Dating isn’t always a fairytale, according to students at BYU-Hawaii who shared their dating horror stories. “My senior prom was a disaster. My date ended up ditching me,” said freshman Kamille Foster, majoring in political science. Plus, the date left her to hook up with one of her best friends. Students said dances were some of the most memorable parts of high school, and there are always great stories to go along with them. Freshman McKenna Brown said one of her worst date experiences happened as she went to a dance. While she and her date were on their way to the dance, there wasn’t much to talk about so she said they listened to the same song on repeat for the hour drive.Dating can be awkward, especially when you don’t know the person very well. First dates are spent trying to make good impressions and both people are hoping for a fun night where they can get to know each other better. Tanner Cheel, a sophomore majoring in marketing, said he had hopes for a great first date, but it didn’t quite end with a happily ever after. “The date started out great. I went with a girl I had been interested in and I was excited to get to know her. Turns out she had a serious dark side,” he said.A junior majoring in exercise science spilled her worst date story that was jaw-dropping. She said as a senior in high school, her boyfriend left on his mission and she was determined to wait for his return at home. During her first year in college, however, she met man and fell for him, leaving her with a decision to make. Deciding to pursue things with the new guy she had met at school, she wrote her missionary and explained she was going to date other boys for the remainder of his mission and maybe things could work out between them later in the future. “I went right up to the guy I was crushing on the next day in class and asked him out on a date. I was so nervous, but he wasn’t making the first move so I figured that I should,” she said. “While we were on the date, I was still feeling courageous so I told him how I felt. Well long story short, it turns out he wasn’t into girls.” Uploaded Feb. 13, 2015

BYU-Hawaii students answered the question: "What is your definition of love." “Wanting to give your full self and putting their needs above yours,” said Saren Eastwood, a freshman from Washington majoring in International Cultural Studies.“It’s compromise, but not giving up. It’s resolving to see your differences,” said Hannah Bugnacki, a junior from California studying hospitality and tourism management.“True love is Netflix,” said Emily Thompson, a senior in graphic design from Arizona.“Desiring the best for someone,” said Jared McClellan, a sophomore in political science from California.“Giving up your wants and desires for the benefit of someone else,” said married man, Kevin Miller, a junior from Idaho studying exercise and sports science.“Sacrifice of mutual admiration,” said Luke Searle, a freshman in Business management from Utah.Uploaded Feb. 13, 2015

