Renaissance man Eurica California is known for frequenting the BYU-Hawaii library on a daily basis for the past three years. The man behind the ponytail, known as Cal, said he spends his days inventing, researching, surfing, videoing, and pursuing country music, using the library as a way to work on his research and invention patent applications. Since 1996, California has been, “developing incubators for babies before they are ready to breathe air,” describing it as his life’s work. “I noticed a lack of concern and technological advancement in that field. I started from scratch and have created several patents that have been issued.” He said his latest patent deals with non-destructive means of ectopic pregnancy management. He said it takes a lot of self-discipline and drive to complete these patents. “Without an engineering or medical degree, I immersed myself in the research until I became fluent in it.” With his research completed in the UCLA biomedical library before arriving in Hawaii, he said he used a lot of time here at BYUH copying drawings in the multimedia lab. California is not a member of the LDS Church, but he has not missed a devotional for the past couple of years. “I noticed the library was closed at 11 a.m. on Tuesdays. Initially, I just went to the shopping center, but then I started to go. I find them very interesting.” He said he also went to the Laie Temple open house and was amazed by the Celestial Room.California appreciates much of what the BYUH and Laie community has to offer, but it’s his presence in the Joseph F. Smith Library that makes him so well-known around the town. “I like that it is quiet in the library. People dress modestly so it’s not distracting as well. I didn’t notice it before until I came here. I have never been in a cleavage-free world. It is a nice difference. I think it makes people calmer because if you don’t lose your own self-respect, then you’re not going to complain about other people not respecting you. Another nice thing is that no one smokes here.”Born and raised in southern California, Cal said he graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1995 studying art. He said he came to Hawaii 10 years ago to visit his brother in Kauai, and fell in love with the place, deciding to stay. In regards to his move to Laie, he said, “I didn’t know about the library at BYUH, but I was originally using the public library in Waialua. Since they were starting to have Furlough Fridays, the librarian suggested this library. Travis Overley, a former student, showed me around the campus three years ago. I was going to do farming in Laie, so it was easy to relocate. I come in the library in the morning and leave around five, depending on how much work I have.”Maria Fonoimoana Feagai, manager of the Academic Multimedia Lab, met California when he was a frequent user. “Because we are open to the community, I make it a point to say hello to everyone on campus. I had seen him in Laie with a suburban and a surfboard, and then he came into the Copy Center often. I always see him studying and working in the library.” Other than his patent research, California said he just bought a GoPro and is experimenting with video. He also said he is currently learning about country music and has the goal of traveling in the states. One of his hobbies also includes space exploration. “I recently got an article published in Advances in Space Research. It’s about getting water from the moon, and I ended up sending it into NASA.”Being passionate about human rights, California said, “sometimes I help prisoners with their legal work. I am helping a federal prisoner persecuted for performing a religious ceremony. I’d rather go surfing, but you have to use your free time to help people.” John Olszowka, a retired BYUH faculty member, said he met Cal one Sunday and has become acquainted with him. He said Cal “is with the Union, and has been seeking work as a finisher, meaning doing interior trim work.”A man of many skill sets, California said his main goal is for his incubators to be used. “I’ve devoted so much of my life to it. Some of my other personal goals include getting married and having children as well.”Uploaded March 25, 2015
Writer: Mackenzie McLeod
