Rows of empty chairs filled the Ching Conference Center on Monday afternoon as just a few students stopped by for Chaminade’s “Hoops and Hot Dogs” watch party, held during the Silverswords’ Maui Invitational game against Washington State University.
Despite trays of hot dogs, snacks, drinks, and a large-screen setup prepared by the Office of Student Engagement, attendance remained low throughout the 4 p.m. event, with only a small group present for most of the game.
The watch party was intended as a space for students to gather, enjoy free food, and cheer on the Silverswords while maintaining the university’s sense of community and school spirit. A couple of tables were arranged with hot dogs, chips, and drinks, while chairs faced the large video wall broadcasting the game live from Maui. Student workers from student engagement encouraged the few students present to grab a plate and settle in, but many seats remained empty throughout the afternoon.
“We had 11 people sign in, with about five or six staying throughout the game,” said Alyssa Torres, executive vice president for the Chaminade Student Government Association.
In addition to the watch party, student engagement offered 38 special travel bundles at $200 each for students who wanted to attend the game at the Lahaina Civic Center. Each bundle included Silversword swag, round-trip airfare to Maui, time to explore Kaanapali Beach and Whalers Village, continental breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and a ticket to the Silverswords vs. Washington State game.
Chaminade’s participation in the Maui Invitational against Division I powerhouses has been a source of pride for the university since its historic beginnings. The tournament began after Chaminade’s shocking win over No. 1 Virginia in 1982. While Chaminade has never won the tournament, its last victory came in 2017, when the team defeated California, showing that the underdog Silverswords can still surprise even on the national stage.
During Monday’s event, the few students who did attend cheered for every basket, groaned and sometimes yelled at missed shots, and discussed plays as if they were courtside. The combination of food, friends, and live basketball helped foster a sense of community even with the small crowd.
“It was sad in the beginning because of the low turnout,” said Mia Wong, a third-year psychology major. “Because of the few people, we were all able to laugh and cheer together, as if we were one family.”
Student Engagement staff said they hoped future events would see stronger participation and were already planning ways to make upcoming events more appealing, including different times, additional activities, and increased promotion.
“We are going back to our drawing board to see how we can increase student participation,” Torres said.
She emphasized that even with a low turnout, events like “Hoops and Hot Dogs” are important for building connections and school spirit.
By the end of the 4 p.m. game, students left the conference center with bags full of hot dogs and chips, groaning as Chaminade lost. While the outcome wasn’t what they hoped, students in attendance were proud to see Chaminade take on a Division I team.