BYU–Hawaii Launches Construction and Facilities Management Major, Opening Doors for Students to Build, Lead, and Serve Worldwide
BYU–Hawaii students can now choose construction and facilities management (CFM) as their major. This new major, approved by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), focuses on the management of construction projects and existing facilities with an emphasis on business, sustainability, and leadership. The highly requested CFM major will prepare students to build communities, including religious buildings around the world, providing BYU–Hawaii students with valuable opportunities to learn from industry experts and receive on-site experience as multiple construction projects are underway across campus.
“I am grateful and proud to see the establishment of the construction and facilities management major,” commented Isaiah Walker, academic vice president at BYU–Hawaii. We have been developing it for a few years now, and I truly feel it came together by divine design. For example, we were blessed to hire highly qualified, mission-fit faculty to lead this program. We anticipate that our graduates will manage important construction projects in communities across Asia and Oceania—potentially contributing to temple construction and other Church-related projects.”
The CFM minor began in 2023, and the major will officially start in fall 2025. Students can now declare CFM as their major; 25 students and counting have already made the switch. Students interested in studying CFM should talk with their academic advisor.
“Being part of the first group of students in this major feels special,” commented senior Tuiaki Kau. “I come from Ha‘akio, a small village in Vava'u, Tonga… for me to be here now—it feels like a dream come true. It’s like laying the foundation for something meaningful. For me, this major is a bridge between my roots in the Pacific and a future where I can give back, lead, and build something lasting for my children. I’m married to my amazing wife, Lavinia, and we have five kids. Everything I do is for them. We feel so blessed.”
The CFM major emphasizes leadership, sustainability, and project management skills, and will include a capstone project focusing on procurement and owner-contractor relationships. It is a full integration of the construction and facilities management fields.
The program is adaptable and designed to consider students’ varying backgrounds and plans to live and lead throughout Oceania and the Asian Rim in the future. "We had to set it up in a way that gives students the basics in project management—whether they return to a village to build local rudimentary homes, work for a large company, work in church or government positions or even start their own business," commented Dr. Brian Stone, lead professor within the Faculty of Math & Computing who was instrumental in getting the new major approved.
In addition to Dr. Stone, Dr. Paula Nonu, and supporting adjuncts from major construction firms like Jacobsen, Oakland, and the Church’s special projects division will equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.
“I want to become a global leader who can contribute to sustainable development in Korea,” said Jeonghyeon Hwang, a student from Korea. “By studying this major, I can learn about construction and facilities management that considers Korea's four seasons, geography, and culture.”
BYU–Hawaii is uniquely suited to provide hands-on learning for students as the campus will undergo renovations and structural changes over the next several years. Students will work with and learn from construction companies currently on campus, managing small and large-scale projects. Students regularly tour on-campus construction sites, observing real-time project stages. Adjunct professors from the construction companies actively working on these projects teach evening classes, offering students immediate, real-world insight. Students will be prepared to contribute to the increasing number of meeting houses and temples across Asia and Oceania, where almost 30 temples have been announced or are currently under construction.
"Our students are walking through construction sites on campus, hearing from professionals who spent the day working on that same job site. It's hands-on learning like no other," added Dr. Stone. "We’re not just talking about buildings—we’re training leaders who will return and help build up and maintain their communities."
