THE LE AD ERN O V E M B E R 12 , 2015 · Volume 113: Issue 1

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Christofferson speaks at graduation

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Local youth dance Laie’shistory in “Behold Laie”

TANNER TAKES REINS,INSPIRES STUDENTS

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KE ALAKA‘I2

Hiker takes in the view from the Crouching Lion hike in Kaaawa’s Koolau Mountains.By Kaylani Pula

NOVEMBER 12, 2015 • Volume 113: Issue 1

ADVISORLeeAnn LambertEmily Halls

Hector Per iquinART DIRECTOR

COPY EDITORS

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Jared RobertsAlyssa TroyanekSamone Yuen

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Kelsie CarlsonHector Per iquinLexie Arancibia

ART & GRAPHICSAndrea MarshallMackenzie McLeod

MULTIMEDIAJOURNALISTS

Rachel Reed Matthew RobertsHailey RasmussenErik WinegarKevin BrownEric HachenbergerLeiani BrownMegan ChurchBrittanie VorwallerAlex MaldonadoAlyssa Olsen

Samone YuenHector Per iquin

INTERNS

VIDEOGRAPHERSCamron StockfordJoshua Mason

ON THE COVER: BYU-Hawaii President John Tan-ner and Sister Susan Tanner are pictured on the day of his inauguration. Photo by Monique Saenz

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3NOVEMBER 12, 2015

Mormon Pacific Historical Society Conference features speakers about Laie

Elder Christofferson visited Laie and spoke at graduation

Australian graduate given PCC’s Spirit of Aloha Award

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Youth from three stakes perform “Behold Laie” after three months of practice

Laie community members have parade for the Sesquicentennial Celebration

1955 BYUH groundbreaking location memorialized

Dr. John S. Tanner is inaugurated as BYUH’s 10th president

3NOVEMBER 12, 2015

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Preserving the Prophecies and Spirit of

BY MEGAN CHURCH

A view of the BYUH campus from the 1970s. At the Oct. 24 local history conference, people shared stories of Laie and encouraged preservation of historical sites. Photo from University Archives

5NOVEMBER 12, 2015

R emembrance and preservation were two of the main topics at the Mormon Pacific

Historical Society (MPHS) 36th Annual Confer-ence on Oct. 24, during which a historical marker for the groundbreaking of the Church College of Hawaii, now BYU-Hawaii, was unveiled at the north end of the Stake Center, among other presentations. “I believe in history. Those of us who are committed to learning our history will be committed to further the good and the good-ness that we find in the history,” said Sister Su-san Tanner, BYUH’s First Lady. “This has been a place of many prophecies and it’s a place where people have had vision for the future. And by attending this conference and knowing better what that vision is, that will allow us to try to help fulfil that vision and help students fulfil that vision,” she continued. President John S. Tanner and Sister Tanner attended the conference, where Presi-dent Tanner gave two separate addresses. One was an official welcome at the opening where Kenneth Baldridge, former MPHS president and BYUH retired faculty member, received a Lifetime Service Award, and the other was for the unveiling of the historical marker. Other speakers included BYUH pro-fessors, Polynesian Cultural Center employees, members of the MPHS, and Laie residents who were present at the time of the groundbreaking in 1955 and have seen the development of the BYUH campus and Laie. The unveiling and groundbreaking of the historical marker was the main event of the conference. The sun was shining, there were almost no clouds to been seen, and the air was graced with that signature Hawaiian breeze. Stories were told about the 1950s in Laie. One of the stories most elaborated on was the decision of the placement of the CCH/BYUH campus. According to Mark James, the president of the MPHS, people felt that Laie was too far away from Honolulu to have a college campus, and so other places such as Kaneohe were suggested to President David O. McKay. President McKay however, knew there was a special spirit about Laie and it was where the Lord’s college in the Pacific should be. President Tanner mentioned a few unique facts about CCH/BYUH in his address during the unveiling. This college is the only BYU to be started at the top, he said. Mean-ing the development of this college came as an idea from the First Presidency, not from the Saints in the different communities. It is also

“This has been a place of many prophecies

and it’s a place where people have had

vision for the future.”-Susan Tanner

the first to initially be built in the shadow of a temple. While the other BYUs now have temples with them, the Laie Hawaii Temple existed before the college. The college of the Lord was built by the House of the Lord, he pointed out. Besides the unveiling of the histori-cal marker, there were sessions about the geography and geology of Laie, families and people who helped make Laie what it is today, and spots that draw visitors to Laie, such as the Temple Visitor’s Center and the PCC. Riley Moffat, a member of the MPHS originally from Arizona who has been a resident of Laie for 50 years and is also a retired BYUH faculty member, gave a presentation titled, “The Evolution of Laie’s Landscape.” About the preservation of the landscape, he said, “There needs to be more done. There are some traditional Hawaiian sites that need more preservation and resto-ration. There are sites from the plantation era that people are talking about rebuilding and restoring. The idea is to create in Laie some-thing similar to what the church has done in Kirtland, Ohio.”

