About 58 BYU–Hawaii employees were honored for their time working at the university, totaling 800 years of combined service, and another 19 people received exemplary employee awards at the annual Ho’omaika’i dinner and dance on March 5 in the Cannon Activities Center.
“Thank you for your service and dedication to being and helping our students become Learners, Leaders, and Builders,” says President Steven C. Wheelwright’s welcome in this year’s program. “It is through your meaningful and consecrated efforts that we accomplish our student-focused mission.”
Honored for 40 years of service was Coach Norman Kalukiokalani. A graduate of the then Church College of Hawaii in 1970, Coach K has been an award-winning coach of the men’s and women’s cross country teams and is exercise sports and science professor.
Glenn Kau was recognized for his 35 years of experience running sound and lighting and working with campus movies. Over the years, he has worked in the McKay Auditorium and the Cannon Activities Center.
The husband and wife team of Philip and Emilyn Relator were both acknowledged for 30 years of service to the university. Philip works in Campus Safety & Security and Emilyn in Housing.
Two professors, Elaine Merrill and Susan Barton were honored for their respective 30 and 25 years of service in the Math Department. Two professors in the English Department were recognized for their years of service. Ned Williams has served at the university for 30 years Keith Peterson for 25 years.
Seasider men’s basketball coach Ken Wagner was recognized for his 25 years of service as was Facilities Management Electrician Kenny Wright.
Five employees have worked at the university for 20 years:
- Charlene Akana in the EXS Department
- Sanoma Goodwill and Randal Allred in the English Department
- C. Beth Haynes in Business Management Department
- Ivy Keawe in Distance Learning
Those recognized for 15 years of service are:
- Leilani Auna in Counseling Services
- Dorothy Fiso in the Health Center
- Lei Liua in Travel Services
- Seini Malupo in Food Services
- Siu Moala in Facilites Management
- Edna Owan in Educational Outreach
- Sataelea Talapa and ‘Ilafehi Tilini in Custodial
- Kaliki Unga at the Campus Distribution Center
- Michael Weber in the Science Department.
Adding up to 180 years of combined service at BYU–Hawaii are the following employees who were honored for 10 years of service:
- Jason Ava in Food Services
- Angus Christy in Press Services
- Lily Fonoimoana in Custodial
- Tammie Fonoimoana in Financial Aid
- Gregory Gibson in the Business Management Department
- Roger Shane Gold in the Science Department
- Scott Hyde in the Math Department
- Harmony Kahaiali’i in Financial Services
- Shawn Keliiliki in Student Employment
- Grace Lee in Purchasing
- Beth Martin in Student Insurance
- Farina McCarthy-Stonex in Counseling Services
- Suliasi Niu in Facilities Management
- LaVerne Puhi in Financial Aid
- Kathy Pulotu in Institutional Research
- Jaddy Toelupe in Facilities Management
- Wendy Vaka in Financial Services
- Amanda Wallace in the English Language Teaching and Learning Department
Receiving recognition for five years of service are:
- Randall Blimes in the Political Science Department
- Lyle Burkhart in Financial Services
- Anthony Clah in the EXS Department
- Aaron Curtis and Geoffrey Draper in the Computer and Information Science Department
- Zoia Falevai in the Library
- Kali Fermantez in the Hawaiian Studies Department
- Michael Johanson in University Communications and Public Relations
- Betty Nikora in Academic Advisement
- R. Kevin Salts in Enterprise Information Systems
- Daniel Scott in the Science Department
- Timothy Boyd in the Political Science Department
- Cary Wasden in the Business Management Department
Each year employees submit nominations for fellow employees to receive the exemplary employee award. This year 15 employees and four faculty members were selected as recipients of this prestigious award.
University photographer Monique Saenz received the award because she “serves in quiet, efficient, effective ways, with no fanfare and is often overlooked,” says university information. “However, when all is said and done, her work speaks for itself and is timeless. Her photographs are a labor of love as she craftily combines her skills and love for the university ohana.”
Another recipient was Joselyn Akana. She “is a phenomenal example of pure dedication and hard work here on campus as an academic advisor. She always goes above and beyond what is asked of her and does it with dignity, pride, and integrity,” says her nomination information.
Career Services Keilani Briones also received the award for “her affable, can-do attitude. She is a self-starter who loves her work. ... She is a team player, and she embodies the mission of the university.”
Director of Admissions T. James Faustino was among those recognized for “his talent with numbers and predictions to aid in planning and establishing processes in Admissions. He is positive and good to work with. ... He works hard and is a great example for all to follow.”
From the Registrar’s Office, Mayette Fonoimoana was nominated for striving to “assist students in any way that she can. She is very organized in her work and has a very positive and professional attitude when it comes to her job responsibilities and her conduct. She always takes the initiative to help out other employees when they look like they are overloaded with work.”
