Since construction began across BYU–Hawaii’s campus, change has become a shared experience for departments university-wide. With these changes come new opportunities for students to shape and influence fresh beginnings. One such opportunity is the opening of a new campus store, replacing the longstanding C-Store, a quick stop for students to grab food on campus. This new chapter highlights student creativity as they introduce the newest addition to BYU–Hawaii: The Shore.
The Ones Who Take the Lead
Pria Hester, retail manager on campus, said that projects like these are exactly what BYU–Hawaii should continue to bring about. “Our focus was to make it student-driven to allow our students to have opportunities that specifically relate to their major. The students researched name options, designed the mural, and managed the painting—everything came from them,” she shared. “My role was primarily to oversee the process, making sure it ran smoothly, and making sure they had what they needed.”
“At first, the project was just focused on the C-Store, and we didn’t realize it would become a full rebrand with a new name and identity,” said Abelia Cinkatari, a student from Indonesia studying marketing and graphic design. “But we eventually came to the decision that we wanted something different—new place, new name, new vibe.”
According to Cinkatari, the name came from a focus group of 10–12 students. “We narrowed the options down to three names,” she said. “When we were deciding, we also talked with our manager and leadership. We chose ‘The Shore’ because it felt connected to the C-Store and fit the ocean style we wanted.”
What makes The Shore significant is not only its new name or visual identity, but the process behind it—one that intentionally trusted student voices and gave them real ownership in shaping the space. From branding and design to execution, students were not just contributors but leaders in the project.
“I love it. I think our students are amazing, and when we give them opportunities like this, they just shine,” Hester said.
The Art of Transformation
Throughout the transformations taking place on BYU–Hawaii’s campus, students are being given increased opportunities to leave their impressions. That is exactly what they did at The Shore.
When asked what led to the design of the mural, Cinkatari said that she wanted it to be full of life and offer refuge to students who were having a stressful time at school. “The purpose of the rebranding was to create a more vibrant atmosphere on campus,” she shared. “I hope students feel happy and relaxed when they see the mural, because when I see it, it reminds me of the beach and that calming feeling.”
While Abelia developed the design, Tayla Widdicombe, a junior from New Zealand majoring in visual arts, oversaw bringing the mural to life. “My role was to oversee the painting side of the mural—taking Abelia’s design, transferring it onto the wall, color-matching it, buying the paints and sample pots, and then getting the color onto the wall,” she explained.
In every endeavor, there are challenges awaiting, and for Widdicombe, preparing the mural was no different. “People see the fun part—putting the color in—but there was so much prep work: priming, sanding, picking the colors, and tracing the design onto the wall,” she shared. “I underestimated how hard it would be. I thought we could just project it onto the wall—but the space was bigger than the projector could handle, so we had to do it in sections and still make it look balanced and cohesive.”
Nevertheless, with effort, collaboration, and consistency, good things come to pass— “We worked several days straight, and on Saturday we stepped back and went, ‘Whoa—this looks incredible.’ We’d been so focused on finishing layers that we didn’t even realize how good it looked.”
A New Chapter for Campus
As students continue to gather inside The Shore, the space serves as a reminder of what can happen when students are invited to shape campus life. From the store's reimagined identity to the creative details inside, the transformation reflects collaboration, ownership, and student voice.