Athletic Home Events Free for Students at UH Hilo and HCC

Excited students at a game

All home events free for students of UH Hilo and Hawaiʻi Community College with the hope of improving student life and increasing attendance

Editor-in-Chief Peter Holden Chao

Photo Courtesy of UH Hilo Athletics

Athletics has decided to make all UH Hilo home events free for UH Hilo and Hawaiʻi CC students. Previously admission fees for students were charged for Vulcan volleyball, soccer, basketball, and baseball. The change not only affects events held at the UH Hilo Gymnasium, but extends to off-campus events held at the Civic Auditorium, Kamehameha High School, and Wong Stadium.

“Athletics is a major part of student life on campus. By getting the students to come to our games and having them interact with athletes and other students it's going to feel like community and team spirit,” Athletic Director Patrick Guillen told Ke Kalahea. “I would love to see students come to the games like I used to. I used to be a face painter, half blue and half gold. Just really get into it. The campus was always on fire on game days. Ideally I would love to see that here.”

Guillen told Ke Kalahea, “Maybe the five dollar admission fee was a hindrance for them (students) coming, hopefully by removing the barrier they’ll come on out to the games.” Guillen also added that Athletics would be implementing a point system to reward students for attendance where the more games you come to, the more points you accrue. The points could possibly lead to food, drinks, larger prizes, and halftime contests for scholarships.

Previously UH Hilo faculty and staff were granted free admission to Vulcan home games, “We’ve been talking about it for the past year and a half. The question you asked us really made me think about the fact that we allow our faculty in for free and not our students, it’s also matter of fairness,” said Guillen. “I want to get butts in the seats.”

“I think it’s really great that we can get the UH community to come and support us at the games. It’s easier access for the student body, it’s really important for getting victories. We need that support,” Vulcan basketball player Devin Johnson told Ke Kalahea.