A uniformity of devotion like BYU-Hawaii is found in an international travel of Elder Holland

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve visited Middle East and three European nations from February 20 to March 4. He called the experience as a uniformity of faithful devotion of Latter-day Saints of diverse cultures and nations regardless languages and geographies, says Church News.

Traveling to United Arab Emirates, Netherlands, England and Germany, Elder Holland described the devotion of Church members at each place as being "in their hearts, their spirits."

“You hear someone bear testimony in a different language, or coming out of a different culture, or in a very distant part of the earth and yet it sounds like you are in your home ward,” said Elder Holland summed his traveling experience with a testimony. “The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles, one of the great powers of the gospel,” he said.

Elder Holland got to preside over two stake conferences in two different countries that are 3,000 miles apart on the same weekend. He presided at the stake conference in Abu Dhabi on February 22 and then over to the Apeldoorn Netherlands Stake conference's sessions February 23 and 24.

One thing unique about the trip, Elder Holland got to dedicate the Abu Dhabi Stake Center in the United Arab Emirates, the first building constructed by the Church in the Middle East. 

While traveling to British, Elder Holland visited the London's historic Hyde Park Chapel where recently remodeled to function as a church meetinghouse and a visitors' center. Elder Holland said, "I was in this building when it was dedicated, so my memories are very sweet today.” He recalled his memory a young missionary in British Mission during the early 1960s.

Spending couple days in Germany, Elder Holland met with mission presidents and spoke to LDS members in several combined church meetings. He told the German members that “we truly are all brothers and sisters in the gospel and encouraged them to continue meeting together in order to foster a spirit of love.”

Ben Howells, an ICS senior from England, said he was happy that Elder Holland visited his country. He said, “I served mission in London and it is the same mission as Elder Holland. I I feel the sense of connection with him. When he visited PCC last year, I was lucky to be his tour guide. ”

Tsz Yin Chan, Biochemistry senior from Hong Kong, said, “Since Elder Holland already visited Middle East, I wish Elder Holland can visit China someday and dedicate a visitor center or a chapel in maybe Shanghai or Sichun. We have a lot of members in those areas.”

Clover Cheng

1000 Shillings - A project of hope for impoverished women

On a breezy Saturday, BYU-Hawaii students gathered to learn how to support impoverished women in Uganda and Nepal with 1000 Shillings, a non-profited organization started by BYU-H alumn, in Mckay Foyer on March 30.

1000 Shillings became the name of the company based on the amount of money that the average woman in the Namatala slum lives on per day – approximately 1,000 Ugandan Shillings (US$.40). While it caused 2000 Shillings to buy a can of soda in Africa, 1000 Shillings goals to empower impoverished women artisans around the world by giving their products an international market, a platform for the women to tell their stories, and seed capital for the women to start their own businesses.

Anthony Noble, a political science senior from Washington as well as the “One” president, said he would like to see how other humanitarian organizations do to help people all over the world. He said, “I also served mission in Africa and I expect to hear to learn a lot from 1000 Shillings.”

The event was started with an introduction of 1000 Shillings with its purpose and mission. The host Seth Young is a peacebuilding junior from Arizona. His sister is Alexis Young, one of the co-founder of 1000 Shillings and alumni of BYU-H. “Raising awareness is my full purpose and to help my sister and the women in Africa and Nepal by spreading the word about 1000 Shillings,” said Young.

Young showed videos with the testimonies of the women in Africa and Nepal that 1000 Shillings are currently helping to be independent and self-reliant. One African woman Esther, who was formerly a farmer, said she used to earn 500 Shillings (US$0.20) a day. 1000 Shillings taught her how to make jewelry and sell it overseas. She appreciated 1000 Shillings and said, “Now I can eat breakfast with my family. Thank you,” said Esther.

A Nepal woman Saili also gave thank to 1000 Shillings. Saili was one of the victims of sex trafficking. She was sold as a sex worker when she was 16 and found in a recovery home by 1000 Shillings when she was 21. Now she learned how to sew and make jewelries to provide for her son.

Showing guests the jewelers and other products made by these women of 1000 Shillings, Young invited guests to consider buying the products as the end of the events. “Think of the stories of each product,” Young said and picked up a necklace. “It is worthy cost to help women and their family. It is about supporting women and building peace. Peace if harder to achieve if people’s basis human need is not achieved.”

Seeley Dopp, a peacebuilding junior from Idaho, said, “There are so many non-profit organizations for Africa but not the U.S. We have sex trafficking here too. Maybe we can lern from 1000 Shillings to do something to help the women in need,” she said. 

For more info on 1000 Shillings go to their website: www.1000shillings.com

Clover Cheng

Peace builders from the U.S. Department of Defense visited BYU-Hawaii

Sponsored by McKay Center, guest speakers Robert Ricigliano, Director of Institute of World Affairs at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Karen Grattan, Senior operations Research analyst, introduced the practical side of peacebuilding to BYU-Hawaii Students in McKay Foyer on March 28.

