Ke Alaka'i

Ke Alaka'i Ke Alaka'i is BYU-Hawaii's student-run news publication.

Sometimes the hardest boundaries aren’t with strangers—they’re with the people we love most, whether that’s family, frie...
06/06/2026

Sometimes the hardest boundaries aren’t with strangers—they’re with the people we love most, whether that’s family, friends, or someone we care about deeply.

In this episode, BYUH psychologist John Suyama explore why saying “no” can feel like guilt, why family boundaries often feel more complicated than friendships, and how caring for others doesn’t have to mean carrying everyone’s burdens.

Listen to our latest episode, Between Love and Boundaries, now on Ke Alaka‘i: The Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0K7LZwXOlzekBCppmdUpKN?si=ql3-b119S2CeAvErKzU1QQ

Hope Squad and Residential Living hosted a Dodgeball Tournament on May 3 at the Hale Pavilion Courtyard, bringing BYU–Ha...
06/06/2026

Hope Squad and Residential Living hosted a Dodgeball Tournament on May 3 at the Hale Pavilion Courtyard, bringing BYU–Hawaii students together for an afternoon of fun, connection and stress relief. The event provided students with an understanding of the relation between physical health and mental health, said Sister Haley Peterson, Hope Squad adviser.

Sister Peterson said the tournament was not only filled with fun but it also highlighted the importance of mental health, and how sports can help students relieve stress from the pressures of the semester. “We want the students to come out and realize the benefit of moving your body to relieve stress. And just being together, having fun and learning that physical health helps our mental health,” said Sister Peterson.

Sedona Nelson, a junior studying elementary education from Hawaii said the tournament made her feel nostalgic. “I think playing brought me back to elementary school,” she said. The game made her feel great about the new community she got to know since she was always hanging out with the same people everyday. “Its good to switch it up sometimes and to put yourself out there,” Sedona continued.

Kumai Kahalepuna, the residential living manager said creating connections is what makes their collaboration with Hope Squad work. “When we started collaborating with them, we realized that our missions are aligned,” she said. Their mission, she said, is to create connections and to foster positive relationships within and outside the student hales.

✍🏼 Rossy Valdez
📷 John Lennon Onda

General Authority Seventy, Elder James R. Rasband, spoke during the BYU–Hawaii devotional on June 2 at the Cannon Activi...
06/04/2026

General Authority Seventy, Elder James R. Rasband, spoke during the BYU–Hawaii devotional on June 2 at the Cannon Activities Center. He encouraged students to understand that truth leads to liberation. He urged students to pursue both academic and gospel truths and to trust in prophetic counsels even when understanding is incomplete.

Reflecting on the Savior’s teachings in John 8, Elder Rasband said true freedom comes from knowing and obeying the commandments. He said, “Both secular and religious learning are important,” and encouraged students to “seek learning even by study and also by faith.” He further emphasized that, “When we face uncertainty, the safest course is to trust in prophetic counsel.”

Elder Rasband also said through Jesus Christ, we can find true freedom, quoting the Savior’s words in John 8:36, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” He said, “No matter how shackled or imprisoned we feel, because of our ignorance, our strays, our sins, through the Savior and his atoning sacrifice, we can be made free indeed.”

Alisi Uhila, a senior majoring in health and human sciences from Tonga, noted that Elder Rasband’s message reminded her of the importance of loving and serving others. She said, “We will have joy when we serve others,” adding she is willing to engage in serving others whenever possible.

Nyle Mendoza, a freshman accounting major from the Philippines, said Elder Rasband’s talk about seeking knowledge motivated him to do better in his chosen field of study and take academics more seriously. Mendoza said he also felt inspired to follow spiritual promptings with confidence, even when those promptings feel small or unclear.

✍🏼 Judith Weman
📷 Hiroki Konno and John Lennon Onda

06/03/2026

Our latest special issue is officially live.

This special edition of Ke Alaka‘i serves as a comprehensive look into the insights, research, and discussions from the recent conference: “Religion & Human Flourishing: Building Pathways to Peaceful Societies in South Asia.”

Inside, we map out the complex religious landscapes and legal frameworks across South Asia, exploring how faith, law, and human dignity intersect to build more peaceful communities.

