Winter is OVER

The semester is at an end. I will keep this brief as I know many of you are studying for finals and papers.

1. $500 If you are interested in doing a work internship with 32 hours for $500 with Ho ala Na Pua Koolauloa, please let me know. There are three areas of need and they only have a few slots which they have offered exculsively to us. You may call me directly for more information, Jacob 387-4020.

2. KAU INOA If you are interested in learning more about Kau Inoa, we have someone on campus you can contact. Her name is Rowena Reid, she would like you to email her at reidr@byuh.edu. From what I understand about Kau Inoa, it is an organization which is encouraging people of Hawaiian ethnicity to unite. Please keep in mind that it is only for those of Hawaiian descent. This is strictly an invitation and is in no way an endorsement from our Hawaiian Club or BYU-Hawaii, it is simply an informational announcement.

3. IOSEPA HALAU WA'A DEDICATION Uncle Cy Bridges has called me and asked if there are members who would like to participate in dancing for the dedication for the Halau Wa'a for the Iosepa at PCC. He will be holding his first practice next week Wedneday, April 16, 2008 at 8:30 pm in the Dance Studio near the pool. They will be performing three numbers. Please keep in mind that this will occur in June and those who practice this dance cannot use it without permission from Uncle Cy.

4.T-SHIRTS I will be setting up a table in the Aloha Center next week to sell our club t-shirts( the blue version). Each shirt is $8 regardless if you are a member or not. I will put it in the student bulletin when the plans are finalized. At the table we will also have thank you cards to those who helped put culture night together.

5. CULTURE NIGHT I wanted to thank everyone who helped with Culture Night, it was a success. It makes me so pleased to see the Hawaiian culture being perpetuated. I know many of you put in countless hours of thought, work and sweat. Thank you. You are awesome you are what makes this club happen. Those who missed out, better luck next year!?

6. NEW PRESIDENCY As this semester comes to an end, so will my term as president. Kale and I are still working out the kinks. We are looking for leaders who want to get involved and serve. the sooner the better this way we can teach you the right way of doing things and line you up with some resources.

7. KULOLO I know I promised it this semester, but it will be deferred until Spring. I am thinking just selling Kulolo for foodfest which is on May 24th. Easy but a money maker. For those still interested and who will be around at that time please contact me and I will work with the schedule to hopefully accomodate everyone.

Eh, MAHALOS. This year has definitely been a learning one for me. I love you guys. You are awesome. I was intereviewed by someone concerning culture night today and I told them one of the things I will take from this experience is when the club knelt in prayer in front of the Aloha Center together. This is such a special place, I hope that you remember that. Remember who you are and that YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD. You have been placed here in BYU-Hawaii for a reason, I hope that you find that reason and do what HE wants you to. Be the change that you want to see in the world.

Jacob Nihipali
Hawaiian Club President
Winter 2008
387-4020.

Winter Semester Club Shirts

Aloha Everyone,

Just a quick note. I wanted to let all of our club members know that we do have blue shirts available for those who did not participate in Culture Night. We have tons and will reorder if necessary. We don't want exclude anyone this time. If you would like to place an order please email me the shirt size and the number of shirts and I can get it ready. After I reply to your request it will be ready in my office at the Aloha Center across the big screen TV. Here are the shirt designs:

Jacob at jacobnihipali@gmail.com or 387-4020.

Gospel Forum: "A Special Evening with Auntie Genoa Keawe"

We are, indeed, honored and blessed to have one of Hawai'i's living treasures open our Gospel Forum series this Sunday, January 20 at 7:30 pm in the McKay Auditorium. "Auntie" Genoa Keawe, known for her signature, sweet falsetto voice, will be our esteemed speaker at this historic devotional.

"Many accolades and awards have come to this celebrated singer of Hawaiian music. In the year 2000, Genoa Keawe was honored with the nation's highest honor in folk and traditional arts, the National Heritage Fellowship, presented in a Washington D. C. ceremony by the National Endowment for the Arts. She is the recipient of multiple Na Hoku Hanohano awards, the Hawaiian recording industry's equivalent of the 'Grammy'. In 1987 the King Kamehameha Hula Competition was dedicated to her, as was the 1998 Prince Lot Hula Festival.

Auntie Genoa, however, considers her greatest award her continued ability to sing, her 'gift from God'. She says 'it's a gift I asked for... I wanted to be a singer, so I prayed every night, and thank God I still have it.' She does, and shares her very special gift every week in performance with her group at the former Hawaiian Regent Hotel, now the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort." (hawaiianmusicmuseum.org)

At 90 years young, Auntie Genoa is a testament to all of us of her unwavering faith in Ke Akua (our Heavenly Father) and of her love for traditional Hawaiian music. In 2001, she was recognized as a Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame Honoree. This Sunday, we will have the opportunity to listen to Auntie Genoa bear her testimony on sharing the gospel while maintaining the Hawaiian culture. We encourage everyone, if possible, to bring a lei for Auntie as a "mahalo" for sharing her mana'o (thoughts) with us.

Light refreshments will be provided in McKay 175 following Auntie Genoa's remarks.

For more info. on Auntie Genoa, please visit
http://www.genoakeawe.com or http://www.hawaiimusicmuseum.org/honorees/2001/genoa_keawe.html)

Putting the "Hawai'i" Back in BYU Hawai'i

History was made on Friday, Nov. 30, as the Hawaiian Club unveiled its first-ever "Aloha Friday" show at the Aloha Center. The informal show, which was originally meant to showcase the chants and dances learned throughout the semester, did more than just that: it sent a clear message to our BYUH and Lā'ie Communities that we're not just a Club that's active for SongFest or Culture Night--we're a Club that's been active every step of the way.

