Campus Community

Michael Murdock (pictured right; photo courtesy of byuh.edu), the new chair of the Political Science Department in the School of Business, Computing, & Government, feels very strongly about the value his department adds to BYU–Hawaii. "It's the best major on campus," Murdock said in a recent interview.

"Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem," said Elder Donald R. McArthur, quoting Isaiah 2:3 and introducing the theme of his talk, Hale La'a—Mountain of the House of the Lord, at a BYU–Hawaii devotional held at the Cannon Activities Center on May 18, 2010.

At the beginning of this Spring Term, all international BYU–Hawaii students were automatically part of a cultural club representing their home country.

"Today my goal is to make you homesick. Actually, I don't want you to feel bad, instead I seek to offer a vision of hope—a confidence to relish the journey 'on the way home,' " said Phillip McArthur (pictured top), introducing his message at a weekly devotional held on May 11, 2010, at the BYU–Hawaii Cannon Activities Center.

Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, H. David Burton, spoke at a worldwide CES fireside broadcast via satellite from BYU–Hawaii Cannon Activities Center on Sunday, May 2, 2010.

"In many of the scriptures, we are told to 'endure to the end' and we will in turn receive some sort of blessing," said Delsa Moe, Director of Cultural Presentations at the Polynesian Cultural Center, at a recent devotional held on BYU–Hawaii campus on Tuesday, May 4.

Senior Appolonie Nahishakiye's story starts in a small village called Bibate, in a small farming country of eight million called Burundi, which neighbors the easily recognized Rwanda. Few, however, know of the ethnic struggle that continues to this day in this small, war-torn expanse.

"Faith is in fact the antidote to doubt, the answer to skepticism, and the solution to cynicism," said Robert L. Millet, Abraham O. Smoot University Professor & BYU Professor of Ancient Scripture, at the Brigham Young University–Hawaii devotional on Tuesday, April 27, 2010, at the Cannon Activities Center.

Members of the Hawaii chapter of the BYU Management Society, business majors, SIFE members, and interested students and faculty alike gathered to hear BYU–Hawaii President Steven C. Wheelwright speak on ethical and moral practices in business and leadership on March 31.

Mufi Hannemann, mayor of Honolulu, recently visited BYU–Hawaii on April 14, speaking at a luncheon hosted by the "Mahalo No Ka Hana" (Laie) chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP). As mayor, Hannemann represents the entire island of Oahu. (Left to Right: Anna Kaanga, Madie Neave, Jacquie Alisa, Mayor Mufi Hannemann, Bae Aumua, Denise Mitchell, and Hans Taala)

BYU–Hawaii President Steven C. Wheelwright and his wife, First Lady Margaret Wheelwright, took turns sharing their personal insights about the importance of family at devotional on Tuesday, April 20.

Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem, Utah, recently selected Dr. Norman S. Wright (pictured; photo courtesy of UVU), a former BYU–Hawaii faculty member, to become the new dean of the Woodbury School of Business.

LAIE, Hawaii – Elder Quentin L. Cook (pictured) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints presided over BYU–Hawaii's April 10th Commencement Exercises—notably the largest number (353) to have marched at a BYU–Hawaii commencement—held in the Cannon Activities Center.

Online classes are an option for students who are already attending BYU–Hawaii and live on the island, and students who are preparing to attend. Students can register for online classes in the same way that they register for all their other courses, but should note that the online classes are the 300 and 301 section courses. The online department is located in the back of the Mac Lab to the left of the library entrance on BYU–Hawaii campus. Mike Griffiths, Director of BYU–Hawaii Online, said, "Each semester we are building new classes. Our first priority is to create online general education classes for on-campus students, and online EIL classes to help students prepare to come to campus."

BYU–Hawaii's Social Work curriculum has recently changed, and with the university’s new academic calendar of two semesters and three terms, students in the program can now graduate in three years.

After a year of service to BYU–Hawaii, the 2009-2010 BYUHSA presidency gave their final counsel at a weekly devotional held on March 30, at the Cannon Activities Center.

BYU–Hawaii Food Services has been extensively involved with recycling, and, to reduce overall operating costs, they have begun composting waste vegetable materials. Initial research about the best approach to effectively use latent energy from waste vegetable oil and cooked meat fats was done, which pointed toward a new kind of energy—biodiesel. (pictured: student chef situates himself in the Food Service kitchen)

The BYU–Hawaii Salsa Orchestra (pictured at right at the Honokaa Peoples Theater) and Brass Ensemble added a little flavor and style as they toured the Big Island March 11–14, 2010. The group of students performed their way through five concerts in three different towns including Kona, Honokaa, and Hilo, with a unique teaming of ensembles and combination of Latin jazz, pop, religious, and classical music that offered Big Island audiences a one-of-a-kind experience.