        Ricigliano and Grattan are currently working together as analyst contractor at the Department of Defense (DOD) for United States government. They are not only working partners, but also friend since high school.

Grattan shared how she came to involve with peace and reconciliation. She said, “I am a social scientist and I study how cocaine causes brain injury to pregnant women and babies. There are a lot of social reasons that put these women into the attempt of drug dealing. Family conflict is one of the reasons. Through understanding how the social system affects conflict, we might able to build peace in the interpersonal level and even an organizational level.”

Building peace is possible when people start in a personal level, said Grattan. She used her team in DOD as an example, said, “Peace is a team work. You need to hold accountability as a peace builder before going out to build peace between countries. My team does conflict analysis and it is important to be reflexive and reflective. These attitudes are the keys to create harmony in a personal level.”

Agreed with Grattan, Ricigliano said, “If you know the movie Invictus, I was in South Africa during 1970 to 1985 when the conflict was so serious between black and white people.” He said he was once given the opportunity to shake hand with Magnus Malan, Chief of the South African Defence Force and Army in the 1970s. Malan was charged for murdering and torture in 1995.

Ricigliano recalled, “Malan is the evilest person in my definition. But when I shook his hand, I realized he was a sunken person. He was told he was right the whole time. He was just functioning according to the system. And when the crimes were made known to public, everyone pointed their fingers to him.”

“Peace happens when we all work together,” Ricigliano shared his personal peacebuilding motto. “Peace is about how to work and what to do. Together is the key word. None of us is as smart as all of us. I believe in collective intelligence. We need lots of people in building peace…Violence cannot fix problem. It seems stop the problem for a short time, but the problem will come back.”

Chase Buie, a peacebuilding junior from Salt Lake City, said he desired to work in the field of conflict resolution like the guest speakers. “I am here to learn how to deal with conflicts in a macro and micro level,” said Buie.

Planning to be a lawyer, Rick Plehm, a communication senior from Utah, said he also interested to be a mediator in reconciliation. He said, “I want to explore the alternative option about what I might do. This lecture reminds me of Professor Chad Compton’s organizational communication class.”

Host of the lecture, Kelsey Gonzalez, is a communication senior from Washington as well as friend with Ricigliano. She said, “Rob and Karen are experienced in international negotiation. I want students to see how building peace is possible in a practical level.” She added, “The speakers are also interested to meet Professor Chad Ford and talk about our peacebuilding program in BYU-H.”

Clover Cheng

New LDS website counter rumors about Mormons and China

After Liahona have been approved to be printed in simplified Chinese in 2012, there is another cheering news for over 70 Mainland Chinese students in BYU-Hawaii. The new website, www.mormonsandchina.org, is now available for specific information between the People's Republic of China and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The new website attempts to answer frequently asked questions by church leaders who minister to Chinese Mormon as well as Chinese Mormon who are currently living outside China but have concerns about continuing the worship after their returning to China.

For the first time, the church is publicly addressing the concerns regarding to its operation and membership in China. As a Q&A format, the site provides official guidelines, including the current status of the Church in China, whether the church has missionary activity in China, and how to find a LDS congregation in China.

“Our more open communication about the church in China follows our developed relationship of trust with Chinese officials and our concern for the PRC citizens who are joining the church throughout the world,” said Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the LDS Church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who has supervised the church in China for a number of years.

“We will continue to teach our members to be good citizens. Providing accurate information about the Church will allow them to better contribute to society in China,” Oaks emphasized, "The church has no proselyting missionaries in the People's Republic of China nor does it have any plans to send missionaries, or to engage in any proselyting activities in China.”

“Over the years, the Church has built a strong relationship of trust with the People’s Republic of China by always respecting the important laws and traditions of that country,” for this purpose, he said, the Church is blocking access to this website so it cannot be viewed in China.”  

According to the site, to avoid any misunderstanding as trying to promote the Church in China, should church members neither distribute any Church materials nor set up religious-based internet blogs. It is also discouraged that church members take more than one copy of church material beyond personal use when travel to China.

Jeff Ye, a political junior from China, said he felt happy about the new site. “It's helpful for Chinese who joined the church outside china and plan to go back,” Ye said. As a Chinese Mormon got baptized in Mainland China, he said the site does not directly affect him because “I already knew where the church is and the laws in china.”

Jade Cheng, an elementary education freshman from Hong Kong, said “I am happy finally the church stands up and clear all the rumors. Sometimes, I hear stories about how members tempted to bring Book of Mormon or Liahona while traveling to China. I think it is not good for the reputation of the church. We shouldn’t do illegal things even though for the purpose of preaching the gospel.”

Planning to do internship in China, Derek Kaye, an ICS junior from Washington, said he appreciated the website reminds LDS member the do and don’t in China. “The church is becoming a global organization and the website means it is progressing,” he said. “I read the site. It is a good example that the church is very careful in following the correct principle. And it fulfilled my curiosity about what to be aware of.” For example, he said, “At least I know bringing ‘1 copy of Book of Mormon to China only’ is not just a Mormon rumor.”

