Laie Palms and the Dole Cannery theaters in Honolulu will be showing the feature-length film, “Meet the Mormons,” which documents the lives of six members of the LDS Church. The new movie is set to be released Oct. 10. Elder and Sister Addams, service missionaries from Utah, said they are eager to see the film. Elder Addams said, “I appreciate how the trailer says that it’s not a movie about war or theology. It’s a movie about faith.” One of the six people featured in the film is Laie-born, Ken Niumatalolo, head coach of the United States Naval Academy football team. On the Navy sports website it says, “Niumatalolo is just the second coach since World War II to lead Navy to a winning record in each of his first three seasons at the helm . . .this past fall, Niumatalolo was selected to the inaugural class of the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame and was inducted on January 23 in Honolulu.” Niumatalolo and his wife Barbara have three children.Sister Addams said, “To me that personalizes it so much when they’re featuring a Hawaii-born member of the church. People are interested in seeing their culture and this really brings it home. I love how ethnically diverse the trailer makes it seem. It’s very representative of a worldwide church.”Sister Addams mentioned that her understanding of the film is that it’s relatively unscripted; the producers trusted the featured individuals to be honest and accurate about the Mormon faith. Mormonnewsroom.org reported, “This film is an opportunity for people to meet—in a very personal way—members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. From their individual passions to their daily struggles, each story paints a picture as rich and unique as the next while challenging stereotypes that surround the Mormon faith.”Chase Beal, a senior in marine biology from Utah, thought because the film was only playing in select theaters, it wouldn’t be very well known. Beal said, “I think it’s great that they got some big names for the movie so people can get to know us a little better. I would see it.”

Young moms and dads at BYU-Hawaii said they juggle the demanding load of school, work, and being full-time parents. They share their struggles and secrets to success. The married housing adjacent to BYUH campus, Temple View Apartments or TVA, accommodates approximately 281 student families. Andrews Crowell, an undeclared freshman from Hauula, settled into TVA during Summer B of 2014 with his wife and daughter. Crowell said, “We just had our first baby girl in May. As I started school in September, juggling the role of a father, working full time at Kualoa Ranch, and being a full-time student seemed impossible. But my wife and I work through it because we have to.” Crowell added his role is to provide a wonderful lifestyle for his family. He said he understands even though its hard now, he keeps one thing in mind and that is family.Crowell is not alone in his view on family. Dallin Leota, a freshman majoring in psychology, said he moved from Australia to Laie with his wife and son. Leota said, “The hardest part about being a parent and going to school is balancing time with my family and making it a consistent time.”The balance isn’t easy for any parents at BYUH, but all interviewed said it is worth it. Sydney Rowland, an undeclared sophomore from Oregon, said, “I wouldn’t be attending school if it wasn’t for my family. They are the reason why I want to obtain a degree along with my husband.” Rowland uses her free time to catch up on schoolwork but feels her real focus is on her husband and two children.Nadia Esera, a 2013 BYUH graduate, received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education while a mother to five children, all of whom were under the age of 13. Esera stated, “It was a struggle, but I knew that I had to finish school. I was able to attend my classes while my children were in school and I also enrolled in night classes. It was tough being away from my children but everything I do is for them.” Esera is now a first grade teacher at Sunset Beach Elementary and has a growing family of six.David Bayas, a freshman from Ecuador majoring in marketing, said he would not be able to attend school, fulfill his calling as Young Men’s president, provide for his family, or spend time with his children, without his wife to help him. “It’s challenging finding time for my family though I don’t think it’s impossible. What keeps you strong is always the gospel and Jesus Christ because one thing that I know is I came to this place to grow as a person. My challenges only strengthen me and help me grow.”

