Focus Hawaii

Follow

• 

  Focus Hawaii Grant Underwood

  Zane Clark and Grant Underwood

  Hosted by Zane Clark, this episode of Focus Hawaii features historian Grant Underwood, who discusses his work with the Joseph Fielding Smith Institute and his role in the Mormon Pacific Historical Society during its 20th‑anniversary celebration. Underwood shares insights about compiling and editing Voyages of Faith, a collection preserving two decades of scholarly presentations on Latter‑day Saint history in the Pacific. He explains the contributions of foundational figures like Leonard Arrington and Lance Chase, highlights compelling historical narratives—including early missionary experiences, cultural encounters, Hawaiian Saints’ stories, hula lineage, temple history, and reconciled community divisions—and reflects on how editing the volume brought overlooked archival materials, oral histories, and academic research together.

• 

  Focus Hawaii William Faulkner

  Dale Hammond and William Faulkner

  Hosted by Dale Hammond, this episode of Focus Hawaii features William Faulkner, a musician and harpist who presents and discusses a unique Mexican‑Polynesian harp crafted with koa wood and traditional Mexican design. Through live demonstrations, Faulkner explores the musical versatility of the instrument, performing selections from Mexican folk traditions, Celtic ballads, and Hawaiian compositions while explaining differences in rhythm, technique, and cultural expression. The conversation highlights the harp’s historical roots, portability, and adaptability across cultures, as well as Faulkner’s personal journey from mathematics to music. This program blends performance and education, illustrating how musical traditions intersect and evolve, while showcasing the artistic possibilities of the harp in both traditional and cross‑cultural settings.

• 

  Focus Hawaii Darren Duerden

  Darren Duerden

  In this episode of Focus Hawaii it features percussionist and BYU–Hawaii music professor Darren Duerden presenting a solo recital showcasing the expressive range of the steel pan, an instrument originating in Trinidad and Tobago. He introduces the history of the steel drum—from its beginnings in 1930s Trinidad junkyards to its modern evolution into a fully chromatic musical instrument used worldwide—and shares how he first became captivated by the instrument in the 1980s. The performance includes several works: “Three Moods” by Brazilian composer Ney Rosauro, a three‑movement piece exploring Baroque‑inspired writing, lyrical meditation, and fast technical display; “Proverb” by renowned Trinidadian composer Ray Holman, one of the earliest solo steel‑pan pieces published in the U.S.; and Duerden’s own composition “Fantasy Variations” for double seconds, a theme‑and‑variations work developed from a short etude and now performed by steel‑pan artists across the country. The program highlights both the cultural legacy of the steel pan and its expanding repertoire in contemporary percussion performance.

• 

  Focus Hawaii "Is Sailing Hard?"

  William K. Wallace

  In this episode of Focus Hawaii, William K. Wallace III shares an intense, firsthand account of the physical, mental, and emotional demands of sailing the Hawaiian voyaging canoe Iosepa. He describes the rigorous preparation required even before the canoe touches the ocean—swim tests, loading hundreds of pounds of rigging, stepping the mast, coordinating crew movements, and managing heavy spars and sails. Once at sea, Wallace explains the reality of voyaging: exhaustion from nonstop labor, steering against heavy swells, quickly responding to shifting winds, and navigating dangerous channels such as Kaʻiwi, ʻAlenuihāhā, and ʻOpailolo. He recounts moments of near-collapse, seasickness, injury, and the crew’s need to push past their physical limits, as well as emergency maneuvers taken to protect the canoe during rapidly changing weather. His story reveals deep respect for ancestral seamanship and emphasizes that voyaging Iosepa demands extraordinary strength, discipline, teamwork, and spiritual resilience.