Eric Workman, the executive vice president of Business Development and Marketing for the PCC, spoke of the im-portance of the center, saying, “Laie is such a small place and so many of these people have lived that history. They are that history. This is our opportunity to make sure it’s preserved properly and they can make sure their place in history is preserved properly.” As Grant Underwood, a BYU in Provo Religion professor and former BYUH faculty member, said in his closing presenta-tion, the MPHS enjoys working to appreci-ate, broaden the reach, continue to learn, deepen understanding, and enlist othersin their endeavors, regarding the historyof Laie.

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The unveiling event was part of the 60-year anniversary celebration of BYU–Hawaii, and the 150-year anniversary celebrationof the LDS Church in Laie. For more information, visit www.laie150.org.

Y E A RCELEBRATION

Historical marker unveiled at BYU–Hawaii

BY CAMRON STOCKFORD

7NOVEMBER 12, 2015

A historical marker to commemorate the 1955 groundbreaking of BYU–Hawaii by President David O. McKay was unveiled on Oct. 24 at the Laie, Hawaii campus. The marker, which has been in the works for several years, is placed so that those who stop to read the plaque will be over-looking the actual site of the groundbreaking that took place on Feb. 12, 1955. The marker is made from locally secured lava rock and was placed at the north end of the campus Stake Center. The site was determined from historical photos and accounts of community members who were present at the groundbreaking. The unveiling event was part of the 60-year anniversary cel-ebration of BYUH, and the 150-year anniversary celebration of the LDS Church in Laie. Mark James, president of the Mormon Pacific Historical Society, located the approximate location of the groundbreaking. In his speech at the unveiling, he recounted the story of then-Elder McKay and Hugh J. Cannon, son of George Q. Cannon, who traveled the world visit-ing all of the church’s missions. Upon visiting the Hawaii Mission, Elder McKay witnessed a flag raising ceremony at the local school. “[Elder McKay] was inspired by the sight of so many people from so many places coming together to learn. It was at that time that he envisioned there would be further schooling for many people from many lands,” said James. James also recognized those in attendance who were present at the groundbreaking ceremony, as well as any of the labor missionaries who helped build the university who had gathered to see the new histori-cal marker. In recognizing them for their service, James said, “We stand

upon the shoulders of those who have gone before us. We appreciate those who have sacrificed so much in preparing this place wherestudents would come from many lands and would be able to furthertheir education.” Packard “Pupi” Toelupe, one of the original labor missionar-ies, recounted his own story of meeting the prophet, David O. McKay, at the groundbreaking ceremony and some of the miracles surrounding the event. “We all gathered around here. It was raining, but when his car pulled in, the rain quit. We could see the rain around, but we were not wet,” said Toelupe. Toelupe was later called as a labor missionary in Laie where he learned and worked on a variety of projects during the construction of the campus. BYUH President John S. Tanner talked about the significance of the school being built in the shadow of a temple. “I believe that is one of the reasons why President McKay wanted to build the school in the special town of Laie,” he said. Later in his remarks, President Tanner also called BYUH a

“living laboratory for intercultural learning, where nations would come together in peace, and learn to be able to associate together, bound inthe gospel.” President Tanner continued, “May this memorial, which re-sembles an altar, become our grateful ‘monument to the ages,’ memori-alizing a sacred spot where God’s voice was heard as He spoke through His servant, David O. McKay. Let us ever remember and treasure in our hearts the inspired words spoken here.”