This October’s General Conference marked the first time in history General Authorities from other nations gave their talks in their native languages. The first General Authority to speak in his own language, Cantonese, was Elder Chi Hong (Sam) Wong of the Seventy. Elder Wong and his wife, Carol, are both alumni of BYU-Hawaii. On his lds.org profile. it talks about his experiences at BYUH. It says he “gained much more than an education—he gained a sure knowledge that there is a God who knows the ‘details of our lives.’”It goes on to say, “Because he was in Hawaii on a student visa, Elder Wong could work only 20 hours a week. ‘We had to really exercise our faith and prayers,’ he said of what it took to sustain his family. He worked hard to earn a scholarship and then, to maximize the financial benefit, took as many credit hours as the university would allow.” The Wongs were sealed in the Laie Hawaii Temple on Aug. 9, 1984 and now have four children. “Those years were very special, very sacred,” Elder Wong says in his profile of his time in Laie.His General Conference talk used the account of Christ healing a man stricken with palsy to illustrate how members and missionaries can work together in ward councils to fulfill President Thomas S. Monson’s counsel to “Reach out to rescue.”During the conference on Oct. 4 and 5, leaders of the shurch encouraged students and members with messages of faith, hope, and love. President Thomas S. Monson said, “May we reach out in helpfulness, not only to our fellow members but also to those who are not of our faith.” Church members around the world went to stake centers or tuned into their ipads, laptops, or televisions to watch the 184th Semiannual General Conference. Members here in Laie and world wide listened to President Thomas S. Monson, the First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and other General Authorities as they shared messages about the gospel of Jesus Christ.These messages focused on finding happiness through faith in Christ, righteous living, and helping those around us. Here are what students at BYU-Hawaii thought of the conference:“My favorite talk was during the Priesthood Session by President Dieter F, Uchtdorf. The one phrase that he kept on repeating throughout his entire talk stuck with me not only through the rest of the talk but throughout the day. He kept on repeating the phrase, ‘Lord, is it I?’ which I feel that if we actually think about that phrase in our every day-to-day activity, then we could overall be better people because personally I think it is a humbling question,” said Brando O. Barron, a freshman majoring in exercise science from Los Angeles, Calif.“My favorite talk was by Elder Neil L. Andersen because he talked a lot about Joseph Smith and addressed an issue never talked about in conference. He mentioned how there is bad stuff out there about Joseph Smith and more is going to come out as we get closer to the Second Coming. I just loved that he talked about that because I admire Joseph Smith so much,” said Cristina Owens, a freshman from Las Vegas, Nev.“My favorite talk was during the Sunday afternoon by Elder David A. Bednar. I loved how he addressed the non-members of the church. I think he cleared up a lot of the concerns that non-members may have about the church. All that the members want to do is to invite those to feel the joy that the gospel can bring into their lives. We just want to share what makes us happy,” said Louie Arne, a junior majoring in graphic design from Utah.To watch the conference talks again, go online at lds.org or the Mormon Channel Apps.

Writer: Jared Roberts ~ Multimedia Journalist

With “Revolution” by The Beatles playing loud, around 50 students at BYU in Provo began their march towards the administration building on campus protesting beards, according to Deseret News. The protests were to fight the ban on beards that was reportedly put into the BYU Honor code in the 1940s, reports Deseret News.Not all students agreed with their decision to fight the beard. BYU-Hawaii student Ryan Belliston, a senior in marketing from Ohio, said, “I think the fact that they’re protesting something they signed up for is really pointless. They knew what they were getting themselves into.”BYU Spokeswoman Carri Jenkins, said, “It’s not that we have anything against beards. It’s just that this is how we have chosen to represent ourselvesat BYU.”The Honor Code is a guideline for clean living that all students attending BYU schools must sign prior to enrollment. According to the Honor Code, all students that attend a BYU school must, “be modest, neat, and clean, consistent with the dignity adherent to representing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and any of its institutions of higher education.” This modest, neat, and clean appearance includes being clean-shaven, according to the Honor Code.Male students who choose to wear facial hair are allowed to grow moustaches. On any BYU campus you will see men with moustaches, not beards, as this is the only way for men attending BYU to express themselves with facial hair. BYUH student Brian Walker, a man with a moustache, and a junior in psychology from Hong Kong, said, “My moustache is from wanting to grow a beard. Since I am not allowed to grow one here, I figured a moustache is the next best thing.”Some students and faculty see the Honor Codes stance on facial hair as a way to prepare for the professional world. Sister Fuller, a full-time missionary in the Office of Honor at BYUH, said, “My personal opinion is that a man looks much better without a beard, but the whole thing is just to look clean, wholesome, and professional. It is training for the professional world where you need to look neat and clean.”For now the beard ban on the Honor Code remains, but BYU Provo protest organizer, Shane Pittson, said, “We won’t let this dream die!”