• 

  Focus Hawaii Christmas At BYU-Hawaii

  Brigham Young University Hawaii

  This festive episode of Focus Hawaii showcases Christmas at BYU–Hawaii 2004, a lively holiday program produced by Moana and Junior Fenga and Liz and Mark Atuaya—former members of the Wolfgram family connected to the internationally known singing group The Jets. The concert features a wide range of live musical and dance performances, including traditional carols such as O Come All Ye Faithful, Silent Night, and Noel, alongside Hawaiian‑style Christmas numbers, hula by the Gilman dancers, and guest appearances from Rolando Sanchez delivering high‑energy Latin Christmas music. The Wolfgram sisters—Moana, Etivise, Natalia, and Elizabeth—perform multiple pieces, sharing stories of their Tongan heritage, their upbringing in snowy Minnesota and Utah, and the joyful transition to celebrating Christmas “island style” in Hawaiʻi. Highlights include children’s performers singing “Christmas Island,” sing‑along moments with the audience, nostalgic selections from the Jets’ holiday album, and a heartfelt finale featuring Nono Sina dancers performing Paradise With You, Lord. The program blends Polynesian culture, family tradition, and Christmas spirit into an uplifting community celebration.

• 

  Focus Hawaii Iosepa Voyage

  Brigham Young University Hawaii

  This episode documents the 2004 voyage of Iosepa, the double‑hulled wooden voyaging canoe built and sailed by students and community members connected to BYU–Hawaii. Much of the program consists of extensive on‑canoe footage, capturing preparation, training, repairs, rigging, and the realities of life at sea. Crew members describe how the voyage served as cultural seamanship training—learning ropework, mast setup, bracing lines, hull maintenance, navigation awareness, and watch‑system teamwork. The video includes scenes of pre‑departure work, assisting Makali‘i in dry dock, stepping the mast, securing tow lines, and preparing gear before launching. During the sail itself, viewers see the canoe cutting through waves, water pumping from the hulls, students battling seasickness, cooking meals in the galley box, working night shifts, facing cold winds and channel conditions, and supporting one another throughout the journey. The episode also shares personal reflections: the dream in which the canoe was named Iosepa, honoring Hawaiian ancestors who settled and later returned from the Iosepa colony in Utah; the presence of younger students learning the ropes; and the emotional bond formed through shared challenge. The voyage concludes with harbor entry footage, docking procedures, unloading cargo, and a prayer of gratitude after 24 hours at sea.

• 

  Focus Hawaii The China Ethnic Minority Delegation

  Brigham Young University Hawaii

  This episode features an evening of cultural exchange with a visiting China Ethnic Minority Delegation from the Central University for Nationalities in Beijing. The group shares songs and dances representing diverse ethnic traditions from across China, offering BYU–Hawaii an authentic showcase of movement, costume, and music. Much of the program consists of full‑length performance footage, beginning with the Tibetan dance “The Cradle on a Yak.” The performers express appreciation for the university’s hospitality and highlight the ongoing three‑year relationship between the two institutions. The event is presented as a celebration of cultural heritage, artistic expression, and international friendship, with the stage filled by traditional choreography, distinctive regional attire, and live demonstrations of China’s vibrant minority cultures.

• 

  Focus Hawaii Joe Ah Quin

  Joe Ah Quin

  This episode of Focus Hawaii features a special concert by Joe Ah Quin (Waiʻoha), an eighth‑generation Laʻie native whose name, meaning “a beautiful voice that mirrors life’s finest moments,” reflects both his heritage and his artistry. The program opens with the story of his birth and the cultural significance of his family’s ancestral names, then moves into a series of heartfelt musical performances. Ah Quin shares sacred selections such as Oh, Touch Mine Eyes, highlighting Christian themes of compassion and service, followed by powerful renditions of classics including The Impossible Dream from Man of La Mancha, the prologue from Pagliacci, Broadway favorites from Annie Get Your Gun, and emotional American standards like Old Man River. He discusses the musical influences that shaped him—teachers like Shigeru Hotoki and Senator Daniel Akaka—and reflects on growing up in Hawaiʻi during the era when movies were the primary form of entertainment, leading to his admiration for performers like Mario Lanza, whose iconic Granada he performs to conclude the concert. The episode celebrates his deep roots, vocal mastery, and lifelong dedication to sharing music as a gift of the heart.