The newly installed marker, located on the north end of the campus Stake Center, overlooks the original groundbreaking place of BYUH. Photo courtesy of University Communications

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GRADUATIONINSPIRATIONBY HAILEY RASMUSSEN AND CAMRON STOCKFORD

More than 170 BYU-Hawaii gradu-ates of Fall 2015 were lined up in

the Aloha Center Ballroom before relo-cating to the Cannon Activities Center to be recognized for their accomplishments and graduating. The students walked from the ballroom through the Aloha Center to get one last glimpse of the iconic BYUH flag circle before becoming alumni ofthis school. Elder D. Todd Christofferson, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the LDS Church, addressed graduates at the BYUH commencement ceremony in Laie. His visit also included a fireside in commemoration of the 150th anniversary celebration of the LDS Church in Laie, as well as a rededication ceremony for the recently refurbished dormitories on campus. While waiting for the ceremony to begin, a few graduates said they didn’t feel any different. One was especially nervous about her future. Carianne Hirano, the TESOL graduate who addressed those in attendance at Commencement, said throughout this semester she felt a lot of pressure to find direction after gradua-tion. The future for her is still unclear, she said, and several students felt the same. In her speech, Hirano said, “May we use the gifts God has given us in the way he asks us to so that we can help our fellow brothers and sisters return to Him also.”

Elder Christofferson expressed at Commencement how titles, certifi-cates, or positions listed on resumes need to be backed up with the skill set that comes with them. “I judge you graduates today to be men and women of sub-stance,” he said. “That is the specialty of Brigham Young University-Hawaii.” Christofferson also echoed three imperatives from a conference talk given by President Thomas S. Monson in October 2008. “I believe that your education here has helped you learn what you should learn, do what you should do, and be what you should be. My plea is that you continue in that path and even quicken your pace in the years ahead.” He encouraged graduates to seek for the characteristics of Christ and apply them to their lives, but advised that although someone may possess Christ-like characteristics, it “does not mean that we avoid all failures or face no challenges or disappointments. There will still be reversals of various kinds and even tragedies. These are the stuff of mortality. But acting and reacting with the charac-ter of Christ will keep us bound to the source of aid, consolation, and recovery. Then, our mortal trials and tragedies will not outlast mortality.” In his Commencement speech, BYUH President John Tanner focused on how believing is seeing and not the other way around. He discussed the counter-intuitive nature that this might be for the

Elder D. Todd Christofferson calls graduates men and women of substance

rest of the world. “Your testimony will open up vistas unavailable to a skeptical world, and it will influence how you see everything else.” While an academic edu-cation teaches students how to ask ques-tions and look for evidence, ultimately they need to have an eye of faith and belief to guide their decisions. He also spoke to graduates about the innate human quality of asking questions and encouraged students to continue to ask and answer questions throughout life. “Human life gains its true dignity as we respond to moral ques-tions that ask us not just what we know, but who we are. Such questions dignify our lives. They enable us to live a ‘life of response.’ We answer these questions not with words but with our lives.” Elder Kim B. Clark of the Sev-enty, who is the commissioner of Church Education, shared two principles of advice at Commencement. Principle 1: Keep the world out of your heart and the Holy Ghost in it. Principle 2: Be the answer to someone’s prayer for help. After the formal ceremony con-cluded, graduates made their way outside to be congratulated by friends, family, and classmates. Some students were quietly congratulated by their friends, some had a strong support of their family, some had banners made with their faces on them, and some even had the Aotearoa haka performed for them.

9NOVEMBER 12, 2015

150th Anniversary Fireside and Hale Dedication

A t the fireside to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of Laie, Elder

Christofferson offered a brief history of the town and the building of the temple. He spoke about the importance of Laie within the church in the Pacific, and the struggles Laie has faced throughout time. “The last 150 years have been a story of economic struggle and survival, and of spiritual labor and sacrifice,” said Elder Christofferson. “Laie has grown from a plantation to a community of Saints. Kings and queens, a president of the United States, and apostles of the Lord have visited here and have praised the children, the families, the order, the beauty, and the spirit of Laie.” Elder Christofferson also spoke of the builders of Laie, saying they

“reached out to others with the gospel of Jesus Christ. They endured disappoint-ment and poverty and hardship. But they also enjoyed life with luaus and swim-ming and dancing and telling stories and laughing.” He added those who were called of God did their best to spiritually nourish the members, and people stayed strong in the faith. To show the effects that Laie has had on the world, Elder Christof-ferson said, “Thousands have qualified for salvation and eternal life and have gone on to their reward. Other millions are blessed by the influence of those who lived, studied, served and worshipped here, and are extending those blessings to others, especially in their own families in many parts of the world.” During his remarks at the rededication of the dormitories, Elder Christofferson spoke about the sacrifice that previous service missionaries and generations gave to make the campus pos-sible. “I hope that, as you reflect upon this day and what was built here, that it will be a symbol to you of the sacrifice, the effort, and the manifestation of faith of those who have gone before and that we will similarly follow that same patternof faith.”