The time of year has come around for chocolates, candlelit dinners, late night walks on the beach, and listening to love songs. Students around BYU-Hawaii shared their favorite love songs they listen to. “Love You Like a Love Song” by Selena Gomez is Ese Tualetonu's from American Samoa, a sophomore in Social Work and a minor in TESOL, favorite love song. Cole Madsen, a freshman in Biology from Washington, says that his favorite love song is “Lips are Movin’” by Meghan Trainor. “It doesn’t just apply romantically, but also to relationships with friends, so it doesn’t have to be romantic if you don’t want it to be.”Sara Soakai, a graduate from BYUH and now an orbit and regional planner, says that her favorite song is “At Last” by Etta James, “because it is a classic and was sung at my wedding.”“Fields of Gold,” the Celtic Women version, is Ryan Mok's, a junior majoring in English from Hong Kong’s love song of choice. “I can picture myself into the song somehow. Someday I will find that perfect lady and walk along those fields with her someday when we are old and we will have gone through our lives together. We can sit back one day and see how far we’ve gone.”Lauren Ockey, a senior majoring in peacebuilding from Utah, said that her favorite song is “Love, Love, Love” by Avalanche City. She added, “It always makes me happy. I love to listen to it. It reminds me of good times and makes me want to be in love.”Since he loves the movie Tarzan, Zachary Edwards, a senior in business management and finance from Texas, said his favorite love song is “Strangers like Me” by Phil Collins. “She’s Everything” by Brad Paisley is Simi Napa’a, a freshman majoring in math from Tonga, favorite love song. “It describes girls. I really like the lyrics.”Country love ballads are also a favorite for Lindsey Ferrin, a junior in psychology from Oklahoma. “Time is Love” by Josh Turner is her love song pick. “I like it because he has the best voice, and it’s so real when you spend time with that person, because every minute matters.”Ping Liu, a freshman majoring in TESOL from China, says “Close Your Eyes” by Michael Buble is her favorite love ballad. “I like the lyrics. The singer’s voice is so comfortable and I love to listen to him.”“I love island music,” Whitley Haimin, a senior in exercise and sports science from Utah said. “Don’t Let Go” by Spawnbreezie is her pick. “It’s my favorite song by him.”Andrew Lang, a sophomore majoring in biochemistry from Oregon, said that “Babe” by Styx and “When You Kiss Me” by Shania Twain are his favorite love songs.Savvy Jensen, a sophomore in hospitality and tourism management from Washington said, “Doin’ What She Likes” by Blake Shelton is her favorite song because “my best friend sang it to me.”“(God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time on You” by ‘N Sync is Josh Wallace, a sophomore in music percussion from California’s favorite, because “I wanna say that about my wife.”Kea Sprout, a freshman in vocal performance from Hawaii, said “You and I” by Michael Buble is the best. “Its how love should be." Jacqueline Rasmussen, a senior and majoring in chemistry education from Nevada, said “Better Together” by Jack Johnson is her favorite. “I like Jack Johnson. I like his guitar playing and he lives in Hawaii.”Uploaded Feb. 13, 2015

Valentine’s Day has the potential to be a beautiful celebration of love between significant others. However, this Feb. 14, try something new. Here are five things you can do to revamp and rejuvenate and redefine yourself. 1. Make a playlist of all your favorite songs. Blast the playlist and in the words of music artist, Chancellor Bennett, “dance like it hurts to stand still.”2. Wear your favorite outfit and take all the time you need to get ready. Then, make your favorite breakfast, and use real butter for the pan. Go out and get that long overdue haircut. 3. Write yourself a letter of triumph. You have made it this far; take time to acknowledge and celebrate your journey to this moment. Seal it and give to a friend to hand to you when you’re having a bad day. 4. If there is a relationship in your life that needs closure or further resolution, figure out what needs to be done to get that relief and do it. 5. Forgive yourself. Remember that taking time to prioritize your needs is not selfish, but simply an act of self-preservation. Taking the time to take care of yourself will help you to excel in all of your roles, whether it be a mother, brother, father, sister, friend, son or daughter. This Valentine’s Day, treat yo’self!Uploaded Feb. 13, 2015

You exchange smiles with a cute member of the opposite sex. Is it fate? Will you fall in love and have 10 babies in the celestial kingdom? Or were they just being nice? Here are some tips to tell if someone is just being polite or if they are putting the moves on you. 1.Eye contact: It is considered polite and respectful to make eye contact with someone when you are talking, but what takes it the next level is winking. “Winking is always flirting,” wrote Cosmopolitan.com. Sometimes when they want to slyly let you know that they are into you, he will wink. However, Cosmopolitan.com warned to not mistake winking for what they called “bad blinking.” 2.Smiling: Going along with eye contact, it is polite to smile during a conversation. It shows you are interested in what that person is talking about. But, if they are constantly smiling, not just a “Yeah, that’s cool” smile, then it could be a sign they are into you. 3.Personal space: The “nice” distance between two people during conversation varies depending on a variety of things like culture and social background. However, if they are flirting with you, they might try to “pull a move” to get close to you. People generally want to be close to someone they are interested in. 4.The “get-to-know-you” game: Questions like “What’s your name? Where are you from? What are you studying? What classes are you taking?” are typical “making-conversation-so-this-isn’t-awkward” questions. However, when they ask questions that go beyond the surface, it could mean they are interested in you. Also, when they express unusual excitement when it turns out you both have similar tastes, it is a sign they are thinking how great it will be to talk about these things on a future date.Uploaded Feb. 13, 2015

