For some members of the BYU-Hawaii community, registering travel arrangements through the now decade-old campus travel office is, well, the only way to fly.
"I've been here for eight years. I travel about five or six times each year, mostly international, and I travel exclusively through the travel office. [The staff] will make any reservation for you, they'll try to get the best price for you. It's a great service," said Michael Sudlow, assistant dean for international admissions.
The travel office handles corporate and personal travel needs for the university. This includes arrangements for students, staff, alumni, and visitors. The office also grants requests for entities with ties to BYU-Hawaii, including the Polynesian Cultural Center, the Laie Hawaii Temple, Hawaii Reserves Incorporated, and the LDS Church office in Honolulu.
"I make travel arrangements for anyone, all over the world! Sometimes I wish I could go with them," said Lei Liua, who has worked in the office for eight years.
Manager Lurline Nunu opened the office in 1997 and has seen substantial growth in the department. The growth includes number of destinations and amount of money the office deals with, she said.
Though the travel office has soared to new heights, the interaction with students stays a primary focus, Nunu said. "When students come here, I don't want to just say, 'Where are you going? I'm going to issue your ticket.' I want to know where they're from. I want to know their families. I get excited when I find out they're from different parts of the world. This is the purpose why we're here, for these students."
Nunu and two other full-time workers implement technology in their work to ensure the lowest rates available to travelers. "When you think about fares changing constantly, every minute, it all depends when you call, what time you call and when you book your reservations. [The staff is] very careful, very detailed to make sure they're getting the best prices for customers," said Robert Owan, director of purchasing and travel.
The travel office's main contract is with Delta Air Lines, though the office staff consistently compares rates of other airlines, Owan said. "The technology is helping us…to, at the press of a button, search all the major airlines and internet services to find the cheapest fare. It's very good as far as quality control," he said.
The next time you want or need to get away—whatever the location—one option to make those arrangements is through the travel office. In the process, you'll likely find staff members sincerely grounded in their work.
"The Lord brought me here 10 years ago for a purpose, because I'm not only doing what I love to do, servicing people and doing travel, I'm also learning from the students and making a little difference in their lives. This is where I belong," Nunu said.
The full-time travel office staff are (left to right): Lei Liua, Lurline Nunu, Rusia Mamea.
The travel office staff celebrates their 10th anniversary with President Wheelwright. From left to right: Lei Liua, Rusia Mamea, President Wheelwright, Lurline Nunu, Jenneth Reyes, and Robert Owan. Photos courtesy of Keni Kalama.