As BYU–Hawaii students celebrate the Savior’s birth, the approach of finals and the end of classes, events like a concert, intramural sports, temple devotionals and movies will keep them entertained and busy through Christmas break, said Shirley Tekura Tovey, coordinator of Student Development for Seasider Sports & Activities.
“Our main goal for all the events is for students to have fun and be safe,” Tovey said. She added students who stay in town over the holidays have an exciting winter break to look forward to because the team is “always trying to find ways [students] can enjoy, socialize and take a break from school.”
Christ in Christmas on 11/28 from 6-7 p.m.
Tovey said various clubs will perform Christmas songs and President John Kauwe will give a “beautiful Christmas message” in the McKay Auditorium.
After President Kauwe speaks, she said the auditorium party will move outside to the Flag Circle, where the Christmas lights outlining Kulanui Street will be turned on following a countdown from the crowd. The event will usher in a brilliant Christmas season, Tovey said, explaining how the traditional devotional was started by BYUH’s previous president, President John Tanner.
Zayne Williams, a senior from California majoring in communications, said she has seen students come with blankets to sit with their friends in the Flag Circle to enjoy the Christmas lights after the devotional. Tovey explained the devotional is first-come, first-served event and cookies will be provided.
Championship week from 11/29-12/3
The last week of November is championship week for Seasider Sports, Tovey shared. She said to keep a lookout for times and locations of intramural championship volleyball, basketball, football and soccer games.
She added during Christmas break, the gyms and turf field will be open two times a day, from 8 a.m.-11 a.m. and from 5p.m.-11 p.m.
Kapena Concert on 12/3 from 8 p.m. to midnight
Williams said championship week leads right into Seasider Activities’ next Christmas event, which is a closing concert on Dec. 3, 2021 at 8 p.m. The dance and concert, held at the Cannon Activities Center, will feature Kapena.
“The concert is free for students to give them a good end to their Fall Semester,” said Williams. She said tickets to the event are limited and available for pickup at the Aloha Center. Attendees will need a vaccination card and a student I.D., she added.
Christmas movie night on 12/17 from 7-11 p.m.
Williams said Seasider Sports & Activities is hosting a Christmas movie night on Dec. 17, 2021 from 7-11 p.m. She said students can come and enjoy a “low-key” Christmas movie with hot cocoa and popcorn.
Weekend movie nights, Fridays and Saturdays from 7-11 p.m.
Williams encouraged students to come to the Little Theater for movie nights, which occur every Friday and Saturday from 7-11 p.m. She explained Seasider Activities shows two movies students may come and watch for free.
Weekly temple devotionals on Sundays at 4 p.m.
Elder Steven King, the Laie Hawaii Temple Visitor’s Center director and his wife, Sister Michelle King said they are excited to host virtual Christmas devotionals on three Fridays of December. Sister King said each music devotional will be held at 4 p.m. and can be viewed on the “Ohana of Jesus Christ at North Shore, Hawaii” Facebook page.
The schedule for the visitor center music devotionals is as follows:
Dec. 12: The Laie Hawaii Temple Visitor’s Center sister missionaries
Dec. 19: George Kaka family
Dec. 26: The Tonga Sisters
Sister King said the live videos will be posted permanently on the page after they are streamed so people can view them on their own time and share them with others. She said the videos are pre-recorded and more than 60 sisters are participating in the performance.
She added the “Ohana of Jesus Christ at North Shore, Hawaii” page has grown a lot in the last year. During Christmas 2020, about 10,000 people followed the page and 30,000 people viewed the devotionals. Now, the page boasts around 30,000 followers and she said she hopes the devotionals will reach 100,000 views.
Sister King said it is a blessing for the videos to reach so many people. “All the goodness that happens with these devotionals will actually get out to a lot of people, and hopefully it will be a great Christmas,” she explained. •