorism. He said, “Terrorism creates instability. Instability harms travel, harms trade, and harms interactions between people. It harms the whole global network.” He said terrorism has evolved since the end of WWI. He said following the war, major colonizers could no longer afford to run their colonies. “So, you start seeing terrorism being used for independence. Terrorist organizations were fighting their colonizers. For example, you had Jews in Palestine who were fighting against the British, who were running Palestine at that time, using terrorism to drive out the British, and it did. Terrorism helped end the occupation by a great power with the creation of Israel … [Early terrorism] was all out of a desire for national liberation.”
EMERGENCY DIASTER RELIEF
One such attack was the bombing of the King David Hotel in 1946, which, according to the Jewish Virtual Library, “was the site of the British military command and the British Criminal Investigation Division.” The bombing killed 40 people. According to Houghton, “In the ‘60s and ‘70s, you started seeing a rise of left-wing terrorists. This was during the time of the Vietnam War and student protests ... You had groups in the United States such as Weather Underground, in Europe you had the Red Army Brigade, and a lot of these left-wing groups rose up. “They kind of ended with the end of the Cold War in the early ‘90s when the Berlin Wall fell, and the Soviet Union collapsed. A lot of people were disenchanted with communism, so we don’t really see a lot of left-wing terrorism.” He then explained the kind of terrorism so commonly seen today.
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Houghton explained how the media creates a contagion effect regarding terrorism. Graphics by Lynne Hardy
“During the ‘80s and rising to today is where we start seeing more of the religious-based terrorism. A lot of them are Islamic based [such as the Taliban and Isis] and a lot of that comes out of frustration due to globalization”
Terrorism since WWI and the double-edged sword of the media
An article in USA Today said, “Despite civil war and rebellion, terrorism and cyber warfare, our time is more peaceful than its predecessors.” The article says people believe the world is much more violent than it actually is because they pay attention to what they see in the media as opposed to looking 28
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at the numbers. The article says, “Public opinion is formed by news reports that focus on the unusual and the violent; if it bleeds, it leads. “Hence, an irony: In World War I, censorship of casualty figures made those on the home front think the world was less violent than it was; today, free movement of news makes us think the world is more violent than it is.” Houghton said the constant presence of tragic events in the news not only causes terrorists to engage in more attacks, as well as larger attacks, but allows terrorist groups around the world to feed off each other’s ideas. He explained, “The media creates a contagion effect. Just as a virus can be contagious, you need something to
carry that pathogen. The media is one of those things that carries the pathogen of frustration and anger. The media is a twoedged sword. It’s a beautiful thing, but frustrated and angry people see others in another country lashing out using acts of terrorism …. “They’re copying the things other groups have done. We have been seeing that for decades. The tactics that are used in one country by one group are very quickly replicated by another group clear on the other side of the world.” Regarding the increasing lethality of terrorist attacks, Houghton said, “We’ve also seen a huge change of tactics and lethality. Early terrorists were much more discriminant in their killing. They used assassination much more. When
A French Renault FT tank from the WWI era.. Photos by AP
they did kill, they often went after police or government figures. “As time has gone on, we have seen more civilians, women and children, and market places being targeted. There was a larger body count, with the culmination of Sept. 11, with almost 3,000 people dying. It was the largest body count in a single attack. Even though we haven’t seen as many people die as Sept. 11, we’ve still seen an immense amount of carnage with the rise of suicide bombings. It is much more effective ... Terrorism has become much bloodier than it was decades ago. Part of that is the result of the media. “The media has desensitized us and made us complacent in dealing with terrorism. Terrorists as a result, in order
to capture our attention and force us to look at them, have to kill more and more people. They make attacks bloodier, and make it more shocking.” He explained the differences between terrorism in the 20th and 21st centuries. “What used to be on page one of the paper 30 years ago would now be on page 10. If a bomb went off and killed three people, it just doesn’t capture our attention. Now it has to be a bomb that goes off and kills 45, mainly children, at a preschool. "That is unfortunately the media’s responsibility. By us seeing this over and over again we have become desensitized to it, and it is forcing terrorists to ramp up their game.
“That is an unfortunate side effect over time that we’ve seen. One of the largest attacks that took place was in Israel. Ninety people were killed in a bombing of the King David Hotel back in the ‘40s. That singular attack was the largest bombing of terrorism at that point. For years and decades after, it still remained a large thing … What was the largest back in the ‘40s is still a large attack, but it just seems almost normal. “The lethality, the carnage, the blood, and the increase due to the desensitization we’ve been through because of the media is one of the big effects of the last 100 years.”
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JANUARY 2019
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Health and Wellness
Fitness meets Instagram From having the right credentials to posting positive content on fitness, Professor Kate McLellan shares advice on finding the right social influencer
P
rofessional body builder and Exercise and Sport Science professor, Dr. Kate McLellan, shared helpful hints on who to follow and trust on Instagram, according to one’s personal health and wellness. McLellan has a bachelor’s degree in EXS and doctorate in rehabilitation science. 1. Look for Instagram accounts with credentials. McLellan said, “I usually look for people with something after their name. Whether it be a Ph.D., RD (registered dietician), MD, or MS.” McLellan also said to look for credentials because you want to follow individuals with an education and who know what they are doing. 2. Follow Instagram influencers who physically look better than you. “You follow people who look better than you because you know they’ll help you get successful and help you get where you want to be.” McLellan said Instagram ultimately shows everyone’s best days and nobody shows their worst days, so you shouldn’t compare yourself to others. 3. Follow bodybuilders who have coaches/teams. “I follow different coaches and teams because each account I follow has a specific
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BY MACKENZIE BEAVER purpose. I follow someone for good leg workouts and another person for good back workouts.” McLellan explained how doing this allows you to follow a diverse number of people. 4. Follow accounts that cut straight to the point and don’t use tons of emojis in their posts. McLellan said anyone can say they are involved in personal training and nutrition without going to school. “People who use a lot of goofy emojis and other items in their posts for fitness ideas are not people you want to follow. Legitimate people do not make comments like these.”
