Comm 211 Special Issue

THE LEADER

Winter Semester 2013

Ke Alaka i

Relationship advice 6 Newlyweds making adjustments

Test your courage 14 Jump from a cliff or swim with sharks

MEDIA WRITING

STUDENTS’

SPECIAL ISSUE

2 Ke AlAKA‘i

Ke Alaka iWinter Semester 2013

ON THE COVER

[page 5]

[page 7]

[page 8]

[page 11]

Doctor says t ime with girl fr iends make women healthier

A.J. Eddy, holding the microphone, inter-views Emily Waddell, for a class project in one of the classrooms in the Aloha Center. Photo by Mei Yin

The ar t of the pickup l ine

Table of Contents

ADViSOR

LeeAnn Lambert

MULTiMEDiA STUDENT JOURNALiSTS

Makara Fitzgerald, Allie Gardiner, Aly Young, Suthi Siriphan, Blakely Gull, Joe Tanner, Lance Foust, Kayla White, Ashley Ricks Bramwell, An-dre Tuari Tauraa, Homer Wolman, Kalynn Latu, Bolortamir Luvsantseren, Hailey Gardiner, Alec Barney, Austin Meldrum, Dylan Sage-Wilcox, A.J. Eddy

Mei YinMa Vis Taguba

iNTERNS

Students in “Media Writing” Communications 211 at BYU-Hawaii wrote stories and created multimedia projects during Winter Semester 2013. This is a sampling of their work. Some students in the class are on the Ke Alaka’i staff. Much of their work can be found in the weekly issues throughout the semester.

Making long-distance relationships work

Honor ing PCC President Von Orgil l

[page 12]

[page 14]

[page 16]

[page 19]

One-footed surfer shares his story

ASL certi f icate in available online

Extreme sports test your courage

Senior to star t blog for LDS women

Survivors of nuclear testing on Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands in 1954 stood

with students from University of Hawaii-Manoa and BYU-Hawaii as they remembered the 59th anniversary of the blast on March 1. The “Remember, Recommit and Resist” event was organized by the Oceania Rising Organization from UH-Manoa at the Halau o Haumea, Kamakakuokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies. This event brought together participants from different countries and islands and gave them the opportunity to learn from each other stories. The event was supported by the BYUH Human Rights Organization, the Political Science Department and the Pacific Islands Studies Department. Twenty students from BYUH under the supervision of Chris-tina Akanoa and Dr. Tevita Ka’ili joined the movement to honor the survivors of nuclear testing. Those participating included native peoples of the Marshall Islands, Hawaii, Guam, Okinawa, Palau, Tonga, Samoa, New Zealand, the Cook Islands and others from the Pacific Islands. It was an opportunity for all Ocea-nia inhabitants to be re-linked and fight for peace and justice against militarization and imperialism, said participants. French Polyne-sia received the full support of all the mem-bers of the organizations present on that day to be relisted on the list of countries-to-be-de-colonized at the United Nations. Though the 200 people on that day represented a small portion compared to all the inhabitants of Oceania, participants said, their voices, hearts and minds were heard. Hironui Johnston, the representa-tive of Ma’ohi Nui or French Polynesia, said, “I found a peaceful feeling within me. I know that this movement will provide an opportunity to better strengthen the countries and islands of Oceania. I am glad though

very surprised that this event would be the opportunity for us Te Ta’ata no Ma’ohi Nui (natives of French Polynesia) to find allies to help us in our desire to be decolonized islands.” Ilima Long, a member of Ocea-nia Rising and the co-event planner of the gathering, said she was happy to see people gave a support to Ma’ohi Nui. “Everything exceeded my expectations and I am glad that we could have heard and learned stories and testimonies from other countries.”

BYUH joins with others to remember island survivors of nuclear testing

“It raised my awareness on

nuclear testing and it was very

informative.”-Karen Son, BYUH political

science major

Karen Son, a student majoring in political science from BYUH, said the event was something new for her and it increased her knowledge of the people of Oceania. She said, “It raised my awareness on nuclear test-ing and it was very informative.” The Oceania Rising Organization is working together with others for an Oceania free of militarization and imperialism. Elma Coleman, a survivor from nuclear testing in Marshall Islands, said, “I saw people dying of cancer and other sick-ness because of the radioactivity left by the bombs. The kids were playing with that dust thinking it was snow.” She thanked everyone and said, “Today the youth are aware of what hap-pened in the past and they are joining the battle against political lies and manipulation.”

-Andre TuAr i TAurAA

3 3winter semester 2013

Workers ride a Palestinian-only bus en route to the West Bank from Tel Aviv in March. Photo by AP

Israel designates some buses at ‘Palestinian only’

In the beginning of March, Israel desig-nated specific public buses as “Palestinian

only,” reports the Associated Press. Mary Garbett, a senior in anthro-pology from Salt Lake City, Utah, frowned when she heard the news and said, “I think it’s very discouraging. It makes me feel like nothing is being resolved. You hear about these things and you feel like you are back to square one. Segregation of a bus. It’s like whites and blacks in the USA. That’s the first thing I thought of.” Johnny Watkins, a sophomore in biology from Los Angeles, Calif., said he felt differently. “We tend to impose our history on other people’s histories. I feel that this is different than in the South because maybe not everyone is trying to kill Israelis, but it is an issue there. I’d want to learn more before I say I support it or not.” Erin Friel, a senior studying elementary education from Long Island, New York, said, “It’s sad, but it might be necessary. If the choice is to separate buses or let people fight and kill each other, then separateing buses is easier. But there could probably be a better solution.”

The new bus route will go from the Eyal checkpoint in the West Bank of Israel to Jerusalem. It is intended for Palestinian workers who have special permits to work in Israel. There are about 30,000 workers that make the commute into Israel for employ-ment. According to Al-Jazeera, the Israeli Transport Ministry said bus routes would “improve public transport services for Pales-tinian workers entering Israel.” Vans ran by private operators charge “exorbitant prices,” it reports, and the new bus routes can help those who are being taken advantage of.

“The Ministry of Transport has not issued any instruction or prohibition that prevents Palestinian workers from traveling on public transport in Israel nor in Judea and Samaria,” it said, referring to the West Bank. Reactions from human rights groups have been similar to this one from the B’Tselem Rights Group, as seen in a Reuters report. “Creating separate bus lines for Israeli Jews and Palestinians is a revolting plan. This is simply racism. Such a plan cannot be justified with claims of security needs or overcrowding.” -MAkArA F i TzgerAld

A Palestinian man pauses near the Qalandia checkpoint between the West Bank city of Ramallah and Jerusalem on March 30. Photo by AP

Ke AlAKA‘i4

Students at BYU-Hawaii have different strategies when it comes to managing

their time and balancing academics and their social lives. Andrew Harward, a senior in business from Arizona, said, “I get all my schoolwork done, and then I play.” McKay Holland, a junior in busi-ness from California, said, “I make a list in my head of things to do and try to priori-tize.” “Recently, I’ve been planning out my day the night before so I can be on top of things. It’s working very well,” said Josh Riboldi, a junior in business from Utah. Kathy Imangazi, an exercise and sports science major from Texas, said, “I have a planner, so I write down all of my home-

work and check it off as I go.”

