11/16 – 11/21
The group was consisted of 19 students from two classes this year: Progressive Course and Universal Course.
Their study tour was designed based on the students’ research areas, such as food insecurity, homelessness, food and dietary education, environmental issues/conservation, over tourism, and other social issues. However, of course, because they are in Hawaii, we made sure that they would learn about the Japanese immigration history, and Hawaiian history and culture.
We enjoyed great lunch at Roots Café which contained fresh produce from Hooulu Aina (an organic farm Kokua Kalihi Valley owns and operates) and other local farmers. Students also got to visit Hooulu Aina and helped gathering corn kernels for the next planting. An important lesson they learned is that positive energy transfers from food to our body, so we need to have positive thinking when we tend the farm or cook meals.
Students participated in a community event to make Genki Balls which are mud balls containing microorganism to clean Ala Wai Canal and turn it back to be fishable and swimmable. It was a great opportunity to get to know the locals and to contribute to the community with local adults and a small group of Kamehameha School borders.
Kumu Puahonua at Royal Hawaiian Center taught students how to play ukulele, and to our pleasant surprise, they mastered one song, “I Kona” in one hour! Not to mention the song takes only two cords…