• 

  Focus Hawaii Peter Carlisle

  Peter Carlisle

  This special Focus Hawaii episode presents a sobering and urgent public lecture by Peter Carlisle, then the Prosecuting Attorney for the City and County of Honolulu, addressing Hawai‘i’s escalating crisis of ICE (crystal methamphetamine) abuse. Drawing on law‑enforcement data, medical research, and graphic case studies, Carlisle explains why Hawai‘i leads the nation in meth use and arrests, detailing the drug’s extreme addictiveness, irreversible brain damage, psychosis, paranoia, and the heightened risk of violence during the “tweaking” phase. Through tragic real‑world cases—including those of Wayman Kaua and Frank Janto—the presentation illustrates how chronic meth use fuels homicides, hostage situations, and catastrophic harm to victims and communities. Carlisle concludes with a forceful call for systemic change, emphasizing early prevention, family stability, school‑based intervention, treatment reform, and legislative action, framing the meth epidemic as a public‑safety, public‑health, and moral emergency requiring immediate and sustained community involvement.

• 

  Focus Hawaii Michael Belnap

  Joel Kongaika and Michael Belnap

  Hosted by Joel Kongaika, this episode of Focus Hawaii features an in‑depth conversation with Michael Belnap, newly appointed professor of music at BYU–Hawaii and internationally experienced tenor. Belnap discusses his move from Indiana University’s renowned School of Music to Laie, describing how a sabbatical‑year opportunity grew into a calling to build a premier vocal program for students of the South Pacific. He shares highlights from a rich performance career that includes opera roles across Europe and the United States, touring with Opéra de Wallonie, debuting Messiah at Carnegie Hall, and spending four intensive weeks studying directly with Luciano Pavarotti. Belnap also reflects on mentoring students who later succeeded on Broadway and in national tours, his ongoing professional connections, and his vision for BYU–Hawaii’s vocal program, including touring, musical theater initiatives, and expanded opportunities for student performers. The episode concludes with a dramatic performance clip from the opera Peter Grimes, showcasing Belnap’s expressive intensity and stage artistry.

• 

  Focus Hawaii BYUH Chorus at the Senate Opening

  Joel Kongaika and Brigham Young University Hawaii

  Hosted by Joel Kongaika, this episode features the BYU–Hawaii Men’s and Women’s Chorus alongside the Polynesian Cultural Center Promo Team. The video showcases footage of their live performances at the Hawaiʻi State Capitol during the Opening Session of the Legislature, highlighting music, culture, and community representation through a special public event.

• 

  Focus Hawaii PCC 40th Anniversary Alumni Night Show Performance

  Polynesian Cultural Center

  This episode of Focus Hawaii highlights the Polynesian Cultural Center’s 40th Anniversary Alumni Night Show held in October 2003, where hundreds of former performers returned to Laʻie to celebrate decades of cultural sharing and service. The program features footage from the 6 p.m. alumni showcase, with each island group presenting a traditional number just as they did in their youth: the Hawaiian alumni perform a graceful hula in white muʻumuʻu and grass‑skirt attire; the Tongan group presents a historic lakalaka composed in honor of the LDS Church; the Māori performers fill the stage with powerful action dance and harmonies; the Fijian alumni sing Bula Laʻie, written by PCC’s first Fijian instructor; the Tahitian women perform a lively tamure; and the Samoan alumni deliver a synchronized sasa followed by an exciting fire‑knife finale. The episode celebrates the legacy of more than 13,000 students and community members who helped establish PCC as Hawaiʻi’s top‑paid visitor attraction, concluding with extended encore performances and the traditional Polynesian finale honoring Samoa’s Captain Toto Titi.

