William “Bill” Hampton Kawaiola Davis II’s journey at Brigham Young University–Hawaii (BYUH) is a testament to the power a college campus can have on one's life.
Raised in Hawaii in Kaneohe and on the island of Molokai, Davis left home in 1974 to attend BYU–Hawaii, where he majored in Business Management with an emphasis in Travel and Tourism and minored in Japanese and Hotel & Restaurant Management. His time at the university was transformative, setting the stage for a life filled with meaningful work, church service, and leadership roles.
“My experience at BYUH really helped me out a lot, specifically attending classes and working at the Polynesian Cultural Center. That is what started me on my path. The opportunities and experiences I had there shaped my entire career,” Davis shared, reflecting on his time on campus and the PCC.
Before Davis left for his mission in 1976, he worked in the Aloha Center Game Room at BYUH and then the gift shop at the PCC. After returning from his mission in Japan, he returned to the PCC took on roles in the Hawaiian Village, as a canoe tour guide, tram tour guide, and multi-purpose tour guide, providing services in both English and Japanese. His language skills and cultural sensitivity made him an invaluable asset, eventually leading to working as the supervisor for the newly developed VIP Tour Guides and Orientator Section. His dedication and hard work were recognized, and upon graduating from BYUH in 1981, he was promoted as an Account Executive for Waikiki Sales and Marketing team for the PCC.
“Because I could speak Japanese, I was assigned as a canoe tour guide for the Japanese guests. I also took on multiple roles and responsibilities which resulted in me receiving more responsibilities in the Cultural Center. This helped me develop a strong work ethic and leadership skills that have stayed with me throughout my career,” Davis recalled.
In 1979, Davis married his wife, Wanda Yuen, and within the year, their first son was born. Balancing family responsibilities, part-time work at the Laie Theatre, work at PCC, and his studies, he was determined to graduate without accruing any debt. He credits BYU–Hawaii for providing the financial support he needed through scholarships and awards, such as the academic and talent awards, which paid for his tuition based on his GPA.
“[The university] had so many financial programs during those days. I was able to graduate and earn my degree without ever going into debt. The small, intimate classes and the supportive professors who were also our bishops on Sundays made a huge difference. There was a love and care at BYUH that I don’t think you could find anywhere else,” Davis emphasized.
One of the most significant aspects of Davis’s experience at BYU–Hawaii was the personal growth he underwent. He described how the community and the spiritual environment allowed him to become the person he wanted to be.
“At BYU–Hawaii, you have a chance to be who you want to be. I was known as being shy in high school, but when I came to BYU–Hawaii, nobody knew who I was. I made a commitment to myself to become more outgoing and friendly, and that’s exactly what I did. Everything that happened on campus, from the relationships to the programs, brought me closer to the Lord and helped me develop lifelong friendships,” Davis said.
In 1983, he and Wanda decided to move back to Molokai to help his father with his auto shop. After two years on Molokai, Davis’s career took an unexpected turn when he was offered a position with Servco Pacific in Hawaii, managing their dealerships in Guam. The opportunity required relocation, and he accepted, eventually becoming the vice president of the company. However, after 10 years, he decided to pursue his entrepreneurial aspirations, starting a computer training center and a catering business in Guam. He and Wanda also opened their own drive-in restaurant, and he later became a licensed real estate agent.
Davis’s willingness to take on new challenges without hesitation was a key factor in his success. “When I was asked to do computer training, I said yes without knowing how to do it. But I figured out a way. I wrote all my own manuals and started training for different companies in Guam and Saipan. It was a time of tremendous growth and learning for me.”
In 1999, a life-changing moment occurred when Davis felt a strong impression to call the church office on a Monday morning. That call led to an interview and, ultimately, to his current position with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Guam. His experience and business background made him a perfect fit for the role, where he started as a finance supervisor and later took on additional responsibilities, including materials management and IT.’
With organizational skills and a proactive approach, Davis quickly earned the trust and respect of his colleagues. He recounted an experience when his supervisor, Buzz, was away on an extended trip. Davis took it upon himself to organize Buzz’s desk, which was piled high with papers that Buzz colloquially named his “piling system.” When Buzz returned, he was amazed at the transformation.
“Buzz was surprised when he saw his desk. I had organized everything into labeled files, and by reading through every single file, I knew exactly what he was working on. It was a turning point in our working relationship, and from that moment on, he knew he could depend on me.”
Davis was promoted to the Service Center Manager in the Micronesia-Guam Service Center and is currently the Welfare Self-Reliance Manager and Leader Member Support Coordinator. He applies the lessons and values he learned at BYUH to his daily work. For current BYUH students, he offers this advice: "Study hard, get good grades, and take advantage of the opportunities the university provides. The relationships you build and the experiences you have will shape your future in ways you can’t even imagine.”
He also credits his service in the Church to the spiritual experiences he had while attending BYUH which helped solidify his testimony. While in Guam, he has served as a young men president, branch president, district president, a member of the high council, a counselor in the Micronesia Guam Mission presidency, bishop, an Area Seventy, and is currently serving as a Counselor in the Yigo Guam Temple Presidency.
Bill Davis is a shining example of how the combination of education, faith, and a willingness to embrace new challenges, as well as an education in BYU–Hawaii, can lead to a fulfilling and impactful life. His journey at BYU–Hawaii is a testament that small, consistent efforts—like dedication to his studies, work at the PCC, and various career roles—can lead to significant outcomes, as outlined in the Book of Mormon, “that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass.” (Alma 37:6)
