University of the Nations celebrates new cafeteria

University of the Nations on Friday formally dedicated and blessed its Aloha Cafeteria, located in the largest building yet on its growing campus in Kailua-Kona.

Hundreds of people attended the grand opening for the 30,000-square-foot cafeteria, consisting of a well-equipped kitchen, a much-needed loading dock, storage, buffet and dishwashing areas, and a 22,000-square-foot open-air dining/multipurpose area. The cafeteria can feed approximately 3,000 people at one mealtime, said Maria Teresa Blay, a communication coordination team member for the University of Nations and Youth With A Mission Kona.

Prior, the university was feeding from a kitchen originally built to only serve 100 to 300 people. That kitchen was part of the former Pacific Empress Hotel, which YWAM, the university’s parent organization, purchased in the 1970s and began renovating into the current campus. Inadequate space left many eating outdoors, rain or shine, said Pieter Heres, a volunteer who is overseeing campus development.

“This cafeteria means much more than serving food and filling our bodies,” Heres said. “It’s a place to create community while sitting around a table and sharing our lives and vision about who we are and what we want to accomplish as we do God’s work all over the world.”

The new cafeteria makes up the middle floor of the nearly 70,000-square-foot, three-story Defender Building, named after major donor Dave Lindsey, who is the CEO and founder of DEFENDER Direct Inc. Lindsey and his family built their first YWAM home in 2007 with their Young President’s Organization group and have since developed a strong relationship with YWAM, which is “a decentralized, international, multidenominational movement of missionaries.” The Defender Building is “one of the largest steel-frame buildings on the island of Hawaii,” according to University of the Nations.

The Defender Building started with a vision from the university’s leadership and after celebrating YWAM’s 50th anniversary in 2010, Heres said. What the public saw of the building Friday was built by Minnesota-based KJ Walk Inc., Pennsylvania-based Scenic Ridge Construction, and numerous volunteers.

To date, approximately $9 million has been put into the project, Blay said.

Without the volunteer workforce, that expense would have been at least twice as much, Heres said. Securing funding and relying mostly on donations, both monetary and labor, were the reasons university officials gave to explain why it took four years to create the building. Still, roughly $3 million more is needed to complete the remaining features, which is something they hope is done by this time next year.

Once completed, the Defender Building will also have the Lokahi Transmedia Center on the first floor and the Sunset Mezzanine on the upper floor. The Lokahi Transmedia Center will be the future home of the university’s initiatives in media, arts, technology and innovations, as well as its schools in those disciplines. The Sunset Mezzanine will house a performing arts dance studio, culinary arts and offices.

Since the university was founded, its transmedia avenues have multiplied and continue to be popular among its students so “a cutting-edge facility is needed.” Because of the state-of-the-art kitchen, it only makes sense to add a culinary arts program, which is still in the design process, said Chong Ho Won, vice president of the Kona campus.

“Like transmedia, culinary arts is another way to reach others and extend relationships,” he said. “With those relations, we hope to multiply healthy habits among missionaries and those helped in every sphere.”

University of the Nations is a Christian university and 501(c)(3) educational organization that “seeks to equip men and women with spiritual, cultural, intellectual and professional training while inspiring them to continually grow in their personal relationship with God.” Since its inception in 1978, the University of the Nations has grown to offer more than 600 courses and seminars held at approximately 550 locations in 160 countries.

Its Kona campus has attracted more than 50,000 students over the years, and the community can expect anywhere between 400 and 600 students from 50 to 70 nations on the campus at any given time. In addition, there are approximately 500 to 600 volunteer staff members, plus their hundreds of children, Won said.

University of the Nations expects its student body at the Kona campus to double in size over the next five years. Because of this growth, it has taken up a major development program to expand the campus from 45 acres to 102 acres after acquiring an adjoining nearly 60-acre plot of land, Won said.

According to materials passed out during Friday’s celebration, the university plans to eventually add student dormitories; classroom buildings; a kindergarten through 12th-grade school complex with seven buildings; a Discovery Center complex with three social science buildings, three natural science buildings, a visitor center, museum and auditorium; a sports complex with a stadium facility, two swimming pools, two basketball courts, six tennis courts, and three beach volleyball courts; a camping village with 11 small buildings; staff housing; chapels; a Window to the World reception area; two Community Emergency Response Team buildings; a campus services complex; coffee shop and mini market; a small group pavilion; and an outdoor event hall.

“The Defender Building is the foundation of our growth and the cafeteria is a milestone helping us reach a new level of excellence,” Won said.

Friday afternoon, Won stressed how the university is inclusive and a part of the Big Island community, opening its campus and facilities free of charge to various government agencies, emergency response and training, as well as public events such as skate night. He also expressed gratitude for the countless volunteers, donors, university supporters and county leaders who have helped make this expansion a reality.

“Without partners, we would not exist,” he said. “Everything we are doing is out of love to serve and to be a blessing to the community.”

To get involved or for more information, call 326-7228 or visit uofnkona.edu.