Some students

said they have a more difficult time when it comes to time management. When asked how they manage their time, Kariza Opeda, a junior in business management in market-ing from Las Vegas, Nev., said, “I don’t ... but having a planner helps a lot just to write things down.” Jordan Eror, a sophomore in biol-ogy from Kailua, said, “I have a hard time saying no to things” Toby Redd, a junior in business from Washington, said, “The more time I have on my hands to do what I want, the more poorly I manage my time. If I’m super busy with clubs, activities, school, and work, I’ll allocate time to do my homework and whatever I need to do. “When I have lots of time on my hands, I’ll think ‘Oh I can just put it off and do it later.’ In reality, I realize I have home-work at midnight, and I’m thinking, ‘Why

it’s a Balancing ActS tuden t s say manag i ng t he i r t ime t akes p l ann i ng

did I do this to myself?’ It’s a huge vicious circle. I don’t manage my time well. But if I had more things to do, I would manage my time better.” Collegelife.com gives pointers on how college students can better manage their time: 1. Just say no when you are too busy or stressed out. 2. Space things out rather than try-ing to do everything in one day or week. 3. Use your social time wisely and don’t let it take over your life. 4. Prioritize putting most important things first. 5. Stay healthy by eating right, sleeping right and exercising.

-All i e gArd iner

5winter semester 2013

But BYUH men say they need t ime with fr iends too

Instead of running to the BYU-Hawaii gym for a quick health boost, a Stanford Uni-

versity psychiatrist advises women take their best girlfriend out to grab some ice cream. According to Laura Roberts, head of psychiatry at Stanford, this is one of the greatest things a woman can do for her health. Friendships between women provide support systems that help one another cope with stress and difficult life experiences, says Roberts, who recommends a woman “nurture her relationships with her girlfriends.” Hailey Bleazard, a junior in biology from Cedar City, Utah, said, “Having a little late night chat with my roommates helps me get ready for bed at night. It is always a great de-stresser for me to be able to vent.” Roberts says when woman physical-ly spend time with their girlfriends, it creates

more serotonin. According to Medical News Today, serotonin is an antidepressant brain chemical that promotes feelings of wellbeing in people. While it may be easy to write off “girl time” because it seems like such a lei-surely activity, Roberts argues that the “fail-ure to create and maintain quality personal relationships with others is as dangerous to our physical health as smoking.” According to Roberts, this is strictly a female trait due to women’s tendency to share feelings whereas men often form rela-tionships around activities. But a male BYUH student, D.J. Johnson, a sophomore from Phoenix, Ariz., disagrees with Roberts’ observations. “We might not talk about feelings but we defi-nitely talk about girls and sports. We need the social aspect just as much as girls. We need to kick back and shoot the breeze with the boys.”

Jared Zimmerman, a junior in business from Orange County, Calif., said, “It depends. Girls are more open about their feelings with strangers but guys are more selective. We are much less likely to talk about our feelings but sometimes we need that communication.” In agreement with Zimmerman, Sam Spring, a junior in graphic design from San Diego, Calif., said, “I think girls are more open with people and less restrictive whereas boys tend to need to know the per-son they are opening up to.” Johnson said he believes gender isn’t of consequence when it comes to spend-ing time with your friends, but rather the matter rests on the individual’s personality type. “Whether they are social or not is the question,” he said. “Are you going to be at home playing ‘World of War Craft’ or out dancing at ‘Zanza Bar?’”

-BlAkely gull

This BYU-Hawaii women’s group meets regularly on campus to support one another. A Stanford University psychiatrist says women are healthier if they spend time with their girlfriends. Ke Alaka’i file photo

S tan f o rd psych i a t r i s t : Hang i ng ou t w i t h g i r l f r i e nds make women hea l t h i e r

Students at BYU-Hawaii often get married while studying at school. Dreams of the perfect marriage start to flood thoughts,

but sometimes it is not always picture perfect. Married people around campus, ranging from newly-weds to years of experience, were asked what some of the changes, surprises, and adjustments they made during the beginning of their marriages. They mentioned things like deciding what to eat as a couple and differences in habits or ways of doing things. Change in diet was one of the top adjustments both men and women said they had to make after getting married. Emma McCullough, a senior majoring in ICS from Mas-sachusetts, chuckled when asked the question. She said, “There are a million transitions that occur when you get married. But one of the big ones for us has been regarding food. My husband could,

and would, survive on ice cream, salsa, tortilla chips, and POG if I would let him. We buy a jar of salsa and a gallon of ice cream every week. I’m not a huge fan of salsa and am not overly happy about the constant temptation of ice cream in the fridge, so this has become a small source of contention between us.” McCullough continued, “I also can’t stand the idea of spending money on sugar juice when water is free. I would rather buy other things, like clothes or sushi. I also love tuna, and it’s dirt cheap. My husband hates tuna (the smell and taste) and is not at all shy about his opinion. It drives me nuts, but we are both getting bet-ter about being flexible and accommodating.” Ben Neff, a senior majoring in accounting from Utah, also said, “I had to start eating whatever she ate since she was the one who cooked all the time. My wife is a lot healthier than I am so I had to learn how to eat rabbit food and try to enjoy it.” Ariel Chaffin, a recent graduate of BYUH from California, said, “I noticed that the way that I cooked started to change. I be-came less creative with the meals that I made because I didn’t want to make something bad and serve it to my husband. We started to eat the same five meals all the time because I knew he would always like them.” Rebecca Yung, a graduate of BYUH living in TVA, talked about another battle most couples seem to have when adjusting to marriage. With a smile on her face, Yung said, “I never realized how much we would actually fight about the toilet seat, I just thought that was only in movies.” Spencer Sheets, a junior majoring in marketing from Colo-rado, said, “One of the things that I do that my wife had to adjust to is I like to blow my nose in the shower. For about a year, she would hear me blowing my nose in the shower and think it was weird until I finally heard her do it. She probably doesn’t want me to mention that.” Changes in schedules and punctuality were another adjust-ment couples said they had to face. Cassandra Fryhoff, a senior majoring in music from Washington, said, “Before I was married, I was always on time to ev-erything. I took pride in my punctuality and would always show up at least 10 minutes early. Since I have been married, all I want to do is sleep in as long as I can and I’m always running behind schedule.”

