BYU-Hawaii commenced its first Intercultural Leadership conference, Aug. 8-9, in an effort to give students an opportunity to develop and instill valuable leadership principles within diverse environments.
This year's conference began with the hopes of it perpetuating as an annual event where a greater number of students can participate in the future, according to David Lucero, director of student activities and leadership development and also the organizer of the conference.
"This (conference) was a pilot to see what the future will hold," Lucero said. "Possibilities include gearing a conference more towards a certain type of student on campus like more of the new students not yet involved in leadership, having another conference for students who are in leadership positions and definitely one geared towards students who are graduating and ready to leave."
Over 30 BYU-Hawaii students, staff, BYUHSA officers and church institute students from the University of Hawaii-Manoa participated in the two-day conference which lasted all day Friday and Saturday.
Highlights from the conference included workshops conducted by several university faculty members: Dr. Paul Buckingham, Uncle Bill Wallace, Dr. Chad Compton and President Eric B. Shumway. Outside presenters included Polynesian Cultural Center service missionary Elder Lanier Britch and VP Delsa Moe.
Also, due to the timing of the event, special guests Chieko Okazaki, former General Relief Society President for the LDS church, Dr. Hazel Symonette from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and U.S. Congressman Jeff Flake were able interact with the conference attendees.
Activities ranged from learning how to tie knots at the Iosepa canoe site at Hukilau beach to resolving hypothetical intercultural conflict situations in each of the four workshops.
Richard Kiyabu, a UH institute student who begins attending BYU-Hawaii this fall, said that the workshop speakers knew their material well and helped him better understand an area that he didn't have much experience in. "(Dr. Compton) was really focused on his subject and I could follow him well," he said.
"(This campus) is a perfect place to learn about leadership principles," said Romeo Andriafanomezana, an undeclared freshman from Madagascar. "Everything we do, everywhere we go on this campus and PCC is filled with learning opportunities. Anywhere we go, we can apply the things that we have learned throughout this conference."
Janine Granquist, who was also one of the five UH institute students participating in the conference commented that she did enjoy the conference overall, but felt that it may have been too BYUH/student-oriented and wanted to hear from more outside speakers.
"I thought (the conference) was good for me and I'm not a student," said Bale Tuisavura, a full-time staff member in the BYU-Hawaii human resource department. "It was all a learning process on how to build relationships and how to better understand other people."
Lucero explained that similar conferences in the future will "always" be student-oriented. "We will be targeting (BYUH students) that are here and most institute people on the island and mainland. Whether a college student or not they're still a student," he said.
He added, "At one of these conferences, however, we want to make it more welcoming to people from off-campus. We always strive to get some more off-campus presenters and try to be very selective and appropriate about that."
Asked about his impressions on how the conference went, Lucero responded, "Success. Success because of the participants. They made it successful. They were invested. They wanted to get something out of it and they helped each other get something out of it. It was also successful because all of the presenters did such a good job."
Student body president Richie Norton was also pleased with the outcome of the conference.
"Since the conference I have found myself more sensitive to the needs and wants of people from other cultures. The conference promoted brotherhood, service, and leadership in an intercultural setting," he said.
Almost 50 years ago, then President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints David O. McKay, stood on the grounds of the future BYU-Hawaii campus and prophesied on destiny of the university:
"One man said the world needs men who cannot be bought or sold, men who will scorn to violate truth, genuine gold. That is what this school is going to produce. More than that, they'll be leaders. All the world is hungering for them and best of all, the world is recognizing them."
President McKay continued by saying, "You mark that word, and from this school, I'll tell you, will go men and women whose influence will be felt for good towards the establishment of peace internationally."
That prophetic statement continues to be a standard and guideline among all of the ongoing programs and events at BYU-Hawaii as the university continues to prepare and train leaders for the world.