Hello Fest, organized through Seattle Pacific University’s Multicultural Programs, was held in the lower Brougham Pavilion on Wednesday, April 8. It brought together cultural clubs across campus to showcase food, performances and traditions.
From the moment attendees walked through the doors, decorations, flags and long lines of students waiting to try various cultural dishes set the tone for an event centered on community and connection. For attendees like Fred TenEyck, the campus pastor and director of student ministries, the experience was immediately impactful.
“I absolutely loved it. From the moment I walked in and saw the decorations and the flags and the students, I was already excited,” said TenEyck.
Brittany Hartshorn, a fourth year physiology major and Associated Students of Seattle Pacific officer of intercultural programs, began planning the event months in advance.
“We started planning everything in September. We got all of our budgets, food and decorations really early so everything could be ready by the time April rolled around,” said Hartshorn.
Despite the scale of the event, Hartshorn said the process was smoother than expected, largely due to strong communication between clubs and organizers.
“The clubs truly made everything super easy. Everybody came in knowing what they needed to do,” said Hartshorn.
That collaboration extended across multiple roles within MP. Interns Camila Molina Martinez, a second year art and design photography major, and Juan Galvez, a fourth year history and social justice major, worked closely on organizing the event and coordinating with clubs.
“We really focus on authenticity,” Molina said. “We have a really great team, and a lot of it comes down to trusting each other and having fun.”
The turnout exceeded the 50 to 100 student range the organizers expected, with an estimated attendance of about 300. One major factor contributing to the increased attendance was accessibility. For the first time, Hello Fest was free for students, removing financial barriers and allowing more people to participate.
“Inclusivity goes in many different ways. By removing the economic barrier, it allowed more students to come and made it more about celebration rather than fundraising,” Molina said.
Throughout the night, groups such as PICCA and ‘Ohana ‘O Hawai’i drew enthusiastic reactions from the crowd, while other performers introduced audiences to styles they may not have seen before.
“The student performances were probably my favorite part. There was so much passion,” said TenEyck.
For student leaders like Shailey Makahanaloa Baloroso, a junior psychology major and president of ‘Ohana, Hello Fest is more than an event.
“It means everything to me. I have so many cultural identities, and it’s great to see cultures represented, even ones I’m not as closely connected to, through people who are proud of who they are,” said Baloroso.
Looking ahead, organizers hope to build on this year’s success by continuing to expand the event’s reach while maintaining its core mission.
“I hope SPU recognizes how important this event is and continues to support it. We just want to keep celebrating culture and reaching more people,” said Molina.
