Leilani Miller

Brigham Young University Hawaii's Salsa Orchestra had a lesson not only in music but also in history, culture, humanities, and anthropology as they engaged in an interactive workshop with traveling flamenco fusion group Cerro Negro on Thursday, February 5. Though Cerro Negro originally came to BYU–Hawaii to perform as a part of the university's Performance Series, Dr. Darren Duerden, director of the BYUH Salsa Orchestra and percussion instructor, convinced the very dissimilar group to spend some interactive time with his students in a master class setting, involving teaching of techniques, short performances, and critiques. More than just a simple music lesson, students were engaged in an entire musical and cultural experience as they gleaned from these well-traveled and knowledgeable artists.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Professors David Bybee of Brigham Young University Hawaii [pictured at left with student Daniel Kaonohi] and Michael Whiting of Brigham Young University in Provo joined forces this past summer to take a group of biology students from both institutions to Papua New Guinea, a remote and relatively unstudied region of the southwest pacific. "We decided that we could get a collaboration going," explained Bybee, "where Whiting, an entomologist, would do the rain forest work, I, a marine biologist, would do the coral reef work and the students we brought with us would get valuable field work experience in both terrestrial and marine environments."

President Steven C. Wheelwright of Brigham Young University Hawaii began a new semester by encouraging students, faculty, and staff to improve in their efforts to become devoted disciples of Jesus Christ in his initial devotional address. In reference to the recent summer Olympics, Wheelwright compared devoted disciples to Olympic athletes in their mutual focus, discipline, and commitment. Inviting listeners to increase their devotion by attending weekly devotionals held every Tuesday at 10 a.m., President Wheelwright said, "These devotionals are a unique feature of the Church Education System, and one that can bless all of our lives, both individually and collectively."

As is tradition at Brigham Young University Hawaii, President Steven C. Wheelwright is scheduled to usher in the upcoming semester at the first campus devotional scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 2. Speaking in the Cannon Activities Center, Wheelwright will address new and returning students, faculty, and staff with a message of inspiration and encouragement as they embark on a new school year.

David Lucero, the director of Student Leadership at Brigham Young University Hawaii, encouraged BYUH students and employees to become "genuine gold" by developing personal identities consistent with the ideals put forth by the university and LDS Church General Authorities at a devotional held on August 12.