MAGAZINE • FALL 2010 A Time of Rededication | 2 Reach Beyond | 5 Spreading Peace and Harmony | 7 The Gift of Aloha | 10 Catching the Entrepreneurial Spirit | 12 Experiencing Education | 14 PRESIDENT’S PRESIDENT’SWHAT’S MESSAGE MESSAGEINSIDE FALL 2010 FEATURES MAGAZINE 2 A Time of Rededication BYU–Hawaii students fi nd greater faith through service and dedication during EXECUTIVE EDITOR Laie Hawaii Temple closure. Bill Neal Assistant to the President EDITOR 5 Reach Beyond Michael Johanson Director of Communications The College of Business, Computing, and Government increases career year I have had the wonderful opportunity to visit placement through education and internships. several of the countries from which our students come and where CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Roger Brown our alumni reside. I have seen fi rsthand the development of the Emily Sinkovic students—including this past May when Margaret and I joined Ray Thompson 7 Spreading Peace and Harmony Othe BYU–Hawaii Concert Choir in Asia. I was impressed as I observed current WRITERS The Concert Choir shares a message of hope through music in students and alumni serve together as ambassadors for the university. Roger Brown, Michael Johanson, Bill Neal, Taiwan and Hong Kong. I have seen the strength of BYU–Hawaii alumni in Australia, Hong Kong, Brad Olsen, Michael Parker, Emily Sinkovic, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Samoa, Taiwan, Tonga, Ray Thompson and elsewhere. Their infl uence is felt for good in their communities, in their ART DIRECTOR 10 The Gift of Aloha wards and stakes, and especially in their families. They represent the univer- Randy Sasaki University Communications Knowing what BYU–Hawaii can do for its students and the affect they sity well. They are “genuine gold.” will have on the world, three families share their support for the As BYU–Hawaii looks to the future, our purposes will center on preparing CONTRIBUTING DESIGNERS Leilani Miller, Justin Smith school and its programs. our students to serve and be leaders throughout the world. Thank you for University Communications your support of and involvement with our students. There is much good you PHOTOGRAPHY can do to bless their lives by helping prospective students prepare, being 12 Catching the Entrepreneurial Spirit Monique Saenz, Nathan Lehano mentors, identifying opportunities for jobs and internships, and being pow- University Communications Students of all majors learn entrepreneurial skills to be successful in their erful examples of faith and devotion to the Savior. They will then leave the CHANGE OF ADDRESS fi eld of choice. BYU–Hawaii campus with even more refi ned character, integrity, and greater To continue receiving BYU–Hawaii Magazine, please send address changes to: capacity to build the kingdom of God. 14 Experiencing Education Alumni Relations Mahalo, BYU–Hawaii #1951 The Polynesian Cultural Center was created to support BYU–Hawaii; students Laie, HI 96762 USA now give back through research consulting. email: [email protected] Phone: (808) 675-3278 Web: alumni.byuh.edu BYU–Hawaii Magazine is published by DEPARTMENTS Steven C. Wheelwright University Communications. BYU–Hawaii is President, BYU–Hawaii operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Printing by BYU Print & 16 | Campus News • 18 | Picture This • 19 | Alumni News Mail, Provo, Utah. Front cover photo by Monique Saenz. FALL 2010 1 a time of rededication I I I I I I “Every person needs those [temple] covenants. Laie has its temple on the hill; it is central to homes or even in their home country, so us, “Draw near unto me and I will draw Students nd faith through service during the coming to Laie is a welcome change, and near unto you” (D&C 88:63). Students the idea of that community. a blessing, in which they can enjoy the began to express their faith through action Covenant making and keeping are Laie Hawaii Temple closure blessings of temple attendance more as they planned trips to the Kona Hawaii part of the process of conversion regularly. The temple closure temporarily Temple as individuals, groups, and entire to the fullness of the gospel of I I I I I I withdrew that privilege. wards. Jesus Christ. And for each one of However, as with all trials, The BYU–Hawaii 8th us, conversion culminates in the a family of fi ve from promised us that the Lord would provide helped them to become a stronger and it also presented an oppor- Ward traveled to Kona for Korea to Hawaii required great the help necessary to get there.” more unifi ed family. tunity to learn and grow. a two-day stay, arriving blessings of the temple.” sacrifi ce and a considerable Brother Kwon and his family crafted In April 