Thank you so much for that wonderful song. Thank you for all those that wish me good luck today. If you know me through your stomach, you’re welcome. I was just trying to feed your appetite, I didn’t know I was feeding your soul.
Brothers and sisters, aloha.
My name is Abraham Alapati Keolamauloa Manutai. And yes, that fits on my driver’s license.
My first name, Abraham, comes from my maternal grandfather. He was the middle child of 18 children. And though he was the middle child, he was a leader in his family, and often looked to by his siblings for guidance and direction. He also was a firefighter and served as a battalion chief in the city and county of Honolulu for many years. I am his oldest grandson, so carrying his name has always had special meaning to me.
I have two middle names. The first is Alapati, when translated to English, Albert, which comes from my father, Alapati Manutai; named after former Church President George Albert Smith, and I have since passed that name on to my son. My second middle name is Keolamauloa, a Hawaiian name meaning “eternal life.” That name was given to me by my mother, and the story behind it is especially meaningful to me.
You see, when my parents were married, my mother was a recent convert to the Church. Because of that, my parents had to wait a full year before they could go to the temple and be sealed. During that year of waiting, my mother became pregnant with me.
My parents had set the date of September 9th to be sealed in the temple. And at the time of her sealing, my mother had carried me to full term, but I still had not made my grand entrance into the world. Apparently, I was in no hurry.
So, with me still in her womb, my mother and father were sealed in the temple. In a very literal sense, I was conceived during a period of waiting, but I was born only after my parents had made their temple covenants, allowing me to be born into the covenant they had made with God.
Thus, my mother gave me the name Keolamauloa; “eternal life.” From the very beginning, I was connected to my parents' journey toward the temple and the eternal promises they made there, and my second middle name is a special reminder of that.
My name is more than just a name. It carries the names of my grandparents and my parents, my Samoan, Hawaiian, and Chinese heritage, and a story about faith, patience, family, and eternal life.
And I share that story because each of you has a story—a story of where you come from. Each journey is unique, but each is also uniquely special because of our choice to be here at BYU–Hawaii.
Brothers and sisters, how grateful I am to be with you today. And how fortunate we are to be associated with this wonderful institution, BYU–Hawaii.
The mission of BYU–Hawaii is to prepare disciples of Jesus Christ who will live and lead in Oceania and the Asian Rim. [1]
I am a proud graduate of BYU–Hawaii, and my journey to this university is kind of a miracle. Especially since I had no intention of ever attending this school.
I have always loved sports, especially football and baseball. I know, I probably don’t look like it, but at one time I was, and still strive to be, an athlete. I have two siblings, and ever since I can remember, we have all played sports. After high school, I was given the opportunity to play baseball at Porterville College, a junior college in California.
I enjoyed playing baseball so much my freshman year, that after my mission, I decided that I would go back and finish my associates there.
I returned from my mission to Guatemala in 2004 and went back to Porterville College to play baseball from 2005-2006. After finishing the season, I decided to come home to Hawaii for the summer, but I didn't realize that when I left, that would be the last time I would play college ball. At the end of the summer in 2006, I had a strong feeling not to return to California. I only had one more semester left, but I decided to stay home and see what the Lord would have in store for me. Two months later, I met my future wife, Larie Kuulei Langi.
When I met her back then, 20 years ago, she had already obtained a bachelor's in political science from BYU–Hawaii, had graduated from law school at the University of Hawaii (UH), and had just passed the bar exam.
Since she was done with her schooling, I thought, "Awesome! No need finish school, I'll just focus on working to provide for my family."
Was I wrong? Yes!
When my wife and I got married, she was adamant that I finish my schooling, and told me that I should go to BYUH. At the time, I was attending Kapiolani Community College, but she kept telling me to go to BYU–Hawaii.
It’s not that I didn’t want to go to BYU–Hawaii. I honestly didn’t think I could get in. Just to give you some context, when I returned from my mission, there was a reality show called Laguna Beach. This show has a famous episode that featured a young girl who was so eager to get into BYU–Hawaii. However, she didn't get in, and when she received her letter of rejection she cried. I remember watching her cry on TV and thinking to myself, “I am so glad I am never going to that school!"
Well, two months after we got married, my wife said, “I'm going to BYU–Hawaii tomorrow to talk with someone to see if we can get you into school.” Literally, the next day she dragged me to Laie and walked us both into the admission office.
As I sat there, I thought to myself, "Honey, this is not going to work."
They asked to see my transcripts and, miraculously I was admitted to this school with a letter of acceptance the very next day. I often joke that my wife is the reason I got admitted, but I like to think that day, the admissions saw something
in me and knew that I could benefit from an education at this school.
I really couldn't believe it. Four years after the girl from Laguna Beach was crying on TV, I was attending BYU–Hawaii!
When I enrolled in school here, I wanted to become a teacher, just like my mom. All three of us as siblings came here to study. So, I majored in Secondary Education with an emphasis in Spanish.