Clover Cheng

Hot rice pudding recipe

Save some money from buying pudding in Foodland but make your own sweet treat. With the good use of creativity, leftover rice can become a dessert.

Prep. Time: 15 minutes

Serve: 2 people

Reference: Family recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup of leftover white rice

1 cup of whole milk

4 Tablespoons of sugar

1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extra

Your choice of toppings (cinnamon, raisin, or nuts)

Steps:

Heat the leftover rice in the microwave for 1 minute.

Blend the rice and milk in a blender until it becomes rice puree.

Boil the mixture in medium heat with sugar and vanilla extra.

Stir the mixture for 10 minutes until the mixture becomes porridge.

Put the pudding in cups/containers.

Sprinkle your choice of toppings.

Enjoy while it is hot.

*If a cold pudding is preferred, put the pudding in the fridge for 1 hour.

“Matariki Festival of Aotearoa”- An evening of Maori culture in cafe

With food, laugh, and performance, BYU-Hawaii students and facility members gathered to celebrate the Maori New Year Harvest in cafeteria on March 22. BYU-H Food Service served guests with the New Zealand menu including carved leg of lamb, Maori Boil up, and steamed bread pudding, etc. 

“We want to give students a different experience. We did a lot of Asian culture in the past and it is time to do Polynesian culture,” said Marilou Lee, BYUH Club Dining and Vending Manager, explaining the purpose of the event.

“The event was a result of a lot of communication and collaboration,” said Lee. “Café cooperated with the Kiwi Chapter and the community members for the menu. They showed us the recipe and we try to be as close as possible”

Agreeing with Lee, Katai Mariteragi, Club Dining supervisor, gave thanks to whoever helped to bring the event alive. “Food Service can’t do it alone. We always invite students to involve in any event. Like this one, Kiwi Chapter helped to provide decoration and entertainment…We have schedule for other Polynesian culture in the soon future too.”

For chapters which have the will to showcase their culture, Lee extended the invitation and said, “Contact us for an event. BYU-H is so diverse. We should use the chance well to learn from different culture.”

Spencer Tan, the Executive Chef, said “If you try the salad, you would see a strange curly plant, it is the fiddlehead fern. We order if from New Zealand. We did the research few months ahead for the special order.

Serving the guests food plus a big smile, Paul Mooso, a biochemistry sophomore from Indiana, who called himself a “Dish Washing Captain in café”, said he was proud because “the students kept come back for second plate. They look really excited about the food.” 

“I am certainly going for more food,” said William Tokaduaskux-Swagger-duadua, an exercise science freshman from New Zealand, who had 6 empty plates and 2 baskets in front of him. “I am very skeptical about the food, but Café brings me home today. I always tell my friends about the food in New Zealand, today Café back my word. I feel proud my culture is on plate. Now students can experience my culture, food, and performance.”

Also from New Zealand, Shaquille Byrnes, a history sophomore, complimented the decoration. She said, “Everything looks amazing and everyone looks happy. Tonight is a good first step for students to know our culture. It is a good and close representation.”

Without a meal plan, Mathias Tov Lubega, an IT sophomore from Uganda, said he paid to come and it was all worth it. “The food is very cultural. I like the soup. It is delicious and reminds me home. We use pumpkin, photo, and sweet potato in soup too. I wish café can have event like this every week.”

“I came for an adventure,” said Janell England, a psychology sophomore from Calif., confessed she knew nothing about New Zealand culture. “I do like it and surely I will go back for more food.”

The next coming event of Food Service called the “Earth Week” which aimed to bring awareness about food waste and earth protection to BYU-H on April 23 -25.

Clover Cheng

Laie Elementary School lockdown lifted after scare

Students at Laie Elementary School are resuming normal activities after reports of harassing phone calls put the school in lockdown on March 8.

According to the Laie Elementary School official website, a front office staff received harassing phone calls requesting for information on March 7. While the purpose of the request and the caller’s identity were unknown, the staff member made a report to Honolulu Police Department (HPD).

The lockdown was put into effect shortly after a threat of bodily harm to the staff member from more harassing phone calls on March 8. During the lockdown, students were kept safe inside the locked classrooms and were released at the end of the school day.

HPD was on campus around noon and checked on the phone number of the harassing phone calls, and concluded that this was a "scam”. No injuries have been reported. A security attendant from Keamalu Consulting Investigation Consulting Agency was sent by District Office to guard campus on March 11.

Has a 6-year-old daughter currently attending Laie Elementary School, Skyler Chambers, a business junior from Utah, said “I got aggravated when I found out about the lockdown. It was 2:15pm when I went to pick up my daughter as a normal off school time. I saw cops running around like a mad house. It makes me nervous.”

“Parents need to know what is going on. It will make me feel better if I know how the school is going to protect the children,” Chambers continued. “I wish the school can contact parents through either email or phone call but not give us a letter after…My daughter said the teacher made them to sit under the desk for 2 hours and go to toilet in a bucket.”

