A Day In The Life Of

For our last night at the Royal Kona Resort, we decided to do our Day in the Life Of of an employee who works here at the resort to get a feel of what their life is like working in Hawaii and at a place like this. We first started out by asking her a question on the different types of cultures that come across her while staying at the hotel and if she can see the different characteristics between the different cultures when they come to stay here. She told us that people come and stay here for vacation from all around the world. Including places besides the mainland like Japan, Canada, and Australia. We asked her if there is a specific busy time of the year when people travel to Hawaii and she told us that usually the busiest time people come and stay is when it is winter time and cold on the mainland, she added that it is very rare for it not to be busy here though, all throughout the year since people are always looking to come visit Hawaii. She told us some personal facts such as h...

Today was an exciting and amazing day. We were fortunate enough to visit two schools in Kona: Kealekehe and Kahakai Elememtary Schools. These schools were incredible! They were much larger than the schools we visited in Oahu. Kealekehe had 1,000 students and Kahakai had 750 students. The buildings themselves were also newer and in better condition than other schools we have visited. What was so interesting was the amount of space these schools had. We felt like we needed a map or else we would have gotten lost! Both schools set up excellent environments for their students to have the opportunities to excel. Compared to the schools we visited on Oahu, and the charter school in Hilo, Kona is a wealthier area. The surrounding neighborhoods of these two schools are stunning. The houses are big and clean. As soon as we walked on to these campuses, we could sense that these schools had a lot more money, which meant bigger campus, more classrooms, more teachers, and better resources. At b...

On our catamaran ride, we had the pleasure of meeting our captain Kalani Nakoa who has over 28 years of experience working on the water. Kalani was born in Oahu, but was raised here on the Big Island and moved around frequently. His blood quantum is comprised of just a little over 25% Hawaiian ancestry and his passion for his bloodline is seen. Kalani stressed that nationality is more important to him personally, if someone encompasses “aloha” and the Hawaiian culture on the island that is what matters to him. He also emphasized how everything is connected to the Hawaiian Gods, the land, the sky, and the body. On the catamaran ride he drove us to the women's temple off of the Kona side of the island, a very holy and sacred place. He explained how that area is where surfing was born because no men were allowed inside so the sacred grounds, so they would surf on the water in front of the land. Kalani then went on to inform us of the reproductive processes for Hawaiian royalty, how t...

Today we visited HAAS school which is a charter school. This school is very liberal, and very integrated with art in all curriculum. The students are autonomous for their learning and are able to represent there learning in several different methods. The different grades have several different campuses. In the fifth and sixth grade classrooms the students are located in a store at a shopping center. There are two classrooms. The first class students were very free and there was little teacher control. The students were extremely advanced for their age. We were able to read to read the stories that they have written in their yearbook. The writing showed advanced levels of writing evidence. The students wrote their stories and were in the editing process. The students were native to Hawaii and had both been in the HAAS school system since kindergarten. They stated that they loved HAAS because they were given the opportunity to do things they loved and were in charge of their learning....

Today was a fun-filled educational adventure today! We started our day right with some coffee. We went to the Hilo Coffee Mill and learned how they make the coffee beans we buy. So much coffee, so many options, so much money spent. On our way to the coffee mill, we learned about the area of Hilo. Our tour guide also talked to us about the meaning of Hawaii and Aloha. Afterward, we went to the Volcano National Park and saw Kilauea, which is the most active volcano in the world! Early in the day, we learned about Pele, who is the goddess that is believed to be all things volcanic. In the afternoon, we took a bike tour around the volcano to learn even more about the history of the volcano and about the volcano's lava flow. In the evening, we were lucky enough to hike to "where the Earth gives birth." We saw the lava flow into the ocean. What an amazing, and unreal experience! One thing about the day that we were so shocked about was how knowledgable our tour guides were...

After landing in the Hilo, we met our tour guide for the week, Nohe. Nohe was born in Hawaii and raises her growing family with her newly wed husband on the Big Island. She brought us to the Pacific Tsunami Museum and explained the history of Tsunamis in Hawaii to us. Nohe explained how natural disasters occur everywhere and people tend to think that living on the Big Island is dangerous. Between Tsunami warnings and the uncontrollable lava flow, Nohe claims that these are normal events on her island. The interpretation of all these experiences comes down to one's perspective on where he/she is from. For someone living on the mainland where tsunamis and lava flow are not common or a concern, they would be terrified of living in Hilo. These individuals are more used to tornados and earthquakes; yet someone from Hilo may be scared to live in areas where these disasters are of concern. Nohe went on to inform our van on how she had to make the decision to move her family up the moun...