Formerly with the Office and Honor and now working at Career Services, Meli Lesuma also received the exemplary employee award for being “caring and always encouraging students to return to lead in their home countries. He is loyal to BYU–Hawaii. He is steady like a rock and a great example of a disciple of Christ.”
Besides reaching 10 years of working at BYU–Hawaii, Institutional Research’s Kathy Pulotu was recognized for managing six student workers and a number of volunteers all in her small office area. “Everyone around her, including folks on either side of the cubicle, recognize when she is in ‘the zone because with headsets on she sings either Hawaiian or ‘80s and ‘90s tunes off of Pandora while in the thick of opening multiple spreadsheets and applications to crank out much needed reports for internal or external purposes.”
Mamoe Sanerivi, from the Financial Aid Department, was selected because he “loves BYU–Hawaii students. He takes the time to research thoroughly what the student needs in order to assist them accordingly. When he sees that his coworkers are swamped with work, he steps up and assists them to accomplish the task. He is indeed a team player.”
From the Enterprise Information Systems Department, Kimberly Brothers was a recipient for always being “willing to help and guide others to find the answers they need” and “her wealth of knowledge about the university and the processes are very valuable to not only the department but also to the university as a whole. She believes in the mission of BYU–Hawaii and it shows in the job she does.”
Working with Information Technology Operations, Olivia Moleni received an exemplary employee award because she “demonstrates excellent customer service and makes sure that customers are serviced in a timely manner. She goes beyond what is expected of her with a sincere, positive attitude. She can troubleshoot problems and concerns over the phone.”
Recognized for 30 years of service, Emilyn Relator also received an award for her ability to problem solve and serve others. “She exhumes patience and excels amongst the challenges while working with their demands and within the given guidelines. She is very diligent and follows through with every complaint and will not stop until the problem is resolved.”
Sifa Takalai has worked for Security for the past 11 years and “has handled different things from special events, mentored junior officers, worked long hours, responded to every call for assistance, manage emergencies, and provided investigative duties on cases. Sifa has exercised initiative in adapting to new policies and programs and implementing them in every way possible.”
A baker at the Cafeteria, Tutasi Fiu was recognized for being “reliable, responsible and proactive in ensuring her area follows through on all orders in a timely manner. ... When she can, she offers her help in the other areas of the Kitchen as well. In addition to her strong work performance, she still has the energy and time to pursue her associate’s degree.”
Also working in the Cafeteria is President Galeai who was nominated because he “is an outstanding leader in our kitchen. Pres knows how to radiate the Spirit of God in his work. He is an excellent chef and is fair in his dealings, slow to anger and is kind in his directions. ... He is a leader his co-workers love to follow and love.”
Working now as the administrative assistant for the vice president of Student Development and Service, Ualani Nagy was a recipient of the exemplary employee award. She has worked at BYUH for 18 years and “comes to work every day with a smile and positive attitude. ... She solves all situations in such a way as to leave the customer happy and content. Her work is very thorough and she cares about what she does. She exemplifies what it is to be Christ-like and to care for others.”
Among the four exemplary faculty members honored this year is David Beus in the International and Cultural Studies Department. While unassuming in nature, David’s breadth of “expertise sometimes goes unrecognized…David is a clever writer and translator, who playfully and sometimes provocatively, challenges our thinking and assumptions. He is appreciated by students for his sardonic sense of humor, penetrating insights, and ability to get them to think deeply and with more nuance than they ever would suppose, and just the down-right interesting material he explores with them.”
Called an “ideal faculty member,” Shane Gold from the Science Department is “tireless in working to provide his students with world-class instruction and research opportunities. He expects a lot from his students and his students respond. They consider Dr. Gold to be a mentor rather than an instructor.”
When students are asked about what is their most challenging or favorite class, it is not a surprise when their “answers to both questions are the same: Dr. Gold’s courses.”
Political Science Professor Brian Houghton is called an “outstanding teacher and researcher. He is innovative in the classroom and continuously works to improve the courses he teaches. His student evaluations are among the highest in the entire college. His students love him, even though they regard him as extremely challenging. In the area of research, Brian is world-renowned in his work on Terrorism. He is a highly sought-after expert in this area and regularly presents at conferences and workshops around the world.”
Highly respected by his colleagues, Mark James in the English Language Teaching and Learning Department was among the faculty recognized. “Throughout his years on campus, Mark has held a number of leadership positions on campus including department chair and associate dean. ... He consistently receives high student ratings and is living proof that students do not just dole out high ratings to easy teachers. His classes are filled with rigorous exams and complex writing assignments. His students rise to the challenge.”