-ASHley r ickS BrAMwell

Marriage MisconceptionsFiguring out what to eat each night can be an unexpected challenge, says married couples

Barry and Melinda Yin were married at the Laie Temple. Photo by Mei Yin

Making long-distance relationships workDeciding to continue your relationship despite distance barri-

ers used to come along with a near-guarantee seal of failure, but some BYU-Hawaii students said they are working to prove that standard wrong. “My advice? Just don’t do long distance,” said Atalie Isaac-son, a sophomore majoring in business. Now Isaacson might feel strongly against long-distance relationships, but for students involved in them, the hardest thing about attending a school some 2,387 miles away from the mainland is making it work. Sarah Miller, a senior in psychology from California and in a long-distance relationship, said on the topic, “Being an ocean away you have two separate lives that are difficult to merge at times. But if you are able and willing to work hard… then it’s worth it.” Miller said there are benefits of living apart, “You grow comfortable with discussing things that might otherwise make you feel vulnerable.” While some long-distance relationships may have the emotional, spiritual, and mental side completely full, it can leave the physical part lacking. Miller’s beau, Carter Zufeit of Sacramento, Calif., said this is the most difficult part of their relationship. “Not being able to be with each other whenever you want is hard,” he said. Another person in a long-distance relationship is senior, Whitney Hansen from Saratoga, Calif., who said “not being able to hang out and spend time together in person” is her toughest obstacle. However, technological advancements have brought people in long-distance relationships closer than ever. Texting, Facebook messaging, phone calls, and Skype have all made it possible to be in constant contact with your significant other. In fact, Hansen’s boyfriend, Brandon Oliveri of Saratoga, Calif., said scheduling “electronic hang outs” is a must in any long-distance relationship. However, some students find the non-stop, high-tech com-munication overly annoying. “I feel like when you are dating someone from home then you typically spend a lot of time on the phone and miss out on the full BYUH experience,” said Clark Cannon, a junior in business supply chain. “Finding the balance between Hawaii and your loved ones isn’t easy but the hardest of times bring the greatest of blessings,” said Hansen. Here are some tips on how to keep your long-distance rela-tionship going:

Trust Your Relationship Build a bond as a couple and communicate any problems. But Zufeit warned, “Don’t over think anything unless you have a valid and sure reason to.” Miller also said she believes trust to be the best for a long-distance relationship, “You have to build a basis of trust before anything else. Knowing you trust one another’s commit-ted and dependable helps build a relationship.” Focus on the Positives Remember that you are only apart for a short period of time. If you believed staying together was worth it, than fight for that. However Hansen explains, “Don’t fight about the little things. It’s hard enough being apart. Focus on the positives in your relationship.”Look to the Future The period of physical absence may be longer than antici-pated and may be probably harder then expected, but you are both powering through it. Oliveri said, “Being in a long-distance relation-ship gives you something to look forward to.”

-BlAkely gull

Making relationships work can be hard when you are together, but BYU-Hawaii students say they can make long-distance relationships

work too. Photo by Emily Waddell

7winter semester 2013

Ke AlAKA‘i8

ByuH women : They can be com i ca l , ge t a guy a da t e , o r be ‘ c r eepy ’

The dating scene on the BYU-Hawaii campus can be difficult, and for those

who are single, is a pickup line really the answer to finding a date? Students from all around campus were asked for their opinions on the useful-ness of pickup lines. Many students were en-thusiastic, while others felt quite the opposite. Savanna Gregory, a junior in exer-cise and sports science from Murray, Utah, said, “There’s a wide variety of [pickup lines]. Some are incredibly creepy, some are funny [and] some are cute.” Additionally, Gregory said, “If a guy makes me laugh and seems pretty chill, I'll give him my number. [But] if I get the creepy vibe, with the intense staring and a pickup line with innuendo... ain't happenin.’” Ashley Vidinhar, a senior majoring in social work from Maui, expressed opti-mism when asked her thoughts about pickup lines. She said some pickup lines are “kind of funny” while others “are a little obnoxious.” Vidinhar added it depends on how sincere a pickup line was, it could work and lead to getting a date. Jesse Woodburry, a freshman with an undeclared major from Arizona, had similar feelings about pickup lines. He felt they could aid in getting a date if done the right way. He said, “I think if it’s not super corny it could work, [or] if it were something original.”

Elizabeth Davis, a senior in interna-tional culture studies from Fayetteville, Ark., said pickup lines work, but it depends on the reason behind it. “If you are doing it to get a date, then no. But if you are doing it to get someone to notice you and get on the radar,” she said, it can be useful. Aubrey Snelson, a freshman from Provo, Utah, majoring in pre-professional biology, said one of the worst types of pickup lines are when guys use them to get their arm around a girl. She mentioned one experience where the guy distracted her by saying, “Oh look a shooting star….” Throwing her hands in the air Snel-son exclaimed, “They stick their arm around you! Seriously?” She said she disliked these kinds of incidents saying that pickup lines, or excuses for someone to wrap their arm around you, is “creepy” and makes guys “way less attractive.” Forrest Stephenson, a sophomore in hospitality management from Tooele County, Utah, said he had used pickup lines before, one of which being, “You look a lot like my next girlfriend.” Josh Casper, a senior in political science from Los Angeles, Calif., said, “If you were a booger I’d pick you first, is probably the lamest [pickup line] I’ve ever heard.” Casper wasn’t the only student to express his dislike for pickup lines. Several other notably bad pickup lines were men-tioned:

The ART of The PickuP LiNe

Some l i n e s s t uden t s say do no t wo rk

• “ T he r e ’ s some t h i ng wrong w i t h you r phone… i t doesn ’ t have my numbe r . ”

• “ I s you r name v i r t u e? Because you ga r n i s h my t h ough t s unceas i ng l y ? ”

• “Hey wha t t ime i s i t ? I t ’ s t ime f o r you t o g i v e me you r numbe r . ”

• “D i d i t h u r t…When you f e l l f r om heaven? ”

• “ A r e you i n my h i s t o r y c l a s s? ”

• “Oh baby I k now t h i s i s c razy , bu t he r e ’ s my numbe r so ca l l me maybe . ”

-kAylA wH iTe

BYUH women say pickup lines can be effective but often are not. Photo by Emily Waddell

9winter semester 2013

Few experiences at BYU-Hawaii give students a taste of local life like a ride on The Bus.

People from all walks of life can be found riding the 55 as they go back and forth between the beaches of the North Shore and the bustling city of Honolulu. Locals, mainland tourists, backpackers, homeless people, and BYUH students form a melting pot that can give quite the unexpected kick. Morgan Elany, a sophomore from Grand Junction, Colo., studying hospitality and tourism management, related her most recent bus experience. Elany said she was waiting at a bus stop on the North Shore this semester when a woman with “leather skin” and bright bleach blonde hair approached her. After chatting with her for several minutes, this woman started screaming profanities and yelling, “You’re all monkeys” at passing cars as she unsuccessfully tried to hitchhike. Elany’s friend Aspen Florez, a freshman from Draper, Utah, studying musical theater, told how her seatmate on the bus was a little less than what he appeared to be. “I was sitting next to a man who said he was crippled when asked to give up his seat for an elderly passenger. When the seated man’s stop arrived, he promptly stood up, walked off the bus, and started jogging away,” Florez said arching her eyebrows and shrugging her shoulders. Students who frequently ride the bus shared some general advices to make an unforgettable trip. First, stay near the front or go to the back. That is where most of the action is happening. If you’re

worried about getting cold, stay away from the vents on the sides. Give up your seat for the pregnant, disabled, and elderly. And if you don’t want to be bothered, grab a window seat, stick in some ear buds, and enjoy the scenery. A trip on the bus isn’t always funny and interesting (or boring); sometimes it can be scary or uncomfortable. Jordan Barlow, a junior studying social work from Brigham City, Utah, said a pale man approached him with a hood on, whose only words to him were, “I’ve done some bad things. I’m wanted man. Do you think I should turn myself in?” Barlow said he gave no reply and walked off the bus. For most students interviewed, however, bus trips leave good lasting memories. Seeley Dopp, a junior from Meridian, Idaho, studying peacebuilding, related how she likes hearing stories from the older generation she meets on the bus. She said she met a gentle-man in his 60s who was a skateboarder and loved to tell where his favorite skate spots were. She said people have been kind to her and shared pleasant conversation with her. Whatever your reason for riding the bus, students said you’ll rarely find a dull moment.

