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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.

Fifty years ago, on July 1, 1974, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints changed the name of Church College of Hawaii to Brigham Young University–Hawaii.

Many Church College of Hawaii alumni made significant contributions to their respective cultures and heritage during their years at the university, and especially since 1963 at the Polynesian Cultural Center, as well as throughout Hawaii and the rest of the world. Sadly, many of these now only live in our hearts and memories.

(The late) Arthur Keawe Enos and Mildred “Millie” Ah Hee Enos enrolled at Church College of Hawaii in its inaugural 1955 class. After earning their respective associate degrees, then going on to BYU in Provo for bachelor’s degrees and teaching in California for a number of years, they returned to Laie to work, raise their family, and serve.

Eleanor Kaloi Dalton: CCH’s first yearbook editor

Benjamin Lim has been appointed as the new Alumni Association President for Alumni Relations. This new role will have him train other chapter leaders throughout the BYU–Hawaii Alumni network.

Charles Wai Hing Goo — a former BYU—Hawaii registrar, director of admissions, and associate dean of students — passed away peacefully at home on January 3, 2024, after a life rich in service to the university, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, his family, former missionaries, Chinese students, and the community.

In November 2023, alums Peter and Joyce Chan embarked on a journey to Asia, traveling to foster connections and establish alumni chapters for Brigham Young University–Hawaii. Their mission brought them to Taiwan, Hong Kong, and mainland China, as they contacted BYUH alumni, organized events, and communicated with friends and leaders in each place. Their ultimate goal was to help graduates in each area organize alumni chapters, enabling them to give back to the university and assist students and future graduates with jobs.

After graduating from BYU–Hawaii in 1988, Yoon Hwan Choi, an alumnus from Korea has excelled in both his career and education while serving in various callings in the church. Through his faithful service, he was called as a bishop, stake president in the Anyang Korea Stake for nine years, a mission president in Washington Seattle Mission and the Philippines Iloilo mission and he is currently serving as the first counselor of the Philippines Area General Authority Seventies. Elder Choi shared how his decision to attend BYUH laid a remarkable foundation for his current calling. It had helped him to be self-reliant and the priorities of how to balance family, school, and the church calling, he explained.

Delsa Moe, Vice President of cultural presentations at the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) and an alumna of Brigham Young University–Hawaii (BYUH), shares a life story deeply entwined with her time as a student and employee. Her journey begins in her homeland in the islands of Samoa and traces a path to becoming an esteemed figure in both the BYU–Hawaii and PCC communities.

The late Jon Tikivanotau M. Jonassen was born July 24, 1949, in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. Jon came to BYU–Hawaii as a student in 1979 and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history government in 1980 and then graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in business management in 1981. He then earned his Master of Arts degree in Pacific Islands studies from the University of Hawaii in 1982. He worked as the acting secretary for the Office of External Affairs from 1983-84, and put through the cabinet submission to create the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He established the Ministry and became its first permanent secretary from 1984 to 1986. In 1987, he became the director of programs/secretary general of the South Pacific Commission and, in 1990, the secretary for the Ministry of Cultural Development.