• 

  Focus Hawaii BYUH Songfest

  Summer Robbins and Chad Schumer

  Hosted by Summer Robbins and Chad Schumer, Song Fest 2003 is a lively, performance‑packed celebration showcasing the diverse cultural clubs of BYU–Hawaii. The program is filled almost entirely with live stage performances, showcasing traditional songs, dances, and musical presentations from various international student groups. The Korean Club opens with the well‑known folk song Doraji performed with powerful group vocals and traditional rhythmic phrasing. The Papua New Guinea Club follows with high‑energy chants, cultural movement, and an original rap‑style piece highlighting life in Port Moresby, blending modern storytelling with Melanesian identity. Additional footage features the Tahitian Club’s dynamic drumming and dance sequences as well as the Filipino Club’s moving rendition of Ako ay Pilipino presented in traditional national, ethnic, and religious attire, emphasizing pride in heritage and unity. The program concludes with selections from the Hong Kong Club, including gospel‑influenced choral pieces such as Glory, Glory, Hallelujah and All My Trials, performed with rich vocal harmonies. The episode showcases the multicultural vibrancy of the campus and provides continuous, energetic footage of students expressing cultural pride through music and dance.

• 

  Focus Hawaii Merrilee Webb

  Merrilee Webb

  This episode of Focus Hawaii features Merrilee Webb, choral director at BYU–Hawaii, who shares her passion for “building singers” by bringing together students with no musical background and those with extensive experience to create powerful choral unity. She reflects on her early connection to Hawaiʻi as a young missionary, describing the emotional moment of leaving the islands and how that feeling inspired a song she wrote celebrating the idea that “Hawaiʻi never leaves you.” Webb discusses the unique makeup of the university’s choirs—including students from around the world, many of whom speak English as a second language—and the challenge and joy of shaping a unified vocal sound across diverse cultures. She also describes the fast‑paced spring chorale, the mix of ages and backgrounds among its members, and the transformative magic of creating music together. The episode highlights her long‑standing friendship with a fellow musician, their shared performances, and her deep gratitude for the opportunity to teach students from nations that may be in conflict, yet who sit side by side singing in harmony.

• 

  Focus Hawaii Service Project for Kahana Valley

  Brigham Young University Hawaii

  This episode documents a large‑scale community service project at Kahana Valley, where more than 700 students from Brigham Young University–Hawaii joined local residents to restore culturally significant sites. Participants work on clearing invasive vegetation, repairing rock walls around the historic Waialua fishpond, tending graves at the old Mormon chapel, and helping revitalize taro patches within the valley. Community leader Ron Johnson, a fifth‑generation descendant of the Nuhi family, explains the valley’s interpretive program, which uses kalo (taro) and the loʻi as a hands‑on classroom to teach traditional Hawaiian values, sustainability practices, and ahupuaʻa‑based resource management. Students share their experiences of service, culture learning, teamwork, and connection to the land, while organizers describe long‑term goals such as restoring taro fields, reestablishing a working fishpond, and revitalizing historic and cultural sites throughout the valley.

• 

  Focus Hawaii Laie Hawaii Temple President

  Zane Clark, Glenn Y.M. Lung, and Julina F. Lung

  Hosted by Zane Clark, this episode of Focus Hawaii features President Glenn Y. M. Lung and Sister Julina F. Lung, newly called leaders of the Laie Hawaii Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The interview explores their family backgrounds, deep roots in Hawai‘i, and decades of spiritual and professional service. President and Sister Lung share the story of raising their family in Kaimukī, their involvement in various church assignments, and their lifelong dedication to faith and community. The conversation then shifts to the unique responsibilities of the Temple President and Matron, including oversight of temple operations, hundreds of volunteer ordinance workers, temple grounds, and affiliated facilities such as the Visitors’ Center, Family History Center, and Beehive Clothing. They also explain Latter‑day Saint beliefs about temple ordinances, eternal marriage, and proxy work for deceased ancestors. The episode concludes with a discussion of global temple growth—particularly the expansion era beginning under President Gordon B. Hinckley—and the historical significance of the Laie Hawaii Temple as one of the earliest temples in the Church.

