The Hub, an entertainment center located next the Aloha Center, shared their hope to continue contributing to campus activities with growing variety of entertainment options, such as virtual reality, new pool tables, open-mic nights, and special campus events. Hub employees said they have been working to attract more people from campus and the community looking for a place to do something fun.
A couples bowling night was the annual Valentine’s event on Feb. 14 and it represented some of the ideas that Hub Manager Arona Tufaga, an alumnus from Laie, came up with to keep the Hub alive.
Tufaga shared how he and fellow Hub employees are working to create a variety of events. Most recently, the venue has hosted an open mic night and will be working on making karaoke a part of the regular rotation of activities. Last year they also hosted a larger carnival event.
Tufaga described last year’s carnival as “our biggest event for the year,” filled with popcorn, candy, bounce houses, and games.
Hub employee Ana Tucunduva, a freshman from Brazil studying elementary education, explained how at the Hub they simply want to provide a place for students to “hang out and mingle with people.”
In a similar fashion, the Hub worked together with Seasider Sports and Activities to host a game night in the Cannon Activities Center on the evening of Feb. 22.
At the game night, the Seasider Sports and Activities committee and the Hub provided games and activities for students, including a virtual reality gaming system, which is a permanent feature at the Hub.
The game night was one of only two activities that the Hub and Seasider Sport and Activities have moved to the CAC. Shirley Tekura Tovey, Coordinator for Seasider Sports and Activities, explained, “The Hub is too small. Here we can do something more with the space.”
While the Hub will host occasional big events like the game night, most regular events at the venue will be relatively low budget, according to Tufaga. The Hub has filled the small space tucked into the corner of the Aloha Center with various options for entertainment, like the VR system the students said they enjoyed at the game night.
Dong Yeon Hong, a junior from Korea studying biochemistry, said about the VR: “It’s not like those VR [games] you buy for like $10 and put the smartphone on because it actually connects with the computer and you can play the games. You actually have controllers to control it and once you put it on you can see 360 degrees.”
One hour of VR is $20 for students and $30 for community members, and the Hub offers 30 minutes sessions at $12 for students and $18 for community members as well.
Hong also shared how the Hub added two new upgraded pool tables recently, with plenty of room for people looking for a way to mix up their Friday night.
Tucunduva explained that events with more elaborate activities and food are sponsored by the school and the Hub cannot afford to host large events at this time. But the Hub is utilizing its space and resources to provide simple but entertaining activities for students looking for a good hang-out spot.
In addition to students, the Hub is a popular attraction for the local community as well. Hong shared, “Some kids if they don’t have money, can just put two quarters [in] to play air hockey. Even Wii U or Xbox is $1.30 for 30 minutes per person. It’s pretty cheap. People can just hang around here.”