Meiling Akuna lives alone on her ancestral land without electricity or running water. She shares her story of self-reliance and faith in the Ke’anae, Maui, Hawaii.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced $1 million donation to American Red Cross to help support the Maui wildfire response in Hawaii.
In January 2022, the new Hawaii Laie Mission was created, a separation from the Hawaii Honolulu Mission. The new mission includes the Laie Hawaii Temple Visitors' Center, three young single adult stakes near BYU–Hawaii and two stakes in the Laie area. Since the creation of the mission, only sisters have been called as young full-time missionaries, with the exception of some elders who were assigned from the Honolulu Hawaii Mission to serve in Laie for nine months. The mission also includes senior missionaries serving in the area at the Polynesian Cultural Center and BYUH.
Photo by Seina Hamano
Photo by Seina Hamano
While serving in the Hawaii Honolulu Mission, Seina Hamano said she fell in love with the kindness and spirituality of Laie and decided to attend BYU–Hawaii. Now, in her sophomore year, she said she learns from her friends and coworkers and tries to give back to the university by tutoring students in Japanese.
Destined to be in Laie
Hamano, a sophomore from Japan majoring in intercultural peacebuilding, said she was happy she was called to serve in the Hawaii Honolulu Mission as a full-time missionary. She explained her sister served in the same mission and was a student at BYUH. “Me and my sister share a deep connection with this university,” Hamano said.