• 

  Focus Hawaii Nina Mu

  Zane Clark and Nina Mu

  Hosted by Zane Clark, this episode of Focus Hawaii features Uyghur dancer Nina Mu, who shares her multicultural background from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in northwest China, her early dance training in Beijing, and her rise as a celebrated solo performer known as “Butterfly,” while also reflecting on her international touring career, her connection to BYU–Hawaii through a cultural exchange program, her studies in tourism management, and her current work as a modern dance instructor; the episode concludes with extended footage of her original Peacock Dance, highlighting her creativity, choreography, and deep cultural expression.

• 

  Focus Hawaii Merlin Waite

  Merlin Waite and Zane Clark

  Hosted by Zane Clark, this episode of Focus Hawaii features Merlin D. Waite, longtime BYU–Hawaii faculty member, former Acting Dean of Students, religion professor, and recently released stake president, reflecting on more than three decades of service in Laie. Waite discusses his early life in Utah’s Cache Valley, his studies at Utah State University, his mission in Mexico, military service in Germany, and years teaching in Utah and Arizona before joining the Church College of Hawaii in 1968. He describes his evolving roles—from teaching speech, Spanish, and religion to serving in student life administration—along with memories of campus growth, student body changes, and the cultural evolution of Laie over the decades. Waite also shares insights about the expansion of the Church in Hawaii, the development of multiple stakes on Oahu, and the demands and blessings of his nine years as stake president. As he approaches retirement, he reflects warmly on his career, family life, and the spiritual and educational legacy of his time in Laie.

• 

  Focus Hawaii BYU-Hawaii Christmas Tree Lighting

  Brigham Young University Hawaii

  This video features Benny Kai, a PCC performer, along with the children of Laie Elementary as they perform Christmas songs.

• 

  Focus Hawaii Hawaiian Canoe

  Tuione Pulotu, William Wallace, Jon Jonnassen, and Kamoa'e Walk

  This episode of Focus Hawaii highlights the construction of a traditional double‑hulled Hawaiian canoe in Lāʻie, led by master carver Tuione Pulotu under the direction of William “Uncle Bill” Wallace of BYU–Hawaii’s Hawaiian Studies Program, in partnership with the Polynesian Cultural Center and Hawaiʻi Reserves Inc. Viewers witness the intricate carving process—from chainsaw shaping to adze finishing—and learn about the cultural, spiritual, and community significance of the project. The episode also features Jon Jonnassen and Kamoaʻe Walk, who introduce and contextualize rare footage of an ancient Cook Islands chant performed during a ceremonial visit by a group from Rarotonga. The chant, recited by tribal leader Vaitoti Tupa, honors ancestral connections, leadership traditions, and the sacred relationship between people, land, and waka (canoes).

• 

  Focus Hawaii Ku'ulei Bell

  Ku'ulei Bell

  This in‑depth conversation with Kuʻulei Bell of Kalaupapa captures her vivid memories of life in the Hansen’s disease settlement—from her arrival as a teenager to the community traditions, friendships, and cultural vibrancy that shaped her adulthood. She recalls the loving guidance of elders, schooling at Hale Mohalu, lively social life filled with dances, parties, music, hula, and theatrical productions, and the deep interfaith cooperation among Catholic, Protestant, and Latter‑day Saint residents. Kuʻulei describes her work life, including service in the police department and local leadership roles such as serving on the Patient Advisory Council, where patients helped guide decisions affecting the settlement. She shares heartfelt stories of marriage, community relationships, beloved pets, and the powerful influence of faith during hardship. Reflecting on stigma, changing terminology surrounding Hansen’s disease, and the legacy of figures like Father Damien, she offers an intimate, often humorous, and deeply spiritual portrait of a community that built joy, dignity, and resilience despite isolation.