Remember, everyone’s body is different. McLellan said, “It is important to remember as viewers, we are only seeing the Instagrammers on their best day. They do not look like that all the time and only really look like that during ... training or bodybuilding preparation.” She said it is important to remember everyone’s body is different and changes on their own schedule and in their own process. Everyone is different and comparison to others is pointless and does more harm than good.
5. Pay attention to the accounts’ content, both posts and stories. “Personally, when I follow an account, I watch what they have to post on their stories throughout the day. If what they have to post is useful to me throughout the day, I know they will be valuable to me. If not, I’ll choose not to follow.” McLellan said she does this because many fitness accounts use their social media account as their personal Instagram account and often post throughout the day about their lives rather than fitness.
Graphic by Mckenna Zohner
DECEMB ER 2018
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Ti p s f o r ng Bodybuildi
Dr. Kate McLellan, pro-bodybuilder and BYUH Exercise and Sport Science professor, shares quick bits from her experience with bodybuilding BY BRUNO MAYNEZ
Training
Dieting
• Always get a coach. Do not trust yourself with training • Coaches will motivate and help you realize your progress • Have different coaches for training and posing • Follow people who have credentials and provide quality content • To get to competitions like Olympia, you have to look like those competitors • Examples of quality content: Bret Contreras, Aden “Glute Guru” Gazi • High intensity intervals are recommended • Burn fat: Eat less and workout more • 12 weeks of carefully dieting and training
• Chicken is a good source of protein and has the least amount of fat • Prep and eat at least six meals per day • Beef and pork have too much fat and are expensive
Bodybuilding Competitions • Every weekend in the United States there are competitions • Focus on what the judges want for competitions
Dangers of Social Media • Detox diets are bad • Some fitness people pay for followers to make themselves look good • There are no quick fixes
1 Graphic by Lynne Hardy33 JANUARY 2019
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Health is not a compromise Expert says eating healthy as a student can be difficult but not impossible By Haeley van der Werf
Healthy snacks provided by the Seasider. Photo by Emily Hancock
A
common belief among college students is they can’t afford to eat healthy. However, according to BYU–Hawaii professor Joel Reece, if a student knows what they need to eat and can plan out their meals, they will be able to maintain a balanced diet without going broke. What a student needs to eat Reece, an assistant professor in the Exercise and Sport Science Department, explained what a student should eat to be healthy. “If they know how much they should eat, that’s a good baseline. Eat good, nutrient-dense foods. That’s kind of hard with options like the cafeteria and with pricing. “There’s a rule of thumb for someone to figure out how many calories
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they should eat. Take your body weight and multiply it by 14. That estimates how many calories you need to maintain your weight. Part of that rule of thumb is if you want to lose weight, you can put your ideal body weight in and multiply that by 14, or you can take your current weight and multiply it by 10.” Reece continued, “Once you know how many calories you need, you can break it down into how many carbohydrates you should have, how much protein you should have, and how much fat you should have.” Carbohydrates should make up 45 to 65 percent of your diet, he said, protein should make up 10 percent to 35 percent of your diet, and 25 to 35 percent of calories from fat. How to eat healthy on a budget Healthline.com says habits like planning meals, buying generic brands,
and avoiding shopping while hungry can help a person stay within budget. “When it comes to saving money at the grocery store, planning is essential. Use one day each week to plan your meals for the upcoming week. Then, make a grocery list of what you need." Reece demonstrated how to shop for food on campus with a challenge. He explained, “We call this the $12.50 challenge. The USDA says if you live in Hawaii, you should be able to spend $12 to $13 a day and get all the nutrients you need. On campus that is a little steep. It is more expensive on campus than Foodland, and Foodland is a little more expensive than Costco.” The challenge involved finding a day’s worth of food with all of the nutrients and calories needed for $12.50. The twist was finding it all without
Photo by Emily Hancock
leaving BYUH campus. For a student not on a meal plan, the cafeteria was not an option, as it took up most of their money for one meal. Breakfast from the C-Store, and lunch and dinner from the Seasider brought the total up to just over $13 if a student wanted to get 2,000 healthy calories in. During the challenge, Reece said, “It’s tough, but it’s possible to stay within a $12 to $13 budget and get all the vegetables you need.” He explained, “If a student could spend $4.25 on three meals and have enough variety to know they are getting at least five fruits and vegetables in those $4 meals, and those meals contain at least half whole grain, that would be pretty good. The only option right now for $4 is rice, beans, and half a sandwich.”
1. Eat a good breakfast. 2. If you must eat fast foods, choose wisely. 3. Keep healthy snacks on hand. 4. Eat plenty of foods rich in calcium. 5. If you need to lose weight, do it sensibly. 6. Limit your sugar intake. 7. Visit the dining hall salad bar. 8. Drink lots of water. 9. Enjoy your food. Source: The Clarke University website Graphics by Lynne Hardy JANUARY 2019 35
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Eating healthy on a student budget By Haeley van der Werf Microwave Breakfast Mug Cookie
Author: Gemma Stafford
Prep Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 1 min Total Time: 6 mins INGREDIENTS
INSTRUCTIONS
½ medium banana 1½ tablespoons peanut butter ½ tablespoon honey (or agave) 1 tablespoon milk 4 tablespoons oats (rolled or quick oats) 1 tablespoon raisins (seeds or nuts)
1. In a large microwavable mug, mash the banana well with a fork. 2. Stir in the peanut butter, milk and honey and mix well together. 3. Add in the oats and raisins and stir until combined. 4. Microwave for 45 seconds to 1 minute or until firm to the touch on top, (Cook time is based on a 1,200 watt microwave so your timing may vary). 5. Enjoy warm.
Breakfast
Calories: 444 kcal /Servings: 1 /Cost per serving: $1.10 https://www.biggerbolderbaking.com/breakfast-cookie-mug/
Chicken Salad Sandwiches
Author: Fox Valley Foodie
Prep Time: 5 mins
Total Time: 5 mins
INGREDIENTS
INSTRUCTIONS
2 cups shredded chicken breast (can use 1 rotisserie chicken), cooked & cooled ½ cup mayo 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1 stalk celery (chopped) ½ medium onion (chopped) 1 tablespoon chopped parsley ¼ teaspoon salt fresh ground pepper to taste buns for serving
1. Add all ingredients to a large bowl and mix to combine. 2. Place 1/3 cup of mixture on each bun and enjoy. Refrigerate chicken salad for later use.