Encounters of The Bus KineS tuden t s sha r e t he i r adven t u r e s r i d i n g t he bus

BYU-Hawaii students say riding The Bus around Oahu is a way to meet interesting people. Ke Alaka’i file photo

-HOmer WOlmAn

Ke AlAKA‘i10

l i v i n g i n t h e l ea f y t r e e t ops

At one point during childhood, children all want a tree house. Most people abandoned this dream, but for BYU-Hawaii student James Astle, this dream has become a reality.

Located 20 feet above the ground in the heart of Laie hangs the humble home of Astle. What originally started as a joke from Astle’s uncle became a home project for Astle, a junior studying graphic design from Los Angeles, Calif. Astle’s uncle, who owns the property, jokingly suggested Astle should “live in the trees.” The rest, as they say, is history. Using various types of scrap wood he gathered from home and around the community, Astle constructed his multi-level tree house. The tree house has three tiers and is half the size of the McKay foyer. Visitors to the tree house said they enjoyed the unique experience. “It was great. It was a place where you could relax and be yourself. I give it 4 out of 5 stars,” said Kariza Opeda, a junior study-ing marketing from Las Vegas, Nev. The first tier of the tree house is Astle’s living space. The living space features imitation hard word floors and a workbench for Astle’s art projects. He is a jeans designer as well. In between the first and third tiers is a tucked-away, second-floor bedroom. With a thin mattress, pillow, and a sheet, Astle makes his bed under the floorboards of the upper floor. At the top of the tree house is a loft with Astle’s surfboards and clothes. Lahvjal Fuimaono, a junior studying graphic design from Samoa, said the multiple levels and the height of the tree house made him dizzy. But he also acknowledged it was dark and windy outside and that was probably the reason he felt uncomfortable. The tree house has most of the amenities anyone would need to live in Hawaii. The tree house has electricity, windows to keep the house cool, and a watertight roof. “I really only go to my uncle’s house to shower and do laundry. Sometimes I cook food in there too, but I have a hot plate,” said Astle. Astle said he loves living in the tree house and wants to build other tree houses in the future. “It really helps me feel peaceful and helps get my creative juices flowing,” said Astle. The “Ulu Hut,” as Astle calls it, is a sight to behold. For ev-ery kid who has dreamed of living up in the trees and sleeping under the stars, this modern-day tree-top shack lives up to lofty childhood expectations.

-HOmer WOlmAn

DesigNiNg A TRee house

BYU-Hawaii student and jeans designer James Astle built this three-story treehouse on his uncle’s property in Laie. He lives and designs

in his unique tree home. Photo by Matt MacDonald

11winter semester 2013

President Von Orgill left the Polynesian Cultural Center with grand farewell. After nearly 13 years as president of the cen-ter, Orgill and his wife received expressions of love and gifts

from PCC employees at a special event held at the center in February. Employees said they had prepared for farewell and were waiting impatiently for it. People said they wanted to give him gifts. The festivities went on for six straight hours beginning at 6:30 p.m. and lasting until after midnight. Jumping on a PCC canoe, the Orgills’ first surprise was the presence of Orgill’s brother whom he didn’t know was coming. Then two canoes carrying people left the entrance sailing to each of the six villages of the center. The performers in each village performed and presented gifts thanking Orgill for the love he once shared to the Polynesians at his arrival and the love that Polynesians have for him and his entire family. “When I first arrived in 2000, the people welcomed me as if I was a very important person, as if I was already a member of their family,” said Orgill. Traditional dances and songs accompanied the ceremony of the gift-giving. “It was amazing,” said Teuira Napa, a freshman from Cook Islands. “I saw the Hawaiian Village performing and then giv-ing leis for each person on the canoe. It seems like President received a little piece of our soul to be taken with him to his next destina-tion.” Orgill and his wife have been called to preside over a LDS Church mission in California and left Hawaii in March. Speaking about the Orgills’ PCC farewell, Vaimiti Cates, a sophomore in hospitality and tourism from Rurutu, said, “Tahiti was my favorite one because they performed the bird-dance and sang very nicely.” After visiting each village, the canoes went to the middle area of the lagoon where hundreds of employees and friends were waiting for the finale. The theatre section performed an important section of the night show “Ha, the Breath of Life.” People filled both sides of the lagoon’s shores. All of a sudden, a fire appeared and lit each torch held by employees. Encircling the canoes with magical lit torches, people were dancing. Orgill stood up with a big smile on his face and danced along with everyone around him. Those who were there said it wasn’t about who you are nor how old you are, was it simply about love and mutual respect.

The employees then had dinner and additional gifts were presented. From the precious pearls of Tahiti to the famous weapons of Samoa, President Orgill received gifts that would fill a room. People involved with the PCC over the years came to honor Orgill along with community members and even new PCC employ-ees. President Orgill’s final remarks were “Before my arrival I was told, ‘Von this is not about you but about them.’ I served the Polynesians and learned to love them. Now I cannot find any word in the world to describe their kindness. I love the Polynesians. They are my ohana.” Among the gifts Orgill received was one of the greatest master-chief knives from Samoa. It was said at the event that Orgill is the third person to receive this gift after the Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley.

-Andre TuAr i TAurAA

Honoring President Von Orgi l lHe r ece i v e s l o ve and g i f t s f r om Pcc emp l oyees he ca l l s h i s ‘ o hana ’

President Von Orgill lead the Polynesian Cultural Center for 13 years. He leaves his job at the center to serve as a LDS mission

president in California. Photo by Monique Saenz

Ke AlAKA‘i12

If you want to learn how to surf, you can get in over your head before you even get into the water. Among the things you need to learn about is whether to get a short board or a long board or even a fun board.

