The BYU–Hawaii Student Leadership & Service Center (SAC) hosted their Ho’omana Service Day on June 8, collaborating with five different partners within the North Shore community. Students volunteered their time at Kaupaka farm in Hauula, Kahuku Medical Center, Pupukea Boy Scout Camp, the North Shore Community Land Trust, and Waimea Valley. Service activities included painting, weeding, and clearing and cleaning the land.
According to Alyssa Allen, student center student supervisor, this was the first time that SAC was able to collaborate with five different organizations in the community. “We have been intensely planning this event since January. From arranging buses for the transportation of our students to making sure we have places lined up for our students to serve, it has been a busy process.
“Most importantly, we wanted to make sure we got the word out to as many students as we could about this awesome opportunity.”
The 140 students in attendance were split into groups and sent to five different locations. Before heading out to their separate locations, SAC member Nainoa Kapele led the students in the hiki mai, a traditional Hawaiian chant written by Cy Bridges. Although the students were split up throughout the island, Kapele said they were all united in representing Laie and BYUH with honor and charity.
Though the Ho’omana Service Day only takes place once or twice a semester, Allen encourages students to always be on the lookout for service opportunities. “If anything, I hope the service rendered today would inspire students to keep going and keep serving wherever they may be. We can go into the communities where we reside and form meaningful relationships through service.”
Hau Bui, a senior from Vietnam studying marketing, was with the team volunteering at Kaupaka farm. Kaupaka farm is a church welfare farm run by missionary couple Elder Mark and Sister Marlene Ellingson. Bui and his group were able to repaint an old fence at the entrance of the farm. Bui initially found out about Ho’omana Day through one of the Vietnam Club meetings.
“Our club decided to all come to this service project so that we could contribute and grow closer as a club,” Bui shared. “I’m really glad I came to serve because it was a reminder to me wherever we live we need to contribute to our communities.”
The New Student Experience team (NSE) joined with SAC to plan and prepare the Ho’omana Day. Teal Zimmerman, a junior from Florida studying communications, is a part of the NSE team and joined the group volunteering at the Pupukea Boy Scout Camp. She shared their service rendered at the camp was not just for the physical appearance of the place but also had an impact on the people who work there.
“One of the purposes of the service we give as BYUH students is to take the spirit of aloha to all those we meet. We began our service by singing the hiki mai upon entering the grounds of the Boy Scout Camp. This set the tone for the rest of our time serving at the camp.”
Students split into groups, directed by the park ranger, and took turns preparing firewood for the fire pits, raking unwanted debris, clearing out campsites, and painting an old shed. Zimmerman marveled at the fact so many students from different walks of life came together to serve with unity.
She said, “I loved seeing a group of students that came from Tonga, the Philippines, and [the United States and more] all joined up serving with one purpose. As we were preparing to leave, one student suggested we sing one more song. We sang ‘I am a Child of God’ to the park ranger and I could tell she was really touched. That’s what service is all about.”
Writer: Alyssa Odom