Calories: 125 kcal /Servings: 6 /Cost per serving: $2.21 Lunch
https://www.foxvalleyfoodie.com/classic-chicken-salad/ Graphics by Lynne Hardy
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Broccoli and Cheddar Four Cheese Pizza Prep Time: 5 mins
Author: Jenn Laughlin
Cook Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 25 mins
INGREDIENTS
INSTRUCTIONS
2 fluffy naan flatbreads 2 tablespoons melted butter or olive oil 2 cloves garlic, minced ¼ teaspoon dried parsley ¼ teaspoon dried basil 2 cups chopped broccoli florets 1½ cups combined grated cheddar, Gouda, and Parmesan cheese 2-3 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese
1. Set your oven or toaster oven to 350F. Melt butter with fresh minced garlic, parsley and basil and spread onto the naan. Bake for around 8-10 minutes straight on the rack until lightly golden with a fluffy center. 2. Chop the florets from the raw broccoli until it looks more like confetti and less like baby trees. I suppose you should also pretend that's technical cooking terminology. Either blanch or steam the florets until bright green and tender. As a shortcut, I filled a bowl with the florets, poured boiling water over the broccoli and then waited a few minutes before draining with a mesh strainer. 3. After draining the water from the florets, return to the bowl and add cheddar, Gouda and Parmesan cheeses. Spread on the garlicky baked naan and top with crumbled feta. Return to oven and bake for 15-20 minutes until crispy and melty perfection is reached. Slice and serve.
Dinner
Servings: 2 /Cost per serving: $7.67 https://peasandcrayons.com/2014/05/ broccoli-and-cheddar-four-cheese-pizza.html
Vanilla Yogurt and Berry Parfait
Author: Rebecca Lindamood
Prep Time: 10 mins
Snack
Total Time: 10 mins
INGREDIENTS
INSTRUCTIONS
1 container Greek or regular Vanilla yogurt 32 ounce 1½ cups frozen mixed berries unsweetened
Spoon about ¼ cup of yogurt into the bottom of each of six bowls. Over the yogurt, spoon about 2 tablespoons of frozen mixed berries. Press the berries lightly into the yogurt. Top with another ¼ cup of yogurt and 2 tablespoons of berries. Cover tightly and refrigerate for up to a week. Servings: 6 /Cost per serving: $1.59 https://www.foodiewithfamily.com/?s-yogurt
Photography by Emily Hancock JANUARY 2019
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HEALTHY EATING AROUND THE WORLD By Tomson Cheang Feeling healthy comes from eating fresh and healthy, according to BYU—Hawaii students. Students from different cultures shared different but similar ideas for healthy eating such as eating the right portions or food at the right temperature. Together with consistent exercise, the desire for a healthy lifestyle is a goal students said they share.
Chinese - Being aware of the heat inside the body In Chinese culture, it is a common belief that eating fried food escalates heat inside the body, according to Amelia Chen, a sophomore from Hong Kong studying TESOL education. She explained, “When [your body] is overheated, you get pimples, sore throat...etc.” Chinese people adjust their diets according to the level of heat within their bodies. Chen said to reduce heat and get relief from the symptoms of overheating, one should stop eating fried food, eat more vegetables, drink more water, and go to sleep as early as possible.
Japanese - Eating humbly The beauty of humility has been integrated into Japanese people’s healthy way of eating ,according to Ayana Fukushima, a junior from Japan majoring in art. The healthy diet consists of avoiding sweet and oily food, and instead, choosing plain food. Fukushima explained, “I think Japan used to be a country of hard labor. We were farmers, craftsman, and there were far less wealthy so I think we would just eat food that would give us a lot of strength and energy. Hence vegetables. We try not to eat too much.”
Mongolians - Eating what keeps them warm “We prefer hot or warm food and drinks because it gets so cold in Mongolia,” shared Tsetsgee Enkhbold, a freshman from Mongolia studying business management. “We eat meat and boiling hot soup regularly because it gives you energy and helps you to keep your body temperature,” shared Enkhbold
Ecuadorians - Organic, fresh and CrossFit “The good thing about Ecuador is that the food is very organic,” said Saba Ramirez, a senior from Ecuador studying communications. “We do not eat fast food. People cook all the time using fruits and vegetables that are fresh. Also the meats are fresh. In summary, I could say that our food is very organic and we avoid junk food.” Ramirez shared how people care about their weight and that a popular exercise that people do in Ecuador is CrossFit.
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Tongans - Eating what makes them strong Siahi Taufa, a freshman from Tonga studying business management, shared how traditional Tongan food is mainly fish, taro, and plantation food. Taufa said Tongans believe these types of food makes them strong. “It’s 100 percent nutrition and straight from nature so it’s super healthy,” Taufa said. “With that, we can live longer and help better protect our country. Back in the old days, we were known as the strongest people in the Pacific because we were careful with our chosen food.”
Hawaiian - Balancing traditional cultures & modern science Kiara Wasano, a junior from Pearl City studying information systems, said growing up in Hawaii made it difficult for her to share Hawaiian health standards because of all the different cultures also embedded in their diet. But in the Hawaiian culture, Wasano said they try to find a balance between traditional beliefs and modern science. The Hawaii State Department of Education tries to promote healthy eating by serving healthy lunch options and maintaining a garden that produces crops to benefit students, according to Wasano. She shared how her mother would also teach her to read nutritional facts and their family tries to consume less salt and sugar. However, Wasano also commented that traditional remedies are also applied in her family when it comes to health problems. “My mom likes to use essential oils to help relieve pain or make us feel better before calling a doctor. Her mom would make her this really stinky herbal soup when she was sick.”
