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?’”
In their efforts to do so, this student-led project soon developed into something grander than their initial proposition—something that would not only accomplish what they set out to do, but would also empower the innovative, creative minds of their fellow student body: a food truck competition.
From Idea to Competition
The project’s previous lead, Veheani Krause, a senior from Tahiti studying finance and economics, reflected on how they initially finalized the concept that evolved into a new campus initiative— “The idea presented itself during a discussion with our supervisor. We wanted to create a food truck competition that would engage students and give them hands-on experience in planning, creativity, and business.” she shared, “it was in our best interest to have them develop their own food truck concept—including a name, a menu, and pricing—and then compete to see which one was the best fit for campus.”
“There was so much great collaboration between our team, the departments, and all the stakeholders who supported us,” shared Abelia Katathari, a senior from Indonesia double-majoring in business marketing and graphic design and the project’s marketing lead. “It’s amazing to see what we planned actually come to life.”
When introduced to the school, the vision immediately gained traction from students who were interested and aspired to pursue a similar career path. This led to the decision to call it The Hungry Games, a multi-staged food truck competition highly inspired by the blockbuster Hunger Games franchise.
Teams of three were given the chance to pitch their ideas and provide their complete business plan, menu, and branding concept. Following the propositions, judges would then select the top twelve teams to proceed to the next stage, where the students would then bring their culinary plans to life for a private tasting event.
“The goal was to let students showcase their creativity while also developing real-world business and teamwork skills,” Krause explained, “It’s more than just a competition—it’s a way for students to contribute to campus life and gain experience they can put on their resumes.”
From Tribute to Victors
The final event took place in the university’s cafeteria, where the four finalists presented their menus on the biggest stage, once and for all, open to the public. In a clash of culinary magic, each team delivered the best versions of their dishes, knowing full well that only one would be called victor by the end.
Dallan Samuel, a junior from India studying business management, and Sowmya Matheshu, a senior also from India majoring in business management, were named winners— “I was actually at work when they called—I was shocked.” Samuel shared. “I even texted back to confirm if it was real. The other teams were so strong, so I didn’t want to be overconfident, but deep down I trusted what we had.”
Echoing that sentiment, Matheshu reflected on the moment they received the news: “We were so busy cooking and preparing that we forgot about winning,” she said. “We spent hours in the cafeteria practicing, and when we finally heard we won, it felt like all that effort was worth it.” She went on to express just how meaningful all this was for them—“In India, food is our culture—everyone knows how to cook,” she explained, “My mom always taught me that you should cook in a good mood with love because the food reflects your mood, and she would even pray before making meals for our family. My parents always dreamed of owning a small restaurant someday, so while we were competing, a part of me felt like I was fulfilling that dream for them.”
On the topic of families, Samuel reverently shared a piece of his heart, dedicating these next words to his late father, Nixon Samuel: “My passion for cooking comes from my dad. He cooked, taught, and always welcomed me by his side in the kitchen. This win is for him—my biggest inspiration and my number one support system.”
From Small and Simple Means to Lasting Impact
The Hungry Games Competition wasn’t just about the food, nor was it about winning; It was about providing students an opportunity to grow, increase collaboration, and nurture skills that will develop into future assets to them and their families.
When asked about the deeper purpose of the project, Ohil echoes the university’s mission, saying, “If this competition can help someone grow into who they’re meant to be—as a disciple and leader—then it’s doing more than just building skills. It’s helping them strengthen their communities, their families, and their loved ones. That’s what we’re really doing here at BYU–Hawaii—gathering the house of Israel.”