Campus Community

Dr. Paul Buckingham and Cary Wasden spoke to a full audience on the tragic effects of pornography Tuesday, October 23, in the Little Theater at BYU–Hawaii. Their address, "Bringing the Myths of Pornography to Light," highlighted the process and physiological impact of pornography addiction. The event was hosted by the David O. McKay Center for Intercultural Understanding.

UPDATE: 1:30 AM

“All of us have lives filled with minutiae. It’s a confinement of sorts—the endless tasks that fill our time. I have them. You have them. But they don’t need to consume our heads. We can attach the details of our lives to Big Ideas and elevate the way we think and live,” This was the counsel of Sister Virginia Pearce, author and former first counselor in the Young Women General Presidency, during her BYU–Hawaii Devotional address Tuesday, October 23, 2012. She focused her remarks on how this life has provided us with the opportunity to think, learn and grow, both secularly and spiritually.

“This physical structure represents the face of this university. It is put on cards, programs, bulletins and much more,” said Phillip McArthur, dean of the College of Language, Culture and Arts. The newly renovated McKay Foyer was celebrated with an open house and welcome meeting attended by students, faculty and staff on October 18, 2012. President Steven C. Wheelwright, Dr. Phillip McArthur, student David Whippy, and Dr. Chad Ford, director of the David O. McKay Center for Intercultural Understanding, gave short addresses speaking to the history, purpose, and future of the Foyer and related facilities.

The BYU–Hawaii Student Chapter of the BYU Management Society received the Dean’s Gold Chapter of Excellence Award for the second year in a row, making BYU–Hawaii the only current student chapter that has received this award. Representatives for the BYU–Hawaii student chapter including Dr. Helena Hannonen, Ryan Chaffin, David Preece and David Dooley, accepted the award at the annual Global Leadership Conference held in Aspen Grove and Provo, Utah, October 4 and 5. The picture above includes two BYU–Hawaii alumni, Akmurat Edgee, Mongolia chapter president, and Shin Yasutarni, Tokyo chapter president, with Ryan Chaffin, BYU–Hawaii student chapter president, after they accepted their awards.

For the first time ever, BYU’s Vocal Point will be performing at BYU–Hawaii on Saturday, October 20, 2012, in an event sponsored by BYU–Hawaii Performance Series.

Sister Katherine Workman, Laie Hawaii Temple Matron, spoke on life’s “Defining Moments” in her devotional address Tuesday, October 16, 2012. Her focus centered on the effect certain events can have on our lives depending on how we choose to deal with them. “In each of our lives, there are events, moments if you like, where something happens that has a lasting impression in your mind and which affects the course of your choices in the future. I like to call these events, ‘Defining Moments.’ I suppose most people have them but perhaps many miss the dramatic effect Defining Moments have on their lives. To miss them, is to miss the influence of the Lord in your life.”

“More than anything, I wanted to be a positive influence in the lives of people on a grander scale,” mused Lara Leimana Fonoimoana, BYU–Hawaii student graduating in December, wife, and mother who recently completed her reign as Mrs. America.

The Farmers Market at BYU–Hawaii brings campus and community together for fresh foods, flavors and home grown products in an effort to be more sustainable and self-sufficient.

Elder Ian S. Ardern, First Quorum of the Seventy and Second Counselor in the Philippines Area Presidency, warned against mediocrity in his Devotional address on Tuesday, September 25, 2012. Reminding students how blessed they are to be here, Elder Ardern echoed the scripture, “unto whom much is given much is required” (D&C 82:3).

BYU–Hawaii Tennis Coach David Porter received the United States Professional Tennis Association’s (USPTA) Alex Gordon Award for the Professional of the Year. Porter, who lives in Laie, has been coaching tennis for more than 35 years – with 20 years as head coach at BYU–Hawaii.

BYU–Hawaii recently hosted members of the Church Educational System Executive Committee for a routine visit to campus. The purpose of campus visits is to personally experience the environments on campus, receive updates on the academic programs at the university and other innovations in education, and, in the case of BYU–Hawaii, see the status of current and future expansion projects.

A new class that begin this Summer semester, Special Studies in World Cinema, allows for in-depth exposure and understanding of the culture in one of BYU–Hawaii’s target areas. Yifen Beus, associate professor in the International Cultural Studies department, developed the course and defines it as an opportunity to explore and examine issues that rise from the impact of modernity reflected in sino phone cinemas. Sino phone cinemas are productions by filmmakers specifically from Mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.

BYU–Hawaii President Steven C. Wheelwright addressed the topic of religious freedom at the opening devotional of the Fall 2012 semester on Tuesday, September 11, 2012. The gathering included more than 1500 students, faculty, staff and others from the extended university ‘ohana.

The annual Ohana Meeting was held Thursday, September 6, in the McKay Auditorium for all faculty, staff, missionaries and volunteers. The purpose of this annual gathering is to welcome new members of the ohana from the past year, and give updates and spotlights on campus and university happenings. In total, 33 new employees were introduced to the BYU–Hawaii ohana and 34 missionaries and volunteers were recognized for their service.

The Church Educational System (CES) Executive Committee visited Brigham Young University–Hawaii last week and on Sunday, August 26, two special devotionals were held with members of the committee as the speakers.

Iosepa, BYU–Hawaii’s traditional Hawaiian voyaging canoe, recently completed its sail around the island of Oahu and returned to Laie Bay on August 28.

Akin Clothing, a company started by a BYU–Hawaii student, and Chapters of Hope, a non-profit organization of Deseret Book, teamed up this summer to provide school uniforms and books to children in Tuvalu and Samoa.