Left: Elder D. Todd Christofferson speaks of Laie’s special meaning at a fireside on Nov. 1. Photo by University Communications. Top: President

Tanner addresses the community at the dedication of Hales 3 and 5.Photo by Lexie Arancibia. Bottom: Graduate Hannah Packard completes her

studies at BYUH. Photo by Kelsie Carlson.

BY CAMRON STOCKFORD

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BEHOLD LAIEYouth come together to celebrate heritage

BY SAMONE YUEN | PAGES 10- 12

Youth performed various dances as part of the “Behold Laie” per-formance on Nov. 7 in the Cannon Activities Center as part of the 150th Anniversary Celebration of the LDS Church in Laie and the

60th Anniversary of BYU-Hawaii. Photos by Lexie Arancibia

11NOVEMBER 12, 2015

aie’s history was brought to life with dances, Hawaiian chants, and modern pop performed by youth from Kahuku,

Laie and Hauula, as well as historical photos and videos. There were two performances on Nov. 7 in the Cannon Activities Center. Aaron Maneha, a resident of Hauula who is putting in his mission papers, said, “I liked how it started by bringing in the historical perspective. Then they incorporated the history of their own family, and how faithful they were in doing the hukilau and the Polynesian Cultural Center, even though they didn’t know Laie would be like this one day.” The production was organized in seven scenes, each about a time in Laie’s history and corresponding with a virtue, called a root. The narrator said at the end, “We behold the love that transcended all boundaries. We behold the gentleness of faithful women. We behold the roots of long-suffering that struggled to survive. We behold the joy. We behold the goodness of the people and their lands. We behold the peace found through identity and culture. We behold the faith enlarged through the House of the Lord. We behold Laie.” Delsa Moe, who was part of the com-mittee organizing the production, said of the

youth performers, “We wanted them to appreci-ate Laie’s prophetic destiny. We wanted them to have fun doing something righteous and good.” Moe said, “We wanted [the audi-ence] to have an understanding of how unique and special this place is and for them to feel the spirit of Laie.” Moe said there were several prominent non-members in the crowd, such as a Methodist minister and Hawaii state Senator Gil Riviere. The performance began by introduc-ing a metaphor of Laie’s history as roots of the strong tree that grew into modern day Laie. The first of these roots was love and highlighted Laie’s origin as a pu‘uhonua, or city of refuge. The youth danced hula to tell the love story of a young man, Laniloa, who fled to Laie to escape the warriors of Kehuku’unaokala’s father, who did not approve of his daughter’s love. The story had a happy ending, as Kehuku’unaokala rejoiced as Laniloa recovered from his wounds within the walls of Laie. This story was from local kumu hula and PCC retiree Cy Bridges, according to Delsa Moe. Kelela Mo’o, a senior in Kamehameha Schools from Laie 6th Ward, said, “The whole experience was hard, but worth it. I enjoyed every minute of it—being with my friends in

the church and sharing our love for Laie.” She said she learned things about Laie over the three months of practice. “I didn’t know Laie had such a strong history with lots of mana in it. We have such deep cultural ties, but the church is very entwined in the history, too. The basis of Laie is Hawaiian culture and the church,” she said. The second scene showed the 1874 visit of King Kalakaua and Queen Kapiolani with a hip-hop version of “Be Our Guest.” Gentleness was the theme, and the narrator said the Queen made a women’s organization to help the poor of her kingdom based on the Relief Society. The youth danced a waltz, which is what the Saints of Laie did in 1874. The third scene was the root of long-suffering and told the story of Laie’s plantation days and Harvey Cluff’s prayer on behalf of the Saints that brought rain to the drought-stricken crops. Sweeping orchestral music gave way to an Asian-inspired drum piece as the youth dida dance with rigid movements, ending with three bows. Images and video of the first hukilau in 1948 and the establishment of the PCC played on a huge screen above the stage during the fourth scene called “Joy.” Girls dressed as

“We wanted [the audience] to have an understandingof how unique and special this place is and for themto feel the spirit of Laie.”

