Alumni present annual awards during Homecoming 2004

Honorees at the fireside (l-r): Sosaia and Marie Paongo, retired professor Jack Johnson and Ben Lim (Chad Ford had to return to the mainland before the fireside).

Ford said his work with ESPN has taken him to some of "the most dangerous places in the world" over the past few years, where he has "seen violence, hatred, anger, greed, [and] poverty." He added that coming back to BYU-Hawaii was a "powerful reminder" of the special spirit that surrounds the University."

"I'm a writer and speaker by trade, yet I do not have the words to say the smallest part that I feel about being back here again," he said. "I do not have the words to express the deep gratitude to the professors and students here who have blessed my life so richly."

"I do not have the words to convey the love I have for this University, for President Shumway and his leadership, and to my Heavenly Father for the inspiration to build this place; and to his Son for His example — His spirit that permeates this place. Of all the things that I left here with, the most important was a knowledge of Jesus as the Christ, my Savior and Redeemer; and just as important, an example to pattern my life after to try my best to help my fellow brothers and sisters," Ford said.

Lim, who is ethnic Chinese but was raised in the Philippines, said "it's a great honor to be recognized for the work that I love to do — that is, serving this University that I love so much. Of course, this recognition wouldn't come about except for the people who serve with me [including his wife, and chapter co-chair, Cathryn Hosack Lim ('84)]. I'm very fortunate to have such a great [chapter] team."

Ford

He also thanked Elanoa Peneku ('92, Home & Family Development), his Residence Hall Association advisor:"Mom Ela taught me how to be a leader"; and Sister Josephine Bird, his supervisor for three years in the library: "If you're a leader, don't be afraid to get down and dirty, she taught me."

During the fireside, Lim expressed his "gratitude for all the faculty members who put up with me when I was here." He encouraged those who will graduate soon to "never forget the experiences you have had at this institution." He also encouraged them to follow the advice of Alma to Helaman, "Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings. Once you get out there in your careers, there will be trials, challenges or questions," he said.

Marie Paongo, who initially said during the banquet, "For once I'm at a loss for words," quickly recovered and more typically had the audience laughing at the story of a 40-year-old picture of her painted by LaMoyne Garside that still hangs in the Aloha Center. "I'm grateful for the part BYU-Hawaii has played in our lives," she added.

During the fireside, Marie, who is part-Maori, made up for her earlier temporary loss of words and went on and on about their life in Tonga. "I learned many things. I learned about the faith of the Tongan people. I learned about respect for authority and for the Church leaders. I learned to observe the Sabbath Day, because everybody in Tonga observes the Sabbath Day," she said, noting that Tongans also prepare the best food for Sunday, cooking a little extra and then sharing "with the neighbor on the left, and the neighbor on the right. I thought, what a wonderful people to get to know and to learn from."

Her husband, Sosaia, who is now a counselor at Kahuku Elementary School, thanked Marie for "her willingness to go with me to a place so unknown. I could never have done it without her." Then he spoke of the Tongan word hounga'ia, which "means more than thank you. It takes it one level deeper, into the heart. I am very grateful for the honor you have given my wife and I."

Sosaia also shared a Tongan proverb: Ko e koloa o Tonga, ko e fakamalo. "They say, the only wealth of the Tongans is an expression of thank you. So on behalf of my wife and I, we feel very honored to accept this award on behalf of all alumni families."

Johnson, who retired in January, said, "There is no institution like this institution. My 37 years here have been remarkable in many ways. I've had many spiritual experiences. I've had experiences here that change the way you view things."

He recalled that after he earned his master's degree in 1966, he prayed fervently over which of four job offers he should accept, including one that paid quite a bit at that time and another that he preferred at the University of Western Australia, "which is where I wanted to go" for a few years. But when the call came from CCH, he felt that "burning in the bosom" and "told them I'll be there."

'Mini-Miracles'

In response to the comments and testimonies of the honored alumni at the fireside, President Shumway spoke of several representative "mini-miracles" he has experienced in the approximately 37 years he has been associated with BYU-Hawaii, from among the "thousands and thousands of miracles that have occurred on this beautiful campus."

"I define a miracle very simply," President Shumway said. "A miracle is any event in which the Lord intervenes, or His supporting angels, or His spirit is manifested in some way. I have seen the intervention of the Lord again, and again, and again over the years."

For example, he spoke of recently going into the Bookstore where he saw a new 850-page commentary on The Book of Mormon which was edited by Dennis L. Largey ('72, Physical Education), "a graduate of BYU-Hawaii who is now one of the premier teachers of religion in the Church."

President Shumway explained that Largey was a nonmember when he first came to CCH in 1968 as a scholarship basketball and volleyball player. "Brother Largey was a hand-full, a California surfer. He was cocky, mouthy and seemingly irreligious, with a serious don't-tread-on-me attitude," he recalled, telling of how the young man went surfing one day straight out from Crouching Lion, "and he was caught in a very strong riptide."

"He was so exhausted he could hardly paddle, and when a wave broke over him, he lost his board," President Shumway continued, adding that his surfing buddy also lost his board, "and it looked like they were both going to drown." Later, Largey told the president "he thought he was going to die and he prayed like he had never prayed before. He said if you let me live, Heavenly Father, I will join the Church and go on a mission."

"When he came up for air, he asked his roommate if he would pray, too. This man, an elder in the Church, not only prayed, but in the name of Jesus Christ he commanded the ocean to calm; and there was peace and calm, and they were able to swim straight to shore."

