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Whether it is the hales, off-campus housing, or TVA, there never seems to be enough room for even the belongings students have. BYU-Hawaii students share some simple organizing hacks they use to create more space and keep away the clutter.Celeste Poisson, a senior elementary education major from Virginia, who has lived in the BYUH hales and off-campus, said every year she has to come up with new creative ways to make space and get organized. “Living here through the years, I’ve accumulated a lot of things, especially clothes. With limited closet space, I have to use soda can tabs on my hangers to have twice the room. ” Soda can tabs have two holes. You slide the tab onto one hanger, and hang the second hanger from the other hole, making you able to put two shirts in the space meant for one on a clothes rod.Poisson said she also stacks food containers inside each other so they’re neat and easy to find. She added when things are organized and have place to go, her room doesn’t seem so small. “Everything has a place. I try to use baskets or whatever to keep things neat and tidy. You feel better when your life is less cluttered, literally,” she said.Raena Lopez, a freshman elementary education major from Texas, said with the help of Pinterest, organization is about making her hale room look cute. “I use a toiletry travel caddy for my jewelry and school supplies. The caddy coordinates with the magnet boxes I have on the side of my wardrobe. I also have bins under my bed that I decorated with colored paper that goes along with my room.” Lopez said all of these efforts have made her room feel more “homey.”Chloe Dean, a junior psychology major from California, lives in TVA and said, “We use a little shelf to put our microwave on the little counter space we have, and I also put my rice cooker on it. It helps a lot.” To add some decoration, Dean said she has decorated some mason jars and other glass containers with colorful paint to put odds and ends.Megan Naidu, a senior accounting major from Idaho, who also lives in TVA, said with the limited space in TVA, she has a hard time finding a place for everything to go. “Avniel [her husband] makes a lot of shelves for our apartment so we can stack things have more space. It makes our apartment seem less cluttered. Also, my walls have become best friends with hooks and door knobs to hang things.” Naidu said that at the end of the day, “A happy home is a clean home.”

Part of living in a paradise like Hawaii is exploring and admiring its beauty by hiking. The following is a compiled list of students’ favorites, along with a few tips.Chinaman’s Hat: If you’re looking for something a little different, Chinaman’s may be the one to hike. “I liked it because it wasn’t just hiking. You get to swim in the ocean a little bit too,” said Isabella Bigley, a marine biology major from California. “You should wear really protective shoes because it’s pretty much all reef when you’re crossing the water.”Location: KaneoheLength: 2 hours round-trip (depending on the tide)Difficulty: ModerateKoko Head: 1,050 steps to the top, the Koko Crater Trail offers a beautiful view and fun climb.“It was killer on the way up, but the view made it worth it, and so did getting to scale the mountain side on the way down,” said Alison Anglen, a freshman majoring in psychology from Arizona.Location: HonoluluLength: 0.7 MilesDifficulty: ModerateDiamond Head: It’s a fairly simple hike with an incredible view of Waikiki.Location: HonoluluLength: 1.6 MilesDifficulty: ModerateCrouching Lion: This is a quick hike with a few different trail options. Lots of fun and a rewarding view; hiking the loop is recommended. “One of the easiest hikes with one of the best views,” commented Alex Martinez, a freshman from the Washington, D.C. area.Location: KaaawaLength: Varies depending on trail; Full loop is 4.4 miles.Difficulty: ModerateMakapuu Point Lighthouse: This is a paved trail up to a look out of the ocean and lighthouse. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, climb down to the tide pools and go for a swim.Location: south of WaimanaloLength: 2.0 MilesDifficulty: EasyOlomana Three Peaks: Jake Stevenson, a freshman from Utah, and Devin Winstanley, a social work major from Colorado, both agreed the rugged climb of Three Peaks was their favorite. “Not only was the view beautiful, but so was the journey,” said Winstanley.Location: KailuaLength: 2.5 MilesDifficulty: DifficultLaie Falls: Laie Falls is a bit of a longer hike that leads to a waterfall. The hike is a bit difficult for the end result. Some students said it may not be worth it to do it twice, but everyone should at least try it out once.Location: LaieLength: 4.7 MilesDifficulty: Moderately EasyPCC Falls: Another longer hike that takes you to a small waterfall and pool. Can be fairly muddy if it has rained recently. Scott Davis, an exercise science major from Colorado, said, “It’s a good, simple hike for anyone who wants to go out and experience Hawaii.”Location: LaieLength: 3.9 MilesDifficulty: Moderately Easy