As a prospective teacher, Lauren Clifford, a TESOL junior from Arizona, shared her opinion if she was put in the situation of a lockdown. She said, “As a teacher, we’ve to be brace, take authority, take action, and be confident. The most important thing is to keep the students calm. A teacher shouldn’t act scared, the students would get worry. A true hero is to be strong for others.”

        Roy H. Yamamoto, the Director of Campus Safety & Security, said BYU-Hawaii has an emergency notification system to alert students for an emergency. He recalled, “We have used the emergency notification system for tsunami warnings such as for the earthquake off British Columbia in October 2012 and Japan in March 2011.”

        According to the campus alert system poster themed “Don’t be the last to know” says, “BYU Hawaii’s new alert system enables emergency response team members to communicate with students, staff, and faculty in minutes by sending a message via a number of contact methods—including email, text messaging, and cell phones.”

For students who would like to receive emergency alerts from BYU-H’s Everbridge Aware campus alert system, here are the instructions:

1.          Login to my.byuh.edu

2.          Click on myTools > Update Personal Information

Enter or update your Campus Emergency Alert Phone

Beware of exhibitionist

        A BYU-Hawaii student ran into an exhibitionist, so called “flasher”, in Laie Shopping Center at a late evening in January, according to Helaman M. Ka’onohi, Assistance Manager of Security as well as a former policeman.

         As Ka’onohi described, the student was walking at the back road in Laie Shopping Center. There was a Polynesian looking guy was standing 50 feet away from her. He smiled at her while opening his long coat – he had his shirt on but without pant. The student was in shock, but she ran away at once.

         “It’s still an on going investigation,” said Ka’onohi. “It is my advice to all BYU-H students: Time is very important. If you experience something like this, make a police record immediately, so the policeman can come, check the area, and do investigation.”

Ka’onohi said female students should be aware not to walk alone after dark. He said, “If you ever walk alone at night, such as to the shopping center or McDonald, try to stay in the light area and don’t take short cut. If you can, carry a whistle with you.”

          If students find out their roommate ran into an exhibitionist, Ka’onohi said, “Talk to them, be supportive, and understand they [the victims] did nothing wrong. Encourage them to report the case…. If a case is recorded, it also promotes safety to others.” He encouraged students who experiencing problem to see a counselor or their bishop.

          Boyd Timothy, a psychology Assistant Professor, explained an exhibitionist refers to someone who engages into sexual fantasy by exposing the genitals suddenly to stranger.

Timothy said an exhibitionist want to get a “self sexual satisfaction and pleasure” by going nude in front of people. He said, “They get sexual excitement and fulfill the sexual fantasy by witnessing others to scream, in shock, or in horror.”

           “They [exhibitionists] don’t want an actually sexual contact. The object of their sexual desire is to assault somebody and to see them freak out. They want you to run away. If you don’t run away, they will because they know it is illegal…. According to the statistic, women and children are usually the target because they tend to run away,” said Timothy.

           If students ever run into an exhibitionist, Timothy suggested, “If you can control, don’t give them the reaction. They are so mean, so un-thoughtful, and so selfish to sexually assault you. Just walk away and be indifferent.”

           Timothy continued, “You probably feel it is disgusting. But don’t give them what they want. Walk away and call the cob. It might be the best avenge. You probably don’t want to involve in someone’s fantasy. It is a crime. It needs to stop. Get the cob involved, so the exhibitionist can be helped.”

          Sponsored by The David O McKay Center for Intercultural Understanding, a group of ICS students brought a Sexual Violence Awareness Week to BYU-H partnering with the Counseling Services and the Security Office from Feb11 to Feb15.

         Taylor Rippy is a peace-building senior from Calif. and also one of the hosts of the event. Aimed to educated students and community members of the issue, Rippy said, “Students are unaware of the on-campus resources we have to help prevent sexual violence as well as help to heal survivors. From the Security Office's late-night shuttle to our talented and capable on-campus counselors, there are people that are ready and willing to help.” 

Clover Cheng

Samoan Ifoga – a lecture to the powerful peacebuilding for wrong doing

To introduce students how other culture resolve conflict, Michael Ligaliga and students were gathered to learn about Ifoga - a Samoan atonement of apology and ritual of forgiveness sponsored by David O McKay Intercultural Peacebuilding on March 14 in McKay Foyer.

Ifoga – means bowing down in the Samoan language – is a traditional and physical ritual apology for the guiltty party demonstrates remorse by begging for forgiveness in Samoa culture. It has been practiced over 200 years with the aim to ten le va (maintain a good relationship), said Ligaliga.

Before dawn, the guilty party arrives with gifts and kneels outside the house of the offended party. Once the offended party decides to accept the ifoga, they take the mat that covers the guilty party which symbolizes atonement and forgiveness. Then both parties would have a feast together as a symbol of peace again.

