Aboard Iosepa, three BYUH students overcome fear, doubts and relentless waves through faith, preparation and unity
As the wa‘a Iosepa surfed through choppy waters, the crew members said they came to a realization—experiencing the ocean from the shore is far different from being right at the heart of its vastness. Three BYU–Hawaii students who joined this year’s sail said this journey taught them it was not just the sea that demanded courage—it was also their doubts, their responsibilities in the crew and the duty to preserve the voyaging culture with honor. They said through faith, preparation and the bond they shared as crewmates, they confronted fears both physical and emotional and returned to land transformed.
“When you begin to face your fears, they transform into experiences. And those experiences, in time, become your strength,” said Kevin Merrill Louis, a sophomore from India studying business management with a finance concentration. As the 2025 voyage’s quartermaster, he emphasized the light and spirit carried by the Iosepa. “When I was on the sail, I saw that light. I saw that people’s lives were changed by it,” he expressed.
Belongingness
Louis, a canoe guide at the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC), said his knowledge of Polynesian culture and traditional voyaging was sparse and used to rely heavily on the script provided at his job. He said although the voyaging culture seemed to have called out to him from day one, the idea of participating in it was something he considered intimidating. “I always had this passion to know more about sailing, but I also had a fear of not belonging there,” he expressed, saying he thought it was a space solely for Polynesians or those who took Hawaiian studies classes.
Louis said this fear lingered for a long time—it kept him from attending the outreach events and training sessions conducted at the Iosepa Learning Center despite repeated invitations from his friends. “I felt out of place. I was overcome by the fear of not knowing anything, especially when it seemed like everybody knew exactly what they were doing. I didn’t even know what a knot is,” he recalled.
What shifted his perspective, he shared, were the experiences he gained after he began opening himself up more to the culture. He said he took an introductory Hawaiian studies class where he had the opportunity to board the Iosepa at the PCC. “For the first time, after one year of just looking at this beautiful vessel, I got the chance to stand on top of it. I felt so enlightened,” he expressed.
In addition, he said witnessing the crew’s spirit firsthand was another turning point for him. He said the Iosepa crew once came to their ward to teach them the song Pule Maluhia, the Hawaiian version of Secret Prayer, for a stake conference. “The spirit they shared was so immense to me, and it meant a lot. And they were all so friendly and fun,” he expressed. He said at that point, Kahiamaikalani Walker, a fellow student and crew member, was able to encourage him to join their activities every Wednesday.
Louis said he later on got involved in more events and activities related to Polynesian voyaging—such as the 50th anniversary of Kohulea, the mother of all canoes, where he was allowed the honor of blowing a conch shell to it, and the Ko‘olauloa ‘Ohana Wa‘a Training Camp, where he gained essential knowledge on voyaging life. “I felt a strong sense of belongingness. It doesn’t matter where my roots are, it doesn’t matter what culture I’m from—I can be part of this culture, too,” he expressed. He said despite having no ancestral ties to it, he finally let go of all his qualms and let himself love voyaging life.
It doesn’t matter where my roots are, it doesn’t matter what culture I’m from—I can be part of this culture, too.
Duty and adequacy
For Julian Dallin Obando, a senior from the Philippines studying intercultural peacebuilding and communication, media and culture, the experience of stepping onto the Iosepa for the first time was an overwhelming mix of excitement and anxiety. “You have that fear of forgetting what you learned and what you trained for because of the pressure to fulfill your responsibilities,” he shared. But he said that fear was matched by his deep desire to contribute as a capable crew member.
“The canoe doesn’t have an engine or a rotor, so I had to make sure that I do things right and I don’t mess up,” Obando expressed. The Iosepa crew, he shared, navigated the open ocean with nothing but ancestral knowledge, training, faith and trust in each other, and that was already more than enough. Every maneuver, every knot and every decision relied on their skills and teamwork, and he said he found that wonderful.
Meanwhile, Iliana Lopez, a junior from California majoring in elementary education, focused on encouraging others to stay present and embrace the experience even when fear starts to set in. “Breathe it all in, because there’s a lot of scary things out there. And if you let fear stop you, then you’re not letting yourself have amazing experiences,” she said.
Lopez shared she grew up with salt water and sunshine as her constant companions, making the voyaging life feel like a natural extension of her upbringing. She shared, however, that although she was thrilled to board the Iosepa and experience the ocean differently, she was at the same time plagued by thoughts of inadequacy. “But I also had to get over that because when things have to get done, there is no room for that feeling. In any aspect of our lives, we have to let go of feelings like that because they’re not true,” she expressed.
Similarly, Obando said the things they learned from the open ocean mirror the skills and attitude they would need on land. “We try to learn as much knowledge and skills as we can to gain the confidence to face challenges. And when the storms arrive, we are prepared,” he shared. He said overwhelming fear can paralyze people, but the right amount can stimulate growth and drive them to try harder. “During moments of doubt, it’s important to remember that everyone makes mistakes. And we learn through those mistakes. We need to embrace that.”
Faith and bond amid menacing waters
According to Lopez, the waters could be rough and unpredictable during the sail, and the Iosepa often had to take on wave after wave. She said the canoe, low to the water and made of wood, would rise and fall with relentless waves, making it incredibly difficult to steer the hoe—a large paddle used to guide canoes. “I think that was the most real part. Everyone was all hands on deck and very, very locked in,” she recalled. She said through teamwork, trust and intense focus, they were able to push through one of the most challenging legs of the voyage.
Lopez said despite the chaos, they managed to make the right decisions for the safety of the canoe and its crew members. Moreover, no one got seasick and everyone worked in sync to adjust sails, secure lines and keep the vessel steady. “Seeing everybody work together grounded me. Many hands make light work,” she expressed. “I trust my captain and crewmates. I trust them and their abilities. It was both crazy and exciting.”
On a similar note, Obando reflected on their captain’s leadership and how his demeanor kept the crew grounded even amidst strong winds and waves. “He wasn’t panicking, so why should I? It was reassuring. His countenance showed us we had nothing to worry about,” Obando shared. He said in high-pressure situations, a leader’s composure is crucial as it sets the tone for the entire team.
Meanwhile, having grown up in a city six hours away from the nearest coast, Louis said he carried a deep fear of dark water—something he had to overcome through deliberate effort. He said he would often hit the campus pool and enter the ocean at night with his supportive friends to prepare for the voyage. “The fear of water was always there, but it faded when I put my efforts into learning how to swim,” he shared.
Louis also said he found reassurance in the leadership of their captain, whose calm and cautious nature made it clear that the Iosepa and the crew would never find themselves in unnecessary danger. “He’s so safe he doesn’t even want a single scratch on the Iosepa,” he shared. He said the faith he had in the captain, crew and canoe helped him face the open sea with courage.
In contrast, the vast ocean is a fascinating and special place for Lopez. And in facing its vastness, she echoed Captain Mark Ellis’ words, “As long as you remember where you’re from, you’ll never be lost because you know you always have a home to return to.” She said she was also inspired by how the navigators of the past ventured the ocean with nothing but their knowledge of the natural world. “They just learned everything that they could about the natural world, and nature is perfect. Holding onto the things I know about how nature works helped me feel grounded instead of afraid,” she said.