Ho’omana Day provides students with an opportunity to be a part of something bigger and more meaningful, said BYU–Hawaii students. As they dedicated a day to service, volunteers said they felt the desire to do more to help those around them.
Thomas Johnson, a junior from Laie studying biochemistry and SSC supervisor said, “We, the Student Service Center, hold a Ho’omana Day once a semester. We try to have a service activity every month, but nothing is as big as Ho’omana Day just because on this day we have three large service activities going on, rather than just one.” Held on Oct. 20, the service day began at 8 a.m. and went until noon and was held along the North Shore at the following three different locations:
• James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge - students cleared debris and cleaned up around the area, making room for a new albatross habitat;
• Boy Scouts of America Camp Pupukea - students cleared campsites and repaired them for next summer;
• Waimea Valley - students cleared walk paths and picked up trash around the trail for hikers and visitors.
Johnson said, “We tend to have a lot of contacts up on the North Shore. We reach out to our contacts to find places and areas we can do service projects that can handle up to around 50 people at each location. We also find areas around the North Shore because a lot of students don’t really get out much, because they don’t have the time or transportation. So this gives them an opportunity to get out more and see a little bit more of the island.”
How the student service council helps
Johnson said the SSC has eight project managers who are each assigned a project. Its whole purpose is to make sure its projects are running smoothly, while the student supervisor and assistant supervisor keep tabs on all three projects to make sure there are no problems.
Ruth Phyu, a freshman from Myanmar studying finance and SSC project manager, said, “The service project is not only an opportunity to go out and be in nature and have an adventure, but it is also an opportunity for students to meet new people and see the rest of the island.” Student can “doing something meaningful and giving back to the community- not just Laie and BYUH, but also the North Shore and other areas.” Phyu was the project manager at BSA Camp Pupukea.
The reason for serving
Ashley Walker, a freshman from Washington studying communications, said, “I am part of the Hip-Hop Club so that’s why I am here today. But aside from that, I love service. It is so inspiring because I believe that if you do good and put good into this world, then good will come back, even with spending my Saturday morning cleaning up a Boy Scout camp.” Walker added she feels any little service helps and is meaningful. It doesn’t have to be something big to make a difference.
Eden Brown, a freshman from the Cook Islands majoring in exercise science and political science, said, “I volunteer because it is a good way to give back, and I feel more productive when I am doing service for others rather than doing things for myself. My cousins are actually here today. So I was able to spend time with them and meet new people.”
Brown said he enjoyed serving with other students because they were all there for the same reasons and all working on the same thing together.
“It made me feel like I was a part of something bigger than just myself and my friend group,” he said. Brown volunteered at the James Campbell Wildlife Refuge.
Kayla Kaimarama, a junior studying political science from the Cook Islands, said, “I volunteer because I want to give back, and it makes me feel good to know that I am spending my Saturday morning doing something good, helping others out rather than sleeping in. Plus it gives me a good workout.
“I am part of the Cook Islands Club, so these service projects give us a chance to bond as a club as well as meet new people and bond as students at BYUH.” Kaimarama said when she is doing service, she always recites Mosiah 2:17 from the Book of Mormon in her head: “And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.”
To find out what services opportunities are available locally, contact the SSC at serve@byuh.edu or download the JustServe app for mobile phones.
Writer: Mackenzie Beaver