President Shumway said Largey joined the Church, and that his parents disowned him when he went on a mission. "He now teaches religion on the Provo campus."

He told of "another miraculous story of faith, love and courage" involving Brenda Lau, a well-liked student from Hong Kong who developed brain cancer. "She suffered intensely," he said, but noting this "did not dampen her spirits. Her brightness showed through, in spite of her suffering."

He told of one of Brenda's friends visiting her in the hospital during a terrible episode when she couldn't hold anything down and was "too sick and weak to clean herself. The friend held her and wiped her mouth. Later the friend told President Shumway, "I was overwhelmed with the feeling that what I was doing for Brenda, I was doing for Christ. And then she said, being a friend, how I wish I could have been with Christ when He was in such agony. What an honor it would be to wipe His mouth and clean His face."

President Shumway explained Brenda made several comebacks, but eventually the cancer proved too strong. "I met Brenda just a few days before the final surgery was performed," he said, adding that the doctors had told her she had no chance without the operation, and only a 50-50 chance with it. "She told me, I feel so happy. You're not afraid? I ventured. Oh no. If I live, I know Heavenly Father wants me to continue on the earth. If I die, I will go right into His arms. Either way, I am happy."

"Well, Brenda did not survive, but her brightness of hope . . . will live in the history of this campus," he continued. "The miracle of Brenda's life is in how many other lives were touched for good."

In closing, President Shumway referred to the Paongos returning to Tonga and shared the following story of how Brother Semisi Ha'unga ('80) was injured severely in a rugby game. "His spinal cord was damaged and he languished for several weeks in the hospital, and then died, leaving a wife and four little children without a husband and father." He added that the widow, Aho'ika [Ha'unga] ('81), and family were kindly supported by her ward and friends, "and after she graduated, she went back to Tonga and took a job in the Church Educational System to support her children.

"Aho'ika's youngest daughter [Mele Ha'unga Hansen ('01, Hospitality Tourism Management)] graduated from here last year," President Shumway continued, noting Mele bore her testimony the Sunday after graduation about her mother. In her testimony she described how one day the mother called the children together and told them, "my paycheck for this last month is just sufficient to pay all of our bills and pay our tithing. There is no money for food."

"Mele said the children were absolutely amazed their mother would let us go hungry to pay tithing, and we argued with [her]... She said we used every childish argument to get mother to buy food, but mom said no, we will pay our tithing."

"We shed tears of frustration, Mele said . . . and as we were crying and moaning, we heard a sound outside, a call: Aho'ika, Aho'ika. It was the nonmember brother of the dead father," President Shumway continued. "In he came with food: a roasted pig, yams, taro, corn beef, breadfruit — piles of food; and he said":

"I was in my plantation and your father appeared to me; and when I saw him walking to me, I knew you were hungry. I put down my hoe, and I gathered food, and here I am."

"Mele told me, I will never argue against paying tithing. She said, when I contemplate the faith of my mother, I realize it's the faith she was taught by my father and the Church. The sacrifice and the love she experienced is still manifest on the BYU-Hawaii campus in our lives."

"Brothers and sisters, you and I are part of the great legacy of BYU-Hawaii. We are part of the vision, the revelation, of David O. McKay. We are the people he has seen. [We] have a responsibility bigger than you and I," President Shumway said. "It's bigger than all of us."

"As we contemplate the future and as we contemplate our lives on this campus, it is my hope that we will cherish this legacy . . . by living our lives of integrity and peaceful service in the Church."

 

News-Bytes

Chapter chair conference:
Chapter chairs or their representatives came to Laie for the 2004 chapter chair conference on Feb. 12-13 from Washington, D.C. and Washington state, Koolauloa, Tonga, Idaho, Utah, Hong Kong, Arizona, Japan and Wellington, New Zealand; as well as Mike Busenbark, executive director of the BYU Alumni Association and Reid Robison, director of BYU alumni activities.

It was great to see everyone and spend time with them. But more importantly, the alumni leaders underwent orientation from both the BYU-Hawaii and BYU Alumni Associations (Provo provides our chapter with considerable expertise and resources, and maintains the alumni membership databases for all LDS universities); reviewed new changes in the BYU-Hawaii website and other promotional materials; got updated on Career Services activities and how we can help; heard the changes in the International Works Exchange Scholarship programs; got briefed on the latest admissions profiles; went over finances and fundraising, and shared annual reports, among other activities.

Executive Director Rowena Reid ('76, Social Work), for example, pointed out our association currently has just under 50,000 members, two-thirds of whom are living and we have "good" addresses for them.

Arizona:
The Arizona chapter will hold an "Ice Cream Social" on March 19 at the LDS (Keating) Building, 2244 W. Keating Ave. (Dobson Rd. and north of Guadalupe Rd.) in Mesa from 6:00-9:00 p.m. All BYU-Hawaii alumni, friends and family are invited; but please RSVP to either Kepi Foliaki at 480-357-5722 or Joey Pauga at 602-430-1709. "We need to know how much ice cream to buy," they said. (From U.S. 60, exit at Dobson Rd., go south approximately 1.5 miles, pass Baseline Rd., west/right at Keating, and the chapel is there.)

Honolulu:
As mentioned in last month's Alumni e-Newsletter, the Honolulu chapter will help host the free:

BYU-Hawaii Concert Choir performance
Saturday, March 6, 2004 at 7:30 p.m.
Pearl City Cultural Center
(adjacent to Pearl City High School)