Ready to dive in? Scan the QR code at the end of the video or click the link in our bio to read the full digital issue.

To understand the do’s and don’ts in managing family finances, students attended a workshop led by Elder Jeffrey and Sis...
06/02/2026

To understand the do’s and don’ts in managing family finances, students attended a workshop led by Elder Jeffrey and Sister Tammy Hill on May 28. The couple shared five tools that can help people manage money to ensure their family’s happiness and longevity.

Sister Hill said a super glue represents the unification of couples working together as one. In terms of finance, she said, it signifies how partners must align their visions when managing money. “When you are united in purpose, effort and faith … all things will work for your good,” she continued.

Similarly, Elder Hill shared about the scale tool, which teaches the importance of balance in budgeting. He said couples must have a healthy balance between saving and spending to ensure everyone is satisfied with how money is managed.

Rounding everything out is the level tool, said Sister Hill. Aside from sharing a unified vision and having a balanced budget, she said having equal voices is just as important in finance management. “[Don’t] be afraid to speak up and say something you strongly believe and [don’t] be afraid to listen to your spouse,” she said.

The couple also discussed tools that serve as financial safety precautions. Elder Hill said the hammer symbolizes the need for investments and emergency funds, whereas safety glasses signified the importance of contemplating purchases, especially major ones. Together, he said these tools can ensure that financial surprises and disparities are merely inconveniences, and not an indefinite obstacle.

Sylvia Mathena Tsui, a freshman from Hong Kong, majoring in psychology said the talk helped her better understand how to manage her finances. She also said the workshop helped her and her partner realize that they needed to be more mindful of their income, since they are both students.

✍🏼 Alden Pua
📷 Ruea Tama

With music blasting and students stepping in rhythm, Counselling Services, in collaboration with Seasider Sports and Act...
05/30/2026

With music blasting and students stepping in rhythm, Counselling Services, in collaboration with Seasider Sports and Activities, brought the campus community together at the Turf Field on May 27 for an Xtreme Step workout. The event encouraged participants to support their mental health through movement and high-energy fitness experience, said Clinical Counselor, Kalo Alo.

Alo, said the event was an initiative for the Mental Health Awareness Month, highlighting the connection between physical activity and mental well-being. “Mental health is human health. It’s strongly intertwined with physical habits. Every drop of sweat counts and contributes toward our mental health,” he said.

Alo said events like Xtreme Step also aim to make wellness more accessible to students who may feel hesitant about traditional counseling services. “A lot of people see traditional counseling with a negative stigma, but physical activity is something they feel like they can do. So, this is an entry into taking care of their physical health, but also their mental health,” he said.

Leading the session was certified step instructor Glorianna Alo, she said, “My main goal is to keep everybody moving however they need to in order to get through the class,” she said. “I hope they realize how capable they are,” she added.

Akeai Baravi, a sophomore accounting and finance major from Fiji, said the activity helped him reset after a stressful day. “It relieves the stress that I have from work and studies. Mentally, I feel refreshed,” he said. “It’s like a boost to push you again,” he continued.

Turereva Tumarae, a sophomore elementary education major from Tahiti, said taking a break and connecting with others is important. “When you come to these kinds of activities, you just let the stress go. It’s important to take a break, enjoy with your friends and move your body,” she continued.

✍🏼 JC Navarro
📷 Ruea Tama and John Lennon Onda

The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) hosted its latest bone marrow drive with BYU–Hawaii on May 27. NMDP member recr...
05/30/2026

The National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) hosted its latest bone marrow drive with BYU–Hawaii on May 27. NMDP member recruiter Shane Jonah shared the organization’s progress for over five years in Hawaii.

For several years, Jonah said several student donors have been matched with patients worldwide. “We’ve had some life-saving matches with very good outcomes just from the state of Hawaii [alone],” she said.

Jonah encouraged students to educate themselves on the cause and invited them to participate when the opportunity arises. She said one common misconception she has seen is the belief that the donation process is highly invasive. In reality, she explained, 90% of donations are peripheral, such as drawing platelets or plasma. “It’s much easier to save a life than people think,” she continued.

