Thirty-five years ago, Melony NeSmith began her university experience as a freshman at BYU–Hawaii. She put a hold on her education after Hurricane Iniki in 1992, and moving across Hawaii. Today, she has returned to complete her degree in elementary education.
“I hope my children know I was brave enough. In some way I feel I am doing this to be an example for them, and although I had these fears, I was courageous enough to say, ‘I can do it,'” she said with confidence in her voice.
Remembering divine inspiration from God, NeSmith said, “We knew miracles were going to happen, and we made the decision to come here to step back and allow Heavenly Father’s hand. Everything opened for us and just fell into place. We knew it was the right decision.
“Search, ponder, pray and then trust, [completely] trust. You put your life in the Lord’s hands and then say, ‘Okay Heavenly Father, it’s in your hands. You know what is best for us. You know where we are supposed to be at this time in our lives.’
“When you leave everything behind and just say yes to the journey, I think it’s saying yes to the journey and just trusting in Heavenly Father, knowing He will provide.”
Kauai heals after Hurricane Iniki
In the Central Pacific Hurricane Center’s 1992 seasonal report, Iniki was the costliest and most powerful hurricane to strike Hawaii.
The NeSmith family was living in Kauai at the time and lost their home to Iniki. “It was huge and hit our island, which totally demolished it. We moved in June, and the hurricane hit in September, during Labor Day weekend. People remember the bombing of the twin towers on Sept. 11,” in 2001. But she said Sept. 11 was the same date that Hurricane Iniki hit and destroyed their home in 1992.
NeSmith added, “[Iniki was about] teaching us patience, teaching us faith. Heavenly Father told us we needed to be there and that was the bigger picture.”
David NeSmith’s childhood home was also demolished by the hurricane. He said, “It was a reminder of who to look towards. If you look towards Him [the Lord], you can still be blessed.”
Melony NeSmith said she only took two containers of belongings when she evacuated to the Red Cross shelter.
“Today, when I look at it, that’s what I have to show. Everything else went, but the most important thing was my family and that container filled with memories. I hope that as my future posterity reads my journals about this time in my life, [and they know I] had courage to come back and do this, when they teach about their grandma.”
After their home was destroyed, the NeSmiths lived in a tent for three months, and ate meals from the military.
Guided by God across Hawaiian islands
“We’ve lived in Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Big Island. Each island is special to us and there is a reason why we were on each of those islands at that time in our lives. Heavenly Father’s hand was certainly in our lives,” said Melony NeSmith.
The NeSmiths said they moved to the Big Island because they wanted to work in the Kona Hawaii Temple and their parents lived there. Melony NeSmith said she felt she needed to go home and take care of them.
She said she felt the Lord not only intended for the couple to work in the Kona Hawaii Temple, but to be leaders in the Church. David NeSmith was called to be a bishop in the Kona Temple Ward. However, Melony NeSmith said the Spirit revealed she needed to return to BYUH and finish her education.
“It was a big decision for us. We loved our callings. We loved working in the Kona Temple, but making it a matter of prayer, taking it to the House of the Lord and fasting about it, we felt strongly I needed to come back to finish school.”
Returning to BYUH
The impression came to David first and the NeSmiths said they pondered the choice for a while. Melony NeSmith said, “He wanted it to be a sense of security for me that if anything happened to him. I would be in a good place, as far as a job. I’ve been blessed with many jobs but all part-time.”
David NeSmith emphasized there is a big difference between a job and a career. He said, “Having the degree, she will be more secure in a career. I need her taken care of and this degree is fit for the future. It’s important to have a career, not just a job.
“A career provides you stability. A career provides you an opportunity if you fall back. A career will provide you with health insurance and benefits, whereas a job gives you a paycheck.”
Kelia NeSmith, Melony and David's daughter and a senior majoring in Hawaiian Studies, said, “Growing up, I was raised in about five different houses, so I never had a set home. But I think in the Church we learn that where the home is, that’s where your family is, and that’s where the gospel is centered.”
She said she felt her family incorporates those principles. She said, “Having the gospel in the center of our moves, we’ve been blessed in every way.”
Faith to move forward
“To all students who are on the verge of returning to school, extinguish the fears. Put those fears aside,” said Melony NeSmith. “I always think the glory of God is intelligence.”
Kelia NeSmith said the thought of her parents moving back to Laie comforted her prior apprehension about coming to BYUH. She said, “It was going to be new going to school with my mom and with other college students. At first, I felt I didn’t know if I’m ready to adapt and change. But I think since they have moved here, it has strengthened my faith where I can see this is where they need to be.”
Feeling proud of his mother’s choice of returning to school, Brandon NeSmith said, “I think it’s awesome she has this opportunity to finish something that has been so many years on hold.
“I’m proud of her for taking this big step to completing her degree. For her to do this is something I admire. It’s an example to me that it is never too late to accomplish your goals in life.”
Manifested miracles
When his family moved to Oahu, David NeSmith said he was blessed to be interviewed by the principle at Kahuku High School. He was offered the job of a special education teacher.
Melony NeSmith shared how grateful she is because the family was wondering how they were going make ends meet financially. She said she met with administrators in the Financial Aid office, and they were trying to find a way to help both Melony and her daughter to pay for school. “We were short of the goal to help her and me.
“We offered a prayer again to Heavenly Father acknowledging, ‘We know we are here for a reason.’ They sat down with me and said, ‘Melony, aren’t you first generation going to school?’”
In response, Melony NeSmith confirmed she is the first. Upon hearing this, they instructed Melony NeSmith to wait and went into the back room of the Financial Aid office.
“Coming back, they lovingly said, ‘Mel, you can get the Hukilau scholarship, for Hawaiian students going to school.’”
In a tearful response, Melony NeSmith quietly offered with humble gratitude, “All four years of my schooling is being paid for through this scholarship. I sat in that room and I just cried because I thought, “How are we going to do this? All I must do is maintain my GPA. Really talk about the spirit of aloha. It made it possible for me to be here with that scholarship. Miracle. Absolute miracle.”
Regarding his mother, Brandon NeSmith said, “I’m glad I have her as a mom. She is also an example to me of holding true to your faith. I know she did not have an easy childhood growing up and she could have easily turned out differently. But now I understand God had different plans for her.”
Melony NeSmith said she plans to graduate in elementary education in Fall Semester 2021. Their son, Brandon, is on Maui and works with the airlines. Kelia will graduate Spring Semester 2019 in Hawaiian Studies.
Writer: Geena DeMaio