Food, fun, and fall: Halloween events dress up academic advising, a costume contest, and food fest!

Posted on October 31, 2024October 31, 2025 by Staff

Tons of fun with advising tables staffed by faculty in full-on Halloween costumes, a Halloween Costume Contest for students, and a Food Fest celebrating the new outdoor dining area.

Student holds a drink and snack. — UH Hilo student Milo Hall having some fun at the Food Fest held at the new covered dining area outside the Campus Center Dining Room, Oct. 31, 2024. (Photo: Caleilah-Estelle Ah Yee/UH Hilo Stories)

Story and photos by Caleilah-Estelle Ah Yee/UH Hilo Stories.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo ʻohana came together to celebrate Halloween with not one… but three fun-filled events run by faculty, the Student Activities Council (SAC), and University Dining Services. The simultaneous Oct. 31 events covering advising, a fun costume contest, and a food fest celebrating the new outside dining area lasted from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M., with beautiful blue skies and the warm sunshine.

Advising Spooktacular

On the lanai of the university’s very own Edwin H. Mookini Library, the Advising Spooktacular was set up by faculty, staff, and students from different departments, colleges, and programs, all dressed up in their own Halloween costumes, from vampires to Jack Sparrow!

Organizers said the event was “amazing and so much fun seeing everyone in costume” and “everybody is having such a creative spark.”

Colby is dressed up as a vampire at the Communication Department table. — Assistant Professor of Communication Colby Miyose A vampire at the Communication Department advising table, Oct. 31, 2024. (Photos: Caleilah-Estelle Ah Yee/UH Hilo Stories)

Sociology table with costumed helpers. — Dressed up as characters from Inside Out, sociologists even brought their dog who dressed up as well.

Administration of Justice table with pink snack bucket. — The Department of Administration of Justice at UH Hilo prepares students to be innovative leaders in the field of justice.

College of Arts and Sciences table with pumpkins. — The purpose of the College of Arts and Sciences is to provide quality education in the liberal arts and sciences, as well as a select group of high quality professional and pre-professional programs.

History table with Beetlejuice character in full costume. — History faculty offered info about a multitude of courses, learning about history in different eras, from the 1500s to the Pacific.

Performing Arts table with a blue snack bucket. — Performing arts faculty gave input to students about dance-related courses including dance as a minor.

Psychology Department table with Jack Sparrow character in costume. — Jack Sparrow says the UH Hilo Department of Psychology is a growing department involved in numerous educational and research activities.

One student dressed in a black witch costume and another in a Dorothy costume sit at a table distributing flyers and candy — Informational table for Ka Pouhana, a mentoring program developed by local students for local students. Is this Dorothy and the Wicked Witch? (Photo: Caleilah-Estelle Ah Yee/UH Hilo Stories)

Woman at left in butterfly costume, man at right dressed as a vampire in a dashing red coat. — The Butterfly and the Vampire at UH Hiloʻs Halloween event. (Photo: Caleilah-Estelle Ah Yee/UH Hilo Stories)

Halloween Costume Contest

The Student Activities Council held a Halloween Costume Contest, with three different categories: Most Creative, Most Funniest, and Most Scariest. With a 1st place prize of a $100 gift card and 2nd place prize of $75 in each category, six students get a round of applause for their outfits:

Jessyca Arnado — 1st place for Most Creative (Whale Shark)
Joshua Bradley — 2nd place for Most Creative (Joshua Graham from Fallout New Vegas)
Hunter Valencia — 1st place for Most Funniest (Nintendo Pikmin)
Haukea Valdez — 2nd place for Most Funniest (Pi Cheolin, Seventeen, Kpop)
Aria Delgado — 1st place for Most Scariest (Bella Dimestrecu)
Devin Guo — 2nd place for Most Scariest (Ghostface)

Jessyca with a huge vertical blue whale costume hanging from her shoulders. — Jessyca Arnado won 1st place for Most Creative costume, a Whale Shark. (Photo: Caleilah-Estelle Ah Yee/UH Hilo Stories)

See story with photos of all winners: Happy Halloween! Winners announced for UH Hilo’s Halloween Costume Contest! (UH Hilo Stories, Oct. 31, 2024)

Food Fest at Campus Center’s new outside dining area

In addition, the University Dining Services held a Food Fest to celebrate the new covered dining area outside Campus Center Dining Room, where everyone could try out amazing dishes made by the campusʻs very own dining staff.

Drinks, appetizers, desserts were offered for everyone to enjoy throughout the festivities — note: they were free!