Services

Culture Sharing Program

(Formerly known as the Homestay Program)

 

As you may be aware, people in Hawaii have lived harmoniously together for many generations, despite differences in customs, cultures, religions, or food. Our community is based on the recognition of those differences, and furthermore, we respect and accept them.

We renamed the homestay program the “Culture Sharing Program (CSP)” in the hope that visiting students will proactively share their own stories—including family, school life, regional food, and festivals—while also learning about the local lifestyle in Hawaii. They may experience difficulties in communication due to their level of English or a lack of cultural understanding. However, this is expected, and we hope the students will come up with solutions on their own during their stay with local families.

Staying with a local family is not simply an alternative to a hotel stay; it is a learning opportunity for both the students and the host family. The safety and well-being of the visiting students is of utmost importance to us. Our host families are selected through referrals only. We meet prospective families in person and visit their homes after examining the application form. Hosting foreign students is also a learning opportunity for host families. It gives their children a global perspective by spending time together.

HGEF offers online pre-trip lessons in preparation for CSP, providing useful phrases for communicating with the host family, manners, and other helpful information to prepare your students in advance.

 

Aloha Buddy Club Program (ABC Program)

 

The ABC Program is designed to give visiting students an opportunity to practice English—regardless of their level or ability—and to communicate with native speakers, particularly local college students (ABC leaders). Students will be divided into small groups (6 to 8 students per group) and will be required to speak and communicate in English. ABC leaders will also need to learn how to effectively converse with non-native English speakers.

Students and ABC leaders will spend time together during sightseeing and shopping outings lasting 4 to 8 hours. However, ABC leaders are not tour guides. Students are expected to work as a team to express what they would like to communicate to their assigned ABC leader.

 

ABC Advance Program

 

If students are a little more confident, we can set up workshops and discussions based on their interests and subject areas. Popular themes include Hawaiian culture and history, the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and other social issues. We can also design SDG-related activities to align with the State of Hawaii’s Aloha+ Challenge goals.

 


*Hawaii Tourism Authority

Customized Services & Bilingual Education Specialists

 

Each group comes to Hawaii with unique goals and expectations for their study tour. HGEF can identify and connect groups with appropriate counterparts. We provide planning and coordination for educational institution visits, preparatory study sessions, educational tour guides, interpretation, bilingual coordinators/interpreters, homestays, hotel bookings, transportation, and 24-hour safety support. Our goal is to offer you a safe, meaningful, and enriching study experience in Hawaii.

We offer full coordination of your study tour. Please consult with us to create an itinerary tailored to your purpose and budget. We also provide pre-trip learning opportunities, either in person or online.

For local groups in Hawaii, we offer the same services for study trips to Japan. We have a strong network of schools, government offices, and businesses in Japan to support your experience. Please feel free to contact us through our “Contact” page.

All HGEF staff members are bilingual and hold college degrees from the U.S. or other countries. We are happy to assist and advise students and teachers based on our own experiences.

Some of our staff also work as professional interpreters/translators. We proudly share our “Aloha Spirit” with clients and visitors alike. Please let us know if we can assist you with on-site coordination.

 

Interpretation and Translation

 

Communication in English may be one of the challenges your group encounters when coordinating with host groups or organizations in Hawaii—whether through letter writing or simple email exchanges. HGEF can provide interpreters at any level, from intermediate to highly skilled simultaneous interpreters, depending on the situation.