The Alakai Jaycees at HPU
was created by the Honolulu Chinese Jaycees in 1995. The
club helps HPU students develop leadership skills through
community and organizational involvement. Moua joined the
club in January and was quickly elected as vice president
of Individual Development. In May she participated and won
the regional competition and the opportunity to represent
Hawai‘i at Nationals.
She was reluctant at first due to the cost of the trip, but the
Hawai‘i Jaycees paid for most of it, and ASHPU covered
the rest.
Moua was nervous because past Hawai ‘i competitors have
always placed within the top three.
In fact, Moua said, she was trained by Marcus Pang, last years
Hawai‘i delegate, who placed first.
For the first round in Speak-up, all competitors knew the topic in advance; the
second round was impromptu, and competitors only had 30 seconds to prepare. Moua
competed against 10 other students and took third place.
The Write-up was also impromptu; Moua competed against seven other students and
took second place.
Moua will graduate in May 2007. “It was a great opportunity and a great
experience and I would definitely do it again,” she said.