An important part of ifoga is the fine mat which symbolizes a high value in Samoan culture. This leave-made mat can be very costly and takes years to complete, according to Ligaliga. He said his family has a mat that cost over US$10,000.

An ifoga might take place when people commit wrong doing such as rape, murder, beat near death, insect, or adultery.

As a collectivism society like China, harmony has an important function in the Samoan culture. He said, “When Samoan first meet, they ask ‘who is your parent?’ In Samoan culture, there is no such a concept ‘me’ but ‘us’. A person is a relational being and we are all apart of the circle.”

In another words, everything gets affected when there is something goes wrong. Ligaliga said, “It is like the Samoan proverb says ‘stone maybe reduced to sand but words never decay’.”

Shame is a key element that makes the ritual powerful. “Shame in ifoga can be best explained by another Samoan proverb ‘I rather die than being shame’. It is similar to the English slang ‘take it for the team’,” said Ligaliga.

Since it is considered as shame to offend others and also shame in not accepting an ifoga, it is the first option in Samoan culture to stop a conflict. He said, “I’ve never heard a rejection to ifoga my life. But if an ifoga ever be rejected, the offenders would leave but come back soon and try again.”

Besides harmony and shame, fear also plays an important role in the ritual. “Nothing can be hidden under the sun,” Ligaliga explained with a Samoan proverb. “People fear to be punished by God and Aitu (supernatural) because all punishment will always be revealed in a due time. Children might suffer from the parents’ wrong doing.”

“Although ifoga is a powerful practice to maintain peace in Samoa, it might not able to be understood to the west,” said Ligaliga.

        Sarah Yeung, communication sophomore from Hong Kong, said she can relate ifoga to Chinese culture. “Hong Kong is still pretty collectivism although it is highly westernize. We have similar rituals like kneel, bow down, and offer tea. Traditionally, we also offer gifts like food or money. Today, we still give present as an offering and visit the family for apology.”

        Chantel Hunt, an anthropology senior from Utah, said she expected to learn how peace is built outside the west. She said, “I don’t know much about Samoan culture and I want to see the alternately want of conflict resolution. A western worldview sometimes makes a conflict resolution more difficult. We should learn from the collectivism culture.”

Clover Cheng

Hula on ice: PCC performed in the 64th Sapporo Snow Festival in Japan

       While most BYU-Hawaii students were enjoying sunshine in Hawaii, a group of students were dancing with snow in Japan. PCC were invited to perform hula in the 64th Sapporo Snow Festival in Hokkaido, Japan from February 1 to 8.

        J. Alan Walker, the Admission Sales of Polynesian Cultural Center, was the leader of this PCC promotional entertainment team. He said dancing in front of the snow sculptures of Maruko, a Japanese well-known animation character, was a remarkable experience.

“The performers actually performed their first show in bare feet [on ice],” he said. “That was more of a painful memory than a fun one…. The performers further improvised by wearing normal socks covered with a plastic bag and thermal socks on top of that. It kept their feet warm.”

Walker continued, “We performed three times a day: on a snow stage outdoor, in the underground walkway stage, and also for the Hokkaido Prefectural government leaders at the Hokkaido Prefectural Government Office in Sapporo.”

These on-ice-hula performances were also covered by local regional television and newspapers, said Walker. “The thought of hula dancers in the snow was very unique and attractive to the media and general consumers,”he said.

The PCC promotional entertainment team was sponsored by JTB Hawaii, Hawaii Tourism Japan, and Hawaiian Airlines to visit Japan aimed to promote Hawaii and the new direct Hawaiian Airlines flight between Sapporo and Honolulu. Team members included six student dancers, PCC Theater Directors Ellen Gay and Dela Rosa, and the Musician & Sound recording/arranging Specialist Milton Kaka.

Walker said PCC has schedule another special plan in the soon future. Including the three-time World Fire Knife Champion David Galeai of Laie, PCC is invited to perform at the 2013 Odaiba Hawaii Festival in Tokyo, Japan with a 15-man promotional team in late April and early May. 

Rani Anandan, an anthropology senior from American Samoa as well as a performer in Ali'i Luau, PCC, said dancing with bare foot is not easy. She said, “As a dancer, I wouldn’t mind or worry about the natural condition. Dancing with the spirit is more important. It is a cultural pride to dance regardless the natural condition.”

“Although the weather was cool, I can see a warm spirit surround the dancers,” said Miki Mateo, an ICS senior from Japan. When she saw the performers’ photos on facebook, she said she was impressed by their attitude. “The dancers were smiling the whole time and it’s awesome. I know Hokkaido is a very cold place.”

The Sapporo Snow Festival is one of Japan's largest winter events which attract a growing number of visitors from Japan and abroad every year. About two million people visit Sapporo to see the splendid snow statues and ice sculptures every winter, according to the Sapporo Snow Festival 2013 official website.

