Academics

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.”

The Ke Alaka’i news staff at Brigham Young University–Hawaii gained an extraordinary achievement at the National College Media 2023 Convention from October 29 to November 2 in Atlanta, Georgia, garnering an outstanding total of 20 awards. These accolades celebrated their contributions to producing a magazine that showcases writing, design, multimedia, and photography with the heart and talents of BYU–Hawaii in mind.

Brigham Young University–Hawaii hosted this year's Pacific Church Schools Principals Conference, bringing educational leaders from various Pacific Island nations and Mexico together for five days. Other distinctive attendees included President Meurs from the Pacific Area Presidency, President Ashton from BYU-Pathway Worldwide, and Jason Willard from Seminaries and Institutes of Religion.

Brigham Young University–Hawaii students made a significant impact at the 30th Annual International Center for Law and Religion Symposium held in Provo, Utah, earlier this month. The event marked a momentous milestone for the attending students of BYU–Hawaii and the world’s efforts to safeguard religious freedoms worldwide.

Kiribati students from Brigham Young University–Hawaii recently visited Christmas Island for the purpose of establishing a “regenerative tourism” program, as the country’s national government plans to reshape Christmas Island into a tourist attraction. With a firm mission in mind to educate Kiribati residents and government officials, four Kiribati students who are majoring in hospitality and tourism management (HTM) and their adviser ventured out to their homeland to improve not only the nation’s tourism industry but the lives of locals as well.

Students from Brigham Young University–Hawaii recently embarked on the newly established Church History Travel Study Program. The program is an all-expenses-paid tour that visits dozens of historically significant sites for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. With over eight central locations visited across multiple states, the trip is considered a once-in-a-lifetime venture students claim they would never have been able to undergo without acceptance into the program. Visiting these meaningful locations left a lasting impact on the students and faculty involved.