Academics

Over the summer of 2025, a group of BYU–Hawaii students from the Office of Customer Experience found a creative way to further the mission of the university. Due to campus renovations, losing access to the Seasider Snackbar was inevitable as a result of the Aloha Center closing. “We wanted to provide students with another option for food on campus,” shared Losaline Ohil, a senior from Tonga studying hospitality and tourism management and the lead student on the project, “so we thought, ‘why not a food truck?’”

The Willes Center for International Entrepreneurship held the annual Great Ideas Competition, providing students with an opportunity to bring their businesses to life while solving real-world problems across Asia and the Pacific. This year’s Great Ideas Competition was definitely one to remember. The contestants passionately shared their projects and radiated confidence in their solutions to the problems they hoped to overcome.

Earlier this month, BYU–Hawaii students traveled to Korea to present their original research on an international stage during the 2025 World Congress on Kinesiology & Sport Science conference focused on healthy living. Accompanied and mentored by professors Joel Reece and Ben Chase, the students gave it their all in sharing their findings and competing to win alongside representatives from various other universities.

The BYU–Hawaii Theatre Program is set to enchant audiences this week with its fall 2025 production of Into the Woods, a musical that blends fantasy, humor, and heartfelt reflection. Directed by Dr. Michael Morris, assistant professor in the Faculty of Culture, Language & Performing Arts and head of the Theatre Program, the show will run from November 12 to November 15 at the McKay Auditorium, drawing excitement from students, faculty, and community members alike.

From October 4 to 12, a group of hospitality and tourism management (HTM) students from Brigham Young University–Hawaii traveled to Japan for an immersive learning experience centered around the Expo 2025, a world expo held in Osaka, Japan, a global event that takes place only once every five years and draws millions of visitors from more than 150 nations.

A group of BYU–Hawaii students recently joined world leaders, scholars, and faith representatives at the 32nd Annual International Law and Religion Symposium to discuss how faith, law, and human dignity intersect globally.

Kula Manu, BYU–Hawaii’s long-standing journal of literature and art, has been a BYU–Hawaii tradition for more than 50 years. Kula Manu—Hawaiian words that mean “school of birds”—is sponsored by the English Program, and the publication is produced each winter semester by students in ENG 392, Introduction to Literary Editing and Publishing, who serve as the editorial staff for the journal. The journal invites submissions of poems, stories, essays, photography, and artwork from students, faculty, staff, and community members. Current students are eligible for prizes in each category.

A group of Brigham Young University–Hawaii hospitality and tourism management (HTM) students recently took the world stage, presenting at a high-level side event of the United Nations General Assembly during its 80th anniversary session in New York City.

The dedicated efforts of BYU–Hawaii students are protecting natural resources, empowering local communities, influencing national policy, and inviting visitors to be co-authors in Kiribati’s living history.

For many international students, the dream of earning a degree in the United States seems out of reach due to financial constraints. At BYU–Hawaii, IWORK, a work-study program makes that dream a reality for thousands of students from across the Pacific and Asia each year. By combining part-time work with tuition assistance, the scholarship not only funds their education but also teaches self-reliance, time management, and the value of service.

Eleven students from Brigham Young University–Hawaii returned to Laie forever changed after the second annual Asia Sourcing & Entrepreneurship Experience (ASEE). Held from April 18–30, 2025, this immersive trip took students and faculty to Vietnam, the Philippines, and South Korea as they explored steel mills, organic pharmaceutical farms, international supply chains, sourcing operations, and real-world leadership.

Brigham Young University–Hawaii’s Hoʻolōkahi Chamber Choir (HCC) took the stage at Carnegie Hall in New York City on May 11, 2025. The 54-member ensemble—representing a diverse mosaic of countries and ethnicities—performed “Worldwide Requiem,” a 25-minute, seven-movement composition by BYUH assistant professor Dr. Erica Glenn.

Delegates from Southeast Asia and beyond gathered at Brigham Young University–Hawaii from April 23–25, for the third annual Human Dignity & ASEAN: Pursuing Peaceful and Inclusive Societies in Southeast Asia Conference. Hosted by the Religious Freedom and Human Dignity Initiative at BYU–Hawaii, the conference focused on building peaceful, inclusive societies through multi-faith collaboration, cross-cultural literacy, and humanitarian partnerships.

Students across Brigham Young University–Hawaiʻi gathered on Thursday, April 3, for the 2025 Undergraduate Research Conference (URC), an annual campus-wide event that spotlights student scholarship in research, writing, music, creative projects, and academic poster presentations. This year’s theme, “Perseverance is Power,” was inspired by Japanese Shingon Buddhist leader Yakou Sumioka’s writing on diligence, strength, and lifelong devotion to righteous aspirations.

Aspiring student entrepreneurs took center stage at the 2025 Ed & Shauna Smith Empower Your Dreams (EYD) Competition, held April 2–4 at Brigham Young University–Hawaii. Designed to help students develop real-world solutions to real-world problems, EYD gave participants the tools, mentorship, and experience to turn their ideas into action—and possibly into thriving businesses.

On April 1–2, 2025, BYU–Hawaii transformed into a hub of career exploration and international connection during the annual Asia Pacific Career Conference (APCC). Designed to prepare students for professional success in Oceania, the Asian Rim, and beyond, APCC gave students opportunities to network, learn, and present themselves to employers and graduate schools from across the globe—all right on campus.

The BYU–Hawaii Theatre Program's winter 2025 musical production, Aida, brought a powerful story of love and cultural conflict to the stage from March 19 to 22. Directed by Dr. Michael Morris, assistant professor in the Faculty of Culture, Language & Performing Arts and head of the Theatre Program, the musical captivated audiences with its compelling narrative and diverse musical score.

BYU–Hawaii students have achieved a remarkable victory in the 2025 Local Finals of the CFA Institute Research Challenge, hosted by the CFA Society San Diego. The competition, which took place on February 27 in San Diego, California, saw the BYU–Hawaii team outperform prestigious schools, including the University of San Diego, the University of Hawai’i at Manoa, the University of CA - San Diego - RADY School of Management, San Diego State University, and California State University San Marcos.