1988 President Ezra Taft For many of the stu- early in the morning to “I was endowed in —Sister Julie B. Beck, amount of faith, but Tae Kwang a timeline that allowed them to prepare Benson said, “When we put God fi rst, all dents at BYU–Hawaii, the begin their service, which the Laie Temple, so “God Will Ful ll His Promises” Kwon knew it would be worth it. He was fi nancially, physically, and, most impor- other things fall into their proper place or Laie Hawaii Temple is seen lasted until nighttime. The B for me the temple April 2010 coming to further his education to be able tant, spiritually. In December 2009 Tae drop out of our lives.” as an essential element of bishopric had arranged for is a sign of the to better provide for his wife and three Kwang Kwon was sealed to his wife and the school experience, as the students to stay with commitment I have sons. After only a short time in Hawaii, he three sons in the Kona Hawaii Temple. Come to the Temple if it were a part of the cur- members, but because made to be and his family began feeling promptings They fulfi lled their goal, and in retrospect, Many of the students who come to BYU– riculum. Recently, Erdene- there were so many of to attend the temple to be sealed togeth- they realized temple preparation had Hawaii do not have a temple near their bileg Purevsuren, a student righteous, even a them, there were not er. In a family home evening it was from Mongolia, comment- symbol of the things enough beds for everyone. decided. They were united in their desire ed that having a temple I have accomplished The students, however, did Turning Hearts to Fathers to make the preparations to go to the nearby “lifts the overall and learned during not seem to mind. They Even for students who were not able to temple together. spirituality of the area.” my stay in Hawaii.” slept on the fl oor, lawn make the journey, temple work did not Their desire to be sealed as a family Anciently, Laie was a chairs on the back porch, cease; it simply took a different form. In —Celeste Ketcher, Australia was great, but the decision came during pu‘uhonua, or “place of or any other fl at surface Malachi, 4:5–6, the Lord says, “Behold, I a somewhat inopportune time—the refuge.” It remains a place available to them. Students will send you Elijah the prophet . And nearby Laie Hawaii Temple had been of spiritual refuge today for saints from purchased their own tickets to travel, and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the closed for renovations and would not around the islands and across the world. for those who had the desire but not the children, and the heart of the children to reopen for another year. Although there The temple is a center point in the com- resources to travel, means were provided. their fathers.” Students’ hearts turned to is another temple in Hawaii, living on a munity, a physical reminder of temple The students of the ward helped one their fathers as they met in computer labs student budget made the trip to the Kona covenants in the lives of the people. another, provided service, and grew from during Sunday School to learn about the Hawaii Temple on the Big Island of Hawaii the experience. Many student wards made new FamilySearch web site (familysearch. almost impossible. “We thought we would Closure Reveals Devotion the trek to the Big Island during the time org). The search for ancestors has re- have to wait a year until the Laie Hawaii When the temple closed, it presented an of the temple closure. During these trips, sulted not only in hundreds of names now Temple reopened,” says Kwon, “But our opportunity for students to express their students experienced the tremendous prepared for temple work but also a gen- bishop encouraged us not to wait and to devotion, to strengthen commitment, and blessings reserved for those who sacrifi ce eration of young adults prepared to share prepare to go to the Kona temple; he Kona Hawaii Temple strengthen faith. The Lord has instructed for the Lord. the joy of family history work. 2 BYU–HAWAII MAGAZINE FALL 2010 3 I I I I I I Reach Beyond Approaching Dedication The temple is part of my school experi- College of Business, Computing and Government As the rededication approaches, the words of President Gordon B. ence at BYU–Hawaii. It is the most won- Hinckley are on the minds of the derful place to go to nd peace and in- Saints: “Live worthy to hold a spiration. The absence of the temple temple recommend. There is required me to strengthen my faith nothing more precious than a without having the constant reminder of temple recommend. Whether continual temple attendance there to help you can go there frequently or not, qualify for a temple recommend me.