Academics

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.

Nine hospitality and tourism management (HTM) students and two faculty from BYU–Hawaii completed an unforgettable 10-day experiential learning trip to Japan last month. The immersive study, led by Professor Jeff Christensen, aligned with the U.S. and Japanese governments’ 2024 declaration as the “US-Japan Tourism Year,” a joint initiative aimed at restoring tourism exchanges between the two countries to pre-COVID levels. The trip gave students a unique opportunity to explore one of the world’s most dynamic tourism markets.

Three musical ensembles from Brigham Young University–Hawaii (BYUH) captivated a global audience during the 2024 Church Music Festival of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The November 16 live broadcast, themed “Come, Lord Jesus,” showcased sacred music from diverse languages and cultures in celebration of the Savior's return.

The Willes Center for International Entrepreneurship at BYU–Hawaii hosted the annual Ryan and Shauna Ockey Great Ideas Competition, an event celebrating student innovation and entrepreneurship. The semifinals and finals were held from November 13 to 14, and scholarships were awarded to the top three teams. The other seven finalists received participation scholarships worth $500, ensuring recognition for their efforts.

The BYU–Hawaii Theatre Program recently brought George S. Kaufmann and Moss Hart’s classic romantic comedy-drama "You Can’t Take It with You" to the stage, delighting audiences with its timeless themes of family, individuality, and the pursuit of happiness. Directed by Dr. Michael Morris, the play ran from October 25 to November 2 and featured an enthusiastic cast of students from diverse backgrounds, each bringing their unique perspective to this humorous and heartwarming story.

Ten Brigham Young University–Hawaii students recently embarked on an 11-day Asia Sourcing Experience, immersing themselves in the complexities of global supply chains and manufacturing processes across Korea, China, and Vietnam. Approved by Professor Nate Stephens, dean of the Faculty of Business & Government, this program deepened students' understanding of international businesses. It provided firsthand exposure to the intricacies of sourcing, logistics, and manufacturing in some of Asia’s most dynamic economies.

In 2022, under the direction of the Board of Trustees, each institution of the Church Educational System (CES) created a college success course to help students adapt specific practices that influence the success, persistence, and spiritual outcomes of new students. These include understanding and applying the institution's mission, applying the CES Honor Code, and accessing essential academic, social, mental health, and financial resources.

Hospitality and tourism management (HTM) students from BYU–Hawaii, led by Professor Jeff Christensen, embarked on a transformative journey to Mongolia from July 5 to 22, taking part in initiatives to enhance the country’s tourism industry that combined academic learning with impactful real-world application. The trip’s team included HTM students Asa Agbayani, Myriah Ellison, Eimeo Lee Chip Sao, and Serena Wall.

A team of faculty and student researchers from Brigham Young University–Hawaii recently embarked on a marine biology expedition to Kiritimati, or Christmas Island, Kiribati, from July 2 to July 9. Led by Dr. Esprit Saucier, associate professor in the Faculty of Sciences specializing in marine biology, the group included three dedicated students: Chase Allsup, Timeon Murdoch, and Caitlin Alder-Escabarte, accompanied by other members from the Faculty of Sciences, including Dr. Benjamin Jordan and Dr. Celine Duffau.

Brigham Young University–Hawaii students have continued the tradition of embarking on the Church History Travel Study Program, an annual, all-expenses-paid journey that takes them to significant historical sites of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For the second year, students visited these sacred locations, reflecting the growing legacy of the program initiated in 2023. With over eight central locations across multiple states, the trip remains a life-changing venture for many participants.

BYU–Hawaii's hospitality and tourism management students, led by Professor Jeff Christensen, have significantly influenced Christmas Island's tourism development through regenerative tourism initiatives. Their efforts to support local tourism and entrepreneurs have made a lasting impression.

This year's Asia Pacific Career Conference (APCC), themed "Navigating Success: Empowering Students in their Educational Voyages," embodied the mission of the event to equip students with the tools and resources necessary for their professional journeys beyond Brigham Young University–Hawaii.

In an era where technology continues to reshape the educational landscape, artificial intelligence (AI) is quickly emerging as a promising catalyst for huge changes. For international students at Brigham Young University–Hawaii, the integration of AI is presented to be an innovative way to advance their proficiency in the English language.

Three Brigham Young University–Hawaii students had the opportunity to present at the 25th Biennial Conference of the Pacific History Association (PHA) held at Deakin University’s Warrnambool Campus from October 31 to November 4 in Warrnambool, Australia. Students were given the opportunity to showcase their proud Pacific Islander heritage and engage with diverse narratives of the Pacific amidst the conference’s theme, “Tracking the Kooyang: Truth Telling in the History of Oceania.”