This year, the 7/8 grade trip to Hawaii was full of science, adventure, connections, and good fun. Throughout the trip, students were both individually and collectively curious, excited, open, positive, funny, and grateful. One of the coolest things about the Big Island is that you can experience so many ecosystems in a single day - from a coral reef to a tropical jungle to a lava field. Thus, as we circumnavigated the entire island, students were consistently making observations and taking in all aspects of this experience that is so unique to Hawaii.
The first few days of our trip focused on the island's leeward side. Our first night, we watched the sunset together over the lava rock at Kohanaiki Beach Park - one student described their first Hawaii sunset the best when she said, "I love how the colors reflect off the ocean in the sunsets. It is so beautiful to look out and have it be almost like you're seeing the sky twice - once in the actual sky and once in the water." Over the next few days, students explored Pu'uhonua o Honaunau, also known as the City of Refuge, and they snorkeled at Two Step Beach. The next day, we hiked to the Captain Cook monument, where students also snorkeled, shared immersion lessons, and appreciated another sunset together.
Next, we spent a few days on the island's windward side. Students spent time with the Kamehameha Canoe Club where they learned about the history of outrigger canoes and their importance to Hawaiian culture. Even more, the representatives from the canoe club told us stories and gave many examples of how Hawaiian culture and language helps them connect to and protect the "aina" (which means land). That evening, students explored Mauna Kea - we hiked a cinder cone of the volcano, felt the strong wind at the top, and looked out over the vast landscape. The next day was focused entirely on volcanoes - we spent our time in Lava Tree State Park and Volcanoes National Park. We hiked through a hardened lava lake, listened to a park ranger's presentation on Kilauea, walked through a lava tube, and ended the day by driving down Chain of Craters Road to the ocean.
For the final leg of our trip, we drove around the southernmost point in the United States and then back up to Kona and Waikoloa, where we spent our final few days. Students hiked Papakolea (Green Sand Beach), where they saw one of four green sand beaches in the world. They participated in a beach cleanup at Spencer Beach Park, learned about King Kamehameha at Puukohola Heiau, and then hiked into the sacred Pololu Valley, where King Kamehameha hid for five years after he was born under a shooting star. To end the trip, students had the opportunity to snorkel with manta rays - a culminating experience that left all the students with feelings of belonging and awe.
. Throughout the trip, students were both individually and collectively curious, excited, open, positive, funny, and grateful. One of the coolest things about the Big Island is that you can experience so many ecosystems in a single day - from a coral reef to a tropical jungle to a lava field. Thus, as we circumnavigated the entire island, students were consistently making observations and taking in all aspects of this experience that is so unique to Hawaii.
The first few days of our trip focused on the island's leeward side. Our first night, we watched the sunset together over the lava rock at Kohanaiki Beach Park - one student described their first Hawaii sunset the best when she said, "I love how the colors reflect off the ocean in the sunsets. It is so beautiful to look out and have it be almost like you're seeing the sky twice - once in the actual sky and once in the water." Over the next few days, students explored Pu'uhonua o Honaunau, also known as the City of Refuge, and they snorkeled at Two Step Beach. The next day, we hiked to the Captain Cook monument, where students also snorkeled, shared immersion lessons, and appreciated another sunset together.
Next, we spent a few days on the island's windward side. Students spent time with the Kamehameha Canoe Club where they learned about the history of outrigger canoes and their importance to Hawaiian culture. Even more, the representatives from the canoe club told us stories and gave many examples of how Hawaiian culture and language helps them connect to and protect the "aina" (which means land). That evening, students explored Mauna Kea - we hiked a cinder cone of the volcano, felt the strong wind at the top, and looked out over the vast landscape. The next day was focused entirely on volcanoes - we spent our time in Lava Tree State Park and Volcanoes National Park. We hiked through a hardened lava lake, listened to a park ranger's presentation on Kilauea, walked through a lava tube, and ended the day by driving down Chain of Craters Road to the ocean.
For the final leg of our trip, we drove around the southernmost point in the United States and then back up to Kona and Waikoloa, where we spent our final few days. Students hiked Papakolea (Green Sand Beach), where they saw one of four green sand beaches in the world. They participated in a beach cleanup at Spencer Beach Park, learned about King Kamehameha at Puukohola Heiau, and then hiked into the sacred Pololu Valley, where King Kamehameha hid for five years after he was born under a shooting star. To end the trip, students had the opportunity to snorkel with manta rays - a culminating experience that left all the students with feelings of belonging and awe.
~Haley Wilbanks, Homeroom Teacher & Co-Trip Leader