BYU–Hawaii News

BYU-Hawaii faculty member, Ronald S. Jackson, died July 18, 2004, at his home in Laie, Hawaii after a long battle with cancer. His affiliation and dedication to BYU-Hawaii spanned 35 years. Ron was born in Fullerton, California, in 1942 and grew up in a typical Southern California lifestyle where surfing at the Huntington Beach pier and the "Wedge" were among his favorite activities. After graduating from Fullerton Union High School in 1960 he attended Fullerton Junior College where he majored in physical education, was on the wrestling team and threw the javelin for the state champion track team.

Almost 250 youth from across the United States have been on campus recently for the fourth annual Pacific Rim Children's Chorus Festival, which includes a unique international orientation, an acclaimed director and training at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Jeffrey Cooper, Managing Director of Pacific Rim Music Resources, which has put on the annual event in Laie for the past four years because of the unique confluence of Pacific Rim cultures here, explained the festival brings treble-voice children from grades 5-12 together for an "immersement educational experience." "We come to Laie because the Polynesian Cultural Center is a priceless resource," Cooper said. "It's the combination of this, the wonderful facilities at BYU-Hawaii and the Hawaii Youth Opera Chorus that makes this festival unique."