CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

9:00 AM – 9:25 AM OPENING SESSION

Welcome:

Isaiah Walker
Academic Vice President, Professor and History Department Chair, Brigham Young University–Hawaii, United States

Introduction:

Brett G. Scharffs
Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, Rex E. Lee Chair and Professor of Law, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University, United States

9:30 AM – 11:00 AM HUMAN DIGNITY AND FAITH TRADITIONS IN OCEANIA

Moderator:

Hannah Smith
Associate Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University, United States

Speakers:

Reverend James Shri Bhagwan
General Secretary, Pacific Conference of Churches

Reverend Dr. Peter Loy Chon
Archdiocese of Suva, Fiji

Elder Taniela B. Wakolo
General Authority Seventy & Counselor in the Pacific Area Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Father Francis X. Hezel
Society of Jesus, Micronesia

11:00 AM – 11:15 AM BREAK (HGB 133)

11:15 AM – 12:30 PM TONGA AND HUMAN DIGNITY

Moderator:

Dr. Tēvita O. Kaʻili, Ph.D.
Professor of Anthropology and Cultural Sustainability in the Faculty of Culture, Language, and Performing Arts, Brigham Young University–Hawaii, United States

Speakers:

Honorable Linda Folaumoetu'i
Attorney General, Tonga

Honorable Alisi Taumoepeau
Ombudsman, former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Tonga

Dr. Mele Tupou-Vaitohi, Ph.D.
Senior Lecturer, Law Faculty, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand (via Zoom)

12:30 PM – 1:25 PM LUNCH FOR CONFERENCE DELEGATES AND INVITED GUESTS (HGB Commons/135 Overflow)

1:30 PM – 2:45 PM FIJI AND HUMAN DIGNITY

Moderator:

David Whippy
Director of the David O. McKay Center for Intercultural Understanding, Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Culture, Language, and Performing Arts, and Faculty Advisor for the Religious Freedom and Human Dignity Initiative, Brigham Young University–Hawaii, United States

Speakers:

Honorable Siromi Turaga
Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Fiji

Dr. Natasha Khan, Ph.D.
Lecturer & Coordinator, Leadership, Governance & Human Rights, The University of South Pacific, Fiji Loukinikini Lewaravu, Director, Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission, Fiji

2:45 PM – 3:00 PM BREAK (HGB 133)

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM COOK ISLANDS, SAMOA, AND HUMAN DIGNITY

Moderator:

Moana Numanga
Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Business and Government, Brigham Young University–Hawaii, United States

Speakers:

Honorable Tamatoa Jonassen
Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Cook Islands

Honorable Maualaivao Pepe Seiuli
Acting Ombudsman, Samoa

4:00 PM – 4:30 PM KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Introduction of Congressman Salmon:

Jennifer Mie Kajiyama Tinkham
Program Lead and Adjunct Assistant, Professor for the Legal Studies Program in the Faculty of Business and Government, and Faculty Chair and Advisory Board Member for the Religious Freedom and Human Dignity Initiative, Brigham Young University–Hawaii, United States

Introduction of Chief Justice Torres:

Honorable Matt Salmon
Former U.S. Congressman from Arizona, Former member of Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, and Special Advisor to the President of Arizona State University for International Affairs, United States

Keynote Speaker:

Honorable Robert J. Torres
Chief Justice, Supreme Court of Guam

4:30 PM – 4:45 PM GROUP PHOTO (HGB Stairs)

5:30 PM DINNER FOR CONFERENCE DELEGATES AND INVITED GUESTS (Aloha Center Ballroom)

9:00 AM – 9:10 AM

Welcome

Dr. Nathaniel Stephens, Ph.D.
Dean & Professor, Faculty of Business and Government, Brigham Young University–Hawaii, United States

9:10 AM – 10:30 AM NEW ZEALAND AND HUMAN DIGNITY

Moderator:

Honorable Matt Salmon
Former U.S. Congressman from Arizona, Former member of Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, and Special Advisor to the President of Arizona State University for International Affairs, United States