Germans - Reasonable diets mean reasonable portions Annika Soderborg, a senior from Utah studying political science, said she spent one year in Germany during high school for a study abroad, and then went back for three months this past spring and summer for an internship. Soderborg said what she noticed most about the German diet is it focused on eating fresh whole foods. Fresh produce, meat, and bread seem to be the most common staples. “Generally what I saw is that people don't place too many extreme restrictions on what they consumed but rather understood the importance of eating reasonable portions,” said Soderborg. “Most people I knew would indulge in baked goods and chocolate, but they were careful not to do so too often and they ate just enough to appreciate the treat. “Along with maintaining a balanced diet, Germans are typically pretty active. Most of Germany does well avoiding air pollution, which in turn encourages people to walk and bike rather than drive, which I definitely think contributes to their overall health.”
Graphics by Lynne Hardy JANUARY 2019
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Sister Edgar visits the Harris Family. Photo by Chad Hsieh
Serving babies and families Students who are going to be parents are automatically included in the Visiting Nurse Program, says nurse/missionary BY TOMSON CHEANG
Teaming up with the Health Center and ward Relief Societies, Sister Kathy Edgar, the senior missionary in charge of the Visiting Nurse Program at BYU-Hawaii, said she visits students who are in need of counsel. She teaches them knowledge on how to be prepared for childbirth and parenting. Edgar said she graduated from the nursing school at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. As a nurse, she experienced taking care of pregnant women and newborns. She is a certified International Board Lactation Consultant. The Visiting Nurse Program is an educational visiting program for students who are new parents. Edgar said the program was created by another senior missionary named Sister Black.
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“Sister Black saw a need in many young mothers who didn’t have their mothers to be with them when they had babies. They were a little lost and didn’t know what to expect.” Eli Harris, a junior from Missouri studying English education whose wife recently had a baby, said, “Kids are great. It’s awesome to have an army of nurses and family here to look out for them. They’re precious. It’s good to know there are others looking out for the little ones, not just the parents.” EDUCATIONAL VISITING In a month prior to a child birth, Edgar said she meets with both the mother and the father and teaches them what to expect during child-
birth, such as how the father could help support the mother. After new parents bring their newborn baby home, Edgar said she would make at least three more visits to them, each time for a different purpose. In the first visit, Edgar said she ensures the mother’s health is good and she educates the new parents about breast feeding and sleep safety for infants. “I also do the first bath [for the baby] with them if they want,” explained Edgar. In the second visit, Edgar said she does an examination of the baby’s health and coaches the parents on how to feed the baby well. She also follows up on the emotional needs of the parents, Edgar said.
Talking about the importance of maintaining good mental health with a newborn, Edgar said depression is common ailment among new parents. “[It] has a lot to do with their mothers being away. Also both [parents] are students and they’re bringing a new life into the family.” In the third visit, Edgar said she educates the parents about vaccinations for the baby, when to call a doctor, when to go to the emergency room, how to take care of the baby’s teeth, and birth control. Edgar expressed how much she cares for the students. She said, “I make sure the mother has a doctor’s appointment for the baby and herself, and I ask whether they would want to continue [to be visited] or if they feel secure. I visited some of the girls for several months.” Edgar said she tries to be as flexible as possible to the mothers’ needs outside of the curriculum. She shared, “I pray before going to visit each day and ask Heavenly Father to guide me and what the particular needs of that mother are.” New parent, Genysie Van Duren, a senior from Colorado majoring in art, expressed her gratitude for Edgar. “There was a time when I wasn’t sure whether I was doing it right. It’s good to have Sister Edgar help me reassure I’m doing it right and make sure my baby is good between the actual doctor visits.” HOW CAN STUDENTS CONTACT EDGAR? Edgar said she contacts all pregnant students so students don’t have to worry about how to get into the Visiting Nurse Program. “I have a list of pregnant girls from the Relief Society and the Health Center. But once I missed a girl from both the Health Center and the Relief Society. I felt terrible that I missed one mother,” shared Edgar.
“There was a time when I wasn’t sure whether I was doing it right. It’s good to have Sister Edgar help me reassure I’m doing it right and make sure my baby is good between the actual doctor visits.”
Edgar said if a pregnant student is overlooked by the Visiting Nurse Program, or if she wants help from the program earlier, she may contact Sister Edgar through Facebook Messenger, where she could be found by her name, Kathy Edgar. HELP FROM OTHERS AND THE SCHOOL Edgar expressed gratitude for the Health Center and other individuals helping pregnant students on campus. She said the program could not exist without the Health Center. “The doctors and nurses there [at the Health Center] always return my calls and immediately see any mothers and babies I am worried about. The Health Center also has purchased all the supplies we use in our birth class.” Edgar said another senior missionary, Sister Jane Beuhring from Utah, has made a blanket for every new mother on campus for the last two years. “She works in the Title IX Offices, but she buys all the materials and does it on her own.” Sister Jane Beuhring expressed her love for the newborns on campus. “I just love those little babies. They grow up really fast. If it’s just one little thing, a gift for them, I’m happy to provide that.” EDGAR’S FEELINGS Edgar said, “The program has been a joy for me. I admire these mothers.
The majority of them are students. They work. Their husbands too. I admire the way they work together to raise the new little life in their home. “It’s one of the greatest joys in my life. Serving as a missionary, you develop a great love. I could feel how much Heavenly Father loves them. I also pray I could make them understand how much Heavenly Father loves them and He loves their babies. They’re his children as well.” Sister Edgar is finishing her mission soon and hopes the program can continue. “[The Church’s website] is advertising for another senior missionary to replace me. Hopefully, they’ll get another one to continue.” CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION CLASS A childbirth education class is also held in the Relief Society room at the Stake Center every Tuesday night from 7 to 9 p.m. The contents of the course include preparation for delivery, newborn care, and breast feeding, according to Edgar. Students may register for the class by sending an e-mail to Birthclass@byuh.edu. Husbands are also encouraged to join the class, said Sister Edgar.