Every February brings a holiday identified by giant teddy bears, heart shaped boxes, red roses, candy hearts, make-out sessions at each corner, and the enormous social pressure to be one of those couples called Valentine’s Day rolls around. Students at BYUH have diverse feelings about Valentine’s Day. For some, it is just another day to express love to their family, others feel like the holiday is pointless and some feel like it is another reminder of their failure in the search for “the one.” Rachel Lastoria, a junior studying English from Missouri, called the holiday a “hallmark holiday,” saying it makes her sick. “Honestly, it makes me want to throw up. I feel like it is for couples who want to put on Facebook how happy they are,” Lastoria continued, “It’s not even a real holiday. The decorations and stuff like that are irritating. There is no point to this holiday. The purpose is purely for couples to have another excuse to go on an expensive date.” Not every single student finds the holiday revolting, however. Zachary Giles, a junior from England studying Anthropology, feels like this holiday is more of “a celebration about human affection.” “I think it’s a cute holiday,” Giles admitted, “If you have a special someone then you can go and do something with them, but for me it’s just more about celebrating love. It doesn’t have to be about romantic couples. My family Valentine’s Day is an opportunity not just to show romantic love, but familial love.”Ofa Fetuli, a sophomore from Tonga majoring in accounting, agrees with Giles. Fetuli said her family is what she thinks about on Valentine’s Day. “The most important thing for me is family, because I’m in Hawaii and my family is back home I always think about them. We always do fun activities together, like making hearts and sharing with each other how we love each other.” Fetuli hopes to be able to continue that tradition here with her boyfriend. There are students, though, who have a significant other, who have strong feelings towards Valentine’s Day. Makenzie Hill, a freshman from Kansas studying psychology, has a boyfriend and thinks of Valentine’s Day as a reminder of one’s individual single status. “The problem is that it’s that holiday that comes around and reminds everybody that they’re single.” Hill said that this year will be different because she is possibly going to have plans with her boyfriend. “It finally won’t come around and be like #foreveralone. I’m excited for Valentine’s Day for the first time in forever because I actually have a boyfriend,” Hill said excitedly with a big smile on her face. Whether the holiday is about pleasing a significant other, exchanging love with family or another step in pursuing “the one,” Valentine’s Day will have many different critics on campus. Uploaded Feb. 13, 2015.

Here are five ideas specially tailored to life in Laie that can set you apart from the typical cliché box of chocolates.1. Brunch at Hukilau CaféLocated on the corner of Loala Street and Wahinepee Street, the somewhat small and intimate Hukilau Café offers a wide variety of local home-style favorites including banana pancakes and fried rice with eggs and bacon. Although more of a casual dining location, the Hukilau Café provides amazing meals for an even more amazing price. The average dish usually will cost no more than $10. The hours for Hukilau Café are from 6 a.m. to 2: p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 7 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays.2. Picnic in the Temple GardensSurrounded by the lush Hawaiian flowers and manicured lawns, the Laie Hawaii Temple offers the perfect grounds for a nice intimate Valentine’s Day picnic. The Temple Garden located immediately behind the Temple provides an array of tropical flowers and aromatic breezes. The gardens are ideal for a couple, but can work for groups as well. The Temple grounds are open to the public from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm.3. Hike Laie FallsIf you are looking for a more adventurous Valentine’s Day then challenge yourself and your Valentine to one of the few hikes located in Laie. Laie Falls is one of the more popular hikes; it has received an 85% and is ranked as the #5 attraction in Laie, according to Trip Advisor. It takes approximately an hour and a half to reach the summit, but provides views that are breathtaking. The trail begins at the very end of Poohaili Street.4. Beach treasure hunts Creativity goes a long way and on Valentine’s Day. Being creative just may be the way to winning that special person over. A beach scavenger hunt is always a fun thing to do, but having a successful beach scavenger hunt takes planning. To begin planning you need to figure out what beach you will be having the hunt at. Laie offers a variety of beaches including Hukilau Beach, Temple Beach and Bikini Beach. Next, decide on the type of prizes you want to have at the end of the hunt or, in some cases, during the hunt. Finally, compile a list or map of items that need to be found.5. Scenic bike rides For the outdoorsy pair, a scenic bike ride might just be the perfect Valentine’s excursion. To the south of Laie, various beach parks gain the attention of the common passerby with their white sand beaches and gleaming blue water, while to the north of Laie rolling hills and shallow valleys cover the horizon. Depending on what the mood calls for, a bike ride to the north or south could be the ultimate Valentine’s memory.Uploaded Feb. 13, 2015.