Speakers:

Dr. Jenny Te Paa Daniel, Ph.D.
Acting Director, National Centre for Peace & Conflict Studies, University of Otago, New Zealand

Dr. Keakaokawai Varner Hemi, Ph.D.
Assistant Vice Chancellor, University of Waikato, New Zealand

Jennae Matenga
Senior Solicitor, Burgess Law, New Zealand

10:30 AM – 10:45 AM BREAK (HGB 133)

10:45 AM – 12:00 PM HAWAII AND HUMAN DIGNITY

Moderator:

Aaron Shumway
Director & Associate Professor in the Faculty of Religious Education and Advisory Board Member for the Religious Freedom and Human Dignity Initiative, Brigham Young University–Hawaii, United States

Speakers:

Dr. Alohalani Kaluhiokalani Housman, Ph.D.
Dean & Associate Professor, Faculty of Culture, Language, and Performing Arts & Jonathan Napela Center for Hawaiian & Pacific Studies, Brigham Young University–Hawaii, United States

Dr. Gregg J. Kinkley, Ph.D.
Former Deputy Attorney General and Lecturer of Religion and Classics at University of Hawaii, United States

Jaimee Macanas Neel
Senior Advisor, Office of International Religious Freedom at the U.S. State Department, United States

12:00 PM – 12:30 PM BYU-HAWAII RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND HUMAN DIGNITY STUDENT FELLOWS RESEARCH IN OCEANIA

Moderator:

John Zenger
Student Fellow at the Religious Freedom and Human Dignity Initiative, Brigham Young University–Hawaii, United States

Student Fellow Speakers:

Riji Levaci and Nameha Raiwalui
Lindokuhle Mbuli
Vilai Ilolahia
Hannah Harding

12:30 PM – 1:25 PM LUNCH FOR CONFERENCE DELEGATES AND INVITED GUESTS (HGB Commons/135 Overflow)

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM RELIGION, CIVIL SOCIETY, AND HUMAN DIGNITY IN OCEANIA

Moderator:

Dr. Rand Blimes, Ph.D.
Associate Professor in the Faculty of Business and Government and Advisory Board Member for the Religious Freedom and Human Dignity Initiative, Brigham Young University–Hawaii, United States

Speakers:

Mena Antonio
Chief Executive/Kaiwhakahaere Mātua, Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand Reverend Siotame Drew Havea, Board Chairman, Civil Society Forum of Tonga

2:30 PM – 2:45 PM BREAK (HGB 133)

2:45 PM – 4:00 PM HUMAN DIGNITY AND THE MEDIA IN OCEANIA

Moderator:

Dr. Brent Cowley, Ph.D.
Visiting Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Arts and Letters, Brigham Young University–Hawaii, United States

Speakers:

Nemani Delaibatiki
Former editor of Fiji Sun and Fiji Daily Post, Fiji

Jane Joshua
Editor, Vanuatu Daily Post, Vanuatu

Ramanlal Vallabh
Owner and Reporter, 88.6 FM Radio Nuku’alofa, Tonga

4:00 – 4:45 PM CLOSING SESSION

GENERAL DISCUSSION & DIALOGUE – ALL PARTICIPANTS

Brett G. Scharffs
Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, Rex E. Lee Chair and Professor of Law, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University, United States

CONCLUSION – NEXT STEPS

Expression of acknowledgement and thanks

Gavin Cranney
Student Lead for the Religious Freedom and Human Dignity Initiative, Brigham Young University–Hawaii, United States

David Whippy
Director of the David O. McKay Center for Intercultural Understanding, Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Culture, Language and Performing Arts, and Faculty Advisor for the Religious Freedom and Human Dignity Initiative, Brigham Young University–Hawaii, United States

Concluding Remarks

Brett G. Scharffs
Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies, Rex E. Lee Chair and Professor of Law, J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University, United States

5:30 PM DINNER AND PERFORMANCE FOR CONFERENCE DELEGATES AND INVITED GUESTS (Polynesian Cultural Center)