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According to Yoga Instructor, Addi Ganir, yoga can have many health benefits both physically and mentally. Photos by Cameron Gardner
A path to
healing As a way to relieve stress, emotional turmoil, or physical disabilities, BYU–Hawaii students offer bi-weekly yoga sessions BY JEMESA SNUKA
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A
ccording to BYUH students Addi Ganir and Kristan Tiritilli, stress, tight muscles, and racing minds are some of the small problems students and community members face daily. In order to help, these certified yoga instructors hold biweekly yoga sessions allowing people to overcome their daily stresses. Tiritilli, a junior from California studying exercise and sports science, said, “There are spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional benefits from doing yoga. Spiritually, you begin to understand more about yourself and God. Physically, you gain stronger muscles to have better posture, which can allow room for all organs and the rest of your body to do proper jobs. Emotionally, you are much more capable to let go of built-up emotions and feelings that can no longer serve you.” Ganir, a junior from Idaho studying art, shared how yoga helped to decrease the strain of the scoliosis she suffered. She said, “It definitely helped me feel stronger and more confident within myself. I think it’s also such a big mental and emotional benefit since it decreases stress and anxiety, increases muscle flexibility, muscle tone, and helps to improve the healthiness of your heart.” Tiritilli explained people everywhere have mental struggles, emotional turmoil, or physical disabilities. Yoga, for Tiritilli, is much more than a workout, even though many people view it as such. Tiritilli said, “Yoga encompasses every aspect of things we have in life. My favorite thing is to remind myself and other participants not to take yourself too seriously.” When doing yoga, Tiritilli felt it became a way for her to view herself and others more clearly. It became a better way for her to understand and transcend her own thoughts. Through these everevolving experiences and classes, Tiritilli said she became certified to teach yoga a few years later. Since then, she said she has been helping people to improve their lives through yoga.
“There are spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional benefits from doing yoga. Spiritually, you begin to understand more about yourself and God.” According to the Ministry of External Affairs, yoga dates back to 2700 B.C. and has been practiced by civilizations throughout time. It is a way in which people can relieve themselves of past things and begin within a new mental and emotional state of being. Ganir said, “I think what I love about yoga is it’s a way of connecting your mind, body and spirit. I also love how a huge part of yoga is about your breath, and without your breath it just becomes a circus. During your practice of yoga, you really get a break from everything, and you get to focus on yourself.” Both Ganir and Tiritilli said they hope people will know and understand anyone can do yoga, and they do not have to be flexible to be able to participate. According to the instructors, one of the biggest mistakes is thinking people can’t do yoga because it may be too hard, or they cannot participate in the poses. As instructors and students of yoga themselves, Ganir said, “The best part of being able to help and teach yoga is at the end of every class, the only thing that matters is my students leave feeling better than when they walked through the door. One of the best things is seeing students’ progress and get excited about it.” Tiritilli added, “Yoga has helped me
with some of the hardest mental battles I have ever had. The best thing about it is how much room you have for growth. I really enjoy the feeling of helping someone feel more comfortable in their own body. Yoga is more about how you feel instead of how you look.” According to Tiritilli, the sessions are by donation, “so people can come and pay what they feel they want to, which may mean nothing at all.”
For more information on where and when yoga sessions take place, check out Tiritilli and Ganir’s Instagram page
@kookilauyoga.
JANUARY 2019
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The dangers of social media The addictive nature of social media, like Instagram and Facebook, affects mental health, according to BYUH students and faculty By Elijah Hadley
Depression is especially prevalent among college students. According to research by the Center for Collegiate Mental Health, roughly 1 in 5 students have either anxiety or depression. BYU–Hawaii students and faculty said they believe social media is one of the culprits of depression. According to a study done by the Pew Research Center, there has been a 78 percent increase in the usage of social media among college students since 2005. Facebook has gone from being a small startup in social networking to a website used every day. Social media has changed the way people see the world and how they interact on a daily basis. Mason Allred, an assistant professor in Communications, said, “Social media is alluring because it offers dopamine hits and accelerated feedback. The desire to simply look and follow others is just as strong as the desire to put a manufactured version of yourself out there for attention and acknowledgment – sometimes positive, sometimes negative. Getting dopamine hits from likes and comments can be addictive and endlessly scrolling without stopping cues can also be addictive.” He explained how dopamine is a neurotransmitter in the brain that gives a rewarding feeling when a person does something. People may often have dopamine surges when they are complimented or have done a good deed and are thanked for it. 44
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Allred continued by saying how both draws of social media may initially begin as harmless entertainment or something to distract and fill time but both could soon slip into addiction. The studies he said he has examined showed Instagram as the worst social media app, in terms of its effects on the mental health of teenagers, with Facebook and YouTube following closely. Allred commented, “Instagram packs a deadly punch. It is endless in its scroll and suggestions. It often focuses on
pics over connection and meaningful communication, and it is incredibly portable with an app on every major device. It is almost stressful keeping up for some and can be outrageous. Seeing and being seen have been packaged and sold to us in ramped up ways that expedite the conditioning process.” To decrease depression from social media, Allred suggested, “Connect with people in real life and to [decrease] your networks down to a community of people you actually really know and interact with in real life. Get away from huge networks of contacts and acquaintances and get closer to smaller communities of family and friends you really love, see, and care about.” Allred also suggested students try to read a book for 30 minutes straight, and then for an hour, or to try and watch a movie without even looking at another screen. “Think deeply about the film,” he encouraged. “Another helpful exercise for battling depression and the effects of social media is to get in the habit at least once daily of writing a gratitude journal. As you sit and try to think of what you are grateful for, your mind will adapt, as it has in other ways to the internet, and will actually get better and better at scanning and finding things you are grateful for. The result is you will feel happier, more grateful, and your mind will start to rewire in different ways that can to some degree offset the effect of social media.” Joana Chibota, a freshman from Zimbabwe majoring in biomedical science, said, “I think that people post their best self on social media. We only see what people want us to see. That causes us to compare our worst with
“People only post what they want you to see and as a result, people only see the good and then they wonder why their life isn’t like that.” - Student, Matt Stripling
other people’s best. For people who suffer from mental illness, like depression, it can be detrimental because they already don’t think highly of themselves. Comparing themselves to what they see on social media produces more feelings of worthlessness and self-loathing.” Matt Stripling, a sophomore and Canadian accounting major, said he thinks social media is a very large part of the reason there is so much depression. “People only post what they want you to see and as a result, people only see the good and then they wonder why their life isn’t like that.” Stripling revealed how he had often suffered sadness due to a comparison on social media. When asked what a healthier option could be, Chibota said a strong foundation in a sense of self is important. “People won’t stop posting on social media. So be it depression or anxiety, or any other mental illness, society needs to work on getting people confident, loving themselves, and knowing they have worth.”
