Ka Leo O Hawaii

Issue date: 11/10/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Rogness, Robert UH freshman Sharon Chan, who works part-time at Govinda's Vegetarian Cuisine in the Sustainability Courtyard, prepares a vegetarian lunch. [Click to enlarge]

UH Mānoa was recently nominated one of the most vegetarian-friendly schools in the nation by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

According to Ryan Huling, college campaign coordinator for Peta2.com (the Web site of the youth-oriented arm of the PETA organization), the contest is an effort to promote schools that offer "healthier and more humane dining options."

Peta2 relies on student feedback to select vegetarian-friendly schools by utilizing social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook, e-mail or the Peta2 blog.

What are on-campus food vendors doing to accommodate vegetarians?

Sodexo, the primary food vendor at UHM, has a large say in what vegetarian options are provided on campus. The company serves vegetarian-friendly choices at Paradise Palms Café and the Hale Aloha and Gateway cafeterias.

"The biggest thing we do is to make sure we offer (vegetarian choices). We're always looking for feedback through a survey process, one-on-one and comment cards," said Marc Nakamoto, Sodexo district manager.

Sodexo also pursues a "local-first" policy that attempts to use local produce before buying from other suppliers.

Along with Sodexo are a variety of smaller vegetarian vendors on campus. Govinda's is one of the vegetarian eateries in the Sustainability Courtyard, which was created as a model of sustainability for the rest of the campus.

Govinda's provides multiple entrees each day and an alternating menu for students with vegetarian tastes. Workers at Govinda's say that the campus has tried to do its part to be accommodating to vegetarian eaters.

"I definitely think (UH) needs some recognition...there's still a lot of fast food, but also a lot of places here in the Sustainability Courtyard," said Yudhisthira Ognibene, a Govinda's employee.

Freshman Sharon Chan, who also works at Govinda's, thinks the nomination is a good thing, but hopes that more eateries will open up to promote vegetarian cuisine.

"I think it'll promote (vegetarian friendliness) a lot if we had more vegetarian places," Chan said.

Jason Tsujimura, president of UH's Vegetarian Club, feels satisfied with his on-campus choices. "I don't know how UH compares to campuses nationally, but I appreciate UH's efforts to provide vegetarian options for students," Tsujimura said. "I'm grateful to have options on-campus that accommodate my lifestyle choice."

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