Almost 200 members of the BYU-Hawaii/Polynesian Cultural Center Presidents' Leadership Council (PLC) Hawaii convened on campus to hold meetings on November 5 and attend the inauguration of President Steven C. Wheelwright on November 6 as well as participate in the groundbreaking ceremony for BYUH's sailing canoe at the PCC that afternoon.
"This is a very special place," said PLC Hawaii co-chair Al Gardner, a Maui resident, who also indicated the organization was lucky to hold its semiannual meeting in Laie. The group holds its other semiannual meeting in Utah.
The PLC Hawaii is an organization of major donors who support BYU-Hawaii and the Cultural Center through philanthropic gifts. For example, members of the group, who also volunteer their service and accept responsibilities relative to supporting the two Laie institutions, have already raised over $20 million and are working toward accumulating another $25.5 million between 2007-09.
"To communicate the appreciation we feel for all that you do for all of us here and for everything that is happening," PCC President Von D. Orgill said he wanted to say thank you to the donors in a "cultural way that is specifically designed to communicate our love and appreciation for the difference you're making in the lives of these students. May the blessings of the Lord always be with you for all of the good that you do."
President Orgill then introduced a group of BYU-Hawaii student workers from the PCC's Samoan village who reenacted their ancient legend of the king of Fiji who transformed himself into an eel that fell in love with Sina. Eventually unable to turn back into a man, the eel tells Sina to bury his head when he died. From that grew a new type of tree — the coconut, every part of which provides the people with useful materials.
"There are so many uses of the coconut tree that are invaluable to our people, it is truly the tree of life," said one of the students, as her peers demonstrated some of them. "With sincere heart, we express our appreciation for your support. You are truly our ‘tree of life.' Thank you."
In addressing the PLC members, President Wheelwright thanked them for the welcome they have given him and his wife, Margaret. "We're especially grateful for your support for our two institutions."
"I consider right at the top of my responsibilities improving the university's ability to deliver on its mission," he continued, explaining there are two parts to that mission: "One part is we are to combine and integrate a secular and a spiritual education... We take that charge very seriously. The other part of our charge is to develop young men and women of character and integrity who can provide leadership in their homes, families, communities, their professions, and in building the Kingdom. We do have those kinds of young men and women here."
President Wheelwright pointed out two imperatives come from the two-part mission: "One of those is, we need to continue to improve the quality of the education. That quality involves not only what goes on in the classroom, but what goes on in the [20] wards and [3] stakes on campus and what goes on in their employment. We have just over 800 who work at the Polynesian Cultural Center, and another 1,100 who work on campus. We are seeking new and innovative ways to make sure that all of those employment opportunities are part of the education — part of the preparation for life."
"The second imperative is, we need to continue to lower the cost," he said, noting that many would say it's not possible to both raise quality and lower costs. "In fact, one of the great things about the Lord is, with God, nothing is impossible. We've already started to identify ways we can do both of those things."
President Wheelwright then described two initiatives aimed at raising quality: Preparing students for careers using mentoring, and starting distance-learning classes in home countries that will both meet the desires of local ecclesiastical leaders and better prepare students to come to BYU-Hawaii.
BYU-Hawaii Director of Career Services Kimbrelyn Austin presented the results of how her office and students from a marketing class have surveyed issues surrounding a mentoring program. She pointed out that over 90% of the students and over 80% of those surveyed think it's a good idea.
"I think this is a sensational idea, and now is the time to implement it," responded Elder Richard Cook, an emeritus member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy and a PLC member from Utah. "I would encourage each and every person here to volunteer to be a mentor."
In reference to the distance-learning initiative, President Wheelwright told how Church leaders in the South Pacific have told him they would especially like their young men to stay at home while preparing to serve missions. During this time they could take distance-learning classes, which he described as "much more focused" than normal independent home studies.
"We're excited about the possibilities," he said, describing how the BYU-Hawaii Center for Instructional Technology & Outreach (CITO) will run trial courses in Japan and Tonga this coming spring.
Later in the session, a panel of international students at BYU-Hawaii shared their experiences and answered questions from the PLC members. For example, when asked why they wanted to return home, a Fijian student replied, "I've always had the feeling that I needed to go back home. I know I have a big responsibility when I go back. I know I will go back home and apply the things I learned here."
Another, a young woman from the Philippines, said, "I want to be a change agent...and be able to make a difference in the lives of the people back home."
— Photos by Monique Saenz: [top left]: a Samoan student gives PLC member Kathleen Gardner a drinking coconut as a symbol of appreciation; [bottom right]: international students answer questions from the PLC members.
::For additional comments on distance learning by President Wheelwright