JANUARY 2019 Graphics by Lynne Hardy
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Silencing the Stigma Through clubs, the classroom, and the workplace, three individuals share how they are working to change BYUH’s mental health culture By Noah Shoaf
The National Alliance of Mental Health (NAMI) found one in four young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 have a diagnosable mental illness. On college campuses, 40 percent of students dealing with diagnosable mental health conditions did not seek help. The report found concern of stigma is the No. 1 reason students do not seek help. At BYU–Hawaii, three different individuals said they are trying to do their part to combat the problem of the lack of education surrounding mental health and the stigma associated with it. Whether it is through a club, class, or job, these individuals explained they want to change the BYUH’s culture on mental health.
Battling mental illness through kindness
Kaleah Liechty, a freshman from Utah majoring in communications, said because of her battles with mental and physical illness, she started the Kindness Club at BYUH in hopes of making kindness a natural way of life and at the center of mental health discussions. Liechty said her passion for kindness came after she experienced months of sickness and was close to death. In fifth grade, Liechty said she got her gallbladder and appendix removed. After the surgery, a gallstone blocked her main bile duct, and it had to be surgically removed. Then
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that incision came undone. She said she internally bled and had to be taken to a hospital. Amid the surgeries, she said she suffered from a seizure and a superbug flu from the hospital. Before her surgeries and sicknesses, Liechty said she was sometimes mean to others and was careless. When she was close to death, she decided she wanted to be remembered as kind because kindness is one of the most important things anyone can be. She said it is important because that is what changes the world. Although the experience from fifth grade helped her align her prioritizes, Liechty admitted it came with unintended consequences. “I was really happy and healthy before that, but after that experience, I got post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD] from the surgical trauma,” shared Liechty. “PTSD gives you a little bit of everything, anxiety, depression, and you get panic attacks, and it is hard to sleep at night. Also you have tons of fear and guilt. PTSD is irrational, so your brain will find your greatest fear you have, and it will make your fear real.” Luckily, Liechty said with therapy, she was able to feel like herself again. “Through therapy, I was able to get over PTSD. It was incredible because there were days in six grade I never thought I would smile again.”
"When you have a mental illness, get help for it. It doesn’t mean you are crazy. I didn’t want to go to therapy because I thought since none of my friends go to therapy, I must be weird and crazy. Going and getting help is just like fixing your broken arm except people can’t see it.” Liechty explained through the Kindness Club, she hopes to change how people view mental issues and how those who have mental illness view themselves. “Even with a mental illness, you are still a person, you are still functioning, and can have light in your life. Everyone has their own battles, and we need to stop looking at people like they are crazy and treating yourself like you are crazy.” Liechty stated she believes the struggles associated with mental health can be diminished with kindness. “We all need to have kindness because life is already hard. We don’t need to make it harder by hating on yourself and others. Don’t joke about mental illness because it is real. Even if it is funny, it might be painful to someone.”
Spreading awareness through education
Katya Jackson, a senior from Utah, said through her psychology major she hopes to teach others about mental health disorders and empower people to look at mental health differently.
“I am passionate about mental health awareness because I had struggles with anxiety and depression,” said Jackson. “I want to raise awareness because I have been in those dark places, and I know people have experienced those feelings.” Jackson said she is researching on the topic of mental health to prepare for a future mental health awareness week. To prepare students for the week, Jackson presented her findings on the subject of mental health to the Cats Club on campus. At the club’s meeting on Nov. 7, Jackson shared how college students have to deal with a lot of stress, whether it be financial, academic, or the transition to adulthood. She said through personal experience talking to someone about how you feel can help lift the burden of stress. “I think social supports are super powerful. The feeling of hopeless comes when you are alone. It is hard to reach out to people because you feel crazy. We need to raise awareness, so people feel comfortable talking about how they feel.” Jackson said if anyone is overwhelmed with anxious feelings or depressive thoughts, she recommends going to the BYUH Counseling and Disabilities Services. She indicated she had a great experience with Counseling Services, but she wishes there were more counselors on campus. Jackson said although mental illnesses are complex, everyone can be open to discussing mental health. She revealed how people tell others to "snap out of it" and to stop feeling what they feel, but if people wanted to “snap out of it”, they would. “When talking about mental health awareness, I think it is important to talk about the stigma that comes along with mental illness. The stigma is what stops people from getting the help they need. You can’t force someone to therapy but what you can do is be there for them and help fight stigma.” After BYUH, Jackson wants to become a music therapist. In music therapy, she said instead of conducting normal counseling, you use music to help others feel better. “I believe music makes people happy. I don’t want to sit down with a person like a normal therapist. I just want to help give people a purpose through music.”
Working towards understanding
Understanding and helping those with mental disorders is part of Leilani Auna’s life-long mission. She is a L.C.S.W. Clinical Counselor/ Disability Coordinator at Counseling and Disabilities Services at BYUH. Auna said mental health is just as important as physical health because it affects our thinking, our relationships, and our everyday life functioning. Auna stated it is vital students understand stress, anxiety, and depression. “Stress is something we all need. If we didn’t have stress, we wouldn’t be doing anything. We are not supposed to be avoiding stress it would be impossible, but we should learn how to respond to stress."
