During the Nov. 11 centennial commemoration of David O. McKay’s vision, BYU–Hawaii Academics Vice President Isaiah Walker said students and faculty must “align [themselves] to [Elder McKay’s vision] and continue to serve the amazing students of this great institution.” Using audio clips and archival images, Walker presented the history of Elder David O. McKay’s vision and how it led to the development of BYUH and the international expansion of the Church.
On Feb. 7, 1921, Walker shared McKay, an apostle at the time, attended a flag-raising ceremony at Laie Elementary School with 127 children from ages 7 to 15 years old. He said McKay had been “jarred by a spiritual experience” while attending the ceremony.
He quoted McKay, who said, “My bosom swelled with emotion and tears came to my eyes. I felt like bawling in prayer and thanksgiving.” It was then Walker shared McKay was inspired to establish a church college for the saints in Hawaii.
Unfortunately, Walker added McKay lacked the full authority to manifest his vision by establishing the college and would wait 34 years to do so. He explained during the 1920s, there was a lot of racial segregation in public schools, opposite to what McKay envisioned. However, shared McKay was moved by the thought of unity and diversity through the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
In 1955 at the groundbreaking for the Church College of Hawaii, McKay announced racial segregation was considered unconstitutional. On his presentation slides, Walker explains because of this, “McKay is recognized as the prophet who leads the Church into an important, modern phase: the rise of the international church.”
During his presentation, Walker added McKay was “ahead of his time and forward in his thinking on the notion of integration and racial unity in education.”
Walker said McKay’s revelation shifted the focus of “gathering Zion into a single place to uniting with decentralized states of Zion, stretching throughout the world.” He said he is fascinated BYUH origins are linked to the international expansion of the church.
Teacher turned recruiter
Walker emphasized the role of Ethel Helani Whitford Almadova, the first director of registrar and admissions for CCH.
Almadova said she graduated from BYU in Provo with a degree in elementary education in 1954. Following graduation, she shared she started teaching at Laie Elementary School and later, despite having no experience, McKay called her to be the registrar and dean of admissions.
Almadova asked, “Why was an elementary school teacher called to be a director of admissions at a college that was just starting?” She answered by explaining she had served as a student worker in BYU in Provo’s registrar’s office.
In 1955, she said she was hired by President Reuben D. Law, first president of CCH, to be the registrar and director of admissions, where she was tasked with recruiting 150 prospective students to attend the not yet fully established school.
Walker said McKay was ambitious to start classes only seven months from the groundbreaking, which seemed difficult for Almadova at first. Walker explained, “How could she recruit so many students in so little time to a college that only existed in concept?”
With the help of her friend, Walker said Almadova managed to recruit 153 students from throughout the Hawaiian Islands. “These students were so anxious and blessed to enroll in a college that was affordable, close by, and most importantly, tailored specifically for them by a prophet of God.”
Almadova shared Lilly Lindsey, then-secretary to Law, was the one who helped her recruit prospective students. She explained they had prospects eager to attend who couldn’t afford a mainland education or the University of Hawaii but could afford CCH because yearly tuition was 90 dollars and room and board was only 50 dollars per month.
During CCH’s second year, Walker explained the Hawaiian and Samoan languages were added to the curriculum. “This is historically significant because in public schools in Hawaii, Hawaiian language instruction was banned.”
From 1955 to 1957, Almadova said she resigned and resumed her passion for teaching at Laie Elementary School.
Family legacy
Current registrar Daryl Whitford said she is the niece-in-law of Almadova, who is her late husband’s aunt.
Whitford said she learned of her aunt’s history with BYUH upon being hired as the school’s registrar nearly 11 years ago. “It’s cool there is another Whitford carrying on her legacy, although I’m only related to her through marriage.”
Whitford, who hails from New Zealand, said she attended BYUH in 1978 and graduated in 1984 with an associate’s degree in science. She said she and her husband returned in 1995 when she was hired as a graduation specialist. Over a decade later, she became the registrar. Unlike Almadova, she shared her duties mainly focus on activating courses and class registration for students.
Almadova is a very loving and charitable person, Whitford said, and she aspires to follow her example in guiding students towards success. She added her husband and his aunt were close, which strengthened her relationship with Almadova.
“She’ll call to see how we’re doing. She’s like a second mom.” She said she hopes in following her aunt’s example, international students can return to their homelands. She shared she didn’t return to New Zealand after meeting her late husband who was from Laie. “As an international student who didn’t go home, this is my way of helping them.”
Almadova stays in touch with Whitford, she shared, to check up on her and ask about how the school is doing.
The inspiration to serve
Frances Sharma, a sophomore from Fiji majoring in political science, spoke at the devotional about how she was inspired to serve a mission. She shared she sought guidance from her religion professor, Aaron Shumway, who told her she must have a desire to serve the Lord. Following that guidance, Sharma shared she met five missionaries who shared experiences that helped her visualize herself as a missionary.
“I know one of my purposes at BYUH this semester was to be an instrument of the Lord and build a desire to serve him and his people. Being surrounded by students who have had the same desire as me to serve a mission is an immense blessing.”
Sharma expressed her gratitude for the friendships she has developed, as well as McKay’s vision and the opportunities it has offered her and other Pacific Islanders.
“Knowing I’m part of this institution [where] Pacific Islanders like me can attend and find their life purposes, meet their educational goals and grow their testimonies, increases my faith in Heavenly Father’s plan for each individual.”
The vision’s lasting impact
Abigail Evans, a sophomore from Maryland majoring in marine biology, attended the devotional and said she now better understands the meaning behind the mural in front of the McKay Foyer.
“I thought it was amazing how even during a simple flag ceremony, Elder McKay was able to get a whole vision from God about how to have a big school here for people from all over the world to come to.”
Maika Piena, a freshman from Makakilo, Hawaii majoring in business finance, said McKay’s vision has impacted him and his family for generations.
“[If McKay had not] followed the prompting to kneel and pray, then he wouldn’t have received the vision that BYUH was going to be in Laie. ... My parents met here and had me. Without the school, then I wouldn’t be here.”
Almadova shared her daughter, son and husband have all attended CCH. “It gave everybody a chance to further their education in a church college.” She said BYUH isn’t just any ordinary college because it was “founded on prophetic vision through David O. McKay.”
Walker said people talk about the vision in the context of its impact on BYUH, but people should “realize the magnitude of it on a much larger scale.”
Walker expressed McKay’s vision is still relevant to the BYUH community today because they are a part of the institution’s story and people “should be proud to be part of a very profound prophecy.”