28th December 2011
Posted in Updates

A Brigham Young University–Hawaii groundbreaking ceremony at the site of its future multi-use building on Saturday Dec. 17 marked the beginning stages of construction for the renovation and growth of the BYU–Hawaii campus.

Plans call for 11 new buildings, including the multi-use building, two married student apartment buildings, seven single-student dormitories that will replace existing on-campus dorms, and one single-student apartment building. The apartment building will offer an additional option for on-campus living.

Doug Chin, managing director for the City and County of Honolulu, spoke at the groundbreaking about both the economic and cultural importance of BYU–Hawaii to the community. “We know this is a time when there are many concerns about the economy and jobs,” he said. “When we look at BYU–Hawaii and we realize it employs 400 full-time people as well as several hundred part-time people, we realize what a valuable contribution it makes to the community. We are very excited to be able to see this multi-purpose building being built because it represents a further expansion, more jobs and it represents a commitment to the community.”

Highlights of Chin’s remarks can be watched in the video posted with this story.

Speaking on behalf of the University’s Board of Trustees was Elder Jeffery R. Holland from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “Education is expensive,” he said. “It’s very expensive. But it is not nearly as expensive as ignorance.” Elder Holland also spoke about Laie’s early history as a gathering place for Polynesian Mormons and how it is now the most internationally diverse university in the United States.

And when speaking about the importance of gathering and diversity, Chin said, “All of us know how special Oahu is and that it’s a gathering place. It’s a wonderful location for people from all over the world to come and that is something we see with the diversity of BYU–Hawaii.”

The 41,000-square-foot multi-use building is expected to be an 18-month project. When finished, it will house the College of Business, Computing and Government and be used for Church meetings on Sunday.  The two-story building will include chapels, faculty and ecclesiastical offices, and a mixture of technology-enhanced classrooms.

Using shovels and the traditional Hawaiian o’o crafted by local master carver Tuione Polotu, leaders from Laie, Honolulu and the University broke ground during the event. These leaders included Auntie Gladys Pualoa-Ahuna, a kupuna whose family ties to Laie pre-date Western contact; BYU–Hawaii President Steven Wheelwright; Vice President of Academics Max Checketts; Dean Glade Tew from the College of Business, Computing and Government; Elder Paul V. Johnson, Commissioner of the Church Education System and member of the First Quorum of the Seventy; BYU–Hawaii Third Stake President Phillip McArthur; Managing Director Doug Chin from the City and County of Honolulu; and Elder Jeffery R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

The growth of BYU–Hawaii is the primary reason why the Envision Laie planning process was launched within the Koolau Loa community three years ago. Envision Laie is about planning a future that protects the quality of life and emphasizes the values of the people who live in Koolau Loa. The process has included a number of public workshops, surveys and other meetings. In fact, growing BYU–Hawaii 5 to 6 percent per year is supported by 71 percent of Koolau Loa residents. Envision Laie not only includes plans for the University to become more sustainable, but also affordable housing in Malaekahana.