A Chinese New Year celebration for the Year of the Sheep included food, decorations and activities for those eating at the Caf on Feb. 23. In honor of the Lunar New Year, Chinese food was served along with karaoke, martial art performances, and an acrobatic lion dance. Chinese New Year is an important holiday where the color red is worn and used for decorations, as well as gift-wrapping and envelopes given to children filled with “lucky money.”At the Caf, cultural music filled the room as people from all over the world were able to experience a little bit of the Chinese holiday together. The students ate a festive meal of Canton duck soup, Peking steamed buns, shrimp chow ho fun, General Tso chicken, eggs rolls, oriental salad with sesame soy dressing, jasmine rice and Chinese red bean rice cakes. There were bubble tea drinks too giving students the opportunity to try new things while participating in traditions and customs. Different Asian cultures around the world celebrate this holiday a bit differently, said BYU-Hawaii students, but usually it includes big family get-togethers and lots of food. “We celebrate the same day in Korea. It’s just a little bit different,” said Seopin Nam, a TESOL major from South Korea. When asked if the celebration in the Caf was anything like it had been at home, Nam responded, “No, the food was very weird. It’s nothing like that when I celebrate it at home.” But Felicia Lee, a business management major from Singapore, said she enjoyed the festivities and appreciated the efforts the Caf put into celebrating her favorite holiday. “Not having family here made it different,” said Lee, “because it’s definitely a holiday focused on family… I feel like they did all they could to bring the spirit of Chinese New Year.” One of Lee’s favorite parts was the lion dance, a traditional Chinese New Year event. Two performers work in tandem to make the lion dance and interact with the audience. One operated the head complete with opening and closing the lion’s mouth to receive holiday gifts. The other performer assisted the operator of the head to make the lion walk and do acrobatic tricks. Lee said she thought they really captured the essence of the holiday and made it enjoyable for all students of every culture.“This makes us want to go to China to celebrate,” said Taryn Skahill, a TESOL major from Texas.

Severe weather over Valentine’s Day weekend caused some damages to the Hawaiian Islands. “From what I felt, we had a ton of rain. I was unaware of the damage caused in other places,” said Caleb Ripley, a sophomore majoring in finance from Arizona. A high wind warning was issued for parts of Kauai and Oahu and the summits on the Big Island, according to Hawaii News Now. There were gusts that got up to 50 mph in some areas, especially in the Puna region on the Big Island and caused toppling trees, blocked roadways, and ruined buildings. One roof was completely torn off.There were power outages on the Big Island, and some people received their power back on Feb. 18 after not having power since Friday, Feb. 13. There was also damage on Oahu and some power outages near the Kaneohe area, leaving 1,600 people powerless on Valentine’s morning alone, according to the Associated Press. “Usually when it’s raining here, I actually go into Honolulu. When I head into Honolulu, it’s really warm,” said McKenna Hawkins, an undeclared freshman from Colorado. “That day when I went into Honolulu, it was even colder.”Some students said they were not affected by the weather. “I spent my day at the temple so I didn’t really know what it was like outside,” said Ricky Tu’ihalangingie, a freshman from Tonga studying biomedical science. Additionally, there were some medical consequences from the rough weather over Valentine’s Day weekend. A plane flying into Honolulu from New Jersey on Feb. 14 encountered sudden turbulence, injuring seven people on board. Five were taken to Queens Medical Center when they landed, according to Hawaii News Now.Another consequence of the weather on Valentine’s Day was damage to a popular and illegal hike, Stairway to Heaven. A small landslide damaged the stairs. The Board of Water Supply, the organization in charge of maintaining the stairs and the security, sent some people to examine the damage done to the stairs, according to Hawaii News Now. Despite the rough weather, some students said they were able to enjoy Valentine’s Day but others said they didn’t. “The Internet was down around the school Friday night and Saturday morning, which was hard for us single people because we couldn’t watch Netflix on Valentine’s Day,” said Hawkins.