Crowds of protesters who filled Hong Kong’s streets with demands for more democracy thinned dramatically after student leaders and the government agreed to hold talks on Oct. 10 in the increasingly frustrated city, reported the Associated Press.With the protests going on in Hong Kong, students at BYU-Hawaii are voicing their own opinions about the state of their homeland.“I think people in Hong Kong are divided into a few groups. Some are passive about the unfairness, some support the government, and some are taking the initiative to voice their desire of democracy,” said Yee Hang Wu, a senior majoring in TESOL from Hong Kong.Protesters began occupying the streets of downtown Hong Kong on Sept. 26, and have remained relatively peaceful, with sit-ins being the main form of protest, the majority being college-aged students.“Many younger Hong Kong residents, raised in an era of plenty and with no experience of past political turmoil in mainland China, have higher expectations,” the Associated Press reported. Just a few days after tens of thousands of demonstrators thronged the city’s streets, only a couple thousand protesters were scattered across the three main protest areas on night of Oct. 7. But the six-lane highway that cuts through the heart of Hong Kong’s business district remained blocked. “I hope that the protesters gathering on the roads, especially students and young people, could think this over: While fighting for a better future and democracy for Hong Kong by way of civil disobedience, should you also consider the prolonged disruption caused to the general public?” said Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun Ying in a television broadcast. Leung has refused to heed resignation demands made by the pro-democracy protesters, reported AP. An agreement made in 1984 between Beijing and Hong Kong promised to give Hong Kong residents the right to civil liberties. China took control of the 7.1 million population of Hong Kong in 1997.Hong Kong Chief Secretary Carrie Lam has been appointed by Leung to organize talks between demonstration leaders. “I hope both sides will be satisfied,” Lam said. Wu continued, “I think the government is definitely not keeping their promises and they made the deal of direct electionvery sour.”Chiang Shun Chow, a sophomore majoring in business management from Hong Kong, said he is doing all he can to help the student protesters in Hong Kong. “I really want all the people from other countries to know what is happening in Hong Kong. I share the pictures from the protests on Facebook. I know that some students at BYUH are making videos to send to the HongKong students.” Chow continued, “I support the students to have a protest because the way that they do it is very peaceful. It is our right to fight for freedom and democracy. I felt very angry when I saw the police use tear gas and arrest the students.”

In 1994 Brian Kinghorn was taking a General Psychology course here at BYU-Hawaii, now 20 years later he is teaching psychology with an office right next door to his dad, Edward Kinghorn. Commonly referred to as young Kinghorn and older Kinghorn, the father-son duo teach a variety of psychology courses ranging from the 100-400 level including classes like General Psychology, Biopsychology and Psychology of Social Media. Tell us a little about yourselves:Brian:“I grew up in Rexburg, Idaho, but I was born in California. My dad was teaching at Rick’s college at the time, so that’s why we were there. I did my undergraduate degree here at BYU-Hawaii, after I transferred from Rick’s. I was a part of the concert choir here and that’s what originally got me here.”Edward:“I was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. I graduated from BYU with a degree in psychology. Eventually, I finished all three of my degrees from BYU: undergrad, masters, and PhD. In 1996, I did a two-year fellowship at the University of Utah’s Department of Neurosurgery and retrained as a Neuropsychologist. In 2004, I came to BYU-Hawaii as a visiting faculty for a year, then in 2006 I came back and ended up staying. I’m now the department chair and a licensed neuropsychologist in Hawaii, Utah and Idaho. I was also in New York after 9/11, and in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina to help with mental health.”What courses do you teach here at BYU-Hawaii?Brian:“I teach General Psychology, Cultural Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Educational Psychology and Psychology of Social Media.”Edward:“I’m teaching General Psychology, Bio-psychology and Stress Management.”What brought you here to BYU-Hawaii?Brian:“As a student, I was recruited here to be a part of the concert choir. As a faculty member, my undergraduate research advisor, Jeff Burroughs, called me and he asked me to apply for an opening. Two weeks before classes started I got the O.K. for the job, so I had to get plane tickets--took two of my children, and I had to leave my wife and other children so they could take care of the last things back home. I got here the day before faculty meetings and the next Monday classes started.”Edward:“I knew a lot about the BYU-Hawaii Psychology Department, since Rick’s college was a two-year school at the time. A lot of the faculty there worked with faculty here. Then I came to visit in 2004 and came back in 2006.”What got your interest in the field of psychology?Brian:“I was originally a chemistry major, and I wanted to go to medical school. Then, I was introduced to needles and blood, and that didn’t go over very well. I switched to a psychology major and got my degree. After doing some work with science and education, I realized that most teachers didn’t know what they were teaching, and that sent me in the direction of studying educational psychology with a focus on science teacher learning.”Edward:“It was a general psychology class that I took my freshman year of college. I, originally, was going to major in biology and teach high school students, but, once I learned about the brain, it fascinated me. Eventually, I began to study the electrical activity in the brain, and that got me in the field.”Any last interesting things or comments for the students here at BYU-Hawaii?Brian:“I’ll be teaching a psychology of social media class again. My time here is temporary, but my goal now is to do a great job and enjoy the time I have here.”Edward:“Six children of mine will have graduated from here. At one point, there were seven Kinghorns on campus. We tried taking over.”

