Campus Community

In a spirit of love and mutual respect, President and Sister Wheelwright stood together before the student body and addressed the important issue of moral purity at the first devotional of the year for BYU-Hawaii January 13. Their optimistic opening remarks set the stage for a spiritual and touching message,

Brigham Young University Hawaii has appointed Education Professor Dr. Hiagi M. Wesley [pictured at right], a BYUH alumnus, as Director of the university's newly renamed and reorganized Jonathan Napela Center for Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Studies.

The Polynesian Cultural Center Board of Directors has appointed BYU-Hawaii alumnus P. Alfred Grace ['88, Travel Management; pictured at left] of Laie as its first-ever Chief Operating Officer (COO), PCC President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Von D. Orgill announced at a company "team meeting" on January 9 in the IMAX™ Theater. Grace had previously been serving as Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing.

"I am pleased to welcome you to this special campus, whether as a new or returning student," said Brigham Young University Hawaii President Steven C. Wheelwright, as almost 400 new Seasiders — most of them transferring from other universities — started Winter Semester on January 7, 2009.

Ask a student or faculty member at Brigham Young University – Hawaii what makes the university such an inviting and unique place to study, chances are the answer will resonate in the collegial community found on this campus. The welcoming, accessible, and intimate atmosphere of respect and collaboration here echoes through every classroom, department, and individual. The fervent drive members of the BYUH community share manifests itself in the form of dedicated, progressive, and passionate action. When BYUHSA Vice President Janelle Cabacungan arrived at BYUH, she too soon found her own niche and got involved.

Along with the sudden flood of water and rain that hit Laie on Thursday, December 11, a rush of volunteer work and service flooded Laie the week following including organized efforts hosted on the Brigham Young University Hawaii campus. An American Red Cross shelter and Disaster Relief and Assistance Center (DARC) both used University facilities as a point of contact for their efforts as Laie and BYU–Hawaii is central to one of the hardest hit areas, making use of State, University, and community volunteers to help abate the affects of the sudden disaster.

President David O. McKay dedicates the new Church College of Hawaii campus on December 17, 1958 — 50 years ago

President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, encouraged the 290-plus new BYU-Hawaii graduates in his commencement address in the Cannon Activities Center on December 13, to continue to pursue God's design for eternal learning.

Extensive rain and substantial flooding hit Laie as a massive storm began its attack on Oahu early this morning. A flash flood warning has been issued for all of Oahu as the National Weather Service has forecasted heavy rain and scattered showers through the weekend. BYU-Hawaii’s old gym has been opened as an emergency shelter and Red Cross first aid center for the community and the stake center was opened as a shelter for all BYU-Hawaii students.

From Justin Ritchie, current BYUH political science student:

Excerpts from a Division Chair Recommendation for Promotion written by Paul Spickard for Dale Robertson written October of 1993

After 31 years of teaching political science and active faculty participation at BYU-Hawaii, Dr. Dale Robertson retires this month leaving a long line of passionate and appreciative students that have ventured to complete the university's mission. "...[His] biggest legacy will be the number of students whose lives he has personally affected, the number of students who have gone on to do better things, to achieve higher degrees...who have become lawyers or politicians," says Jon Jonassen, a previous student of Dr. Robertson's and current BYU-Hawaii professor.

As part of their Public Management 390R class, the City and County of Honolulu Department of Emergency Management recently certified 22 Brigham Young University Hawaii students after they completed 24 hours of training at the DEM facility inside the famous Diamond Head crater, including response to a simulated disaster "final exam."

"A son of Palau has returned" are the words of Delegate-elect Rebluud Kesolei [pictured at left], who has won a seat in the House of Delegates for the National Congress of the Republic of Palau. Upon graduating from BYU-Hawaii in June 1998, Rebluud made his way back to Palau a month later and immediately started knocking on doors and introducing himself.

Dan McCormick [at right], a successful author and public speaker from Southern California, gave the devotional address at BYU-Hawaii November 25. This father of three BYUH students compared the idea of the power of a single atom to the power of a single idea, and he encouraged students to keep track of their ideas and the things that influence them.

The BYU–Hawaii music department is pleased to feature its many talented ensembles and musicians at the second annual Christmas Music Devotional on Tuesday, December 2, 2008 in the Cannon Activities Center. Showcasing the University Choral, Brass Quintet, String Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Concert Choir as well as two student pianist, this once a year devotional promises to be a delight to the spirit as it communicates messages centered around the inspiration of this sacred season. "I think it will be a time that we can reflect on the birth of the Savior and really focus in on the spirit of Christmas and what it’s about," commented Michael Belnap, director of the Concert Choir and coordinator of this musical extravaganza.

The Brigham Young University Hawaii President's Council question and answer forum discussed security issues at Temple View Apartments (TVA) during the first part of the November 18 meeting in the Little Theater. Other questions included online courses, changes in the International Work Experience Scholarship [IWES], recruiting in Asia, and the new academic calendar.

At Brigham Young University – Hawaii, students hail from nearly every corner of the globe. Some of them, even, seem to have traversed most of it themselves on their own. It is of little surprise, then, that students like Nick Beezum, pictured at left, a senior and international business major originally from Adelaide, Australia, have come to BYU Hawaii to share and further their own unique and dynamic global perspectives.