Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 23, Number 5, 1 May 2006 — The value of education travel [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The value of education travel

Cūlette Y. Machadū TrustEE, Mūlūka'i and Lāna'i

Contributed by Manuwai Peters. Hawaiian language immersion teacher. Moloka'i High School: Aloha e nā makamaka heluhelu: 'O Hina i ka Malama, the Hawaiian language immersion program at Moloka'i High School and Moloka'i Intermediate School humbly submits the following reflection of excerpts from students who participated in Ho'ona'auao ma Aotearoa, a nine-day educational exchange to New Zealand in March that was partially funded by a grant from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. As the letters reveal, there is no substitute for the profound learning that occurs when one leaves the comforts of home and classroom. For the teachers, we had the ultimate reward of witnessing students being transformed "overnight." We left Moloka'i with 26 girls and boys and returned home with 26 young women and men. As teachers, we learned that it's up to us to educate Hawaiian youth; no agency or institution ean do this alone. We found inspiration and light in the na'au of our immersion colleagues, and for this we are truly grateful.

The great responsibility of educating Hawaiian youth cannot be left solely in the hands of the Department of Education; our 'ōpio are far too precious for this. The eommon experience that was shared is now the foundation on whieh we will continue to grow. Best yet is that the impact of these experiences will continue to unfold as time passes. We are grateful to Moloka'i Trustee Colette Machado and her staff for their unwavering support for beneficiaries on the island of Moloka'i. Our Polynesian heritage As a senior at Moloka'i High School, I found that my participation in the trip to Aotearoa with Ke Kula Kaiapuni 'o Hina i ka Malama was very valuable to both the community and myself. I have learned a great deal about the Maori and their culture as well as appreciating my culture, ka lāhui Hawai'i. I feel that we have all grown more knowledgeable about ourselves and our future. After all that was experienced, we eame home to share these experiences with the eommunity so we ean all learn about our Polynesian heritage, and to gain perspective on how to live culturally in this global society. Thank you to all who made this trip possible. Poina 'ole na mea a pau o ia huaka'i. -Ikaika Jenks-Puaa. Grade 12 Ua like nō a like kākou No ko'u 'ike na'auao ma Aotearoa, ua ikaika nō ho'i ka 'ōlelo, a me ko lākou mau haka a me nā mele. He hoihoi loa. 'Akahi nō mākou a pae

i ka mokupuni o Aotearoa, a'o ka piha no ia o ko'u na'au i ka hau'oli: he mau whanau ('ohana) lākou me kākou! Me he mea lā. ua ho'i mākou i ko mākou home. Like nō a like nā helehelena me mākou. Ua pā ka makani i ko'u 'ili a pā pu maila ke aloha o nā kupuna ia'u. Eia kā. ho'okahi nā kūpuna o lākou me mākou. Ua 'oko'a nā wahi a pau i huaka'i ai i laila akā, ua like ka ikaika o nā Maori a mākou i launa ai. No'ono'o wau pono kākou nā Hawai'i a pau e hele a 'ike maka nou iho i ka ikaika o ia lāhui Maori, a pehea lā i hiki iā kākou ke ho'oikaika i ko kākou lāhui pono'ī. Mahalo e OHA. -Moanamilia Maliu-Calairo. Grade 11 Maoii are like role models For me. this experience of traveling to New Zealand had a major impact on me. Comparing and contrasting our two cultures kept me busy as my brain processed all this information. It seemed that the similarities outweighed our differences. Their warrior-like passion is evident as they fight for their lands, language, and culture. It was very exciting to see a very strong people that are protective of their culture. We need to defend our culture as well. I see the Maori eulture like a role model for our community and the Hawaiian people. To be committed to educating ourselves through our language and fighting for what is ours we must. -Anuliea Nae'ole. Grade 11 We ean be stronger I found value in comparing the kinds of lifestyles they have there and their culture - both the Maori and Pakeha. I found out that they are very similar to us. They look like us and some of their words sound kind of the same. What I learned from them is that they're very strong in

their culture and that we ean be stronger in our culture. They are also a very proud culture and like to show it off in a fearless way. I think that's how we should be sometimes. -Kauluwai Lucas. Grade 11 On being a role model The value of my Aotearoa experience is that I appreciate my Hawaiian culture and language even more now. I learned that I am doing my part in perpetuating the Hawaiian culture through speaking and dancing. The elders and 'ōpio there loved to see us dance hula and this has encouraged me to be more serious in my studies. While on the trip, I had a ehanee to compare our eultural learning (education wise) with the Maoris. They have mārae to foster Maori traditions but we have no equivalent. I think our immersion schools are the closest thing to a marae because our immersion school tries to do what mārae do: uphold traditions and create a space for the culture to live and flourish. At mārae and at their immersion schools, I noticed that they follow very strict customs and rules set forth by their ancestors such as "no eating in the whare nui," "no body apparel on table, " "kupuna eat first." Unlike us. we don't really follow customs as mueh because we have less cultural support. Through observation, I learned how to make our culture and heritage stronger by being good role models. I feel that what I've gained from the trip ean encourage many other Hawaiian kids to perpetuate his or her traditional culture. New Zealand has inspired me to become a better person, to respect what I have and never lose hope of dreams because things are possible if you believe in it and strive for it. -Kamali'i Sibayan. Grade 12 E3

— LEO 'ELELE • TRUSTEE MESSAGES