Oahu is home to different types of waves and each has a board that best suits it, said students who surf. When first learning to surf, you need to exercise caution before grabbing the nearest board and jumping into the water. The BYU-Hawaii community offers many used boards for sale, but it may be difficult to know which board is right for you. Ben Johnson, a junior from Agora Hills, Calif., shared some words of wisdom for beginners. “I disregard buying a short board unless you want to have a difficult time getting waves.” His advice is to “get a Wavestorm. They are fun, safe, durable, depend-able, easy to ride, and cheap. They are a lot of fun and you can ride them anywhere. I mean look at J.O.B. He rides one at Pipe.” J.O.B is the North Shore resident and pro surfer Jamie O’Brien. He is the first surfer to win The Billabong Pipemasters, The Volcom Pipe Pro, and the Da Hui Back-door Shootout, three major competitions at the world-famous Bonzai Pipeline Beach on the North Shore. With big success at contests, O’Brien is a free surfer and generally trav-els the world surfing and not competing in contests. He can be seen riding a Wavestorm then jumping onto his regular shortboard in the middle of the wave. The infamous Wavestorm can be found at Costco or second hand from BYUH students. The Wavestorm is an 8-foot soft-top board that is easy on the wallet. Because it is made out of foam, and not the typical fiberglass or epoxy, it is more ding resistant and forgiving. Wavestorms can be ridden anywhere but are best at local spots such as Castles and Turtle Bay on smaller days. If a Wavestorm doesn’t sound like it is right for you, senior Chad Mavis from Las Vegas, Nev., recommended that “If you know that you want to eventually surf bigger waves, something like a funboard would be a great starter board. You can paddle into waves easier and still maneuver the board and duck dive.” Funboards are generally 6-to-8 feet and have a rounded nose. They tend to be wider and thicker than other board types, which allows them to float more and make it easier to paddle. They can be ridden in most places and offer a wide variety of wave types. When deciding to purchase your first board, the best advice is to make a new friend who can help you out. Surfing is an art and BYUH is full of artists.

- lAnce fOusT

What you need to know about buying a board Looking at BYU-Hawaii student Joey

Williams, you wouldn’t see anything out of the ordinary. He is a loving

husband, soon to be father, good student, and an avid surfer. It’s what you don’t see that makes Williams such an amazing guy. He was born with a birth defect and his left foot is only partially developed. This disabil-ity is something that may set others back, but this has pushed Williams to become one of BYUH’s standout surfers. “I didn’t have trouble running or playing sports, nothing physical really, only jumping off my left foot like in basketball,” Williams said. When asked if it was hard for him to learn how to walk, he said, “I learned to walk on the feet I have so it was the same as someone learning to walk on two normal feet.” When Williams was 14, he had three surgical options to fix his foot. “It came to a moment where the doctor said we can do one of four things: Don’t do anything at all and leave it the way it was; go through three operations, two involved cutting his bone so that the leg could grow more; or the third one, which wasn’t going to happen, where the doctor would cut off my foot and put on a permanent prosthetic. So I just elected to get the knee surgery and since then it’s been just fine.” He said it was a pretty difficult de-cision as a 14-year-old boy to make. “When I went in to the doctor’s office, I heard a kid getting his bones stretched and it sounded awful so I was over that.” Williams said his condition isn’t a genetic birth defect or a disease. “It’s like a

Surfing despitedifficultiesBYUH student uses disability as motivation

A row of boards on the North Shore of Oahu. For those learning how to surf, they also need to consider which type of board to use. Ke Alaka’i file photo

13winter semester 2013

one in one billion freak thing that happened. Just a matter of my limb getting stuck in scar tissue in my mother’s uterus.” Williams’ surfing is some on the best on campus and he charges big waves on the North Shore. He said his favorite wave is at Rockies Beach. Williams said of learning to surf, “It wasn’t hard learning, but it’s hard progressing, doing progressive moves, because balancing on that foot is difficult because of the lack of muscle structure. So a lot of progressive moves where the balance is heavy on my back foot, my little foot, were hard to get right.” Some of the things that helped Williams with his surfing is board shaping. In surfing there are different options for surf-boards from squash tail, which is the most common, to pin tail, where the tail is narrow-er. These shapes of the tail can have a drastic affect on a surfer’s style and maneuverability. “I surf nothing but pintails because the tail is narrow so I have more control, where as the standard squash tail is too big,” he said. With Williams being a goofy footer, where his right foot is forward leaving his tiny foot as his dominate foot behind, he said he enjoys going backside on the wave because it is easier for him to do maneuvers. “When I’m going backside, I have more stability because I’m going on my heel where I have more balance, as well as my right foot too, and being able to get to the lip or the critical point I want to hit (do a turn) then I have all the balance on my toes, which is easier. Where as when I’m going front side I have to be on my toes for the turn and some back on my heels which is harder to do.” Another of BYUH’s surf connec-tions is Matty Raynor, who is an up-and-coming board shaper. When paddling out to Goat Island, the closest surf break to campus, people will see his boards being ridden by the school’s top surfers. Raynor and Williams are friends and surf together often. Raynor is working on a board for Williams’ little foot. “We took two models and we blended both of them together, but it turned

out as something completely different. The whole idea was to get Joey to be able to get leverage off his back foot,” said Raynor. “We tried to put a ‘V’ in the tail of his board. What a ‘V’ does is makes the board tack back and forward like a teeter totter, but the challenge for Joey is for him to stabilize it.” Raynor said he is always ex-perimenting with boards and trying to make

something different. “Making a board like this has totally opened up my mind to new ideas of boards. I don’t know anyone else who could ride a board like this,” he said. Williams and his wife, Bri, are expecting a child soon. He is excited for the baby but hopes and prays the child will not have disabilities like he has. However, Wil-liams said if the baby does, he will under-stand what they may go through. “I don’t want him to go through that, but I think

“I want be known as the one-footed

ripper on the North Shore.”

- Joey Williams

that I would be able to relate to him or her, if the baby did have something like that. It is one of my fears. I don’t want my children to go through certain experiences that I went through as a kid cause kids are kids, and they make fun of other kids if they are dif-ferent. I got made fun of as a kid, but I put that into my sports so it made up for it.” Not only is Williams a standout surfer, but also he is an all-around athlete who has competed professionally in hockey and golf and was one of his high school’s best football players. “I was a really competitive kid. I played football really competitively. I played at a professional level in hockey and golf. I just had a lot of drive to prove that I was just as good or better or faster,” he said. “It was like telling them to stick it, but that was when I was a kid. Now I just want to com-pete to the best of my own abilities, not re-ally trying to show anyone else up anymore.” You can see this attitude in his surfing, trying to do a big turn, not to prove anything to anyone else but to prove it to himself. “I’m not self conscience about it any-more. I do have where I go out, and I miss a wave or do something where I don’t look good, people will judge me for it. But every surfer has that. I feel like if they knew about my little foot it would justify that, and I don’t want that. But I don’t have any worries that someone is going to look at it crooked or think strange of me. Nothing like that.” Williams said his little foot drives him to be better. “I want be known as the one-footed ripper on the North Shore.” Williams’ final words are, “No excesses. Everyone has their physical difficul-ties or trials, but it shouldn’t limit you for pursuing your passions. It comes down to whether you’re happy with your own physical capabilities and you’re doing everything you can to max yourself out.” - JOe TAnner

A surfer catches a wave on the North Shore. Ke Alaka’i file photo

KE ALAKA‘I14

BYU-Hawaii students said they over-come their fears of heights, sharks, and water, as they take part in cliff

diving, slacklining, and shark cage diving around Oahu.

