Point Loma Nazarene University’s Hui ‘O Hawai’i — one of seven organizations within Multicultural Opportunities for Students Actively Involved in Community — strives to foster a strong sense of community for Hawaiian students and those interested in learning about and experiencing Hawaiian culture. With four student leaders and a small Hawaiian population on campus, the organization aims to share authentic Hawaiian traditions and practices with the broader PLNU community.
The organization is led by president Reaves Dayton and other leaders Henna Chong Tim and Arianna Joy Raping, who are fourth-year nursing majors, and Nathan Wiebe, a fourth-year mechanical engineering major. Raping said their mission is to create a welcoming and inclusive environment that celebrates and shares Hawaiian culture on campus.
“We aim to provide students with opportunities to learn about Hawaiian traditions, values and history in a meaningful way,” Raping said in an email interview.
One way the organization brings Hawaiian culture to campus is through the annual luau with catered Hawaiian food, live music and games. On April 10, hundreds of students gathered at Young Hall to relax, eat free food and enjoy traditional Hawaiian song and dance performed by a local hula group from Oceanside.
Raping said it was important to the organization that they authentically represented Hawaiian culture through the event.
“The key element was the involvement of performers and singers who represent Hawai’i’s culture and understands how to showcase it through their voices and experiences of being raised on the island,” she said.
Elijah Lodenquai, a fourth-year media communication major and ASB director of communications, served as the emcee during the luau. Helping ensure the event ran smoothly and leading the mini-games, Lodenquai said working closely with the Hui ‘O Hawai’i leadership was a great experience.
“I think [the event] was a great representation of traditional Hawaiian luau — or at least as close as we can get to on the mainland,” Lodenquai said. “I think it is a great way to spread awareness about the culture.”
Raping said that she thinks the event can help the community recognize and appreciate Hawaiian culture, and encourage students to stay involved.
“It also strengthens our community by bringing people together, including members, performers and attendees in a space that reflects our values,” she said.
Lodenquai appreciated that the organization leadership included student performers but also invited an off-campus group to the event, a testament to their commitment to authenticity.
“[Hui ‘O Hawai’i] went out of their way to find people, not just students they had around, but people from outside, [and] they were intentional with that,” he said.
Richard Eberheart, the director of Multicultural and International Student Services and overseer of MOSAIC, said that while Hui ‘O Hawai’i was considered a club in the past, it became a campus organization within the last few years, meaning they do not need to reapply every year and are now a permanent organization supported by the school.
While they host fun events like karaoke and game nights that showcase Hawaiian culture, they also engage in times of deep conversation, discussing identity, racism and gender issues, differentiating them from other clubs.
“Clubs are a little more social — [MOSAIC] also can be social — but then also there’s an educational, foundational element that comes along with that,” Eberheart said.
Raping said that being a part of the organization has shaped her experience at PLNU, as she has made lifelong friends.
“Being born and raised in Hawai’i, this group has helped me further root myself in my culture and stay connected to it even while being away from home,” Raping said. “Everyone is very inclusive and encourages each other to learn, participate and grow.”
Eberheart said he has enjoyed getting to know and work with Hui ‘O Hawai’i student leaders, adding that seeing Hawaiian students connect has been encouraging.
“There’s a level of family and community that comes along with just being from the island,” he said. “It’s always cool to see them meet each other.”
With a relatively small Hawaiian student population at PLNU, Raping said the leadership team is focusing on growing the organization, preserving Hawaiian culture on campus and strengthening community engagement.
“One of our main goals is to expand our presence on campus by hosting more events that educate and involve students in Hawai’i’s culture in meaningful and respectful ways,” she said.
Eberheart emphasized the important role that the organization plays in the PLNU community.
“They give those students from a relatively small population a voice,” he said.
Adee Tulcan