- Delsa Moe

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fish and boys with nets acted out a hukilau. As they left the stage, a girl and a boy danced a knife fight as a 1950s video showed a man and a woman doing the same on the beach. “Laie: a gathering place for all to see,” was one lyric of a song composed by Alex Galeai specifically for the production to which older members of the community danced. Masinaatoa Magalei has lived in Laie since her family immigrated from Samoa when she was 4 years old. She said she remembered waking up at 6 a.m. to start preparing for the hukilau to raise funds for the burned chapel in Laie. She said the entire performance was

“excellent. I think it is important to have our youth know the history of Laie and the ones who came before them. It builds stronger ties to not only their family, but also the place of Laie. And that is like family history.” She said,

“We are still a city of refuge. We live in the world but not of the world, you know.” The Church College of Hawaii was established in 1955, and in the fifth scene called “Goodness,” the youth brought 1950s culture on stage with a set that represented the now filled in Beauty Hole, where all the Laie keiki learned to swim. They danced with

books to the song “Pure Imagination” as black and white photos of the first CCH students flashed above them. They danced in gradua-tion gowns to “Heroes” by Alesso ft. Tove Lo, as colored photographs of BYU-Hawaii grads took the place of their black and white prede-cessors. The audience heard President David O. McKay’s voice say “this is hallowed ground” before the sound morphed into “We Will Rock You” with lyrics tailored to Laie. The high-energy and cheerful scene closed with dancing to “Good Time” by Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen, with 1955 images giving way to foot-age of the present-day BYUH campus. Laie’s history as a cultural refuge for the hula was highlighted in scene six, entitled

“Peace.” “Hula brought people together in a backyard style setting when the sun went down and work for the day was done,” said the narrator. Clad in slacks, button up shirts, cummerbunds and kukui nut leis, young men danced a hula to Hawaiian guitar music, bring-ing the backyard style to the stage. They were followed by girls dancing with ipu and uliuli and boys with puili. The festive atmosphere finished with a dance to “Johnny B. Goode.” The faith of the early saints of Laie was remembered with the 1915 Laie Hawaii

Temple dedication in scene seven. Three youths honored the legacies of their faithful ancestors and their living kupuna came on stage to accept a lei. Kalamela Liua said her Ka’io ohana awaited a religion that would teach how families could be together forever, and then joined the LDS Church. Ethan Maga-lei’s family has been in the church for eight generations and ran the poi factory that Laie residents used as a staple for food in the early 1900s. Keola Coleman spoke about her great grandmother Mary Kamauoha, who was never idle and had an energetic way of life that led her to serve in the temple after she retired. The final song, “Behold Laie,” was a find from the 1950s production “Laieikawai,” according to Joe Ah Quin, who sang it with Kahuku High School choral teacher Jacosa Ainuu. Jack Pitman composed it. Maneha said he participated in the cultural celebration in 2010, when the Laie Hawaii Temple was rededicated. From thatexperience, he said he knows how hard this was to pull off for the organizers and youth.

“I’m very impressed. It looked like they had a good time.”

Left: From the first scene, young women dance a hula. Middle: Ethan Magalei honors his grand-mother Napua Kalama Baker, who is a retired BYUH vice president. Right: Youth from Laie, and

Hauula wards dance in the fourth scene. Photos by Monique Saenz and Lexie Arancibia

13NOVEMBER 12, 2015

In recognition of his friendliness, service,and dedication, F. Mathew Lotomau, a graduate in graphic design, received the "Spirit of Aloha Award" at the Polynesian Cultural Centeron Nov. 4. The Spirit of Aloha Award is in honor of Auntie Barbara Velasco and funded by an endowment by Keith and Carol Jenkins. “This award is granted to a BYU-Hawaii student, or students employed at PCC, who best dem-onstrates the spirit of aloha personified in the service and life of Barbara Velasco,” said PCC President Alfred Grace. Jimmy Mapu, manager of Guest Services, recommended Lotomau for the award, saying, “Mat is an absolute pleasure to work with. He is dependable, committed and is a wonderful example to both our team and to me personally. He has a magnetic personality – the kind that people are drawn too because of who he is and the way he treats others.” “He is one of those rare individuals who is able to completely embody and per-sonify the spirit of aloha and effectively shareit with everyone he comes in contact with,”said Mapu. Bedecked in leis, Lotomau’s first words as he stepped in front of the microphone were, “Here come the tears.” He said he was grateful for his time at the PCC, even though his jobs didn’t have any-thing to do with his major. He said he was happy he was able to “educate tourists that Polynesians exist, and that the spirit of the Lord is in the isles of the sea.” Lotomau referenced Elder D. Todd Christofferson’s talk given at his graduation on Nov. 2, when the apostle said, “I judge you grad-uates today to be men and women of substance.”