Clover Cheng

Peacebuilding ads: Be a peace builder regardless major, race, and language

       Walking around BYU-Hawaii campus, there are 2 colorful posters on campus lately – one about Nichel Warwick and one about David Whippy. They are the IPB ads sponsored by McKay Center of intercultural peacebuilding aimed to increase the awareness of student body about peace building. Mackenzie McLeod said, “You don’t need to be an IPB major to be a peace builder. We are all peace builder.”

Meet Mackenzie McLeod, an art junior from Calif. as well as a member of the IPB ads team. She is a missionary-to-be, a gamer, a sushi-eater, a painter, and a baseball lover. She is a peacebuilder.

McLeod and her teammates are currently doing an IPB certificate. All of them are from different majors. “Like ‘I am the Mormon campaign’, we want to show others we are normal people who want to do something in our life,” said McLeod. “I am just like you. I am no better then you. I am a psychology major, but I apply the IPB theories in my life.”  

Since the beginning of this semester, McLeod and her teammates gathered potential people’s photo and story. They then make it into poster and publish it around campus as well as uploading on Facebook. The poster would be renewed once per week with different spotlight. “We try to highlight around two people per week and we will have nine more people on the way,” McLeod explained.  

“We chose David and Nichel because they are very personable and they are very involved in their major,” she said. To learn more about the story behind these peace builders, McLeod invited students to check out the link on the posters and read the blogs. “We are also doing a big poster soon with 9 people and we are trying to get diversity,” she said.   

Feeling excited about the IPB ads, Denise Burnett, an IPB senior from Washington, said “I think the IPB major for me is something that solidified my reason to be here [BYUH]. I learn a deeper understanding of how to be a disciple of Christ. I think that every student at this campus or students in general would be benefited by taking at least one IPB class because it is going to enrich all aspect of their life.”

Adam Eastburn, a fine art sophomore from Calif., said he used to think IPB is a “lie”, “brainwashing major”, and “major for people who don’t know what they want to do in life”. He said, “Now I am in the program. It is very helpful and I think it is like a secular gospel. The language of peace is a mutual language for everyone to speak and can speak. I don’t know what brought me in [the program], I just feel right.”

Clover Cheng

Bridge the gap of difference with understanding: IPB opening social invited attendees to be a peace builder

        On a breezy evening, over 100 BYU-Hawaii students and Laie community members responded to the invitation of David O McKay Center to the intercultural peacebuilding (IPB) opening social on March 5 in McKay Foyer.  

        Attended the activity, Seeley Dopp, an IPB junior from Idaho, said she wanted to show support to her IPB fellows. “I love the IPB program. It is about learning people’s story and bridge the gap that separate people.”

        Opening the activity with welcome, Dr. Chad Ford, Chair of the IPB, introduced special guests of the evening Stephanie Catudal, the first IPB graduate from BYU-H, and Richard and Paula Vial, the board member for McKay Center IPB.

Visiting from Arizona, Catudal is planning to be a professor in BYU-H regarding to IPB topics in the soon future. “Peacebuilding is all about daily interaction, academic, and life,” she said. “It helps people to grow in credibility with colleagues and peers because people can sense that you are different, which means you are quicker in turn with people’s need. This knowledge in pacebuilding allows you to reach out to people and see them as people instead of object.”

        As member of the board, the Vials help to raise fund, find students jobs, and to support the faculties as well as department to do research. “I think relationship is the most important in the world,” said Richard Vial and explained why he wants to aid IPB over other programs. “No business can be successful without a good human relationship.”

        Leading by IPB students, the opening social were divided into 3 workshops. The first one told the story of Mckay Mural. As President David O. Mckay prophesied, BYU-H was built for a special purpose: students would leave the school as a peacemaker in their country.

        The second workshop taught the Arbinger theory - a theory of leadership and self-deception by Terry Warner. It is about different way to view people. The theory says a true leader sees people as human with strength and weakness, but a leader with self-deception oftentimes see people as objects like tool, obstacle, or someone does not matter.

        Students can learn more about mediation from the third workshop. Michael Ligaliga, a McKay Center Graduate Intern, was invited to introduce the IPB major and certificate. He urged students to “be the change that you want to see and needed to the world”.  

        Concluded the evening with his experience as alumni of BYU-H, Dr. Chad Ford said, “I was a trouble maker, but BYU-H changed my life. It changed the way I see the world: Zion isn’t zion if there are conflict and disagreement. It will fall short.”

Student got watery eye when he related his testimony with IPB. Ford said, “Think of the cycle of pain, prejudice, hatred, and hopeless you see on news. There are people out there having the desire to change, but they don’t know how. They even doubt if change is possible. Peace is possible and we are not here [BYU-H and the Earth] by chance. We are here to learn how to be one with different people, race, and language. We are the model of the world and the instrument of God to give people hope and peace.”

Clover Cheng

Campus Comment: “What is your opinion to PDA? (Public Display Affection)”

"Personally I don’t really care if people do it or not. I think it’s normal when people are in love. But I don’t want to do that with my girlfriend. Something like that I want to keep it private.”

