A new face in Hawaii

"I think Hawaii is one of the most beautiful spots in the world," he said. However, amid the beauty of the outdoors, he said it will be challenging to fill the shoes of former president Shumway.

Shumway, originally of Arizona, was also recently released from part-time service as an Area Authority for Hawaii and California for the LDS Church and was called to serve as president of the Nuku'alofa Tonga Temple.

"He is the nearest thing to a father figure BYU-Hawaii has ever had," President Hinckley said of Shumway.

During his presidency, the church-owned university celebrated its 50th anniversary. He was instrumental in developing a comprehensive curriculum revision process and strengthening the university's school of business.

The new president-designate and Elder W. Rolfe Kerr, Church Education System commissioner and a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy, will travel to Laie where they will speak at a devotional in the Cannon Activities Center on Thursday at 10 a.m.

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E-mail: wleonard@desnews.com