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The Pumpkin Festival at Aloun Farms is helping islanders bring a piece of fall home with its “U-pick” pumpkin patch.“I loved going to the Aloun Farms pumpkin patch,” said Alyssa Troyanek, a junior majoring in international cultural studies from Arizona. “Even though you could see Waikiki and the ocean in the distance, it still felt like fall on the mainland.” Kelsie Gordan, a freshman majoring in biology from Washington, said, “I would definitely recommend going to the pumpkin patch at Aloun Farms. You get to pick your own pumpkin, straight off the vine, which is something I’ve never done before.”“I felt like I was back at home for a second, and now it feels like fall, even though we live on a tropical island,” Gordan continued.Located in Kapolei, the 9th annual Pumpkin Festival will be open to the public the last 3 weekends of October, from 8:30 A.M. to 5 P.M. October 25-26 will be the final days of the Pumpkin Festival. Admission is $3, and pumpkins range from $3-$20, depending on size. Giant pumpkins can also be purchased, and are priced according to weight. Children 2 and under are admitted for free. The farm is cash only, and checks or credit cards will not be accepted.The farm features its pumpkins during the month of October, but Ewa sweet corn, kabocha, string beans, and other local produce can be self-harvested at the festival. The festival also has pony rides, picture booths, tractor pulled hayrides, games, carnival rides, and food stands.The farm is only open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays, because weekdays are devoted to student tours. Michael Moefu, Aloun Farms Pumpkin Festival even coordinator, said in an interview with the Honolulu Magazine, “They (students) learn a little bit more about agriculture, not just pumpkins. Corn, sunflowers, beans and over a dozen different varieties of pumpkins.” This is the 10th year that Aloun Farms has hosted educational student tours, and they host an average of 15,000 students each year. Student tours run Tuesdays through Fridays.Aloun Farms is located at 91-1440 Farrington Highway, Kapolei, HI 96707. For more information, visit their website at alounfarms.com.

The BYU-Hawaii Gamers Club held their annual League of Legends Tournament meet and greet to prepare for their upcoming electronic sports tournament that is scheduled to take place throughout the month of November.The tournament is centered on League of Legends, a multiplayer online battle arena, or MOBA game. Each game consists of two teams that have five members. Each team fights towards each other’s base and ultimately tries to destroy the opposing teams nexus.“Today is our meet and greet. We want people to get together and either make a team with people here or sign up as a team with people they already know.” Romney added. The teams that are signed up for the tournament will be able to compete from their homes or dorms. Once a week, each team will face off on a map called Summoner’s Rift. The winners of each match will progress to the next bracket until finals come. The tentative date for the finals and semi-finals is November 17, 2014, according to the BYUH Gamers Club.Scott Romney, who serves as the BYUH Gamers Club president has been planning this event, along with other members of the Gamers Club, throughout summer. “We had a rough time last year, but we wanted to do it big this year,” Romney stated. “We talked to the companies that are in charge of the game and they got us some cool in-game prizes.”“The BYUH Gamers Club has actually partnered with Riot Games, the creators, and we’re getting prizes from them,” said Mitch Diamond, a junior from Utah studying computer science, and vice president of the Gamers Club. The winners of the competition will be able to win in-game prizes like in-game cash called Riot Points or rare skins for champions that are only accessible by winning a tournament hosted by Riot Games, the creators of League of Legends.There are five distinct roles in the current “meta,” or play style, during this 2014 season. The roles work hand in hand with each other and bring their own specialties to the team. There are three lanes on the map and in each lane a player takes a certain champion. On the bottom lane however, there are two players who work as a duo in the lane.“My friend and I usually just duo together and decided we might as well sign up,” said Spencer Grubbe, a freshman from Oregon studying psychology, “I play support in the bottom lane.” Grubbe stated that setting up a play and getting the enemies to fall is the most rewarding part of being a support, saying, “It’s fun.”For anyone interested in following the standings of the teams or any information in regards to the BYUH Gamers Club League of Legends tournament, contact Kevin Vuhung at kevin.vuhung90@gmail.com.

In light of the death of Michael Brown social activists from around the globe gathered in Ferguson, Missouri October 10 to13 for “The Weekend of Resistance” for Ferguson October.The official Ferguson October website called youth and all those standing in solidarity to action in the fight against police brutality and said, “We’re hosting a series of public events—marches, convenings and panels— to build momentum for a nationwide movement against police violence.”Lanae Pitts, a freshman at BYUH, said, “Police are supposed to be in the business of protecting lives, not overlooking and destroying them. We shouldn't need to protect ourselves from our protectors.”It has been two months since Michael Brown’s death and protestors “have defied a militarized crackdown and taken to the streets to call for the arrest of police officer Darren Wilson, who shot him, “ said a Democracy Now reporter.Jesse Williams, star of Greys Anatomy, was on the ground in Ferguson during “The Weekend of Resistance.” He commented on accountability, saying that everybody we know is accountable for breaking the law, so “if they happen to be wearing a blue shirt with a button-up that we paid for, they should probably be held accountable also.”Israel Wanoa, a freshman from New Zealand said, “I’ve never experienced police brutality, and where I’m from, it’s not an issue. I don’t know why people get so passionate about it.” “Brown’s killing was highly symbolic, another name on the tragic roll call of unarmed black men gunned down by white men and cops,” said MSNBC reporter, Trymaine Lee.Those at the forefront of the Ferguson protests are consistently posting articles and live UStream videos for those not able to be in Ferguson on their website. Petitions to the federal government to reform militarized and biased policing, and to GoFundMe, demanding an end to profit of racially motivated donors celebrating Michael Brown’s death, are also posted on the website.For updates on the Ferguson protests, text “HANDSUP” to 90975, or visit fergusoncotober.com.

