Social media is an evolving tool, students say they use it to keep in touch with old friends, to post new pictures, share ideas and promote themselves. Aimee Barker, a senior and art major from Bountiful, Utah, said, “Social media is a hobby for me, but it is now a lot more than that. It has grown into a way to market my business of photography. It is a good way to have people see my portfolio and I have been able to make countless business connections. I have been able to make travel connections, friends, and business deals all from social media.” Some of the main social media sites are Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and Blogger. The stigma that social media is just a waste of time is being left behind. With the rapid growth of these sites, it has created a free way to promote, advertise, and connect with audiences. Businesses, musicians, and athletes, to name a few, are some of the people who have tapped into the social media world to further promote themselves to millions internationally. According to buisness2community, 80 percent of social media users prefer to connect with brands through Facebook. Allison Smilanich, a junior and business major from Provo, Utah, said, “I really like social media because it’s a good way to keep in touch with people. I like it because when you are really far away from your family and friends it's fun to see what is going on in their lives rather than just hear about it on the phone. I recently joined Twitter. I like it but I am always worried about how anyone could Google me and find out personal information.“ As social media continues to grow and evolve, its uses will also expand. There are different workshops, websites, and how-to guides for users to learn how to promote themselves on social media. Zach Fackrell, a senior from Sandy, Utah, and communications major, said, “I feel like people use social media to keep up with everyone else. They want to appear like they have an interesting life. They will see something online as a picture then it will make them want to do something unique. It’s inspiring and makes you want to document things. It's good for promoting and spreading the word about things on all levels.”

A 7.5-magnitude earthquake occurred in Sulawesi, a major island in central Indonesia, on Sept. 28, triggering a tsunami with waves of 20 feet to hit eastern Sulawesi at 497 mph. BYU-Hawaii Indonesian students shared how although natural disasters are frequent, th Indonesian government doesn’t alert their citizens in an efficient way.

For Josh Wallace, there are three things he considers central to his identity: Being adopted, a musician and a BYU–Hawaii alumnus. Wallace shared how being a “Seasider through and through” has influenced his experiences following graduation, including performing around the world and reconnecting with his birth parents.

In the past months, bushfires in Australia have ravaged the country, resulting in the loss of hundreds of millions of animals and at least 28 human lives, according to The Washington Post. Students at BYU–Hawaii commented on the crisis and shared hopeful responses to the tragedy.

On a wooden board with four wheels and a camera in hand, James Astle, a special instructor for the Willes Center, rolled through the Philippines. Astle had no camera crew or partner along for the ride, but he said he found support from the Filipino people.

Domestic students who decided to stay in Hawaii during the COVID-19 pandemic said consistency and independence are of the reasons they decided to stay and a desire to grow both personally and spiritually.

The Laie Hawaii Temple includes several pieces of art from the friezes near the top of the temple to the sculptures around it. Members of the Laie community said this art tells a story. Kap Te’o Tafiti, a carver, sculptor, performer and senior cultural ambassador at the Polynesian Cultural Center, said all the art he creates has a purpose. He said in regards to art, its purpose is to tell a story.

The Japan Times reported on Dec. 28, “An animated movie based on the blockbuster 'Demon Slayer' manga series has become the highest-grossing film in Japanese box-office history.” Members of the BYUH community shared the "Demon Slayer" movie, manga and anime are trending because it stands out from other animations and teaches life lessons.

The El Paso Zoo is allowing people from around the world to rediscover their connection to their exes for a good cause. Its Valentine’s Day event “Quit Bugging Me” started last year and became a national viral sensation. It lets participants name a cockroach and then have it fed to the El Paso Zoo animals, something that was only extended to the meerkats last year.