In conjunction with BYU-Hawaii's Golden Jubilee Anniversary, the City and County of Honolulu, Mayor Mufi Hannemann and the Hawaii State Senate and House of Representatives all honored BYU-Hawaii with ceremonial certificates and proclamations of recognition and congratulations.
The honorary certificates acknowledge and congratulate BYU-Hawaii for its significant accomplishments over the past 50 years. They also recognize the contributions that BYU-Hawaii has and continues to make to the State of Hawaii.
"We appreciate and value the recognition and endorsement from the City and County of Honolulu and the State of Hawaii," said Rob Wakefield, director of University Communications. "We couldn't have come as far as we have without the support of government officials, and we are happy to contribute as much as we can to the community."
The BYU-Hawaii delegation included university president Eric B. Shumway and members of the president's council, as well as representatives from BYUH Student Association, Alumni Relations, the Jubilee Celebration Committee, the Polynesian Cultural Center and Hawaii Reserves Inc.
The delegation was accompanied by the university's Concert Choir, under the direction of Dr. James Smith - who will be retiring this year after 30 years of teaching at BYU-Hawaii.
The delegation first visited Honolulu Hale, where Council Chair Donovan de la Cruz, on behalf of the City and Council of Honolulu, presented BYU-Hawaii with a certificate of recognition and congratulations for its Golden Jubilee Anniversary. In return, the choir performed "Let Me Fly," an African-American folk spiritual.
After the public ceremony, Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann invited the delegation into his office for a more intimate exchange. He recounted how his grandfather helped build The Church College of Hawaii and reminisced about when his wife was a teacher at the university and he substituted for her from time to time.
"Both as the mayor and as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it is a pleasure to welcome you in this office," he said. "I am grateful for BYU-Hawaii - for your values, your morals and what you do in the classroom."
The choir sang again and Mayor Hannemann presented the university with a proclamation, establishing February 23, 2005 as "Brigham Young University Hawaii Day" in the City and Council of Honolulu to celebrate this significant milestone.
The delegation then moved to the State Capitol. At the end of a guided tour by Clinton Tuua, office manager for Senator Paul Whalen and BYUH alumnus, the choir was escorted to Governor Linda Lingle's office where they performed for her staff; Gov. Lingle was unavoidable absent.
Meanwhile, the delegation was ushered onto the chamber floor of the Senate where Senator Clayton Hee presented the university with an honorary certificate of recognition and congratulations. A similar certificate was presented to the university on the floor of the House by Representative Colleen Meyer.
In an emotive speech given with the presentation in the House, Rep. Meyer recounted the historic and prophetic circumstances surrounding BYU-Hawaii and gave a stirring tribute to the university for its significant accomplishments over the years.
"We honor BYU-Hawaii for its commitment to developing more than just qualified students but contributing citizens of high moral character," she said. "We recognize Brigham Young University Hawaii campus and its sponsor - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - for 50 years of academic excellence and for significant contributions to the state of Hawaii and to the larger global community." Read the complete speech
After the ceremonies, the choir performed several numbers in the capitol rotunda. Many legislators and their staff came out from their offices on the upper floors to hear the choir and acknowledge BYU-Hawaii.