What made school even more exciting was that I got to take some classes with my younger brother and watch my sister play volleyball on this very court for BYU–Hawaii.
I started school here in the Fall of 2008. By 2009, my wife and I were blessed with a son, and we were living the dream at TVA, in Q Building.
As an education major, my classes were challenging, but the most difficult requirement for me was passing the PRAXIS exams, which had two parts.
Truth be told, I was never a very good test-taker. I was able to pass the PRAXIS I, but the PRAXIS II kept proving to be quite a challenge for me.
I tried my best, but by the Spring of 2011, I was told that because I did not pass the PRAXIS II, I was not eligible for teacher licensing and could not graduate with an education degree. Instead, I would be awarded a newer degree—a Bachelor's degree in University Studies.
It wasn't the degree I had set out to earn, but I was happy to be done with school, and I graduated in June of 2011.
Shortly after graduation, I was hired to teach Spanish at my alma mater, Moanalua High School, as an emergency hire teacher. Because I was an emergency hire, I did not need to be licensed, but it also meant that the school could not give me a long-term contract.
I really enjoyed working at Moanalua and that’s where my mom taught as well. For those of you who are not familiar with Moanalua, to give you some context, Moanalua has two auditoriums, one for practice and the other for performance. Very similar to here at BYU–Hawaii campus, the little theater and the auditorium. It is like the private school of public schools. I know Kahuku has a lot of hype because of the great sports program, but Moanalua has great facilities, great teachers, and really good school lunch. I plan for us to be better than them.
As a teacher, I loved being in the classroom, teaching young students. My mom, who is a lifelong educator, likes to call it "touching future generations." So, there I was, a young professional, budding faculty member, "touching the future," and for a little while, it felt like things were falling into place.
But soon enough, my contract expired the following summer, and once again, I found myself trying to figure out what to do next.
I could sit for the PRAXIS again and try to finally get my teaching license. But at the time, the Hawaiʻi Department of Education (DOE) was still dealing with the financial fallout and impact of “Furlough Fridays,” and the prospect of working long-term for the DOE didn't seem like the right choice for me.
And, to be honest, I didn't want to fail the PRAXIS again.
So, how did I stumble upon my career in the hotel industry and ultimately end up in food service? I used my nose! I saw the prime rib and I said, “That’s where I need to be.”
In all of my life, working for a hotel or in the hotel industry had never crossed my mind. Having studied education, I felt an obligation to stick with teaching, so I got certified as a public school substitute teacher and was able to continue my growth as an educator in that field.
A few months later, I was asked to apply for an on-call security position at the Waikiki Beach Marriott during graveyard hours. As a budding, struggling professional, I honestly, was just grateful that they hired me.
The work, though exhausting, was not difficult. Although it was extremely different from what I had gone to school for, I found myself enjoying it. And within a few months, I got asked to apply for a full-time position.
A part of me thought that taking this full-time position was a no-brainer. I liked Marriott as an organization and felt that I could see myself working there long-term.
But the decision to go “all in” with Marriott meant my dream of being a teacher and an educator would come to an end. I remember discussing this choice with my mom, the lifelong educator. Her disappointed face said it all.
“Abraham, how will you change lives by working at Marriott?,” she asked. “How will you touch the future?”
Whether you see it or not, teachers at every level have the power to change lives.
But I felt strongly, at the time, that I should try the hotel path. So, I decided to leave the teaching profession completely and like my baseball career, that would be the last time I would teach.
Within the second year at the Waikiki Beach Marriott, a restaurant manager position opened up. Aside from working alongside my father who owned a food truck at the time, I didn’t really have food service experience. And though I was hopeful, I did not get the job the first time I applied.
However, a second opening came a few weeks later, and I felt encouraged to apply again. And this time, I would get my first contract to the “dark side”. I mean, “management.”
My wife and I were super excited, but I knew that within those two years, I had much to prove. I needed to show that a person from security, with no restaurant experience, let alone management experience, would bring value to the restaurant management team and represent the Marriott brand.
After signing my first management contract, I asked my boss, “why did you choose me?” They said that part of it was that I did well in the interviews, and my boss from security had given his stamp of approval, but I also had a college degree.
This is how I got into food service and for the next 11 years, I would move my family to the island of Kauai, to work at the Kauai Marriott, and then back to Oahu where I continued my journey at The Ritz Carlton Turtle Bay.
I can’t say that this journey was easy, because there were times when I didn’t have my priorities with Church and family at the forefront. Rather, I would choose work and use it as an excuse to not fulfill my duties as a father and a priesthood holder.
My time at Turtle Bay is where my life really changed.
Food service is always busy, no matter where you work, because, well, everyone needs to eat. By its nature, the food service industry is fast-paced, demanding, stressful, and exhausting.
When I was hired at Turtle Bay, my workload increased tenfold. Even before it became The Ritz-Carlton, Turtle Bay was already a luxury property, so meeting higher service expectations—on top of the normal demands of food service—was going to be a real challenge.