c l i f f d i v i n g : Paige Pierson, a sophomore major-ing in international culture studies from Littleton, Colo., said, “[Cliff diving] was one of those things I’ve really wanted to do for a while. So I went over [to Laie Point]. The lo-

cal kids were there. [They] talked to me, and encouraged me, and I jumped. I’m so happy I did it, but I’m never doing that again. I don’t like the feeling of falling.” Pierson continued, “You’ve got to try it once just to make sure you don’t like it, like tomatoes. I try one every few years just to make sure I still don’t like them.” According to an article by The Community Times, “The sport of cliff diving dates back to 1770, when King Kahekili, the last king of Maui, leapt from Kaunolu, a

19-meter cliff (the same height as the “King of Kings” statue in Oahu (www.csmonitor.com)) and entered the water below without causing a splash. The stunt earned him the nickname ‘birdman.’ He later turned cliff diving into a loyalty test when he made his warriors jump from cliffs to prove their cour-age and loyalty.” Forrest Hansen, a freshman with an undecided major from Reno, Nev., said his favorite experience cliff jumping was when he went with a friend to Maunawili Falls one

Taking on challenges, overcoming fears Island offers students way to test their courage and fortitude

leaping Off The edge

15WINTER SEMESTER 2013

night with glow sticks. He said they broke open the glow sticks, and decorated the rocks and themselves before jumping off the cliff and into the dark water below. Hansen has gone cliff jumping at several locations including Waimea, Laie Point, Maunawili Falls, and Spinning Caves, which is near Hawaii Kai.

Sha rk cage d i v i n g : Rodneyfox.com.au pronounced Rod-ney Fox as the inventor of the first underwa-ter observation cage. Rodneyfox.com.au says “Rodney Fox was attacked by a great white shark and badly bitten around the chest and arm in December 1963. His story of the attack and escape has been published many times. He is regarded as a miracle survivor of one of the world's worst shark attacks.” It continues, “[After his attack], Rodney went on to build the first underwa-ter observation cage to dive [with] the white shark and has now led hundreds of major expeditions to film and study his attacker.” Hansen shared his experience go-ing shark cage diving. He said it was the beginning of the semester when his sister and a friend back home had come to visit the island while on break. He said they went to Haleiwa, to North Shore Shark Adventures. It was around $100 per person but well worth the money. He said, “One by one you hop into the tank. You could see 20-plus sharks. It was pretty creepy. [The sharks] were awe-some. Some were 10-plus feet long.” He said the 40-minute dive was beautiful and a great experience because “the water was super blue. [It was] endless, really clear, [and] no one in our group got seasick in the tank.” Hansen said the scariest part about shark diving is when you first get to the cage and you can see the grey of half a dozen sharks in the water near the cage. He said, “The first jump [into the cage] is the freaki-est.” Hansen said he used his GoPro to film while he was in the cage. He said, “A

GoPro is a must out there. [When you] start getting more comfortable, you can watch [the sharks] and get really cool shots.”

S lack l i n i n g : In its article on slacklining, Out-doorsportsteam.com says, “Slacklining as we know it today [is] the art of balancing on stretchy, flat, synthetic webbing.” In another article “How to Slack-line,” on howto-slackline.com, it says, “the origins of modern-day slacklining are gener-ally attributed to a pair of rock climbers while attending Olympia, Washington's The Evergreen State College in 1979. Adam Gro-sowsky and Jeff Ellington started walking on loose chains and cables around Olympia and quickly innovated the technique of stringing up 1-inch flat climbing webbing and walking it.” Daniel Graves, a sophomore major-ing in English from Murray, Utah, said, “[Slacklining is] addicting because it’s so frus-trating to stand on it. I just want to go until I can walk a few steps. Then I see others get

further so I want to get to the end. Then I just like it and want to keep doing it.” Graves added, “I like tricks. I can jump and land back on line, sit on one ankle and stand back up, walk backwards and turn around, and surf the line (sway back and forth while maintaining your balance on the line).” Rebekah Angus, a freshman major-ing in psychology from Brisbane, Australia, said, “It’s so cool. It looks so much easier than it is, which isn’t fair because they (other students she has been practicing with) look professional. I can balance for a bit and then I’m off.” Angus said she spent three hours trying to learn just how to stand up on the line, causing her legs to hurt for over two days straight. Michael Savas, a sophomore from Cottonwood, Utah, majoring in accounting, said, “It’s so much fun. It’s one of those things that are frustrating to the point that you are super motivated. It’s addicting.”

-kAylA wH iTe

Whether diving from the rock at Waimea Bay Beach Park, above, or jumping off of Laie Point, left, students say they test their courage doing extreme sports. Ke Alaka’i file photos

KE ALAKA‘I 16

The American Sign Language world recently has made itself known here at

BYU-Hawaii and the university is now offer-ing a certificate students can earn in it. ASL started at BYUH a several years ago and has developed into more opportunities for the students who wish to make ASL as a career. It was changed from a two-credit class to a four-credit class to fulfill the language requirement about two years ago. ASL 202, however, is a three-credit class. The certificate is awarded to those who complete ASL 101, 102, 201, and 202. Lynda Park, an instructor from Laie, said “The ASL and Deaf Culture Studies certifi-cate was proposed as a way for ICS majors to fulfill their fourth-level language requirement and as an option for students who expressed interest in continuing to develop more fluency and knowledge of ASL and Deaf culture… It may provide them an advantage in their chosen fields of work relating to the deaf community.” Park’s husband is also an ASL in-structor and their son is a teaching assistant for the certificate program. “This is a great opportunity for students to earn a certificate all online,” Park said, and it helps with communicating with

those hard of hearing anywhere they may go. She also talked about Winter Se-mester’s Culture Night being an opportunity for the ASL group to give a preview to the school of what it is all about. Park said, “This year the ASL Club is planning a visually appealing presentation but not a signed song as in the past. The reason for this is even though some people enjoy watching songs interpreted into ASL, the Deaf community is equally pleased with visual appeal and heavy bass beats which they can feel.” As a student, the class is “accom-modating and convenient in our busy sched-ules as college students,” said Brandy Karl, a junior from Farmington, Utah, majoring exer-cise and sports science. Karl said she enjoys the class and believes a certificate would help her in her career choice and gives her the opportunity to understand her little brother. “I first got my interest in learning a little bit from and for my brother. He communicates better through sign language than he does when he's actually talking.” ASL will also help her in her choice of career as a pediatric occupational thera-pist, she said, who works with children with disabilities. “It helps because most kids learn better through sign language rather than

words when they're younger and especially when they have speech problems. Communi-cating with them using simple gestures is a lot easier for them to understand than using words.” Another student who agrees with Karl’s comment about the ASL classes fit-ting conveniently in students’ schedules is Corallee Alexander, a freshman majoring in exercise sport science from Lakeport, Calif. Alexander said online ASL classes will help her stay on top of things along with everything else going on in her life. Since the classes are online and the assignments are open from the beginning of class, she said this gives her an opportunity to get ahead and feel good about completing some of her school work early. Alexander said, “I love having the assignments open from the get go because I am able to complete all that I can now and just go back to the course page when I have to respond to my classmates.” She also talked about the tutoring that is required for the class, saying, “The tutoring gives me a greater understanding of signs, being that I have never taken ASL before. I really enjoy this class and definitely might think about taking it next year.”

