August 28, 2023 BYU-Hawaii Campus releases its secretive architectural renderings to the university community. The historic 33 x 16 feet McKay Mosaic depicting the prophetic vision for BYU-Hawaii is gone! The historic McKay Foyer is replaced by a ski lodge "Aulani Disney" with expansive windows.
Hawaiian Culture supersedes Gospel Culture at BYU-H.
September 28, 2023 BYU-Hawaii releases another Press Release reporting that the architect was "led by the spirit to the concept of the 'piko,' a Hawaiian term synonymous with the navel and representing the place where life begins.
Hawaiians believe there are conceptually three pikos: piko po'o, piko waena, and piko ma'i found in the body's centers. The three piko encompass the connection and kuleana, or responsibility, we have to our past, present, and future. This connection is known as the triple piko and is meant to be spiritual, emotional, and physical.
The McKay Complex site plan depicts three main centers, each with a specific meaning and purpose. The central plaza that will become the university's epicenter, or piko waena, where the McKay Foyer now stands, represents the university's origin, paying homage to David O. McKay's prophetic vision and the birthplace of BYU–Hawaii. While expanding on more design concepts, Candari shares, "Our main role at FSC was to create a deeper meaning in the architecture and relate the design to the Hawaiian culture." (The McKAY MOSAIC apparently does not have deep enough gospel meaning for the BYU-H Hawaiian Sovereignty Administration.)
There is additional symbolism throughout the new McKay Complex plan that continues to enforce the idea of the piko and relates to Hawaiian culture. For example, the form of the new welcome building represents a hale va'a, or canoe house, symbolizing the seasider. The grillwork of the facade's design illustrates the stars used to navigate, representing how we look to the sky as a guide to explore the world. Even the square in the circle shape has valuable meaning; the circle signifies heaven, and the square represents earth. "With this design, we're trying to circle the square," or in other words, "create heaven on earth," stated Candari." ( Forget the abstract Hawaiiana cultural symbols. BYU-Hawaii is not the Polynesian Cultural Center. BYU-Hawaii's kuleana covers the Pacific Rim and the Asian Rim.)
Retain and honor the GOSPEL CULTURE of BYU-H by not destroying the McKay Mosaic.
What is the long game for this Sovereignty extremism?
Today, the Administration finds offenses with the McKay Mosaic. Tomorrow, will the "whiteness" of the First Presidency become offensive? Will extremists find offense with the fact that the gospel was first restored in the USA?
Please write to Church Headquarters. Ask President Nelson to INVESTIGATE and RECONSIDER the removal of the McKay Mosaic. (There's a public relations war with the local BYU-Hawaii Administration team. Church Headquarters is hearing only what is being packaged to them.)
First Presidency
Russell M. Nelson
Dallin H. Oaks
Henry B. Eyring
50 E North Temple Street
Salt Lake City, Utah 84150
Others
D. Todd Christofferson*
Ronald A. Rasband*
Paul V. Johnson*
Elder David Bednar
Michael T. Ringwood
Gérald Caussé
Camille N. Johnson*
Emily Belle Freeman
Steven J. Lund
R. Kelly Haws, Secretary
* Are the board members who are the driving force