During this time, I was also called to be the second counselor in the Bishopric. I was stunned, to be honest. When President Vic Kaufusi called me in for an interview, I thought for sure my wife was getting a calling. But when the calling to serve in a bishopric was extended to me, I was in shock.
I thought, for sure that I would be a failure and I was torn. Knowing that I had a tendency to consume my life with my professional responsibilities, I wondered if I would even be able to “show up” or “be present” for a calling of this magnitude.
At the time, I was reminded of a favorite scripture of mine in the Book of Mormon.
In Ether 12:27 it reads, “And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.” [2]
The counsel in Ether was a huge reminder and motivation to me that if I had faith, Heavenly Father would help even me.
At this time, another question also weighed heavily on my mind. Although I had left the teaching profession years earlier, the counsel or rather questions of my mother, had never left me.
“Abraham, how will you change lives? How will you touch the future?”
In those moments, I knew that Heavenly Father needed me to prioritize His work, and strive to be a better disciple of Jesus Christ. The Lord didn’t need me to lead only in my profession, but He also needed me to lead in my calling.
The decision to follow Him changed my life. Work and my new calling did not make it easier for me, but I understood that
I could not do this without His help. And He helped me to get through one of the toughest periods in my career, but also a very important time of spiritual growth for myself and my family.
The mission of BYU–Hawaii is to prepare disciples of Jesus Christ who will live and lead in Oceania and the Asian Rim. [3]
So now I ask you what my mother asked me, “How will you change lives?” “How will you touch the future?”
The moment you decide to live the mission of this university will be the moment you allow Heavenly Father to teach you why He brought you here to BYU–Hawaii. This can become the moment you choose to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord to live and lead in your home, in your communities, in your profession, and in your calling.
This world desperately needs leaders! And I implore you to hold fast to the mission of this university and become the leader that God needs you to be. To illustrate how important you are to our Heavenly Father’s work, I’d like to share a story with you.
Prior to applying for my first job with Marriott, my wife and I received an impromptu visit from our home teacher or to use today’s vocab, ministering brother. When this brother stopped by our house that evening, he actually apologized because he felt bad that he hadn't done his ministering in a while, and felt that he was slacking in his calling. A feeling that I think most of us can relate to.
Upon learning that I was looking for work, this brother prompted me to apply for a job. At the time, he was the director of Security at the Waikiki Beach Marriott. So, I did, and the rest is history.
What may have seemed like an ordinary visit to this brother, was a blessing and a miracle for me and my young family.
When I look back to the beginning of my career in food service, a brother in our ward fulfilling his calling to minister, became one of the most pivotal moments in my career. One person deciding to fulfill their calling as a home teacher, is what put me on a career path that has led me here.
Living and leading in our homes, communities, professions, and callings is not just the big pivotal moments of greatness when we are awarded employee of the year, or manager of the quarter. It is also the small, often mundane moments where we are simply catching up with a friend; asking our co-workers how their day is going; smiling at a stranger; and sometimes even just showing up and being present. Even in the small quiet moments, we can live and lead.
In Doctrine & Covenants 64:33, the Lord counsels us, “Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.” [4]
If you have ever wondered if your efforts to minister in Christ's name to your brothers and sisters makes a difference, I testify that it does. If you've ever wondered if visiting your neighbor matters, I testify that it does. One simple act, one visit from a humble brother just trying to follow Christ's example changed the course of my life, and I will never forget that.
So I ask you again, “How will you change lives? “How will you touch the future?”
President Gordon B. Hinckley once wrote,
“Though my work may be menial, though my contribution may be small, I can perform it with dignity and offer it with unselfishness. My talents may not be great, but I can use them to bless the lives of others. I can be one who does his work with pride in that which comes from hand and mind. I can be one who works with respect for my associates, for their opinions, for their beliefs, with appreciation for their problems and with a desire to help them should they stumble.”
“I believe in the principle that I can make a difference in this world. It may be ever so small. But it will count for the greater good. The goodness of the world in which we live is the accumulated goodness of many small and seemingly inconsequential acts.” [5]
My dear brothers and sisters, the opportunity to live and lead is right here before you. Don’t wait until you graduate or get settled into your profession to start living and leading. Living and leading in our homes, our communities, our professions, and our callings begins today.
You can start by taking one step at a time, or in the food industry, one bite at a time. Everyone who is part of the banyan, or has since moved on, you are forever blessed. I mean that because you have a perspective that is different. And if you don’t know brothers and sisters what I am talking about, I exhort you to find out.
I testify of this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen!
Sources:
[1] Brigham Young University–Hawaii Mission Statement
[2] Ether 12:27
[3] Brigham Young University–Hawaii Mission Statement
[4] Doctrine & Covenants 64:33
[5] Gordon B. Hinckley, “This I Believe,” [Brigham Young University devotional, March 1, 1992], speeches.byu.edu