On December 5th 2014, the BYU-Hawaii Student Association (BYUHSA) will be hosting the annual Fall Formal at the Polynesian Cultural Center for the students at BYUH. Unlike Fall Balls of the past, the Fall Formal will be closer to campus to encourage higher attendance from students with work and school conflicts.BYUHSA President Marc Gardner a senior from Australia serving as BYUHSA President, said that this dance will be different than dances in the past because of its location. “We want it to be accessible for everyone. Having it located at the PCC will accommodate students’ work schedules.” It will also be easier for those students who do not have ways to travel. “The cost is lower than dances in the past because it is located at the PCC.” Gardner added. The Fall Formal ticket price for a couple’s dinner and dance is $45. A couple ticket to just the dance is $20. The ticket prices for a single entry to the dance is $15. A ticket for a single entry to the dance and the dinner has not been decided yet, to encourage students to bring a date.Victoria Featherson a freshmen from Arkansas majoring in ICS said that big events, especially ones that involve a date, are really exciting on campus. “Whenever a bigger event comes around and everyone is going, it puts a certain energy in the air,” Featherson said. Paul Bacera, a junior from Guam majoring in business marketing, recounts enjoying past dances hosted by BYUHSA particularly because of the food and the atmosphere of the dance. Bacera said he is most looking forward to the excuse to dress nicely and the possibility of the dance being a very romantic night. “I like having an excuse to dress really flashy and nice. I’ve got to let everyone see my swag. It’s a really important thing to me. I like going to dances because they can serve to be a very romantic night to share with a significant other.”Featherson said she is excited to go to the dance with all the new friends she has made this semester. However, she said her greatest hope for the Fall Formal is to have great food. “Please let there be some fantastic catering. After what seems like endless cafeteria food and Seven Brothers I would just love something different. I’m still going to go and have fun dancing, but if there is great food, then that would be like the cherry on top of a great night.” The Fall Formal theme is still undecided but it is semi-formal attire.

The Yamagata International Film Festival was held on Thursday September 26th in the Aloha Center Ballroom. The festival presented short videos of students saying thank you to the Gene and Allison Yamagata, the founders of the Yamagata Foundation, for funding their internships.Cory Roberts, the CFO and COO of the Yamagata Enterprises Family Office, said, “The purpose of the foundation is to provide financial support for the students to be able to return to their home countries and other countries to perform internships. We want them to be able to obtain jobs and return to become both civic leaders as well as business leaders in their homelands.”Suthi “Saydi” Siriphan, a senior from Thailand studying international cultural studies, is the marketing and social media specialist for the BYUH Career services and was in charge of the event. He wanted to show appreciation to the Yamagata's in a creative way. “The program has helped 1,500 BYUH students over the past ten years. So we asked the most recently funded students to make a short video containing highlights of their internship and a message of gratitude. Then we put them all together to make a contest out of it,” Saydi said.Students who attended were able to vote for their favorite video by liking it on the Career Services’ Facebook page. The panel of judges included staff of the Yamagata Foundation, Career Services, and LDS Philanthropies from Utah.Nowah Afangbedji, a senior in biology from Tobo, Africa, did his internship in Ghana and won the first place prize: an iPad 4 and gift card. “I’m very grateful for this,” Nowah said. “I’m out of words. I’m so thankful for all the services we have here that made this possible for me.”Merwin Grant, Gene Yamagata’s attorney for twenty-five years and staff of the Yamagata Enterprise Family Office, said that they want students to be proud of coming to BYUH. “We want leaders that can lead the Church and help the young kids grow up and become successful students. We want them to say with pride, ‘I went to BYU-Hawaii’!”When speaking of the foundation, Brother Yamagata said, “Right now the program is exclusively for BYU-Hawaii students. Here is where it started, has grown and where it’s probably going to stay permanently.” Sister Yamagata said, “We love it here because of the students. They’re dedication and hard work are making this program a success. It’s really been inspiring to us and a big blessing.”Brother Yamagata is originally from Idaho and served his mission in Japan. In 1983, he founded Forever Living Products Japan Inc, a multimillionaire personal-care products business that exports goods from the U.S. to Japan. Sister Yamagata is originally from Denver, Colorado. They now live in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Recent floods in India and Pakistan offer an opportunity for peace building conversations and collaboration in rebuilding the two nations. Both the Pakistani and Indian sides have been severely affected by the increase in flow in the Southern Asiatic Rivers. Records indicate that these floods have not been matched for at least 50 years. Casualties include 300 dead and 2.3 million affected by the raging waters. In 2010, floods of the same nature were named “the worst humanitarian disaster of its time” by the United Nations. In response to the floods, youth from both India and Pakistan joined together to create a plan for shared risks and vulnerabilities. They aim to combat increased climate change caused disasters like these floods. The efforts of these young Pakistani and Indian people have started dialogue between both country’s’ politicians on the mutual need for infrastructure in climate action. Because of their specific geographical location, climate change demands to be managed.The kinds of infrastructure being called for in dialogue between youth and politicians are a basic forecasting system and a disaster management organization. UN reports that the United States has pledge $250,000 dollars to aid the flood relief. In other solidarity efforts, Saleem Baig, Convener of INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage) said, “We could not stop the floods, but we could have certainly mitigated the damage to a very large extent. They were not flash floods. With modern technology, we could have predicted the water levels and gave concrete alerts to people,"In the past, due to drama between both countries, combined efforts have been futile. However, now with two new prime ministers, the youth and other conglomerates of the countries seek to persuade their governments of the increasing need for collaboration. These floods are not all bad. They may have in fact provided an opportunity for a tension ceasefire in India and Pakistan.