Justin Smith

Justin Smith | University Advancement | 7 March 2007

The BYU-Hawaii Shaka Steel Band will take their unique Caribbean sound on the road with a tour to the Big Island March 15-18.  The band will perform at Parker Ranch in Waimea, at Hualalai Private High School and the Kona LDS Stake center in Kona, and  finally at the Prince Kuhio Mall in Hilo.  The group will also present a fireside in the Hilo Stake Center Sunday evening, 18 March at 6 p.m.

This 15-member ensemble performs the lively, fast-paced music of the Caribbean and Latin America on steel drums or "pans," native instruments of Trinidad, creating a totally tropical ambience with cool grooves, good vibes, and great entertainment.

Justin Smith | University Advancement | 10 October 2006 American Money Group, Inc., a local financial services company, recently announced their sponsorship of the 2006 Asia-Pacific Basketball Classic at Brigham Young University Hawaii, November 10-11.

"The Asia-Pacific Basketball Classic is at the heart of BYU-Hawaii's international mission," stated CEO Frank Peck. "Our mission at AMG is to educate and enrich the lives of others, a mission statement shared by the university. We feel that partnering with BYU-Hawaii will assist in accomplishing these goals."

In addition to the American Money Group, the Polynesian Cultural Center and Joe and Caryn Morton (co-founder of Xango) were key contributors to this event.

Justin Smith | University Advancement | 6 October 2006 Last week, the undefeated BYU-Hawaii women's volleyball team dominated Grand Canyon – winning in three straight games. But this match produced more than just a victory. This particular victory provided Head Coach Wilfred Navalta with his 500th career win.

"I wasn't keeping track," said Navalta, admitting he really didn't know how close he was to reaching the milestone. "After we played, we went out to dinner as a team and the players and coaches made a special presentation, including a nice letter from President Shumway and Coach Wagner (Athletic Director) congratulating me in my 500th victory. That's when I found out."

Justin Smith | University Advancement | 20 January 2006 From the shores of the Dead Sea comes an exhibit of renowned historical significance that has arrived on the Hawaiian Islands for display at the Hawaii Temple Visitor’s Center through March 2006.

The Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit was flown to Oahu from Europe, where it had toured England, France, Switzerland, Germany, Portugal, Denmark, and a host of other countries. It contains pieces of authentic pottery, a collection of certified scroll replicas (the originals remain secured in the Middle East), a Roman soldier’s sword, a model of the city Qumran (where the scrolls originated), a model of metal plates, literature, paintings, and pictures of the caves where the scrolls were discovered, and many other items.

Sixteen students from Calvin College left behind the freezing winds of GrandRapids, Michigan to attend class in tropical Hawaii—and the weather doesn’t seem to be bothering them.

Justin Smith | University Advancement | 9 January 2007

Justin Smith | University Advancement | 30 November 2005 The beatboxing, harmony-stacked a capella group Eclipse was the featured artists at the 2005 Christmas Tree Lighting Program held in the Cannon Activities Center at BYU-Hawaii on Wednesday, November 30.

The annual program featured all the seasonal staples: world-class entertainment singing holiday favorites, goody bags for all keiki, lighting the big Christmas tree in the McKay (Little) Circle, and photos with Santa.

This year's entertainment, Eclipse, came from northern Utah and did what they do best—using driving rhythms and lush harmonies with only one instrument: voice.

Golden Jubilee speeches