A Look Inside Hale 11, 12, and 13
BYU–Hawaii students are welcoming exciting changes to campus housing as new dormitories, Hale 11, 12, and 13, come into focus. With Hale 11 officially open and plans for Hale 12 and 13 underway, the university is making significant strides toward creating modern and student-centered living spaces.
“A Home Away from Home”
Hale 11, the first single-student housing building opened in over a decade, began welcoming its residents from November 18 to 23 This new four-story, apartment-style building now houses female students, including former residents of Hale 1, which closed for renovations and is scheduled to reopen as male housing in Winter 2025.
Compared to older dorms, Hale 11 offers modern conveniences designed with students’ needs in mind. A standout feature is its in-unit laundry machines—each apartment includes a washer and dryer, eliminating the need for shared laundry facilities. The four-story layout also marks a departure from the traditional three-floor design of older hales.
An open house held on October 23 gave students and staff their first glimpse of Hale 11. The event generated significant excitement, drawing approximately 675 attendees who explored the building and its features.
“Our goal is to provide clean, safe, and peaceful living environments for all the students of BYU–Hawaii,” said Alayna Lesuma, hale operations manager. “We like to think of all housing buildings on campus, hale or TVA, as a true ‘home away from home’ for all our residents.”
What’s Next: Hale 12 and Hale 13
Following Hale 11, construction is rapidly progressing on Hale 12 and 13, with both buildings poised to become additional apartment-style housing options.
Hale 12, slated to open for female students, is tentatively scheduled for fall 2025. However, with construction ahead of schedule, it may open as early as spring 2025. Similarly, Hale 13, planned as male housing, is expected to be ready by 2026. These new dormitories will complete the university’s long-term vision to divide the housing community by gender: Hales 1, 3, 5, 7, and 13 on the left side of campus for male students, and Hales 2, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, and 12 on the right side for female students.
A Vision for Student’s Personal Growth
The development of new student housing is part of BYU–Hawaii’s broader mission to foster personal growth and prepare students for leadership in their future homes and communities.
“We are strong believers in the prophecy that David O. McKay had for this university—that it is a special place where a diverse range of students can develop skills for life that they can take home as they start their own families,” Lesuma added. “These skills include leadership, organizational, and developmental skills such as coordinating cleaning schedules. It’s a platform for students to leap into their futures and apply what they’ve learned here to their homes, encouraging them to lead like the Savior in the Lord’s university.”
Future Plans
With Hale 11 already enhancing the student housing experience, anticipation is high for the opening of Hales 12 and 13. These developments reflect BYU–Hawaii’s commitment to providing students with quality living spaces that support their academic and spiritual journeys.
For updates on student housing or questions about the new dormitories, visit the BYU–Hawaii construction website.
