The beat of drums welcomed President John S. K. Kauwe and his family as they walked through the Cannon Activities Center doors and were greeted by hundreds.
The focus then shifted from the Kauwe’s entrance to the Aotearoa Club performing the Maori “Tika tonu” haka. With war paint and fierce facial expressions, the haka started this historic parade, the first of its kind.
Following the parade that celebrated his official inauguration as the 11th and first native Hawaiian president of BYU–Hawaii, President John S. K. Kauwe III said, “I am overwhelmed with love and support, and just want to be equal to it. [I] want to lead in ways that warrant that kind of love and confidence.” The parade brought together students, faculty, alumni, community members and Church leadership.
Tre Barber, a freshman majoring in accounting from Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, said he appreciated being part of the event because he could represent his culture, “on behalf of [my] people back home but also the school as well.”
The parade begins
The Kauwes then boarded a Laie Tram Tour trolley led by members of the BYUH Hawaiian Club, as hundreds who lined the area outside the main entrance of the CAC cheered for them.
Those who greeted the Kauwes during the parade included 32 various student-led clubs, different academic departments and Polynesian Cultural Center employees and performers, only a few of which will be highlighted in this story.
Kealohimakamae Aki, a senior majoring in social work from Hilo, Hawaii, said, “I am so happy and honored … to celebrate this monumental time in history as [President Kauwe] is the first native Hawaiian president of our University. I feel blessed as a Hawaiian myself.”
The tram then led the Kauwes around the Lorenzo Snow Building to the road between the CAC and the PCC. Drums from the Night Show were played along the road near the new turf field as dancers from the PCC performed.
When rounding the turf field, the Latin America Club held up flags from the various countries they represent.
Near the tennis courts, students from the Cambodia Club and Hip-Hop Club danced their unique styled dances. The next sound was from the BYUH Street Band playing jazz.
At the corner of Hale 1 and the Little Theater, the band performed New-Orleans-style street jazz, led by Daniel Henderson, assistant professor in the Faculty of Culture, Language & Performing Arts. Henderson explained they played many songs, including an original song by Henderson called “Street Band.”
Henderson said, “It’s time to celebrate. It has been a difficult year for the whole world. Now, let’s dance out in the sunshine, today and into the future.”
Near the library, the trolley stopped and the Fijian Club performed a song and dance while presenting to President Kauwe a gift called the “i-wau,” a Fijian weapon.
According to Pita Taukei, a senior majoring in business management from Suva, Fiji, the weapon “signifies the power and authority President Kauwe has as president of BYUH and that we are placing our utmost trust in him as a chief, so to speak.”
Hawaiian Club President Kamaua Yamamoto, a senior studying marketing from North Kohala, Hawaii, said, “It is a proud day to be a Hawaiian. ... It is great to see everyone come together to support Hawaii.”
The grand finale
Monica Kauwe said thanks to a combined effort from the Hawaiian Club, the Hawaiian Studies program, the Kauwe family and the Laie Association Committee, the final ceremony at the top of the Flag Circle left the Kauwes filled with gratitude for everyone’s love and support.
Yamamoto explained the Pū, or the conch shell, was blown and drummers played a lively rhythm to alert the crowd President Kauwe was coming. This was intentionally done, as with many other details from the final ceremony, all according to Hawaiian cultural protocol, he explained.
The Kauwe's extended family then sang “Pili Pili Mai,” a song that traces back to the Kauwes’ ancestor and early Hawaiian church convert, H.K. Kaleohano.
A member of the Laie Association Committee, Kekela Mokuiki Miller, said she organized the hula performed by the aunties wearing white and yellow.
The hula they performed was called “Nani Laie,” she said, and the song and dance were written and choreographed by Miller’s grandmother.
Following their performance, an ukulele class from the Hawaiian Studies Program performed an original song for President Kauwe.
Kaipo Manoa, adjunct faculty in the Faculty of Culture, Language & Performing Arts, teaches the class and led the performance. She said, “Once we found out we were part of the celebration, we thought it would be nice to compose a song just for him.” The song is titled “Inaugural Celebration” and was composed by Manoa.
Next, students in the Hawaiian Studies class “Hawaiian Material and Literary Topics” performed a hula called “Ke Ao Nani,” composed by Mary Kawena Pukui.
Manoa explained this class teaches the importance of hula in preserving Hawaiian culture, history, stories and traditions.
One of the Hawaiian performers, and the Pū blower, Kalani Jensen, a sophomore majoring in hospitality and tourism from Huntington Beach, California, said his grandfather was among the first graduating class of BYUH. “I could see [my ancestors] smiling from heaven.”
Gift giving
Following their performance, Jensen explained the Hawaiian class members each took off their ti leaf leis, or lāʻī, twisted them together, and gave them to President Kauwe as a symbol of their class’ offering of respect to President Kauwe.
Manoa said the class used lāʻī because of its cultural use as a form of protection, symbolizing protection for and best wishes to President Kauwe on his new journey.
Hoʻokupu, or offerings, were then given to President Kauwe. The gifts included kālo or taro plants, a map of Laie and various paintings.
To close, everyone in attendance sang “Hawai‘i Aloha” together, which is a song of Aloha ‘Aina, or expressing love for one’s birthplace and home. According to the Mana Mele website, the song is very sacred to Hawaiians and represents unity.
At the close of the ceremony, Miller said, “I feel so emotional because it has come to be.”