Brigham Young University-Hawaii is the preeminent international center of learning in the Pacific. This small campus is a place where many students come from across the world to live, study and work together. With over 70 countries represented, the diverse student body contributes their talents, perspectives and ideas to benefit and uplift each other. Each year, Brigham Young University-Hawaii hosts Culture Night which allows the students to showcase performances from the countries represented on campus. Culture Night is an annual tradition that celebrates the university’s mission, cultural diversity, and promotes peace internationally and allows students to learn about different cultures other than their own.

At the beginning of the Winter 2022 semester, students choreographed performances, practiced hours on end the movements, transitions as well as designed and created costumes for each of these cultural performances all while going to school. However, with all the effort put into this year’s culture night, BYU-H Student Leadership and Service will not be opening Culture Night 2022 to our families and the community. We understand that measures must be taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but the inconsistencies across campus with this policy makes it difficult to understand. For example, there continues to be weekly Devotionals, Fine Arts Performances, Graduation Ceremonies, community stake conferences, APCC, etc. that allow the community to attend. Students are constantly being exposed at the Polynesian Cultural Center, but because BYU-H requires all students to be fully vaccinated, the risk is lower.

With COVID-19 cases being low and high vaccination rates, we are requesting that Culture Night 2022 be open to the public and the community that Brigham Young University-Hawaii is a part of, so long as COVID-19 policies are enforced.  

We believe that BYU-H is an institution that is not only accepting and understanding of students’ needs, but also willing to hear our insights and opinions and take it into consideration.