Three women on campus hope to change how people view mental illness. Photos by Emily Hancock
“I wish people would stop looking at mental illness as people are crazy and broken. Something I wish everyone did was just be kind.” - Kaleah Liechty
JANUARY 2019
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Having a mental illness does not mean you are weak, according to Auna Photos by Emily Hancock
“Having a physiological impairment is the same as having a physical impairment, but the world doesn’t see it that way. We can help change that.” - Katya Jackson
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“Stress is a response to a threat in a situation and anxiety is your reactions to the stress. Anxiety usually focuses on worries or fears about things that could threaten us.” Auna explained the role anxiety and depression have in life. "Anxiety is a way of life. If we didn’t have anxiety, we would not be worried about anything. We all go through depression and anxiety. We have good days and bad days.” Even though anxiety, stress, and depression are part of life, there becomes a point when those feelings become abnormal and interrupt our normal everyday routine in life that may indicate a chemical imbalance, said Auna. “It is very normal to have stress and anxiety in our life, but when it takes over our lives and you become frozen, can’t eat or sleep, or even do simple functions, there is a chemical imbalance going on in the brain.” Auna said because of chemical imbalances in the brain, our major-life functioning becomes disrupted. People with depression can’t get out of bed or people who have anxiety can only hear the sound of heart racing and pounding in certain situations. These people may not be able to eat or sleep and sometimes not think as clearly as they used to. These symptoms may translate into a mental disorder if it goes on for a prolonged period of time. Having a mental disorder does not mean you are crazy or weak, stated Auna, even though there’s a stigma people associate with mental health. “I want students to know mental health is as vitally important as your physical health. Especially at BYUH with our different cultures. “Mental health is very important because it affects how we think, interact with each other, and how we function in our academic ability.” When someone believes their negative thinking and feeling is overtaking their life, Auna said, they can turn to Counseling and Disabilities Services. Counseling and Disabilities Services are two separate services. According to Auna, for Counseling Services, a student can come in to meet with a licensed clinician to help with mental health issues like anxiety, depression, trauma and relationship problems or other personal issues. “All you will be doing is talking to a counselor in a private setting, and they will not tell anyone anything without your permission. If anyone asks about you, we cannot acknowledge or deny that you were there. There are individual counseling and group counseling available. Our services are free to all full-time students and their dependents.”
Graphics by Lynne Hardy
Students can turn to Counseling and Disabilities Services. Photos by Emily Hancock
“I just want students to take away the stigma. When you go to the health center, [it’s] because you are sick physically no one looks at you differently.” JANUARY 2019 - Leilani Auna
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WHERE YOU CAN GET HELP
Disability Services works with students with all types of disabilities; Physical Disabilities, Psychological/Psychiatric Disabilities, Learn-
ing Disabilities, Attention Deficit Problems or any medical condition that hinders a student from being on the same level playing field as their peers in the academic/classroom setting, housing area, and food services. Disability Services will work with these different areas to reasonably accommodate students as they pursue their educational goals here at BYUH.
For mental health emergencies outside of normal business hours, please contact BYU-Hawaii Public Safety at 808 675-3911, go to the nearest emergency room, or call 911.
STRESS
ANXIETY
DEPRESSION
Stress is how the brain and body respond to any demand. It is different from anxiety because anxiety is a reaction to stress.
In an anxiety-related disorder, your fear or worry does not go away and can get worse over time. It interferes with daily activities like school, work and/or relationships.
Most people feel low and sad at times, but individuals with depression have low moods more severe and they tend to persist.
To make an appointment with Counseling or Disability Services, you may come to Mckay 181 or call 808 675-3518 to make an appointment. Disabilities Services has a different role than Counseling Services, said Leilani Auna. It is based on the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
What does it mean?
Who does it affect? Everyone feels stressed from time to time. Some people may cope with stress more effectively or recover from stressful events more quickly than others.
How to manage it Get regular exercise, try a relaxing activity, set goals and priorities, ask family and friends for help.
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
Who does it affect?
Who does it affect?
More than 40 million American adults are affected by different anxiety-related disorders. Some including Social Anxiety, Posttraumatic Stress, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders.
There are different types of depressive disorders. The most common is Major Depressive Disorder. In 2015, around 16.1 million adults aged 18 years or older in the United States had experienced this form of depression.
How to manage it
How to manage it
Accept that you cannot control everything. Do your best. Maintain a positive attitude. Learn what triggers your anxiety. Eat right, sleep enough and exercise. Take deep breaths. Slowly count to 10. Take time out. Talk to someone and get help.
Medication and therapy can relieve depressive symptoms especially when the two are combined.
Source: Anxiety and Depression Association of America 50
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Religion JANUARY 2019
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The Latter Days
The changes announced during 2018
The year 2018 was ground breaking for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Church leadership and prophets made several changes throughout the entire church as well as for youth and missionaries.
By Mackenzie Beaver
1.
Two-hour church
2.
Sister missionaries are now able to wear pants
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“Come Follow Me” Program
Dean Jennifer Lane offered her thoughts about the changes in the church. She said, “It's a great blessing to see the Lord continue to reveal ‘many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God’ as stated in the Articles of Faith. I am grateful to know that we have living prophets and apostles that get the Savior's direction for his Church. “I believe all these changes with the organization of priesthood quorums, refocus with ministering, and the emphasis on gospel study in the home all work together to help us better live the gospel and more fully follow the example of the Savior. We come to know Him better as we serve in united ways and continue to come unto Him.” 52
4.
The First Presidency wrote a letter concerning the youth in the church. The letter stated, “January 2019 children will complete Primary and begin attending Sunday School and Young Women or Aaronic Priesthood quorums as age-groups at the beginning of January in the year they turn 12. Likewise, young women will progress between Young Women classes and young men between Aaronic Priesthood quorums as age-groups at the beginning of January in the year they turn 14 and 16.”
KE ALAK A ’I Graphics by McKenna Zohner
The invitation to ‘Come Follow Me’ 10 ways to improve your daily scripture study
The “Come, Follow Me” program the Church has instituted for 2019 offers six helpful tips to guide and direct others to improving their scripture study. BYUH Dean of the College of Human Development Jennifer Lane added four additional ideas.
1.
Pray and seek the truth—this is a tip inviting people to pray before studying their scriptures to have an understanding.
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Look at maps. Looking at maps while reading the scriptures helps us understand where the events we are reading about in the scriptures.
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Look for lists in the scriptures. Looking for lists helps us see it as a “to-do” list in which we can write out and try to apply for our lives.