Uploaded 2/26/2015“Go Set a Watchman” is the upcoming sequel to Harper Lee’s “To Kill A Mockingbird.” It is scheduled to be released in July. This sequel is set 20 years after “Mockingbird’s” time period, revealing a grown-up Scout returning to her Alabama hometown from New York to confront the attitudes of the 1950s.The recently revealed sequel was discovered when Lee’s lawyer, Tonja Carter, found the manuscript attached to an old manuscript of “Mockingbird.” Despite saying she was never going to publish another book again, 88-year-old Lee decided to print the sequel now. “Watchman” was actually written in the 1950s before “Mockingbird.” But due to an editor suggestion, Lee released “Mockingbird,” set 20 years before “Watchman.” “Mockingbird” immediately became popular, sold millions of copies, won a Pulitzer Prize, and soon became required reading in U.S. schools nationwide. The film version of the book allowed for a larger audience to hear the story of “Mockingbird.” Angie Messer, an employee at the Seasider originally from San Diego, said “I think it’s pretty cool. After I read ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ I would definitely read it (‘Watchman’).”Brittany Wilcox, a senior studying English from Alaska, said she was excited to read the sequel. “Just knowing that she wrote this story before ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ and the fact it’s about Scout when she’s older, I want to know how she’s progressed.” Faculty members at BYU-Hawaii said they are also excited for the book. Patricia Patrick, an English professor, said, “Reading ‘Mockingbird’ was one of the most memorable things I’ve read in middle school.” When asked if she would read the sequel, Patrick added, “I’m just going to be open minded and happy to read it. It’s going to be exciting to read it, knowing the quality that she’s (Harper’s) done before.”Monroeville is the place where Lee was born and where she returned after living in New York. Mockingbirds are on signs everywhere in Monroeville, and the old courthouse, a model for the movie made from the book, is a museum and a gift shop for the first book. Despite the excitement building, some people who live in her town have questioned if Lee is competent enough to decide to publish the book, according to the Associate Press, because she is nearly deaf and blind. Some even questioned that her lawyer was taking advantage of the sequel and the money it could make.“She is a very strong, independent and wise woman who should be enjoying the discovery of her long lost novel...Instead she is having to defend her own credibility and decision making,” said Lee’s lawyer, Carter in an interview with the New York Times. Despite the controversy, people in Monroeville and at BYUH said they are excited for this new book to be revealed.

Fluency in a foreign language is now one of the most valuable skills in the job market. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, roughly 25,000 new jobs are expected to open over the next decade for interpreters and translators. Businesses around the globe are searching for people with language skills as well. However, according to a study from Modern Language Association, foreign language enrollment is lower now than it has been in over ten years. Students learning languages will have a leg up on the competition as they pursue their careers after graduation. Dr. Timothy Richardson a Professor of Spanish and Chinese at BYU-Hawaii, said, “It's clear that there are benefits to learning languages. We have a scriptural obligation to share the gospel with the world, and languages can help us with that. If you have a language (or languages) in your tool bag when you're in the market for a job, you have more leverage and are more competitive. There are many other benefits.”In an increasingly globalized economy, being a multilingual is definitely advantageous for corporate success. The benefits of effective communication with people through multiple languages have long been known by the international business community as an indispensable tool for relationship building and financial success, said Lisa Chau of U.S. News.Those entering the workforce in 2014 with second language fluency can expect an additional 10 to 15 percent pay increase, said Chau.Jarek Buss, a junior from Wyoming who speaks Chinese and French, said that there are only benefits to learning a second language. Travel becomes a very different and more fulfilling experience. The way you connect with people and places is enhanced and you can understand so much more around you. Your resume is enhanced as well and you become increasingly more likely to get a job and be paid more. The benefits and pay increases do have a price though: time. Learning a new language takes time and some experts suggest that is why we have seen a decrease in foreign language class enrollment in the past decade. “Language learning is a challenge, but it will pay off if you persist. No matter what the advertisements say, you cannot be fluent in two weeks. It takes time,” said Richardson.Buss, who works at the Language center as a French tutor, said, “Learning a language just takes time and dedication. It is important to set aside time for learning your language and that’s a sacrifice.” Jehonna Kane a senior studying Elementary Education from Hong Kong said, “Learning different languages has benefited my life in a way so that I could understand people better. When you learn a different language, you learn its culture as well. Different cultures think differently, and there's no better way to understand how the people think and how they are than by leaning their language.”According to studies from the Modern Language Association, Umea University and others, there are also many psychological and anatomical benefits that come from learning a second language. Business Insider reports on research suggesting your brain actually increases in size with language learning. The increased growth can prevent later mental diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Wall Street Journal article suggest the bilingual brain to be sharper and more focused. The benefits of language learning are clear. Sacrifice, time and dedication will separate those that want to reap the benefits of a multilingual lifestyle. Uploaded Feb. 26, 2015.