The audience, comprised of students, teachers, and community members, were treated to the musical stylings of one of our Hawaiian Club Trios, Mark "Uluhani" Serrao on lead vocals/guitar, Kūlani Watson on rhythm 'ukulele, and Kaipo Akana on bass. Emceeing the Show was Hawaiian Club President Jacob Nihipali, and performing were Corbin Rivera, Koji Okuzumi, Kale Kau'i, Kāwika Kau'i, Leas Moreang, Kana Takeuchi, Violet Fonoimoana, Christina Jeffery, and Jasmine Canlas.

"What you see before you today is a very small part of the 100 plus members who make up our Hawaiian Club 'Ohana this semester," noted Jacob Nihipali at the start of the performance. "These are dedicated students who voluntarily come out every Tuesday and Thursday evenings to our Workshops."

The show opened up with our Hawaiian Club oli (chant), after which dancers did a hula ka'i, or entrance hula, entitled "Hiki Mai." The kāne and wāhine then performed "Kāwika," and the men ended the kahiko portion impressively with "E Ola Ka Honua." Opening the hula 'auana, or modern, section of dances was Kale Kau'i with "Ka Uluwehi O Ke Kai," after which the kāne and wāhine came back on stage to do "Noho Paipai," a couples' hula which the crowd loved. President Nihipali then invited members of the Hawaiian Club who were in the audience to join us in singing "He Hawai'i Au," and Uncle Bill Wallace, Director of BYUH Hawaiian Studies, joined us on stage and added his voice of harmony as we all sang with "one voice, one mana."

It was yet another milestone for our Club, and as we prepare for next year's events, we hope you will be able to join us for what promises to be an even better semester! Perhaps our Club Photographer, Jill Bleazard, said it best of Friday's performance: "Right on, everyone! You guys are awesome, seriously! You're definitely putting the Hawai'i back in BYU Hawai'i!"

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

The Hawaiian Club was the first to decorate their Christmas Trees this year with the help of our 'Ohana last week during our Christmas Ornament Decorating Workshop. Mahalo to all who came and helped! The ornaments look great!

Mahalo to all who helped with our ornament decorating last week Tuesday. What a relaxing time it was making mini ipu heke, glass sand ornaments, paper hula dancers, kapa garlands, and rafia ribbons. A special mahalo to the creative trio of Naomi Nihipali, President Jacob Nihipali, and Violet Fonoimoana for hosting this activity.

And, of course, in true Hawaiian Club fashion, we are proud to say that we are the FIRST Club to have our Christmas trees decorated and on display in the Aloha Center "Winter Wonderland!" Much mahalo to Santa's Menehune who diligently worked into the wee hours of the morning so that our 'Ohana can enjoy our very own Christmas trees. Mele Kalikimaka!

A Message From Your President

H.C. Volunteers at the President's Inauguration Dinner, Monday, Nov. 5, 2007.

Aloha Everyone,

I just wanted to thank each of you who either participated in songfest or cheered for us in the stands. It was an awesome experience to see so many of you join us Friday night. The last line of our club chant, "Eō i ka leo pūpūkahi ē", felt as if it came to life that night. I really appreciate your support. It was also nice to see all of us sitting together as a big 'ohana. I also need to thank all of you who gave effortlessly to serve this past week. Rochelle and the rest of the Catering Crew really appreciated the help. They responded by saying they have not had such an awesome crew come through like that before. Also a special thanks to Shaun Yuen and Ian Nitta for creating the shirt design and Tati Pane'e, Jaime Haiola, Bubs Nihipali and Tina Malupo for making songfest a blast. Thank you for representing the Hawaiian Club well. As we continue with the semester here are some things that Kale and I are working towards:

1. Tuesday, November 13th, 2007 - 9:00pm, in McKay 175 - Hawaiian Style Christmas Decorations, to go on our tree at the Aloha Center.

2. Thursday, November 15th, 2007 - 9:00pm, in McKay 175 - The second half of Lomi Massage.

3. November 20th, 2007 - 9:00 pm, in McKay 175 - Continued Hula and Hawaiian Language Workshops.

Tentatively:

Watching the Eddie would Go Surf Contest

Going to see City Hall Christmas Lights

Hawaiian Remedies Workshop
Surfing Display in the Library

Feild Trips during Winter Break (We would like to know who will be here and where everyone would like to go. Please give your input now.)

Performing Hula at the Winter Semester Orientation
Future Gospel Forums

Culture Night

Building our Board of Directors - (We are in the process of building a Board of Directors. These will be community, faculty and staff, and other significant role models in the Hawaiian Community who can provide resources as a strength to our club. They will provide avenues of service and other learning opportunities. If you would like to recommend anyone to be on the Board please let me know. They may also contact Luana Solomon, who I have selected as the Chairperson).

A note on the t-shirts:
From here on out, those who have not paid for their pre-order by now, have until November 20th to pay for their order. They will now be handled with a first come first serve basis. All other shirts will now be sold for $15 each. Kale and I have decided this as we want club members to exclusively wear the shirt. All others who want to wear our shirt will have to seriously think if they want to make the investment in our club.

I will be more than happy to address any concerns you may have and answer any questions. Mahalo Nui Loa for all of your support and sacrifice to build the Hawaiian Club.

Aloha,

Jacob Nihipali

Hawaiian Club President Fall 2007

SONGFEST JAM 2007...EŌ I KA LEO PŪPŪKAHI Ē!!!

Well, gang, what can we say but EŌ I KA LEO PŪPŪKAHI Ē!!

To all who performed and supported us from the stands, WE LOVE YOU TO PIECES!

Yet you had to have been on the risers to truly feel "One Voice, One Mana." This SongFest Jam was definitely the best yet!

Check our SOLID performance!