Recent flash flooding on Oahu’s North Shore brought heavy rainfall and significant impacts to many communities. As rising water levels overwhelmed drainage systems and infrastructure, students and faculty from Brigham Young University–Hawaii stepped forward to serve.

Every fall and winter semester of the school year, BYU–Hawaii’s Theater Program puts on a showstopping production for students and community members. Each performance makes its mark with bright lights, dazzling smiles, and top-notch acting. Their latest showing of Peter and the Starcatcher takes comedy and physical acting to the next level, starting with a bang and leaving the audience laughing as the characters navigate their story. But of course, not without a few swashbuckling bumps along the way that make the performance that much more humorous for the audience.

Fall 2025 valedictorian Manuarii Tefan reflects on mentorship, initiative and the power of gratitude that shaped his BYU–Hawaii journey