Kula Manu has preserved BYU–Hawaii student voices, artwork, and stories for over sixty years. This year’s edition particularly emphasizes the collaboration, perseverance, and cultural diversity that define the university and its mission.
Through the Years
Kula Manu prides itself on encouraging student creativity by inviting submissions of poetry, fiction, essays, photography, and visual art. Dr. Joseph Plicka, having overseen the journal since 2013, described Kula Manu as “a celebration of student creativity and eloquence” and “an amazing archive of the artistic achievements, social and political concerns, and spiritual explorations of BYU–Hawaii students and staff.”
The journal’s name reflects that sense of community. In Hawaiian, “Kula Manu” can refer to a flock, or school, of birds. Plicka said he likes to think of it as “a gathering of beautiful things” as the publication and course “…is essentially a semester-long collaboration with other smart, creative, motivated people. At the end, you get to feel the thrill and satisfaction of bringing something beautiful into the world.”
Becoming Part of the Flock
That collaborative spirit became a defining experience for this year’s editorial staff as they stepped into some big shoes they strived to fill.
From the Philippines, senior co-editor-in-chief Geiri Gabriel Sulat felt that Kula Manu became a space where diverse artistic voices could meet despite differences in genre, culture, and background. “It brings together voices from around the world,” said Sulat, “…it serves as an avenue for creativity aligned with the mission and vision of BYU–Hawaii…”
Although Sulat entered the role without prior experience editing a literary journal, he said the process taught him how creativity and leadership intersect. With only a few months to produce the issue, the staff navigated tight deadlines, differing opinions, and the challenge of curating work that fit the journal’s collective vision.
“There are times when the collaboration of creative ideas and perspectives comes together to create something even more beautiful. As [editor-in-chief], I had a front-row seat to watch this beautiful chaos unfold…Things won’t always go according to plan, but with faith and perseverance, everything will work out,” Sulat reflected.
That same sense of growth emerged on the design and artistic side of the journal under the leadership of design editor Antonette Tan, a senior from the Philippines. While working on social media promotion, she discovered the journal’s decades-long history and began to see Kula Manu as “a space where people leave a part of themselves behind.”
As the sole designer on the issue, Tan helped shape the journal's visual identity while balancing long nights of editing and layout work alongside school responsibilities.“…Being a Design Editor meant a lot to me; I felt responsible not just for making things look good, but for helping people connect with the stories in the journal,” Tan shared.
Using Your Voice and Being Heard
This year’s covers continued to emphasize the journal's connection between art and personal expression through the two works by junior visual arts major Colin Maslar that were selected for the issue: Why Is the Rooster So Noisy? and What Does a Dodo Bird Sound Like?
“I was born deaf, and I grew up in the hearing world,” Maslar shared. “I struggled communicating with people and building relationships, so I always wanted to draw to explain what I was feeling and dealing with.”
Initially hesitant to submit his work, Maslar admitted he feared criticism and comparison from others. But through his mission and time at BYU–Hawaii, he began to see things in a different way. “I’ve had the Lord tell me that I do have the ability to communicate with people,” Maslar said. “I just had to be willing to take the risk of being heard by showing my artwork.”
When his pieces were chosen for the cover of Kula Manu, Maslar described the moment as confirmation that his voice and art really could reach people in ways he once doubted.
Making Their Mark
Sulat described Kula Manu as a platform where talents can be used to “help build the kingdom of God on earth,” while Tan wanted “to encourage people to be themselves and tell their stories honestly.”
Maslar echoed that message in encouraging other students to submit their creative work despite fear or uncertainty.
“If people are nervous or shy to submit their work, it’s alright,” Maslar assured. “It can be scary, but in order to be seen, you have to make your mark on the world somehow, why not make Kula Manu yours?”
With this year's edition finally being released, the staff and submitters hope readers not only enjoy the finished journal but also recognize the care, collaboration, and faith that are behind every page. Like the generations before them, this year’s team adds another chapter in Kula Manu’s long-standing tradition of many voices coming together as a single flock.
Come support your fellow students and community members and get your own copy at the Social Sciences Building!