Love can come in all forms, and form of love particularly favored by students at BYU-Hawaii is food. Some students explained why they have called a particular food their “food valentine” for this upcoming holiday.Sarah Bodily, a senior majoring in business management from Idaho, said that her love is quesadillas. Bodily explained, “I love cheese, because it is so hot in your mouth.” Bodily also said that she eats quesadillas as often as two or three times a day. Kelsie Gordon, a junior majoring in biology from Washington, however, prefers a more complex food. “I like pizza because it’s perfect, easy to make, and delicious. I have pizza at least twice a week.” Gordon also said that she often makes her own homemade pizza the way she likes it. Other students prefer more sweet options. “I love chocolate,” said Haley Johnson, a junior majoring in history from Utah, “because it is sweet and I really like sweet things.” Johnson explained that “the best possible outcome would be a boy with chocolate.” Johnson added that this way she can have the best of both worlds. Although these few students have found their food valentine for this upcoming holiday, they still said they would prefer a real valentine over food any day. Bodily has a few different ideas for this situation. She states, “I would not choose food over love because quesadillas are just too cheesy.” She goes on to say, “A boy with a ring and a quesadilla is ideal.” Gordon agreed with Bodily, saying, “there are more possibilities in life with real love.”Uploaded Feb. 13, 2015.

Whether spent with family or friends, watching movies or on a date, Valentine’s Day is a day to be with the ones you love. Students at BYU-Hawaii have a wide variety of plans for this day of love.Some students are planning to watch movies with friends. “I am going to have a girl’s night with my roommate,” said Maclaine Day, a freshman majoring in international cultural studies from Montana. She went on to say, “we will probably order some pizza and watch Clueless.”Brooke Parry, a freshman majoring in biology from Utah said she will be “watching movies with my roommates because my boyfriend is back at home.” However, she said she plans to send him some gifts for the holiday. Katie Callister, a sophomore majoring in business from California, is choosing to go out with friends. “My roommates and I are going to go to The Cheesecake Factory.” She said the goal is “to celebrate the single life.”Kira Nielsen, a freshman majoring in international cultural studies from Utah, had similar plans to Callister. “I am going out to dinner with my friends in Haleiwa,” said Nielsen. She mentioned that she thinks Haleiwa is fun place to be with friends. Bailey Barton, a sophomore majoring in elementary education from Colorado, however had other plans. “I will be spending time with my parents because they are visiting.” Ashlyn Jones, a freshman studying social work from California, will be spending her day in a few different ways. One of the ideas she has for herself and her friends is to attend the Valentine’s Day dance held at the school. She said she will also be “baking cookies and watching chick-flicks like the Pride and Prejudice.”Parry explained what she thinks to be the point of Valentine’s Day, “I think Valentine’s Day is a time when you show the ones you love that you actually care about them. It is like a second Christmas because I get to give gifts on a special occasion. I especially like this day because it happens to be my 2 year anniversary with my boyfriend.”These few students will be spending their Valentine’s Day with both their friends and family. The students also shared that, overall, Valentine’s Day is a fun day, whether you have a significant other or not. Uploaded Feb. 13, 2015.