Today was our last day on Oahu. We visited two elementary schools: Makaha and Nanakuli. At these two schools, we took a tour of the grounds and observed a few classrooms. At Nanakuli, we were lucky enough to actually help a teacher and work with the students. Both schools are located on Waianae (the west side of the island), which is the poorer side. All of the students at these schools are financially disadvantaged. Due to the area and lack of money, it is difficult to provide supports for students. Fortunately, they are bringing more technology into the schools, which has helped the students immensely. Besides the financial status of the schools we have attended thus far, there is something else we have noticed that these schools have in common: caring and passionate administration. The principals we have met work hard to not only provide their teachers with support, but to also give their students the best education they could. The principals truly care about their students and a...

Today we had our alumni dinner, in which we met a group of Marist graduates that have to move to teach in Hawaii. At our groups table we had the pleasure of meeting a man named Sam, who graduated from Marist in 2013 with the dual certification in special education and elementary education. He accepted the position on the spot when he received a phone call late one night. In July, Sam and another Marist graduate moved out to Oahu and began their teaching careers. Sam teaches in a 5th and 6th grade special education self contained classroom, with students ranging in severity. Now in his fourth year he stated that he has become burnt out. He is changing schools for the upcoming year to fall back in love with teaching. Sam did not sugar coat his experience, he claims it was a tough one, but he has learned and grown more than he could have ever imagined. He explained how moving out here was scary and he lived without furniture for a couple months, but he also explained how he made do with ...

Today we visited our first Hawaiian school: Leihoku Elementary School, containing PreK-6 grade students. What a difference between this school and schools on the mainland! The most noticeable difference is the set up. As soon as we walked on the campus, we could not believe we were at a school. The outside was decorative and beautiful. The classrooms were connected to the outside, instead of imprisoned in one big building like we are all used to. The principal and teachers were extremely welcoming. They wanted us to het as much out of this visit as possible, so we were allowed to observe the classrooms and interact with the students. The students were so excited to see newcomers at the school, especially ones from the mainland. They had so many questions for us; they were so interested in our lives and where we were from. A 4th grade class even sang us a welcome song in Hawaii. The song was beautiful and we were able to truly recognize the importance of their culture within the school...

Day 1 in Oahu was filled with a lot of excitement! We started our day bright and early with a nice breakfast at Duke’s. Kona then picked us up and we began our cultural journey. It was evident from the start that Kona had a plethora of knowledge on the Hawaiian culture. From ancient Hawaiian traditions and legends, to recent government laws, Kona knew the ins and outs of everything regarding Hawaiian culture. Driving to Pearl Harbor Kona walked us thru the day of December 7, 1941. When we arrived at the Pearl Harbor site, it really put into perspective the background knowledge that Kona provided on the bus. After Pearl Harbor, we traveled to the Birthing Stones site, which illustrated the importance of the Hawaiian culture, and how meaningful this site was to Kona. He became very emotional as he described the history and significance of the Birthing Stones, and explained how, for him, it brings back the memories of ancient Hawaii, back when royalty ruled the lands. Kona elaborated on ...

As we prepare to travel to Hawaii, we take into consideration the several families, businessmen, and tourists who travel to Hawaii either regularly or irregularly. Our interviewee was a Hawaii native and goes to school at Marist college. She is 21 and is a Psychology major who regularly travels home during long breaks. Question 1: How often do you fly home? - Winter and Summer. Question 2: What made you choose Marist? - I wanted to go far away and i'm sick of the island. Question 3: Did you get home sick freshman year? What are some tips for traveling? -Bring a snack and pack smart. Question 4: What are some tips for the ten hour flight? - I stay up the night before and sleep on the flight. Question 5: Which way is easier? - On the way back to Hawaii is easier and always stay hydrated. Question 6: Any plans this summer? - Might work at summer camp. Question 7: Are you Hawaiian? - Yes I am actual Hawaii blood. Question 8: Will you stay on east coast? - ...