Travel, food & friends Thanksgiving celebrations include YSA ward dinners, friends gathering together and a trip to an outer islands
BY MADISON NADER
T
hanksgiving is right around the corner, and BYU-Hawaii students said they are planning to spend the holiday by joining together for friendsgiving, island hopping, and gathering with their wards for a Thanksgiving meal. According to the BYU–Hawaii website, the majority of students do not have family on the island, leaving the young adults with creative options to celebrate the holiday of gratitude. The university and Young Single Adult wards supply a Thanksgiving meal to everyone who signs up so no one will be left hungry on the fall harvest holiday. Students said they are grateful for the school’s service and inclusivity on Thanksgiving Day because students are left with no family on the island to go home to and celebrate with on the holiday. Jackson Reeves, a freshman at BYUH, said he is planning to get together with his friends for a potluck-style dinner commonly known as friendsgiving. Reeves added he is curious to see what his friends will bring to share because most of them, including himself,
BYU-Hawaii teams up with Young Single Adult wards to provide Thanksgiving dinners for students. Some students say they also plan to get together with friends for 'friendsgivng' while others say they plan to go to a friend's home on Maui, Photo from Unsplash by Pro Church Media.
live in the hales on campus where kitchens are not available. Reeves said he is planning on bringing a store-bought pumpkin pie and a pot of macaroni he will make on his electric stove. “Thanksgiving will definitely be unique for me this year. I think it will remind me of the true meaning of the holiday. It’s not about the food you’re eating. It’s about being surrounded by the people you love and showing gratitude to God for what you do have,” said Reeves. Katelyn Strickland, a BYUH freshman studying psychology, said she plans to visit the island of Maui with her friends for Thanksgiving. Strickland said she wanted to take the opportunity of the time off from school to appreciate and learn more about the islands. She added one of the friends she is traveling with, has family in Maui, and they are planning to stay with them over Thanksgiving. “This is my first Thanksgiving away from home, and I’m excited to spend it with my friends on an island I have never been to,” said Strickland. She said she feels lucky she will be staying in a family home where a Thanksgiving meal will
be prepared. Strickland added Thanksgiving is her favorite holiday because it is a time she ponders and counts her blessings while being surrounded by the people and food she loves. For those with no plans this Thanksgiving, or who usually don’t celebrate the holiday, the BYUH YSA wards are offering a Thanksgiving meal to anyone who signs up. The university has been spreading the word for the meal sign ups via the school bulletin and a link to sign up can be found there. A sign-up sheet can also be found on the university website. According to the website, the meals are offered to everyone in the YSA wards on Thanksgiving Day, although times and locations do vary. To access the sign-up sheet, log onto the BYUH website and use the search tool to type “Thanksgiving Meal Sign Up,” and click on the link that pops up. Enter your personal information and select the YSA ward you attend to get a notification on the details of the dinner. The sign-up sheet also offers specifications for individual dietary needs, so the dinner is inclusive for everyone. • M E D I A W R I T I N G FA LL 2021 33