~Uuganbaatar Tsogoo, Business, Freshman, Mongolia

“If it is in a classroom, then I think it is annoying and if it is in sacrament meeting, then I think it is weird. Sometimes, people put their hand on a weird part and I don’t feel comfortable to see it. But I guess it is probably a part of the American culture.”

~Iris Lin, Graphic Design, Senior, Taiwan

“It is not acceptable to do it in public. I think holding hand is okay but making out is not okay. It is distracting and annoying. Even if I have a girl friend, I won’t do something like this in public.”

~Josh Remington, Pre Biology, Senior, California

“I am a Latino, so for me it is normal. It is a part of the culture. People are very expressive and physically comfortable with each other. But I won’t do it personally. Making out in public is kind of disrespectful and I feel like it screws my public image.”

~Miguel Medina, Hotel & tourism management, Senior, Honduras

“I think there is should be an unspoken designated area [for PDA] and as long as it is not inside a church building. I’ve married recently and now I make out with my wife in our house.”

~Jay Yung, Marketing, Senior, Florida

“Holding hand is fine. Kissing in public is not okay if it is longer than couple of seconds. It is a stereotype that American makes out in public because they like to show off. It is actually depends on the person. It makes me uncomfortable, especially when it is in the library.”

~Olivia Warren, Elementary education, Junior, Virginia 

Clover Cheng

Grandma's goodies

When Grandma Lee took her pot pies out of a mini-stove, the smell of flour and meat filled the air. Grandma Lee is a new seller in BYU-Hawaii Farmer’s Market with her hot and ready-to-eat pot pie. “If you are hungry, come and visit Grandma Lee,” she said and laughed.

Grandma Lee said her granddaughters Becky and Amanda Lapenes are the reasons to bring her to BYU-H. Through sharing her cooking skills, Grandma Lee said she wanted to fundraise for 16-year-old Becky’s speech trip “We the People” in Washington DC and 14-year-old Amanda’s gymnastic lessons.

Grandma Lee used to be the owner and cook of two restaurants. She also worked at BYU-H food service for 7 years, while David Keala, Director of Food Services Administration, and Spencer Tan, the Executive Chef, were her student workers.

        With the menu of beef pot pie, mango pies, and the best seller - Thai style curry chicken pot pie, Grandma Lee wants BYU-H students to know her love to Thai culture. She said, “I used to live in Thailand for 4 years and my son also went on mission in Thailand…. I love Thai food, so I put it [the element] in my pot pie.”

        “You should all come because my grandma makes the best quality of things,” said Becky Lapenes who came and helped her grandmother to sell pie. “My grandma is a self-learner and you gonna taste our family recipe,” said Lapenes.

        Sister Henderson, a senior missionary from Utah, bought her husband Elder Henderson a chicken pot pie for lunch. She said, “It is my 3^rd time buying pie from her [Grandma Lee]. Pot pie is a nutritious and quick meal. The crust is perfect…. I know how to make it, but it takes lots of works.”

         Jessica Enos, a psychology senior from Calif., also brought a chicken pot pie. “I like curry and it looks delicious,” said Enos. “I won’t eat it right now. I am going to enjoy it at home.”

Clover Cheng

Give children wings and roots - a feature of Pacific Heritage Academy

With aloha, BYU-Hawaii welcomed the Pacific Heritage Academy (PHA) on a sunny day. Ofa Kinikini Moea’i, the Executive Director and Founder of PHA, brought her 8^th grade students to present their researches to BYU-H regarding to vanishing cultures and climate change on February 8 in Stake Center.

This cultural-based charter school from Utah has a special connection with BYU-H. Moea’i used to be an administration and counseling on the campus of BYU-H. The other kumus (teachers), like Kaau Alapa, the PHA Director of student family and community affairs, is a BYU-H alumnus; Nephi Prime, the PHA Director of Language & Cultures, used to work as a Māori Cultural Ambassador for the PCC while attending BYU-H.

Moea’i said the mission of PHA is to “give children root and wings, so they know where their home is and how to fly high.” She said the 21st century is an age of creativity. Through purposeful curricular and environmental supports in the school and in the home, PHA prepares children for their adult’s life by connecting children to what make them joyful and marketable.

Arranging the visit, Tevita Ka’ili, Associate Profession in anthropology, said the purpose was to “help BYU-H especially ICS students to learn about diversity and how culture be used out there. And this [PHA] is the practical level of culture in the real life.”

Cowdery Crisanto, an anthropology grad from Oregon, was the first intern with the PHA. He descried it as a remarkable learning experience. “We can build a bridge of peace over conflict of different by understanding the cultures,” he said. “Diversity is the spice of life. Without differences the world would be very boring.”

Spending time in the Polynesia Cultural Center and BYU-H, children of the PHA expressed gratitude to the field trip. Fauhiva Olive, with Tongan heritage, said, “The things I saw in the PCC strengthen my knowledge of my culture.”

