After retiring this year with more than 30 years working at the Polynesian Cultural Center and spending time on vacation, Bobby Akoi said the Lord had other plans for him as he was called to be the university chaplain for BYU–Hawaii.
Describing what a university chaplain does, Akoi said, “A university chaplain is basically responsible for all non-member students. The chaplain is also responsible for the non-member faculty and staff.”
Called to serve
Akoi said he and his wife had planned to serve a mission after the summer of 2020 so they could have time to travel and visit their families. “We weren’t looking for any Church mission opportunities until then.”
The Lord had other plans for Akoi, he said. “My wife and I returned from a trip to Japan, gifted by our children as a retirement gift. The day we returned from Japan we literally got a knock on the front door asking if I would consider serving a Church mission at BYUH as their chaplain.”
According to Akoi, he did not know the school had a chaplain and did not know what the chaplain did. He said he spent an entire day praying and fasting about the decision. “I felt like the Lord was telling me, ’You’re retired from the PCC since July and had four months of vacation. This is the longest vacation you had in 37 years. That’s enough, now it’s time to get to work.’”
Serving as the university chaplain
Akoi explained he is happy to be back serving at the university he once attended. “I now get the opportunity to give back to my alma mater. I am here to serve this university that has been responsible for my spiritual education and career at the PCC.
“I’m already enjoying myself in meeting and guiding the non-member students trying to enroll at our university. I do a face-to-face video conference with each of them and find myself interviewing at least 2-3 students a week. One of them is from Japan and she is taking missionary discussions right now and my mission companion is helping her in the process.”
According to the BYUH Admissions website, all non-members wishing to attend a Church school must be interviewed by the university chaplain in place of a local stake or district president.
A non-member student from Thailand, Panninee U-thaiwan, is a junior majoring in business management. She said as a non-member it can sometimes be difficult being comfortable in a church environment and is looking forward to hearing from the new university chaplain.
“I kinda feel more comfortable knowing that there’s actually someone taking care of non-member students This is nice because sometimes it’s hard to talk to the bishop about things that are not related to LDS stuff.”
Akoi said he feels incredibly lucky and blessed to be at BYUH as the chaplain. “My hope is that every student on campus experiences a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
A blessed opportunity
Akoi said he hopes those he serves find themselves always engaging in doing good things. “I hope they will develop a healthy relationship with their bishop who loves them. And I hope they continue to work hard in their studies. So, when they do leave this campus, they will charge out of here confident and ready to achieve great ends in their own way.”
Speaking of his new department and co-workers, Akoi remarked, “One thing I love about serving as a chaplain is that right now, I am under the Ho‘okele Department, led by our director, James Faustino. I get to be involved in Admissions, Career Services and the Alumni Association. That’s what I’m equally excited about.
“The leaders in this department are truly diamonds. Everything they do is for our students. My hope is that I can influence and leave an impact on the students (member and non-member) and the Ho‘okele Department.”