Bradley Holden

Approximately 450 students will participate in the upcoming BYU–Hawaii commencement exercises on Saturday, April 14, 2012. Addressing the graduates will be Elaine S. Dalton, Young Women General President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The event will be held at 9:00 AM in the George Q. Cannon Activities Center and will be streamed live online.

BYU-Hawaii’s annual business plan competition concluded its events on Thursday, March 21, after student finalists presented their final proposals, leading them into the awards ceremony. With mounting excitement for the results of the competition, the judges declared Akin Clothing the winners of the Social Entrepreneurship category for this year’s Empower Your Dreams event with Entraide Congo in second place. After the awards were distributed, an unanticipated act of generosity by Ben Howells, founder of Akin Clothing, stunned the crowd. Having already had the opportunity to establish a secure foundation for his businesses launch, Howells decided to switch checks with his runner up, Vulcain Yengo, giving his business plan the funds necessary to get their project off the ground right away.

“Whither Shall I Go? The question is not unusual. In an uncertain world, it is a question that each of us will ask and each of us will need to answer.” This was the message that Elder Kent D. Watson, First Counselor in the Asia Area Presidency addressed, as he spoke at the March 20 Devotional in the Cannon Activities Center at BYU–Hawaii.

Two performing groups from BYU–Hawaii’s fine arts department went on a four-day tour to the island of Kauai on March 8-11. The tour was carried out under the direction of Dr. Darren Duerden, percussion professor at BYU–Hawaii, and Dr. Dave Kammerer, brass professor and fine arts chair at BYU–Hawaii. Mounting excitement for the tour helped cultivate a great sense of enthusiasm as the students anxiously prepared for their trip with a single purpose in mind: to spread joy and the spirit of Aloha through the authentic sounds of the steel drums, and the contemporary arrangements of the Brass Ensemble.

On Friday January 27, 2012, Judge Bode Uale visited BYU–Hawaii to address political science students here on campus. As a BYU–Hawaii alumnus, Judge Uale expressed his great love for the University as well as his gratitude for having the opportunity to return and speak to the students. Judge Uale received his BS in political science from BYU–Hawaii, and his Juris Doctor from the University of Hawaii. After finishing his education he went on to work at the Honolulu Family Court, and is now a Judge for the Hawaii State Judiciary. As well as his distinguished service within the community, Judge Uale has also served as stake president in the Honolulu Hawaii Stake since 2004.

BYU–Hawaii will be celebrating Spirit Week this week, February 6-11, with a variety of events and activities that have been specifically prepared to commemorate the anniversary of the university’s founding, and its legacy and mission.

Approximately 225 students will participate in the upcoming BYU–Hawaii commencement exercises on Saturday, December 17, 2011. Addressing the graduates will be Elder Jeffery R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Elder Paul V. Johnson, the Commissioner of the Church Educational System and member of the First Quorum of the Seventy. The event will be held at 9:30 AM in the George Q. Cannon Activities Center and will be streamed live online at http://tv.byuh.edu/livestream/livestream.php.

The Polynesian Cultural Center celebrated an unforgettable occasion as they opened their doors to the new and improved Gateway Restaurant, during its grand opening on Thursday, November 10, 2011. The newly renovated Gateway restaurant showcases majestic Polynesian tradition and culture, set in a beautiful Hawaiian theme. The much anticipated completion of this restaurant made for a very successful event.

As many of the leaders and officials from various nations gathered in Hawaii for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), several dignitaries gave some of their time to come and visit BYU–Hawaii. Among these leaders was Peter O’Neill, the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea. Accompanied by his wife Lynda May Babao, the Prime Minister visited the Laie campus on Thursday, November 10, amid a very tight schedule of APEC-related meetings. Students from the university’s Hawaiian and Pacific Studies program greeted the visitors with a traditional Hawaiian chant, after which students from Papua New Guinea performed a cultural welcome of their native land. Following an official welcome to the university by Vice President for Academics Max Checketts, Mr. O’Neill addressed a gathering held in the David O. McKay Foyer.