Advising Spooktacular: Sound advice for students with a dose of Halloween magic

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The 4th Annual Advising Spooktacular was a good fun way for students to meet with professors who may be green or pink celebrities, you never know.

Four professors in Halloween costumes: a farm girl in overalls, a man in green clothing and hat, an eccentric dude in sunglasses and goatee, a woman in braids and bright pink dress with arms extended.
A few movie and social media celebrities showed up at the Advising Spooktacular event held Oct. 30, 2025 at Mookini Library lānai, UH Hilo. From Left, educator Ms. Rachel (Associate Professor of English Leanne Day), a Citizen of The Emerald City (Associate Professor of Communication Colby Miyose), restaurateur Guy Fieri (Assistant Professor of Sociology Ellen Meiser), and Weird Barbie (Assistant Professor of History Makana Kushi). (Courtesy photo)

By Susan Enright/UH Hilo Stories.

Students, faculty, and staff at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo had a great Halloween Week filled with fun activities ranging from ice cream and DJ fests to pumpkin carving. Thursday topped it off with the most scholarly event of the week, the 4th Annual Advising Spooktacular on the Mookini Library lānai, a good fun way for students to meet with professors who may also be green or pink celebrities, you never know.

The tabling event offered students a way to learn about classes and programs for spring 2026 semester and ask advising questions.

“We had 23 programs and departments at the Advising Spooktacular,” says Assistant Professor of Advising Ellen Meiser, who co-organized the event with the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Michael Bitter.

Three staff members, one with a witches hat. In the background, people mill around the info tables.
The event was co-sponsored by Campus Center; staff set up a magic apothecary. From left, Ramona Lefcourt, Laisha Bugado, and Vanessa Carlson. (Photo: Ramona Lefcourt/Campus Center/UH Hilo)
People looking at table filled with glass bottles and potions.
The apothecary table set up by Campus Center staff for visitors to dabble in wands, potions, and crystals. (Photo: Ramona Lefcourt/Campus Center/UH Hilo)

There also was an Apothecary table set up by Campus Center staff for visitors to dabble in wands, potions, and crystals.

Dance students from the Department of Performing Arts performed two dances: hula and jazz. To top it off, University Dining Services hosted a food fest under the new outdoor canopy outside the dining room.

The event was co-hosted by the Campus Center, namely Associate Director Matt Kalahiki and Campus Center Program Coordinator Vanessa Carlson, and others from Sodexo dining services and the College of Arts and Sciences.

“Matt and Vanessa have been integral in growing [this annual event] into what we saw yesterday,” says Meiser. “Really wonderful to work with them.”

“This is our fourth year holding the Spooktacular, and each year it gets a little bit bigger and a little bit smoother!” she adds.

Here’s an Instagram post from Campus Center about all the activities of the week:

Happy Halloween, Vulcans!

Story by Susan Enright, public information specialist for the Office of the Chancellor and editor of UH Hilo Stories. She received her bachelor of arts in English and certificate in women’s studies from UH Hilo.

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