Agreeing with Olive, Ariana Thompson, with English heritage, said, “BYU-H is an amazing place….it makes me want to be in this school someday.”

Christ Schaelling, with Mexican heritage, also said, “BYU-H is better than any school ever. I love the different culture on campus.” 
For more information about PHA, please visit www.phlearning.org

Almost flooded BYU-Hawaii Campus: Heavy Rain in Laie on January 28

       Heavy rain covered Laie on the last Monday of January. Water flooded the Polynesian Cultural Center and BYU-Hawaii campus including GCB and Hale 5 on January 28, 2013.

        Alexa Maxwell is an elementary education senior from Utah and a RA in Hale 5. She described how Hale 5 was flooded. She said, “It started raining really bad and the rain drain was clogged, so the water was filling up until the middle of the court yard and started to get into the dorm room.”

        Maxwell said she experienced a remarkable time of team work during the flood. “A lot of the residents got their garbage can to shovel the water out of the Hale,” she recalled. “Even up the girls in up-stair came to help. The flood didn’t affect them but down stair. It is awesome to see all the residents came together. It is really good. None of the room really got flooded. It is a good news.”

        Lei Chan, a TEOFL junior from China and a Handicraft Sale in the PCC, said she experienced a hard time working in the rain. “The back gate area was flooded and I had a hard time to walk in work. The water came to my mid-calf. It was so dirty and filled with sand, grease, and mud. A 5 minutes road now takes me 20 minutes to walk.” Although Chan did not enjoy the rain, something else did. “The ducks in PCC river were so happy and swimming. It was cute,” she said.

Holding different opinion, Preston Squire, a peace-building junior from Utah, said he took advantage from the rain. He said, “The rain actually became a good excuse for me to stay indoor and do homework. And I like the rain brought humidity to Laie.”

Valentine’s Day special recipe for single people

Single students in BYU-Hawaii have the option to have a quick and easy meal full of protein to celebrate the day. 

Serves: 1 person only
Time: 40 minutes
Reference: my mother’s recipe

Ingredients:
1 cup of sliced fresh mushrooms
1 salmon fillet

Seasonings:
2 Tablespoons of lime juice
1/2 teaspoon of garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon of chopped basil
1/4 teaspoon of chili sauce 

Steps:
1. Pre-heat the oven to 300 degrees
2. Season skinless side of salmon with spices. 
3. Place mushrooms on bottom of foil then top with salmon.
4. Wrap tinfoil around seasoned salmon with the skinless side face up.
5. Place the tinfoil pouch in an over-safe container and cook it in the oven for 35 minutes.
6. Remove from oven, open foil and top fish with the lime juice. 
7. Enjoy. 

*If the fish can be flaked easily with a fork, then it is ready to serve

Cupcakes make debut at the Farmer’s Market

 
A new sweet treat is for sale at the BYU-Hawaii Farmer’s Market from the Aloha Cookie and Cupcake Company. Debra Turin is selling her colorful and flavorful cupcakes.

Turin used to have a candy store back in Arizona. Inspired by this experience, Turin and her friend Carla Stroud Creekmore created their baking business and set foot in BYUH Farmer’s Market with their cupcakes, cookies, brownies, and shortbread.

“We choose to associate with BYUHawaii’s Farmer’s Market because we love the spirit of the university here,” said Turin.

“Cookies and cupcakes are synonymous. I think of home, good feeling, and comfort food. No one sits down and says, ‘I think I’ll eat a whole cake.’ But if you say, ‘Here’s a really good cupcake no one can resist.’ Besides, there’s nothing more rewarding for me than to watch students or anyone take a bite of my cupcake and look like they’ve just had the best thing on earth.”

Baking with only local and fresh ingredients is the secret of their products, said Turin. “We use only the best. Real butter but not lard for our cookies and frosting. And of course, there’s always a secret ingredient which will remain a secret. But the best word to describe it is to love what you do.”

Turin wants BYUH students to know she also takes special orders besides cupcakes and cookies. “We do wedding, birthdays, anniversaries, baby showers, and bridal shower cakes. For specialty cakes and cookies, we meet with our clients and have a tasting beforehand.”

Vatau Bridges, a BYUH Security office employee and alumnus, bought four red velvet and cream cheese cupcakes to share with her friends. “Cupcakes are my secret to being slim and skinny,” said Bridges with a laugh.

After taking the first bite of her cupcake, Bridges described the taste. “It is breathtaking. It is very moist. I can taste the butter and it is good stuff. It is so delicious. I’ll certainly come back and buy more,” said Bridges.

Vincent Hew, a mathematics junior from Malaysia, ordered a Valentine’s Day special for his girlfriend, Joei Wong, a math sophomore from Malaysia. Hew also brought six cupcakes in different flavors. “They [cupcakes] just look so delicious,” he said.

Hew described the cupcake. “It is very soft and creamy. It just tastes very good and better than normal dessert. It is totally worth buying.” He continued, “It is sweet but in a level that even guys would enjoy.”