polynesian

BYU’s annual Lu’au event brought in hundreds of participants to celebrate the diverse traditions of six Polynesian countries on Nov. 13-14.

Nothing aggravates me more than seeing a non-Polynesian with a traditional Polynesian tattoo. We see many people get these tattoos because it looks appealing to the eyes or because Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson has it. But many people don't know how disrespectful it can be in more ways than one. The sacred Polynesian tattoo known as a tatau is of great significance to our Polynesian ancestors who have sacrificed many things. So a non-Polynesian getting a traditional tattoo is demeaning the sacrifices and traditions of our ancestors. Behind every tatau is a great meaning, a story. Hence another reason why it is so disrespectful to receive one is that it's the stealing of another's story. We have many different types of amazing tribal tattoos. It varies from the Maori people, Hawaiian people, Samoans, Tongans and even the Marquesan people. We all have a different meaning but the same purpose to serve our family tradition.

Uriah Leiataua didn’t know hearing gunshots on a regular basis wasn’t normal. He didn’t realize watching his peers join gangs and use drugs in middle school wasn’t something all kids experienced.

BYU illustration design graduate Kee Miller works in the film industry. He is currently working on the filming of the Book of Mormon video series and said Native Americans and the art department are designing the whole project. (Kee Miller)

Shanoah Zendejas dances in Living Legends, a show that tells a lively and inspiring story of Native American, Latin American and Polynesian cultures. The show takes the audience through a performance of the pride cycle from the Book of Mormon. (BYU Photo)

Harvey Langi intercepts a pass during BYU's game with UCLA in 2015. Langi is one of five Cougars named to the Polynesian Player of the Year watchlist. (Ari Davis)

Team HBV gathered together for a ping pong tournament and to educate BYU students about hepatitis B. (Annie Trumbull)

Barbara Lettich, assistant general manager of retail dining, and Joe Tiapson, general manager of retail dining at BYU, said Aloha Plate has seen great success in the first few weeks since its opening. (Marinda Risk)

Defensive end Hala Paongo leads the Cougars in the Haka before a game in 2005. The Haka is a tradional Maori war dance that proclaims strength and prowess. (Robbie Preece)

Living Legends performers Michael Ikahihifo and Sia Fifita rehearse a Polynesian dance in preparation for their upcoming on-campus performance of 'Seasons.' (Stoker)

Last week, Bloomberg's Business Week published Caroline Winter's article 'How Mormons make money.' The article quickly got traction, even eliciting a fairly lengthy press release from the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However, the piece went viral — at least in the LDS community — after Business Week released the cover for the issue.