Japan was hit by Typhoon Jebi, a category 5 super typhoon with the highest wind gust of 130 mph on Sept 4, which made it the strongest storm this year on the planet and the worst one in Japan since Typhoon Yancy in 1993, according to the Washington Post.

Michelle Blimes, an adjunct instructor in the Faculty of Arts and Letters and a certified Empowerment Self-Defense (ESD) Instructor, said teaching empowerment self-defense has changed her life and she has developed a deep passion for it.

Dr. Daniel Stout, BYU-Hawaii professor of intercultural communications, said LDS Church members should look for truth in popular culture at the annual David O. McKay Lecture on March 28. Titled “The Dilemmas of Interpretive Communities: Implications for Mormonism,” the lecture was held in place of a weekly devotional.

1. The Media Production Center recording studio

Distinguished scholars and researchers presented their findings on Mormon-related topics ranging from anti-Mormon literature in the 1800s to online support forums for members with questions, at a Mormons in the Media symposium at BYU-Hawaii on Nov. 3-4.

The first round of break-out info sessions for the Asia-Pacific Career Conference (APCC) on March 6 in the Little Theater was a panel discussion of three professors discussing “The 2010s: A Decade of Growing Political Polarization, Public Discontent, and Mass Protests.” Chad Ford, an associate professor in the Faculty of Culture, Language & Performing Arts and director of the David O. McKay Center for Intercultural Understanding, said the idea of polarization causing politics is becoming “the new religion.”

BYU–Hawaii alumnus Kevin Baize said the goal of PersonaFi is to create a community of underdog investors who share their investing insights with each other.

Social media enables people to avoid the interpersonal and nonverbal complexity of communication in a more complex face-to-face type of setting, according to Brent Yergensen, an associate professor of communications. “In a face-to-face setting, we must cater our message, we must consider the feelings of the other party. We must choose our words carefully, as well as our tone, because we don’t want to come across inappropriately.”

Upscale Hawaii is a food truck hidden on the back streets of Honolulu that specializes in steak and shrimp plates. Dubbed a “hidden gem” by food blog Frolic Hawaii, the owners said the truck is popular among North Shore residents and receives steady business despite the obscure location.