{"id":2971,"date":"2025-12-20T14:00:19","date_gmt":"2025-12-20T14:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hawaiiglobal.org\/?p=2971"},"modified":"2025-12-31T01:00:48","modified_gmt":"2025-12-31T01:00:48","slug":"2025-mililani-middle-school-japan-study-tour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hawaiiglobal.org\/en\/2025-mililani-middle-school-japan-study-tour\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 Mililani Middle School Japan Study Tour"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dates: November 13 (Thu) \u2013 November 23 (Fri), 2025<\/strong>\"\"<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n

The Hawai\u2018i Global Education Foundation had the privilege of planning and coordinating the Japan Study Tour for 18 students and 3 teachers from Mililani Middle School.
\nFor some students, this was their very first passport and first trip abroad; for others, it marked their twelfth visit to Japan. Each student experienced Japan from a unique perspective, creating ten days filled with learning, discovery, and personal growth.<\/p>\n

Preparation and Cultural Mindset<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Led by three dedicated teachers, the students engaged in several months of pre-departure study. By the time they arrived at Haneda Airport, they already possessed a strong understanding of what it means to travel to Japan with respect and awareness.<\/p>\n

The students made a sincere effort to embody
\n\u201cRESPECT\u201d<\/strong>\u2014a core value when engaging with different cultures.<\/p>\n

They practiced speaking quietly in public spaces, carrying their trash, refraining from eating while walking, and avoiding sitting on sidewalks\u2014behaviors that may be common in Hawai\u2018i but require special attention in Japan. At times, teachers gently reminded them, turning each moment into a learning opportunity about Japanese customs and social expectations.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Nara Prefecture: Sister-School Exchange & Homestay<\/strong>\"\"<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n

At the sister school in Nara, students enjoyed a delicious and affordable cafeteria lunch and exchanged snacks with their Japanese peers during snack time. They also experienced a beloved symbol of Japanese autumn\u2014roasted sweet potatoes<\/strong>, which brought smiles to everyone.<\/p>\n

During the homestay, students experienced Kyoto\u2019s beautiful fall foliage, met the friendly deer of Nara Park, and explored a local ramen shop, all while building meaningful connections with their host families.<\/p>\n

Hiroshima Prefecture: Peace Education and Historical Learning<\/strong><\/h4>\n

At the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, the students were deeply engaged\u2014many wished they had more than an hour to fully absorb the exhibits.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>They also had the valuable opportunity to listen to a legacy successor<\/strong> share the experiences of atomic bombing survivors. At the Children\u2019s Peace Monument, the students offered a traditional Hawaiian oli (chant)<\/strong>, praying for world peace.<\/p>\n

During the Hiroshima Castle visit, students witnessed an unusual scene\u2014a police officer chasing an escaped monkey through Shukkeien Garden\u2014which became a memorable and lighthearted moment of the trip.<\/p>\n

The next day in Miyajima, students visited the UNESCO World Heritage Site Itsukushima Shrine<\/strong>, walking close to the Great Torii Gate during low tide. They also learned about traditional crafts through momiji manju making<\/strong> and decorating wooden rice paddles.<\/p>\n

Fukuoka Prefecture: School Exchange, Farm Stay, and a Tearful Farewell<\/strong><\/h4>\n

In Fukuoka, the group visited Ukiha Middle School, famously visited by Hawai\u2018i\u2019s own astronaut Ellison Onizuka<\/strong>. Students connected with their Japanese peers and even helped prepare school lunch. We happened to meet a Sumo-wrestler of the Fukuoka Sumo Tournament\u00a0 in a shopping arcade.<\/p>\n

Following this, they experienced a two-day farm stay<\/strong>, which included<\/p>\n


\n\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u30fbmaking shimenawa<\/strong> (traditional New Year\u2019s rope decorations),<\/p>\n

\u30fbharvesting sweet potatoes, and<\/p>\n

\u30fbassisting with persimmon packing for shipment.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The farewell was deeply emotional\u2014many students cried as they said goodbye to the families who had warmly welcomed them despite the language barrier. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the farmers and families who opened their homes to our Hawai\u2018i students.<\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/strong><\/h4>\n

It is inspiring to imagine how these young students from a small island in Hawai\u2018i will continue to grow after such a meaningful cultural journey. We hope that the experiences, friendships, and kindness they encountered in Japan will guide and empower them as global citizens.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dates: November 13 (Thu) \u2013 November 23 (Fri), 2025 The Hawai\u2018i Global Education Foundation had the privilege of planning and coordinating the Japan Study Tour for 18 students and 3 teachers from Mililani Middle School. For some students, this was their very first passport and first trip abroad; for others, it marked their twelfth visit … Continue reading “2025 Mililani Middle School Japan Study Tour”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":2953,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2971","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hawaiiglobal.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2971","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hawaiiglobal.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hawaiiglobal.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hawaiiglobal.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hawaiiglobal.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2971"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/hawaiiglobal.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2971\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2982,"href":"https:\/\/hawaiiglobal.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2971\/revisions\/2982"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hawaiiglobal.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2953"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hawaiiglobal.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2971"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hawaiiglobal.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2971"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hawaiiglobal.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2971"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}