• 

  Focus Hawaii Kings Summer Place

  Dane Clark and Riley Moffat

  Hosted by Dane Clark, this on‑location episode of Focus Hawaii takes viewers deep into Nuʻuanu Valley with historian Riley Moffat to explore Kaniakapupu, the 1840s summer home of King Kamehameha III. Moffat explains the king’s major contributions to shaping modern Hawaiʻi—including the first constitution, creation of governmental institutions, and the transformative Great Mahele—while guiding viewers through the unique blend of Hawaiian and Western architectural features that make the site historically significant. Together they discuss the palace’s function as a royal retreat, a training place for young aliʻi, and the setting of the famed Restoration Day luau said to have hosted as many as 10,000 people. The episode also highlights how the surrounding landscape has changed over time, the archaeological potential of unearthed cooking sites and structures, and how the Mahele continues to influence land ownership debates today. The tour concludes with a visit to nearby Kapena Falls, tied to the early arrival of LDS missionaries in 1850.

• 

  Focus Hawaii Riley Moffat

  Zane Clark and Riley Moffat

  Hosted by Zane Clark, this episode of Focus Hawaii begins with the first three minutes silent due to missing audio, and then transitions into an in‑depth discussion with historian and cartographer Riley Moffat about the Hawaiian Kingdom’s Mahele era and its enduring impact on modern land issues. Moffat explains how King Kamehameha III, under pressure from foreign powers and internal political change, initiated the privatization of land through the Bill of Rights (1839), the Constitution of 1840, and the establishment of the Land Commission in 1845. He describes how aliʻi, government officials, and commoners navigated a new Western‑style land system without precedent or infrastructure, resulting in inconsistent surveys, boundary disputes, and long‑term consequences that still shape sovereignty claims today. The episode explores the roles of early surveyors—including Hawaiian‑trained students and even a 17‑year‑old boy—along with the creation of crown lands, kuleana awards, ceded lands, and the later Hawaiian Government Survey of 1870–1900. Moffat also discusses his multi‑volume book project Pala Pala ʻĀina and how research into the Mahele unexpectedly became central to modern legal and cultural debates.

• 

  Focus Hawaii Von Orgill

  James Tueller and Von Orgill

  Hosted by James Tueller, this episode of Focus Hawaii features President Von Orgill, newly appointed president of the Polynesian Cultural Center, who reflects on moving his family to Laie and stepping into leadership at one of Hawai‘i’s most significant cultural institutions. He discusses the PCC’s origins as a way to help BYU–Hawaii students—particularly from Polynesia—finance their education, the center’s growth to more than 28 million visitors, and its unique partnership with the university. Orgill explains the importance of authenticity in representing the seven Polynesian cultures, the center’s reliance on student workers, and the power of word‑of‑mouth in attracting visitors. He also shares his professional background—from Arthur Andersen to IBM to the Covey Leadership Center—and how those experiences shape his vision for expanding authenticity, cultural education, community collaboration, and multigenerational involvement at the PCC.

• 

  Focus Hawaii BYUH Jazz Ensemble

  Lance Chase

  Hosted by Lance Chase, this episode of Focus Hawaii showcases three BYU–Hawaii performing groups: the Jazz Band led by Michael Sigert, Pacific Horns and Rhythms, and the Frontline Singers. The program consists almost entirely of live musical performances, highlighting the talent and energy of student musicians as they prepare for an upcoming tour of the Pacific and Australia. Lance briefly introduces the ensembles, notes their role as ambassadors of BYU–Hawaii and the state of Hawai‘i, and invites viewers to enjoy a concert‑style presentation featuring jazz, horn arrangements, rhythms, and vocal numbers performed by the university’s premier touring groups.