Cameron Segura

Just a few years ago, the idea of real-time collaboration with other classes and campuses involved costly travel, or a telephone, and mailing shared documents back and forth. Virtual technology has drastically changed the dynamics of education collaboration, and BYU–Hawaii is taking advantage of those changes. During this most recent Fall semester, BYU–Hawaii Leadership and Management students used technology-enhanced classrooms and other virtual tools to pull off a special project with Leadership students at Boston University – and got a little national attention in the process.

The 2013 Joseph Smith Lecturer, Dr. Kerry Muhlestein, associate professor of ancient scripture at BYU–Provo, knows a lot about the Book of Abraham, and he used this scripture story as the context for teaching a lesson on how to really “know” something. Students and the campus community came together to listen to him speak at the November 12 Devotional on the relationship between knowledge and revelation. His talk, titled “The Book of Abraham, Joseph, Revelation, and You,” focused on having a greater understanding of the duty that we have to gain an education and also treasure revelation.

Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Seventy taught BYU–Hawaii students, faculty and staff to “Be Not Afraid, Only Believe” at the weekly campus Devotional on Tuesday, September 24. Elder Gong presented his message of encouragement as advice on making some of life’s biggest decisions.

As many who are associated with BYU–Hawaii already know, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Polynesian Cultural Center located next to the university’s Laie, Hawaii campus. Originally dedicated on October 12, 1963, the Center helps about 600-700 students fund their education every semester, and it has always been a place where students can learn life skills. “The Polynesian Cultural Center has contributed to my understanding of the spirit of Aloha,” said Thanathon Phosricha, an alumnus from Thailand who worked there as a tour guide. “This motivates me to improve the world around me and to be a better example everywhere.”

Kenny Cox has joined the BYU–Hawaii Seasiders with responsibility over sports information and athletic marketing.