Two Super Bowl Champions and brothers celebrated the successful surgery that transplanted older brother Ma’ake Kemoeatu’s kidney to Chris Kemoeatu. Both brothers’ careers in the NFL have ended due to Chris’ disease, but there are no regrets, only love, according to members of the Kemoeatu family.Originally from Kahuku and alumni of Kahuku High School, the brothers founded Pacific Elite Sport Fitness Center in Kaneohe. Both men have made names for themselves in the NFL, but they are known now for the selfless love between the two brothers and their family.At a press conference in Baltimore, Ma’ake Kemoeatu told the media, “I’m the oldest of the seven kids, and it’s my responsibility to take care of my younger brothers and sisters. If my younger siblings need blood, it’ll be my blood. If they need a kidney, it’ll have to be my kidney.” Jared Ang, a senior at BYU-Hawaii and big fan of the Baltimore Ravens, commented, “I would do the same if it was my brother. I think it’s definitely worth leaving an NFL career for. When it all comes down to it, family is most important.”According to Associated Press, members of the Kemoeatu family were tested to see if their kidneys were compatible with Chris’ body. Ma’ake was the most compatible family member with a 99 percent match. He immediately agreed to help his brother.“I think what Ma’ake did for his family shows his love for them and shows that he’s not all about the money. He is a great example for us in putting family first,” stated Roman Benioni, an undeclared sophomore at BYUH.Chris Kemoeatu had experienced kidney pain since eighth grade, says AP, but was able to play football through it and even began an NFL career as an offensive lineman with the Pittsburg Steelers in 2005.In 2012, however, he ended his career upon learning about his kidney disease, increased pain, and finding out he needed a kidney transplant to survive. Soon after, Ma’ake found he was a match for his brother and quit playing football in 2012 as well. Ma’ake had started playing for the Baltimore Ravens as a free agent in 2002. Both brothers have Super Bowl wins; Ma’ake in 2013 and Chris in 2006 and 2009, according to the Baltimore Sun.

Box office successes, like “Guardians of the Galaxy” and last year’s “Gravity,” received positive feedback from audiences and critics, leaving fans hoping for more films with space-based excitement. BYU-Hawaii students can expect to see more science fiction movies in theaters in the months to come as the popular space-themed trend continues. The next sci-fi movie, planned to hit theaters on November 7th, is “Interstellar.” The film, directed by Christopher Nolan, stars Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway and Michael Caine. Chris Wiley, a sophomore from Oregon studying music composition, said he’s looking forward to it. “I like this idea of conquest in space. They’re looking for a new place for humanity to survive outside of the solar system.” Wiley continued, “The special effects look so real. And it looks like there’ll be themes of sacrifice for your family and for humanity.”Another anticipated sci-fi movie coming next year is “Star Wars: Episode VII.” Erik Adams, a senior from Oregon majoring in Biology, said, “I’m so excited for it. I’m curious to see how it will turn out since Disney is producing it now. I heard that in the original story plot there was supposed to be another three films so I was wondering when we would see some more.”The film will feature Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher who will all reprise their roles as Han Solo, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia respectively. It is being directed by J.J. Abrams, the director of “Star Trek” and “Super 8.” The movie is set to release on Dec. 18, 2015.Not all sci-fi movies coming out sound as appealing to some students. David Henderson, a freshman from California studying psychology, was not happy when he heard that “Avatar 2” is in production. “Please tell me that’s not true? The first movie was just a commentary on the American ratification of Native Americans so it just felt like a super forced message. The action was cool, but I’m not excited about an ‘Avatar 2’ at all.”“Avatar 2” is set to release in November 2016 and is being directed by James Cameron. According to Screenrant.com, the film will be set in the underwater of the first film’s planet and will involve revolutionary motion capture photography to catch the aquatic scenes.Other sci-fi and space-themed movies being released in the upcoming years include “Terminator 5” on July 1, 2015, and “Star Trek 3” in 2016.