Event organizer Liahona Emmanuel Mabazza, a sophomore from the Philippines, majoring in social work, shared several challenges which have occurred while collaborating with NMDP. Mabazza said NMDP aimed to reach a semesterly quota of two hundred registrants. While the goal has remained consistent through the years, she said recent campus construction projects have created difficulties by affecting the program’s location.

Nevertheless, Mabazza said the program continues, not only to recruit new donors, but also to raise awareness about the initiative. “I’m helping promote this event to [raise] awareness, to help students [become] aware about patients battling rare diseases such as cancer,” she said.

One of the latest registrants, Christian Chester, a sophomore from Malaysia, majoring in TESOL said helping people in need, particularly those with medical struggles, is an important value to have. “It gives me happiness to see people happy, [especially] when I help them,” he said.

✍🏼 Alden Pua
📷 Ruea Tama and John Lennon Onda

Stephanie Robertson, an assistant professor and the library director at the Joseph F. Smith Library, shared a message of...
05/29/2026

Stephanie Robertson, an assistant professor and the library director at the Joseph F. Smith Library, shared a message of hope last May 26 during the weekly devotional held at the Cannon Activities Center. Robertson said uncertainty and overwhelming moments in life is where we can find God’s hands the most in our lives.

Robertson shared four lessons she learned from the uncertainty and overwhelming moments in her life.

1. Do what you can with the time you have.
2. Bring your faith even if it feels small
3. Allow yourself to experience hope
4. Look for angels around you while being willing to become one for someone else.

Building on those lessons, Robertson encouraged listeners to “bring your faith even if it feels small, and ask the Savior for help.” She explained that when people offer faith to the Lord, no matter how big or small it may be, and ask Him with sincere hearts, He will help that faith grow.

Aleisha Saole, a freshman from Waipahu, Hawaii studying visual arts said she came to know that God has bigger plans when she feels overwhelmed, stressed or when she misses an opportunity. “It feels like small inconvenient moments can turn out to be important blessings.” she said. Saole also said it is important to give ourselves grace and hope. Everyone experiences overwhelming moments, but have faith and know that God will provide and that “He knows what we don’t know,” she added.

Hans Barredo, a freshman from the Philippines studying facilities management said his main take away from the devotional was about the uncertainty we experience in life. He said, “Not everything is certain, but it is certain that the Lord will provide the help that we need.” Regardless of our current situation, he said, we need to have hope that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ will be there for us, will magnify the efforts that we do and provide the strength we lack, he continued.

✍🏼Rossy Valdez
📷John Lennon Onda

Drawn to the struggles they have experienced, Dr. Manal Omar, founder and CEO of Across Red Lines and Sulaiman Khatib, a...
05/29/2026

Drawn to the struggles they have experienced, Dr. Manal Omar, founder and CEO of Across Red Lines and Sulaiman Khatib, a co-founder of Combatants for Peace, shared their peaceful way to combat misunderstanding through a Zoom call discussion organized by the PreLaw Society last May 21. The discussion aimed to instill lessons on how to break free from the unjust mistreatments and how to peacefully advocate for people who are experiencing it.

Dr. Omar said, “Who do you want as a human as a peacebuilder,” has something to do with your own understanding of your role in the society and how vital it is for the success of the advocacy you are advocating for. “When you become well knowledgeable of your own role in the society, standing for the truth is a foundational strength you can acquire and radiate to people who are in the same struggle as you,”she added.

Edwin JR Abache, a junior double majoring in political science and intercultural peace building from the Philippines said, “Despite the differences in opinions, culture, religion and political abuse, peace is possible.” He said these discussions help students learn the importance of respect and realize that they are the next future leaders of their home countries.

Sanita Tebua, a freshman majoring in political science from Kiribati shared, “The rule of one is important in understanding that when one is harmed, all are harmed. When one is saved, all are saved.” She said working together and being united can bring change for the greater good.

✍🏼Rossy Valdez
📷John Lennon

05/29/2026

Reading in a coffee shop? Normal. Reading on the ocean? That’s where the conversation gets interesting.

Are we sharing our interests—or performing them? Watch this clip from our latest episode, “Are We All Just Performing Now?”

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