-kAlynn lATu

Members of the American Sign Language Club perform at the Winter Semester 2013 Culture Night. The ASL program on campus has a certificate students can earn talking online classes. Photos by Mei Yin

Gaining an ASL certificate online at BYUH

17WINTER SEMESTER 2013

Mongolian students share their talents at Culture Night

The Mongolian Chapter performed several different cultural talents the BYU-Hawaii Culture Night in

March. Members of the chapter did “Khuumii,” which is known as throat singing, played a national instrument, the “Morin Khuur,” which is also called the horse fiddle, women in the chapter danced, and lastly some members did rope jumping. Erkhbilgvvn Bayardelger, from Mongolia and a senior in accounting, said, “This year’s Culture Night was my last Culture Night. This year we wanted to per-form and show our culture more. I would say it was one of the best Cultural Nights for us. I mean throat singing is not easy. You will sing from your throat not from your voice. Our two singers did an awesome job.” Tsatsaa Battsatsral, from Mongolia and a freshmen in ICS-Communications, said, “It was my first Culture Night and it was a lot of work. I did not know how much time we practiced and made costumes and things like that. People really did do their best to show the culture. “As for me, I danced and did the rope jumping. The dancing part was all right, but I messed up on the rope jumping,” she said with a laugh. “Rope jumping is very risky. If one person messes up, everybody messes up because you’re jumping at the same time. ” Choi Kwang Hyun, from Seoul, South Korea, and a sophomore in accounting, said, “I never have seen throat singing in my life. I heard and watched it on TV or on YouTube many times and I have even I tried myself, but it is so hard to sing like that. “I don’t know how you guys sing. You must have special talent. It was fascinating to me,” Hyun said. “It is sad that some people don’t respect or don’t have knowledge of other cultures. There were some girls sitting next to me and they were laughing and giggling and making fun of the throat singers. I was mad at those girls. What if people laughed when their culture was presented? How would they feel? We should respect oth-ers’ cultures because it is valuable for them just like our culture is valuable for us.”

-BOlOrTAm Ir luvsAnTseren

Members of the Mongolian Chap-ter performed throat singing, top, during the Winter Semester 2013 Culture Night, above, put on a jump roping exhibi-tion, and, left, women danced in traditional cos-tumes. Photos by Mei Yin

Ke AlAKA‘i18

Tamatoa Capelle, a sophomore in busi-ness, is the only student currently at

BYUH from the islands of Marquesas. He said he takes pleasure in sharing his unique culture with the world.

Capelle shares his culture with the world through mu-sic and dance. He recently performed a Marquesan Haka at the Polynesian Cultural Center for more than 2,000 people who came as a large company

from China bought out the PCC for a day. Capelle also shares his talents at

Culture Night for the students and at an in-ternational Tahitian dance competition, Heiva I Honolulu, in Honolulu. “I want people to feel the difference between my culture and everyone else’s. I want it to stand out.” Capelle continued, “What I like in the Marquesan culture is the dances and drumming.” He also shares his talent while working at the PCC. He plays the drums and ukulele at the Tahitian Village and works as a fireknife dancer at the Night Show. His love for music shows as he frequently walks around campus playing a Tahitian ukulele. Marquesas is located almost 2,500 miles from Oahu and is part of French Polynesia. Capelle, therefore, speaks four

Tha i s t uden t Pe t dee p r epa res t o s t a r t h i s own bus i n ess

Known among his peers as “Cho,” Phuripat Petdee, is a sopho-more majoring in business finance and marketing, and one of

only 16 students from Thailand. Petdee comes from a north-eastern province of Thailand called Ubon Rat-chathani where he was raised with his younger brother who still resides there. The name Phuripat means the “beloved land,” which serves as a perfect reflection of how he feels about his home country. “I love my home country,” Petdee said with a smile on his face. Among his friends and acquaintances, he is respected and known for his capacity to work hard.

Thailand is located between Vietnam and Myanmar in Southeast Asia. Formerly known as Siam, this country is known for its beautiful nature, elephants, the deadly martial art “Muay Thai,” and wonderful food. “Hot! Hot!” Petdee said jokingly when asked to talk about Thailand. “If I were to tell one of my friends here about Thailand, I would just say, generally, it’s very much like Hawaii.” When asked to describe his friend, Di Bao, a junior major-ing in finance from China, let out a little laugh and said, “Cho is a good friend. He works really hard. He just knows how to work. He

is always willing to help me with my homework,” Bao added. “He also cuts my hair well.” Coming to BYUH was Petdee’s first exposure to the United States. He said, “I don’t know about America as a whole, but I’m pretty sure Hawaii is different.” Relating to his home country, he said, “Hawaii reminds me of the suburban part of Thailand. It’s a lot different from what I expected.” In addition, he expressed an admiration for service here in America. “What I like about America is that everyone seems to be willing to serve. Like when you go to a store, you find that service is always great. You don’t see that a lot in my country.” He also shared his thoughts about U.S. education. “In Thailand, students would just be sitting in a classroom. And it is the teacher’s job to feed us knowl-edge. While here in America, you are expected to do the work. I like it the way it is here.” Petdee said he was lucky enough to have been raised in the LDS Church since he was 12. According to Petdee, who served a full-time mission in the Bangkok Mission, there are approximately 3,000 members who attend church in Thailand. Growing up in the LDS Church is very rare, he said, because most members were converted at an older age. But there is an increasing amount of second-generation church members due to the efforts of full-time missionaries. Looking forward, Petdee shared his plan for his post-college life. “I would like to cultivate some experience in the business field by working for others. Then, perhaps after five or six years, I might start my own business.” He is now preparing for an internship during the Summer of 2013 in Thailand.

-SuTH i S ir i PHAn

“Cho” Phuripat Petdee

languages: French, Marquesan, Tahitian and English. When speaking of what it was like to grow up in Marquesas, Capelle said, “It was awesome. I learned to use nature around me to live; fishing, hunting, farming.” Briana Jessop, a sophomore in exercise and sport science from Utah, said of Capelle, “He’s a great hometeacher. He serves a lot as the Elder’s Quorum president too.” Friends say they admire Capelle as being service-oriented and funny. Vaianui Iro, a senior in political science from Tahiti, said, “Tamatoa is one of the funniest and fun guys you’ll ever meet. He has so much energy and shows it on stage.” -Aly yOung

One and on l y ByuH ma rquesan s t uden t sha r es h i s cu l t u r e

Tamatoa Capelle

19winter semester 2013

In an effort to unite LDS women from a variety of backgrounds in a discussion of

finding oneself in the faith, BYU-Hawaii stu-dent Taylor Rippy will launch a blog entitled “A New Testament” this summer. Taylor is a senior in the ICS program from San Diego, Calif. During an interview, Rippy spoke of her own experience as a young woman feeling alienated from her perception of “the perfect Mormon woman.” She expressed concern for youth growing up today who feel like outsiders in a church that is intended to welcome everyone. The insecurities and doubts that plague youth also affect adult women, she said. Rippy explained that “the blog is meant to help righteous, faithful LDS women who are from all backgrounds know their value.” It will be made up of posts contrib-uted to Rippy by women in the LDS Church.

