BYUH couples and singles said they enjoyed doing activities together and making new memories and friends at the second annual Date Night
A friendly feud, speed dating, raffles and a party filled with love songs are some of the activities arranged for BYU–Hawaii students for this year’s Date Night held on Jan 24, 2025. Thomas Johnson, an executive assistant to the President’s Council, said “I hope students realize dating is not this scary thing to avoid, but something that's supposed to be enjoyable and lighthearted that leads to something great."
The Church Educational System started Date Night in all of its institutions such as BYUH, BYU in Provo and BYU-Idaho to amplify the prophetic teaching offered by President Dallin H. Oaks and his wife, Sister Kristen M. Oaks, regarding the significance of marriage that dating precedes, says the Church Newsroom website.
Dating with intention
Date Night is like a gateway to dating, said Megan Grubbs, a junior from Idaho majoring in painting and illustration. She said she attended Date Night with her boyfriend, Kolby Allen, to enjoy themselves with the activities the Date Night offered. “The activities and the crafts were fun. [Meg] really wanted to do the paracord, so we got to do that,” said Allen, a 2024 alumnus. The couple said Date Night allowed them to have fun without thinking too much about what to do on a date, especially if they are new to dating. “A lot of times for me, if I'm planning out a date, I'm stressed out about if the girl is going to like the date and have fun, but since this one's already planned, I can just be myself,” Allen shared.
Grubbs explained Date Night is one of the ways for people to be intentional when it comes to dating. “Dates are more fun when they're planned.... It doesn't have to be expensive,” Grubbs said. For some, dating may feel a bit uncomfortable, but he said Date Night offers a chance to practice and build confidence. “If you want to find your special person, it takes effort to step outside your comfort zone and talk to strangers,” said Allen. This can be good practice for real-life situations beyond campus, he added.
Tanner Dupree a sophomore majoring in hospitality and tourism management from Idaho, and Jayne Macfarlane, a sophomore majoring in psychology and vocal performance from Canada, said they have been dating for 11 months. Dupree encouraged students to take advantage of opportunities to meet new people, even outside of formal dating events. “Just be brave and take the opportunities,” he said. Macfarlane added, “Get out of your room and try new things.” Macfarlane said this year’s Date Night was better with added activities like crafts and a friendly feud.
Inclusivity for all
Aside from couples who are married or dating, singles were also invited to attend the Date Night, as posted in the BYUH’s invitation regarding the event. “We want [Date Night] to be inclusive, and we think it is to all of the students,” said Johnson.
Maddox Cox, a freshman from Nevada majoring in psychology said he decided to attend Date Night because it was his first time to attend an activity like this. He said he wanted to get to know people and make new friends. “It was super cool to meet new people and talking to them would be my takeaway,” he continued.
Jacelyn Barreo, a freshman from the Philippines majoring in biology, said attending Date Night was also a first for her. “We just wanna have fun and spend [time] together as friends,” she said. Barreo explained attending wholesome activities like Date Night allowed her to see how dating should be for her. “Dating here is like living the standards compared to dating outside of the church,” she said. One of her takeaways from Date Night is she would not go on dates with someone who is not willing to make time and effort for her.
Papanuumealani Kaio, a sophomore from Laie majoring in Hawaiian studies, said Date Night is a way for him to put himself out there. “I’m trying to focus on myself, but also trying to find somebody,” Kaio said. He said he gets to enjoy the activities such as the friendly feud, crafts, etc. “I think this Date Night is a very good opportunity to put people out there… to get along and make connections,” he explained.
April Bunatau, a freshman majoring in psychology from Texas, said she did not have much expectations for Date Night, however, she still enjoyed the activities it entails. “Inside they have more activities for introverts, while outside, it's like, ‘Hey, meet people.’ So I think that’s really nice because it caters to a lot of people,” she added.