After a grueling weekend of the world’s best Sevens rugby players going head to head—quite literally—in Sam Boyd stadium in Las Vegas for the USA Sevens title, Team Fiji takes home the gold, USA trailing behind as a strong 4th place on Feb. 15, 2015. "This year’s USA Sevens tournament started with spectator expectations high. The previous tournaments in the season have brought such a different level of competition and just pure skill,” commented Luisa Racava, an avid sophomore rugby player majoring in communications. Racava mentioned that her family attends the USA Sevens every year and, “It’s always Fiji with the biggest fan presence, it’s no surprise that with all that support, and refined skill of the players that they took this tournament’s cup.” The USA Sevens official website reported in their recap, “Unlike seven of the nine tournaments in the Series, the USA Sevens spans three days of international play.” Due to this extended version of play, each team played two pool matches on day one, with the final pool match paired with quarterfinal matches played on day two. Fiji played an amazing game against New Zealand, stunning everyone with the amount of improvement by both individual players and as a whole unit flowing together more naturally than they ever have before. Critics of the match claim that an injury affected New Zealand’s ability to match the power and pace brought by Fiji. Though New Zealand brought it back in the second seven minute half, scoring 19 points, it was too little, and too late. Though the main focus of the event is rugby, vendors from both international and national bases come to sell their product to fellow rugby fanatics and players alike. This year, the local chapter of the Fiji Business Bureau had a booth dedicated to providing support services to undocumented Pacific Islanders. “Among other things, I always enjoy the food. Second to watching a solid three days of rugby, there’s nothing better than an international palette’s worth of good eats,” said Emory Williams, a Sevens player who attended the Las Vegas tournament as a spectator from Sacramento, CA. In the current 2014-15 season, the USA Sevens tournament is part of a nine-tournament circuit in eight different countries, touching on five of the six populated continents. Teams compete for the Sevens World Series title by accumulating points based on their finishing standings in each of the international tournaments. In the early years of the tournament, New Zealand dominated the Series, coming out with the first six titles from 1999-2005. However, Fiji, South Africa, and Samoa have each broken this winning streak since then.So far, the winners of each sub-tournament have been as follows. Australia at Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast: Fiji. Dubai at The Sevens: South Africa. South Africa at Nelson Mandela Stadium in Port Elizabeth: South Africa. New Zealand at Westpac Stadium in Wellington: New Zealand, and most recently in the United States at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Fiji took the title, winning against New Zealand. Ace Vuikadavu, a hospitality and tourism management major from Fiji remarked, “I felt humbled and proud of the achievement the boys have made. This is the only time you will see Fijians go crazy, wild and loud. Rugby is in our blood, whether we play it or watch from the sidelines.”The next tournament in the Series will be held in Hong Kong in the Hong Kong Stadium from March 27 to the 29. Uploaded Feb. 26, 2015.

vs. UH HiloA three pointer by Robbie Mitchell got things started early for the Seasiders as they began the game against the UH-Hilo Vulcans with a 7-2 run. The Vulcans battled back to close the deficit but the Seasiders’ bench came up with back-to-back three pointers to give the Seasiders a 24-12 lead and they never looked back.“I felt good that the team played hard and really played together for the most part. We need to keep improving though...I still think we can play better” said Coach Ken Wagner. The Seasiders’ bench continued to be effective, lengthening their run to 15-2, and later extending the lead to 30-14.Continuing to build on their lead the Seasiders went into halftime with a 46-23 lead. The Seasiders finished the half shooting 45.5% as nine different Seasiders got on the scoreboard.Both teams came out of the half-time break trading baskets as the Seasiders had to battle to maintain their 20-point lead. Midway through the second-half the Vulcans cut the Seasiders lead down to 15-points due to a number of Seasider turnovers.The Vulcans continued to cut into the Seasiders lead, getting within 10-points with 10 minutes left in the game.With the Vulcans continually putting on the pressure and trying to close the gap, the Seasiders’ Pablo Coro hit back-to-back three pointers to put the Seasiders up 87-78.In the closing minutes of the game Scott Friel hit two free throws to hit the 100-point mark to give Seasider fans free scoops of ice cream following the game.vs. Holy NamesSeven different Seasiders scored in the first half against Holy Names University and rolled to a 95-36 victory. The Seasiders dominated the inside out rebounding Holy Names 22-12 and out scored Holy Names in the paint 24-16.Forward Tyler Tuliau, a junior from California studying EXS, came off the bench to finish with 15 points on a perfect shooting night. “Our team is pretty balanced, so I guess it was just my night.” said Tuliau.The Seasiders came out strong after the break, led by Pablo Coro, with three three-pointers, and Jordan Stone, who continued to dominate the paint. The Seasiders biggest lead was 65-35.The Seasiders finished the game comfortably, winning 95-63.Uploaded Feb. 26, 2015.