Polynesian Cultural Center’s

BY SAMONE YUEN

Australian graduate given award in memoryof PCC’s most friendly ambassador

Lotomau said, in his case, “Mostof that substance is due to the Polynesian Cultural Center.” Lotomau continued, “I’m grateful to have met so many wonderful young men and women,” he paused to compose himself and squeeze out sound through his tears, “who have taught me so much.” He expressed his grati-tude to his mother who flew from Australia to Hawaii, “even though she hates long planerides” and his aunties who gave him his first pil-low and blanket as he was going to sleepin the dorms. “I’m so grateful for everything:The gospel, my parents, the move to Australia, every opportunity I’ve had, people whohave shaped me, and Jesus Christ and his Atonement,” he said.

His manager, Mapu, said, “As an admitted micro-manager myself, the highest compliment that I can pay Mat is that when he’s on-duty I never have to worry, second-guess, or fear for our team’s experience, our customers’ expectations, or the quality of our work. I know for sure that he will lead by example and be able to handle any situation that comes his way.” “He is, quite possibly, one of the hap-piest and friendliest people I know,” said Mapu.

“He can speak intelligently to many issues and is comfortable with the highest VIPs, while also being able to connect with everyday people on their level. He makes no distinction between people and treats them all with the highest level of respect in a way that makes whoever he’s speaking with feel like they are the most impor-tant person in the world.” Lotomau made a video at Mapu’s request for an 11-year-old boy who couldn’t come to Hawaii and the PCC because he was undergoing degenerative heart disease surgery. It was “a visually beautiful and emotionally stirring 12-minute video of all of the different areas and their employees at the PCC. I still get emotional every time I see the video, thinking of the wonderful feelings of love and aloha that all of these wonderful employees of the center shared with a young boy who they had never met,” said Mapu. According to Mapu, the video received over 16,000 views on Lotomau’s per-sonal page. “Not only was this a wonderful way to share aloha with this young boy at a low point in his life, but it also served as a goodwill tool for the PCC to people who viewed it all over the world,” said Mapu.

ALOHA SPIRIT

Lotomau is known for his magneticpersonality that got him the

“Spirit of Aloha Award.”Photo by Lexie Arancibia

13NOVEMBER 12, 2015

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of President John TannerBY HAILEY RASMUSSEN

President John Tanner addresses the audience after receiving his charge to lead BYU-Hawaii on Nov. 10 in the Cannon Activities Center.

15NOVEMBER 12, 2015

Tanner takes reins,inspires studentsPresident John S. Tanner said at his inaugura-tion on Nov. 10 he will seek inspiration to help BYU-Hawaii become what God wants it to be and a Zion university. “I envision this university as a house of learning and a house of light—a phrase that I have had engraved on this medallion,” he said, speaking about the medallion given to him by President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency of the LDS Church, as he was officially installed as president of BYUH in the Cannon Activities Center. “I see a university intended to be not only ‘a school in Zion’ but also a Zion univer-sity—a place where people from many nations learn together in purity, peace, unity, and love. May this school savor so strongly and sweetly of Zion that it creates an appetite in its graduates to build Zion everywhere.” In his address, President Eyring said Tanner asked for direction upon being asked to be the next BYUH president. Eyring responded by inviting him to consult with the Lord, and that is what Tanner said he has done. During his talk at the inauguration, Eyring said,

“President Tanner, you have wisely said that the opportunities to experience a taste of Zion will come most often in small settings. It will be in local congregations, in neighborhoods, and especially in the walls of homes. It will be in classrooms and laboratories. It will be as you meet people in the temple. It may come during walks among those who work at the Polynesian Cultural Center.“ Additionally, Tanner said in his speech when he was in college, he was “a late bloomer,” poor, and he struggled with academics. Stu-dents who attended his inauguration said they feel Tanner is a president they can relate to and who understands their struggles. Michael Nielsen, a junior from Cali-fornia studying business management-supply chain, said he appreciated the empathy he felt emanating from President Tanner. “He is loving and sincere. He cares more about the students and their education than running the school like a business.” Trinity Waddell, a senior from Texas studying biology, said he is interested in seeing what changes President Tanner will bring to this campus. Waddell said he trusts him to have the students’ best interests at heart. Waddell said he thinks Tanner will bring a fresh and broader perspective, and that his attitude will be received well by the local residents.