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Look for pattern and repetition. When doctrine is repetitive in the scriptures, it signifies its importance.
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Look for Commandments and Promised Blessings. “Often in the scriptures, when the Lord gives commandments He then tells us the blessings we will receive from keeping them.”
6.
Look for personal application. When reading the scriptures, we can look for ways the scriptures are applicable to our personal lives.
Jennifer Lane, also a professor in the Religion Department on the BYUH campus, offered several tips and advice to students to help them get better at scripture study.
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Ask questions while you are reading.
8.
Look for a particular topic while reading.
9.
Graphics by McKenna Zohner
Slow down and study a few verses sometimes, especially when seeking guidance. Lane added,
10. “Reading
the Book of Mormon every day brings great blessings, but it is also good to include other books of scripture in your study. These are tips for all scripture study, not just the Book of Mormon.” JANUARY 2019 53
CA M P US LIF E
The Laie Temple was built by community members more than 100 years ago. Photo by Olivia Tsan
Laie Hawaii Temple
100th year anniversary
Stories by Clinton D. Christensen
The Laie Hawaii Temple was dedicated on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27, 1919. This year the temple celebrates its 100th anniversary. Church Historian Clinton D. Christensen compiled a book filled with stories about the Laie Hawaii Temple, as told by the Hawaiian Latter-day Saints. We will be sharing excerpts of these stories throughout the year, leading up to the 100th year anniversary in November. 54
KE ALAK A ’I
“The stories began decades before Lāʻie, Oʻahu, became the gathering place where a temple would be dedicated in 1919. The first ten elders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who waded onto the shores of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi in 1850 brought with them their witness and story of the priesthood power found in modern temples. “Today, we think of Lāʻie as the gathering place for Hawaiʻi, but a group of Hawaiians journeyed to Utah to receive temple blessings and eventually started a colony called Iosepa named after Joseph F. Smith. From 1889 to 1917, Iosepa was the home for two hundred Polynesians. They gave up their isles of paradise to live in the harsh West Desert of Utah. “Countless descendants honor these Iosepa Saints. One who remembers today is Sister Lynette Akiona Valdez, currently a stake history specialist in the Hilo Hawaii Stake. ‘We cannot forget the sacrifices and faithfulness of the early Saints who left their island homes and settled in Iosepa to be close to the temple. Whether they were from Hawaiʻi, Samoa, or another South Pacific Island, these Saints marked the beginnings of temple participation Graphic by Lynne Hardy
for our people. Leaving everything behind to be ‘close’ to the temple, where they had to walk 150 miles round-trip to attend temple sessions, I dare say that there is the beginning of the Laie Temple.’ “The sacrifice of the Hawaiian Saints was keenly felt and acknowledged by President Joseph F. Smith, who visited his friends in Iosepa many times, served an additional mission to Hawaiʻi in the 1880s and traveled to the islands later in life. President Smith personally observed how thousands of Hawaiians became Latter-day Saints in the almost five decades from his mission in 1855 to when he became Church president in 1901. He also knew of the thousands of Hawaiians that had died of diseases in the nineteenth century. He believed many waited in the spirit world, having been taught the restored gospel, but needed a temple for exalting ordinances to be performed on their behalf. “President Smith watched tenderly like a father over the Hawaiian people, seeing the maturing of the Saints and the Church there. “President Smith also knew stalwarts like David Keola Kailimai, who were leaving Hawaiʻi and coming to Iosepa. In 1913, Keola sold all of his land and belongings to purchase passageway for his family on a boat to California and make the land trek to Utah, arriving in August 1913. He was sealed to his wife and hanai (adopted) son, David, in the Salt Lake Temple, but he only stayed in Utah for three months. President Joseph F. Smith told him, ‘Keola, you go home. A temple is going to be built soon in Hawaiʻi. I need for you to go home and help build it.’ “Kailimai returned to the Big Island with only three dollars to his name and started again. He moved forward the cause of the temple in two ways. First, he served as a missionary on the islands working with others like mission president Samuel Woolley to build in the hearts of the Saints a greater desire to be prepared and worthy for a temple. This included paying tithing and keeping the commandments. Secondly, Kailimai worked hard. Again they prospered. He and his wife decided in 1915 to return to the temple in Salt Lake after saving a thousand dollars. When President Smith announced the Hawaii Temple
The Laie Temple under construction in 1919
in October 1915, they donated the money toward the building of the temple. At the time of the temple’s dedication, David Keola Kailimai was privileged to offer the benediction at the first session on November 27, 1919.” For the full stories, read “Stories of the Temple in Laie: Hundredth Anniversary,” set to be published later this year.
Jonathan Napela joined the church in 1852 “On Maui, one of the earliest converts was Jonathan Napela, taught by George Q. Cannon. Napela knew of temples, ancient Hawaiian temples, whose foundations still exist in parts of the islands.”
Napela was baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1852. “… As Napela helped Cannon translate the Book of Mormon into Hawaiian, he learned about a new purpose for temples. “… Napela was a temple pioneer for the Hawaiians. In 1869, exercising great faith and determination, he traveled from Maui to California and then to Utah Territory. Jonathan Napela met with Brigham Young and received his temple ordinances in the Endowment House on August 2, 1869, the first Hawaiian to receive temple blessings. His testimony was shared with the Saints when he returned home to the islands, sparking the desire for others to go to the temples in Utah. “Napela also worked hard to keep the promises to follow Christ made in the temple. One decision changed his life forever and showed his Christian dedication. To assist his wife Kitty, who was diagnosed with Hansen’s disease (called leprosy at the time) and exiled to Kalaupapa on the island of Molokaʻi, Napela made the sacrifice to join her. Ironically, he would also contract the disease and die before his wife on August 6, 1879, almost ten years exactly after receiving his endowment in Utah. Years later, Jonathan and Kitty would be posthumously sealed or married eternally as husband and wife in the Laie Hawaii Temple.”
JANUARY 2019
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Photo by Cameron Gardner Hannah Dustin poses for a yoga class where students teach yoga to fellow students and the community.