A landmark new book celebrates the 60th anniversary of Brigham Young University–Hawaii and the 150th anniversary of Laie as a gathering place for Latter-day Saints. The university has planned events in late October and early November to celebrate the anniversaries and this new volume of history, entitled Prophetic Destiny: The First 60 Years.
Author Eric B. Shumway will discuss the book as the plenary speaker at the Mormon Pacific Historical Society conference on October 23 and again at the campus Devotional on October 27. A book signing by the authors will be held at the university’s campus Store on October 27, 1-4 PM. The volume will be available at the BYU–Hawaii Store and through Deseret Book.
Capitalizing on the foundational writings of historian Kenneth Baldridge, former BYU communications professor Alf Pratte and past BYU–Hawaii president Eric B. Shumway teamed up to write the full-color, illustrated history of BYU–Hawaii. This book begins with a chronology and tells the stories of its presidents, including important details of how the university came to be. The authors tell the story of young apostle David O. McKay’s 1921 visit to the LDS Church elementary school in Laie, where he witnessed a flag ceremony by children of many nationalities. In gazing across this scene, he envisioned a Church institution of higher learning in Laie – the beginnings of BYU–Hawaii.
President McKay commissioned Reuben D. Law to build facilities, hire teachers, and begin classes. At the February 1955 groundbreaking ceremony, President McKay prophesied of the school’s global impact in training and preparing future leaders. Interspersed through the historical narrative are scores of vignettes, tributes, and perspectives written by alumni, faculty, and donors. These perspectives validate and affirm the prophetic promises made by President McKay. From humble beginnings in a cane field, the Church College of Hawaii grew in importance and prominence throughout Asia, the Pacific and the world, in 1974 becoming Brigham Young University–Hawaii. Today, the campus has 2,700 current students and an alumni family that extends around the globe.
“This book has so much to say that is important!” wrote R. Lanier Britsch, noted scholar of Asian and Pacific histories and former academic vice president at BYU–Hawaii. “The historical chapters document in an interesting, readable way the administrations of every president. I have been a close observer of BYU–Hawaii for many years, but I learned much in every chapter. Interspersed within the history are short vignettes—sacred memories and testimonies of many former students, faculty, administrators, donors, and friends of the university. My eyes have clouded with tears many times as I have read these wonderful contributions. If you want to read a book that will rescue your fainting heart and elevate your love and trust in God and humankind, read this book.”
The creation of the book was originally presented by former president of BYU–Hawaii Steven C. Wheelwright (2007-2015) as a fitting tribute to the foundation of the institution and its inspiring beginnings and history.
About the AuthorsPaul Alfred Pratte was born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, in 1938. After graduating from the Lethbridge Collegiate Institute, he started his journalism career at the Lethbridge, Alberta, Herald, first as a proofreader, then a columnist, then a sports writer. He worked for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin from 1964 to 1969, earning a Ph.D. in American studies from the University of Hawaii in 1976. From 1969 until 1977, he worked in the Hawaii State Senate as the administrator for the Senate minority, then worked at the Marine Advisory Program of the Sea Grant College. While in Hawaii, he founded a regional newspaper the Hawaii Record-Bulletin. He was hired in 1981 as a professor at Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania. In September 1984 he was hired as a professor of communications at Brigham Young University, freelancing for the Salt Lake Tribune, the Deseret News, and papers in Pennsylvania and Canada. After retirement in 2003, he served as a volunteer missionary at Laie to write the history of BYU–Hawaii with Eric B. Shumway.
Eric B. Shumway was the president of BYU–Hawaii from 1994 to 2007 and has served on the board of directors of the Polynesian Cultural Center. Raised in St. John’s, Arizona, he served as a missionary in Tonga from 1959 to 1962. After his mission, he married Carolyn Merrill, and they are the parents of seven children. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from Brigham Young University in Provo in 1964 and 1966, then worked as a language coordinator for the Peace Corps. Earning a Ph.D. in English from the University of Virginia in 1973, he began his association with BYU–Hawaii in 1966 as an instructor in the English Department. When the first student stake at BYU–Hawaii was organized in 1977, he became the stake president and later was appointed as academic vice president of the university. From 1986 to 1989, he served as president of the Tonga Nuku‘alofa Mission. He served as an Area Seventy in the North America West Area and later as president of the Nuku‘alofa Tonga Temple. Shumway is the translator and editor of Tongan Saints: Legacy of Faith.