“The common thread among the posts will be that we are all active LDS women. The blog is meant to expand the perceived identi-ties of LDS women.” Rippy explained that “as a church, we have millions of women and each of us has a testimony and an identity. The testimony may be common but the identity is different. I am not going to target, or avoid, a specific group for posts. The emphasis will be on the individual’s value, life, and experi-ences. This will not become a hot bed of

controversy. That’s not what I want. There’s enough of that already.” When asked about her opinion on the idea of the blog, Dr. AnnaMarie Chris-tiansen of the English Department, said, “It’s a great idea. Anytime when a diversity of women and their voices get featured it won’t be a bad thing. What we learn in IDS 310, multicultural women’s studies, is that when we look at the world through a woman’s eyes or from a female perspective, what we see may be different than what we have noticed before. That holds true for men and for women. I look forward to reading it. In particular I think many of the women on our campus have fascinating stories in terms of how they got here and what inspires them now.” As in the LDS Church, women from around the world are represented on campus at BYUH. Rippy expressed that, “with the global church, we need to under-stand that the majority of female members are coming from outside the western United States. We need to broaden our view and understand diversity among church members in 2013.” According to Dr. Phillip McArthur, the Dean of the College of Language, Cul-ture, and Arts, “blogs democratize informa-tion and knowledge. With Mormon women, this broadens the dialogue. More settings and backgrounds can join the conversation.” BYUH Associate Academic Vice President Dr. Chad Compton, said, “As a result of living in a telestial world, it’s easy to lose track of who we are as sons or daughters of God. It is useful for us as faithful Latter-day Saints with testimonies of Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, to tell our stories and talk about how we became the individuals we are in relation to the organizations we are a part of.” Women interested in sharing their story of finding themselves in the LDS faith can send submissions to the email address: anewtestament@gmail.com.

-MAkArA F i TzgerAld

Taylor Rippy is a BYU-Hawaii ICS Communications major who is starting a blog this summer for LDS women around the world to share who they are with other sisters in the gospel.

Sen i o r icS ma j o r r i ppy s t a r t s a b l og t o p r o v i de ldS s i s t e r s a p l ace t o l ea r n mo re abou t each o t he r

“ A s a chu r ch , we have mi l l i o n s o f women and each o f u s has a t e s t imony and an i d en t i t y . The t e s t imony may be common bu t t h e

i d en t i t y i s d i f f e r en t . ”- Tay l o r r i ppy

Ke AlAKA‘i20

What once were the troublesome scum of society - pirates - are now the embodiment of freewill in American pop culture topped with an indie fashion sense. BYU-Hawaii students agreed that the adventurous side of pirates appeals to their inner explorer. Alex Billany, a freshman majoring in business from Guam, said his connection to the pirate culture stems from their can-do attitude. “Pirates are anything but boring,” said Billany. “They’re confident and daring and I think deep down inside most of us want to be more like that.” The iconic skull and crossbones design used to represent trouble, rebels, or poison. Now, it most likely is in reference to the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise. Disney has taken what was previously taboo and skewed it to a younger audience through characters such as Captain Jack Sparrow.

The humorously charming Captain Jack is someone kids can relate to, said toy consultant Chris Byrne. “He’s on the inept and silly side,” Byrne said. Ileva Fa’apoi, a junior majoring in psychology from New Zealand, said, “People obsess over pirates because of the false image Disney has sold to society.” Fa’apoi explained that personally, Disney had successfully hooked her into their franchise. “I just love Johnny Depp,” she said. Ryan Schinman, a New York-based marketing consultant, explained how the kid-friendly films have had an impact on pirate style making the skull-and-crossbones symbol “a little lighter, a little magical and a lot more humorous than it used to be.” Pirates like those portrayed in the movies have been gone for so long that they’ve become romanticized, said Professor Leo Braudy, a cultural historian at the Uni-

versity of Southern California. “Pirates of the Caribbean” isn’t the first film to anchor itself in pop culture. But when a movie is accom-panied by a bounty of products, its cultural influence is more widespread, said Braudy. Pirates are not only infiltrating the film and fashion worlds but have also entered popular video game series. “Assas-sin’s Creed” is re-vamping its look with its newest unreleased game, “Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag,” by adding pirates to the theme and storyline. Dave Their, in an article called “Can Pirates reinvigorate Assassin’s Creed?” on Forbes website, said, “This could be something else. The prospect of an open world built on sea rather than land, with a fully integrated and robust naval simulator, could really shake up the accepted formula.” The rogue art of fencing and swordplay portrayed by pirates in films and video games has crossed over into reality as an increasingly popular past time. As a sport, fencing is gaining popularity for athletes who “might not be interested in a large group sport. We have some that do better in individual sports or activities,” said Stacey Thomas, a therapeutic recreation specialist in the Charlotte Observer’s “Fencing enters Pop Culture”. Billany added, “there is a desire in a of our hearts for the extraordinary. Pirates live for adventure and that’s why people love them so much.”

-HA i ley gArd iner & AP

Blackbeard’s ship, is shown on set off the coast of Oahu while filming of the last “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie. Disney films have made pirates more popular. Photo by Kenway Kua

P i r a t e s a r en ’ t a lways t he bad guys anymo re

Mo rmon Message on m i s s i o na r y wo rk f i lmed i n Hawa i i f ea t u r e s ByuH s t uden t sA new Mormon Message was filmed at Keikis Beach on Feb. 25 and features BYU-Hawaii students. The Mormon Channel’s short features focus on topics like following the spirit, serving in the church and the importance of family life. The one filmed in Hawaii will focus on missionary work. A recent Mormon Message focuses on the same topic used two sisters in Provo, Utah. The two sisters talked in a small cafe. One was a returned missionary and the other a sister preparing to serve. The Hawaiian-themed Mormon Message will be of similar content and feature Tevita Tuituu and Reid Arne. Members from the BYUH men’s soccer team provided footage of playing soccer on the beach. Reid Arné, a freshman from Medford, Ore., said he was

approached by BYUH men’s soccer coach Mark Davis to be featured in the video after Davis was contacted by the church about it. “I was selected because I am a freshman and am looking forward to going on a mission,” Arné said. “The video focuses on Tevita’s experiences and how I can prepare before I go.” Tuituu is no stranger to having cameras in is face. For six weeks during his mission, he had a camera crew follow him around documenting what work is like as a missionary. His experiences, along with seven other missionaries, were then put together and released on BYU-TV as a reality series. From this series principles are learned and taught to new missionaries with footage being used as a teaching tool. - lAnce fOusT