Bedecked with beautiful lei and a floral headband, BYU-Hawaii Vice President of University Advancement V. Napua Baker [pictured at left] looked a little wistful as she left a reception in honor of her retiring from the University after 27 years of service — the last 17 of them as the first female and first known Hawaiian or Polynesian vice president in the Church Educational System.
While many significant things transpired during her tenure at the University, it's in fact the aloha spirit she brought to University Advancement that has touched many, many lives on campus, in the community and state, the Church, and throughout Asia and the Pacific. She is also a member of the Polynesian Cultural Center board of directors.
Baker added a certain element of charm, as well as a bit of kolohe or "rascal" behavior to BYU-Hawaii's top administration. For example, she was one of the first to jump 15 feet off the Kawaihae harbor pier after the President's Council rode the sailing canoe Iosepa on the Big Island in 2004, and she gamely rode a camel in Mongolia [pictured below] during the 2007 Concert Choir tour, while just days earlier she met high-level officials.
"I love being Hawaiian," Baker said. "I'm not an academician but I love people, and the aloha spirit is definitely part of that. There are so many beautiful things in our culture that help bring people together as one. I think all that is beautiful in the Hawaiian culture is in the gospel culture. It's a blessing, and that's part of the foundation of our school."
"Culture's important to me, but it does not come first. What does is what the Lord wants the school to become, what the mission and purpose is," she added. "More than the pride of culture and academia that we sometimes carry, it's what the Lord wants us to do that's important, to rise up spiritually first, and academically."
Baker, who was born on Molokai, enrolled at Church College of Hawaii (which became BYU-Hawaii in 1974) after graduating from Kamehameha School for Girls in 1959 [pictured at right]. She moved on to Provo, got married and started a family, and after graduating in elementary education in 1969, returned to teach school at Hauula Elementary for five years and then become a full-time mom. It was during this period she purchased the home in Laie where her great-grandparents, the Makahanohanos, used to meet with the Hawaiian Saints. She also worked as a secretary at the BYUH Farm office.
Returning to BYU for graduate studies in 1981 at the urging of her sister, Theresa Bigbie — retired Dean of Continuing Education (now called CITO at BYUH), Baker got involved in that field, which brought her back to Laie for good in 1983. In 1987 BYUH President Alton Wade asked her to be his assistant for University Relations.
"I told him no. I didn't feel qualified to do that," Baker remembered. "He said, I'm not going to consider that. I want you to pray about it and we'll talk again. He gave me the opportunity to learn and develop, and to truly become a leader. I say that humbly because I have a fervent belief — it's in my heart and soul — in the mission of the school."
Baker recalled University Relations at that time consisted of Ron Safsten for all communications and B.J. Lee working with alumni records. There were rough times as the University struggled with legal actions and environmental issues, but the department steadily grew. In 1992, President Wade named her vice president and the department became University Advancement. President Shumway authorized more expansion, and the level of communications, community and alumni involvement has continued to grow.
"When I enrolled at CCH years ago it never entered my mind that I would have a role here, but now I understand my patriarchal blessing that said I would have opportunities. It also said I would have challenges."
Indeed. For example, Baker has faced serious health problems, including a brain tumor that was successfully removed, back pain where she couldn't walk, kidney stones and a cancerous tumor on her kidney that was also successfully removed. "I've also been so busy at work — it's a night and day job, it's weekends."
"I feel good about retiring at this time," she said. "If we rise up spiritually first, then the Lord will help us in the areas we have professional responsibilities for. He will help us rise up. I have a feeling of peace when I know we're doing what the Lord wants us to do. I believe that spiritually, BYU-Hawaii is going to become much more than it already is."
As Baker leaves her office in the Snow Administration Building for the last time at the end of June, she said she plans first to participate in family reunions and personal matters. "I've been so busy at work that, really, I have not been able to pay much attention to my health, which I'm going to do more of," she said. "I'm giving six months to take care of myself physically as well as spiritually."
"Then hopefully — I'm praying hard for this — by January I'm submitting my mission papers. I know people say I'll come to PCC, but I want to go on a proselyting mission. I want to teach the gospel first and bear my testimony that the gospel is true."
Aloha nui, Napua.