Caroline Boucher, a freshman from Utah studying international cultural stud-ies, said she thinks Tanner has the aloha spirit, which she feels is important at this university. Keilani N. Briones, the manager of the BYUH Alumni Relations, said in her greet-ing to the BYUH president at the inauguration,

“We pledge to you our support.” Following her words, Elder Kim B. Clark, a general Authority Seventy who is the Commissioner of Church Education, said, “John Tanner is chosen to lead here at BYUH.” Clark called Tanner and his wife the pioneers who the Lord will take to today’s frontier. President Tanner said former BYUH President Steven C. Wheelwright’s “Learn, Lead, Build” motto was valuable for the school and he endorses these goals. Tanner concluded his speech say-ing, “Hamlet says that ‘there’s a divinity that shapes our ends, rough hew them how we may.’ There’s a divinity that shapes the ends of this school. I pray that the Carpenter’s Son will help me hew them as He may, for my deepest desire is to shape this school not according to my vision but to His.” Daniel M. Scott, who represented the BYUH Faculty at the inauguration, said President Tanner is the new rock from where this school will receive revelation.

President John Tanner becomes the 10th president of BYU-Hawaii and receives a medallion from President Henry B. Eyring. Tanner’s wife Susan, participates in its presentation. Photos by Hector Periquin

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Volunteers help unite campus and community The Sesquicentennial Celebration parade, recognizing the 150 years that the LDS Church has been in Laie, united community mem-bers and students as they worked together to put on the event. There were close to 175 volunteers who assisted in theparade by passing out balloons, water, oranges, and frozen yogurt to the parade participants. Seeley Dopp, a junior from Idaho majoring in intercultural studies who works in the Service Center, assisted in organizing the floats in the parking lot to make sure the parade flowed smoothly. The Laie Community Association members were the main organizers for the parade, according to Dopp. She explained how at least two of the members who were in charge of organizing the parade couldn’t help the day of the parade due to life emergencies.

Verla Moore was the only one running it the day of the parade and the student volunteers were able to help relieve some of the pressure. Dopp said, “We both value Laie and we wanted to give students the chance to get to know the kupuna, or elders of the com-munity.” Kupuna rode on motor scooters in the parade. Hawaii Reserves Incor-porated made a float that looked like a sugar cane train, represent-ing the train that used to haul cane from the local plantation fields through Laie until 1948, said BYUH alumni Mike Foley on his Facebook page. Horseback riders from Gunstock Ranch wearing cowboy hats, blue jeans and bandanas rode in the parade. The Hauula 5th Samoan Ward entered a float with people wearing traditional dress. President of the Polyne-sian Cultural Center, Alfred Grace, and his family were in the parade

BY HAILEY RASMUSSEN AND LEEANN LAMBERT

along with a group of PCC em-ployees in cultural clothing from the various villages at the center. There were other floats in the parade, including one from the Marriott Courtyard hotel, as well as elected officials and their supporters, members of the Ka-huku High School Band and more. Ellyn Adams, a sopho-more from California studying art, transferred from BYU-Idaho last week. She said about the parade,

“I heard trucks honking and I de-cided to go check it out. It seemed like a big deal.” She attended the parade with the family she lives with and she saw children collect the candy thrown to the spectators throughout the parade. Adams said the dancers from the different Pacific islands were the most interesting portion of the parade to her. The PCC employees were dancing as they walked down the street. Adams said she has always lived in mostly Mormon

towns, but there is something significantly different about Laie.

“I can see the gratitude that people have towards Heavenly Father here. President Hinckley said that this is a very special place and I can see that since I’ve been here.” She said she has seen a deep level of dedication to the gospel among the members here. Adams lives with a fam-ily off campus, so her experience interacting with the communityis different than that of an on-campus student. After the parade finished and the volunteers were waiting for pizza to arrive, Norm Black, the vice president of Administra-tion at BYUH, thanked them for their participation and expressed how it aided in uniting the stu-dents and community. Elder Aley K. Auna, an Area Seventy, spoketo the students as well. Doppsaid, “This event helped us getoff on the right foot for thiscoming semester.”

Keiki, President and Sister Tanner, and kupuna joined the parade in celebrationof Laie’s 150th anniversary. Photos by Andrea Marshall

Past and present Laie on parade