Dr. Erica Glenn said she composed an original song called “From This Place,” that the BYU–Hawaii Ho'olōkahi Choir performed during President John S. K. Kauwe III's inauguration on Oct. 19. She said she began composing the song when the choir was invited to sing for the inauguration because the pieces the choir had prepared for other occasions were not right for the event.
Glenn, a visiting assistant professor in the Faculty of Culture, Language & Performing Arts, explained she composed the song by unifying the words of David O. McKay at the original inauguration, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's introduction of President Kauwe as president of BYUH, and President Kauwe's first address to the BYUH community. Glenn said the spirit guided her through composing this song. “It's a miracle it all came together,” she said.
At the beginning of the song, Glenn said she used the Hawaiian phrase, “Ka'a mau ke Akua e hana kamaha'o,” meaning God moves in mysterious ways. Glenn said she incorporated this to represent God working “to bring President Kauwe to this place at this time.”
Glenn said the song itself was a manifestation of God moving in mysterious ways because it brought students together from all around the world to express the mission of BYUH through music. “In the process of writing the piece, I received a powerful witness these students are here for a purpose, that purpose is remarkable and it's going to radiate to the outermost corners of the worldwide church.”
Ryan Escabarte, a sophomore from the Philippines majoring in psychology and a member of the Ho'olōkahi Choir, said the song has already impacted students' lives by helping them discover their purpose at BYUH.
With tears in his eyes, Escabarte said his friend hugged him the day after the inauguration and said the song helped him “understand I should be staying here. I shouldn't be moving to another school because I belong and I matter.”
President Kauwe said, “I hope students hear [this song] and feel the power of the prophetic words associated with the University. I hope they realize they are integral in building and protecting this place.”
Eden Uyehara, a senior from Laie, Hawaii, majoring in music and theatre, performed in the Ho'olōkahi Choir at the inauguration. She explained the message the Ho'olōkahi Choir wanted to share at President John Kauwe's inauguration was everyone in the BYUH community is here for a reason.
She added BYUH students “are genuine gold. When [they] leave this place and are out in the world, [they] are supposed to shine the light BYUH has given to [them] out to everybody else.”
President of the Ho'olōkahi Choir, Julia Hernandez, a senior from Georgia majoring in psychology, said it was not the students in the choir that brought this enlightenment to the audience, but it was the Holy Ghost “testifying to them the words [the choir] sang were true.”
President Kauwe said he was joyful as he listened to the choir because “the song and the Spirit with which it was performed really highlighted the unique and prophetically defined mission of BYUH.”
Hernandez said when she was learning the song, she realized it was written for the students at BYUH and how they can take part in the legacy of the University. She added by making an effort to reach out to others and make a difference in their lives, students can help fulfill David O. McKay's prophecy that BYUH would unite the world.
Hernandez said her favorite line of the song comes at a key moment where everyone is singing different things and there is chaos, until they all join in singing “Striving for unity, children of God.'” She said this represents the students going into the world, which is stressful and busy, but while they are at BYUH, they can strive for unity.
Glenn said, “I wanted [the song] to be the mission song of our choir. … [The choir exists] to be musical ambassadors of the mission of this school, and to build the kind of unity, understanding and leadership in classrooms that will then translate into anything these students do beyond [University] walls.”
Uyehara said the way each student is special is shown in the line of the song, “Noblemen and noblewomen who cannot be bought or sold, who scorn to violate truth, genuine gold." She said, "It shows how priceless students are at this University and how [they] are the genuine gold. That is what David O. McKay calls [them].”
Escabarte said he has heard students say they do not belong at BYUH because they feel their accomplishments and character do not matter. He added he hopes students who heard the song can remember they “are a child of God ... and [they] matter.” •