Remembering the past & looking towards the future...

Today was a long and awkward day, divided in two parts: the first in which we remembered the past, and the second in which we thought about our future.

We remembered the past in Pearl Harbor, where we saw the atrocity of the war, which killed thousands guys in just a few minutes, but brought to the death millions of people that never thought to have to face with the biggest war of the history of humanity.

Anywhere in the world, soldiers are honored, respected and, if died, forever remembered: but no one cares about the civilians, for this I am sorry for the young men who lost their life the 7^th of December, but I am more sorry for their mothers and grandmothers, fathers and grandfathers, who cried a lot for their sons.

But my biggest sorrow is for the civilians, throughout the world, who, even now, pay for crimes that they have never committed; I think about the sad Japanese story of a young girl, who was been infected by the radiation of the A-bomb and was going to die soon, without any possibility to survive, except for an old legend: if you did 1000 grue origami, you would be cured of any disease. She did all the grue, hoping to survive, because that was the only possibility to live; the day after she finished, she passed away.

But the story is always written by the winners, and in a world of soldiers and army there is no room for the civilians.

Now no more sadness, I will tell the second part of the day, in which we hiked Diamond Head, an old volcano that brings you  <<on the top of the world>>.You can see both the ocean and the mountain.

I started to run, because when I run I feel free and I can empty my mind of all the concerns while finding why I am living for. And even today I found what I was looking for, I found solutions to questions that I did not even have, but now I know what I want.

When I arrived on top I saw the most beautiful thing ever seen in the US, it was an awesome sight, that showed me how lucky I am being here. I understood that being here now is the most beautiful present that my parents could give to me, and I do not want to disappoint them.

There I found the reason  of this trip, I found a part of myself, and I hope that all the others guy could feel the same sensation that I felt.

Elia, Italy

Surf and Catamaran!

Day  5 in Hawaii

Today as all the other days the weather was supposed to be sunny and warm, like you imagine Hawaii would be any day. We didn’t get our hopes up because the bad weather experiences earlier in the week, but today we were proved wrong, and got a chance to see Hawaii at it’s best. The weather was amazing!

We started the day out with learning how to surf by the local surf instructors. It was a huge success, except some bad sunburns. The surfing was a lifetime experience, there were not a lot of people that had been surfing before, and for most people it probably the first and only time they will surf in Hawaii. After the surfing lessons we got a chance to pick up some lunch before we headed out on a catamaran to enjoy the ocean and spot its beautiful and rare creatures. The sea turtle was a big hit!

In the evening we got some free time to relax shop and get some more tan, before we went out for pizza. All in all it was a good and sunny(finally) day at the beach, that ended up with sore muscles(surfing is a good lessons) and a good tan(if you look away from the sunburns.)

Love and goodnight from Hanna and Hanna, Norway.

Another amazing day in paradise...

Our super awesome Hawaiian fourth day began with a beach day!

First we went to the Pali Lookout to see a beautiful view from the highest cliff on the island. It was a beautiful place for sightseeing – and it wasn’t even as windy as expected. It was a cool place to enjoy the amazing landscape of Hawaii!

We went to the Waimanalo Beach to spend most part of the day. We played soccer, football, an interesting volleyball game and of course, to the sea. The water was really nice, it was perfect. We had some rain during the day but we really enjoyed the beach day very much.

The ocean was of different colors of blue, and pretty warm, it was awesome! After playing, in the water and on the beach, we did de Harlem Shake (or HAWAIIAN SHAKE) all together! It was great! Really fun!

Then we had to leave, and during the drive to the hotel, we saw some whales! It was so good! Of course they weren’t really close to the beach, but we could see the tails going up. Then we went to the hotel to prepare for the last part of the day: the Hard Rock Café. It was really cool, with guitars on the ceiling, and a lot of things from famous rock stars. After eating, we went to the shop, and then we had time for waking and see stores. Then we went back to the hotel, for listening the plans for tomorrow, and to our rooms. It was a fun day, on the beach, really fun!

Also, happy happy birthday to Caty from Italy!

-Nacho from Argentina

Exploring the North Shore and Polynesia

Aloha everybody!

Today was a beautiful day.

We left the hotel at 8.30 AM, some people had breakfast on the beach.

At first we went to the Capitol State Building, where we all took some great pictures.

After that we went to a dole plantation, where we all got to taste delicious pineapple whip. We also got the chance to taste fresh coconut, I was very surprised by the way it tasted, because it didn't taste like coconut at all! But it was good anyway.

Some of us also bought a bracelet with our Hawaiian name on it. It's funny how your name can be totally different in Hawaiian, and have a different meaning.

After we left the dole plantation, and drove to the North Shore we saw more pineapple fields, but also coffee fields. Unlike the pineapple fields, where they do everything with the hand, they use machines for the coffee fields.

North shore is famous for surfing. All of the most famous surfing competitions  are there. We walked around in the surfer town called Haleiwa. It's a small town with all kids of surfer shops. In Haleiwa surfers even have their own sign when they want to cross the road.

After we walked around in Haleiwa we had lunch at " KUA 'AINA sandwich". Where I got the chance to taste a delicious pineapple hamburger.

After we left North Shore/Haleiwa we drove to the polynesian cultural center the final stop of the day! On our way there we stopped at Sunset Beach, this was so beautiful! Sunset beach is famous for its of course, Sunset. Also, they filmed parts of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies at Sunset Beach. 

At the Polynesian Cultural Center we  went to different Islands, and watched different show. We saw a show in Samoa, Tahiti and Tongs. We also danced the famous hawiian Hula dance, and got to learn how to play the oekeliki. Some of us also tried to make fire in Samoa, and climbed in a palm tree.

At 6.00 PM we had dinner at the restaurant and after that we saw the amazing show called "HA". HA stands for breath of life. "Alo" means face to face, so Aloha actually means we're face to face in life. 

The show was about a new life that was born, and we saw how this baby boy grew up into a man. It showed us all the things in life, that we have bad and sad moments, but also happy moments.

Sadly we weren't allowed to take any pictures, but it's a show we'll never forget.

Right now, while I'm writing this we're in the bus on our way back to the hotel. I think we're almost in Honolulu. We're all exhausted because it was a very busy day!  The way back is about a 50 hawaiian minutes drive. (in Hawaii they say Hawaiian minutes, because there are two things they can't control; the weather, and traffic).

The group is amazing, we're having so much fun  and we're all getting closer by the day. We're all a real Ohana (family) now!

I'm very excited for tomorrow, and for the rest of the week.

Aloha,

Lauri from The Netherlands



Today, We Brought Our Own Sunshine!

Second day in Hawaii and I’m pretty impressed. You know, the most surprising thing is how much fun we had even when all our expectations went down. We woke up this morning and it was raining, I bet that everybody was like “You got to be kidding me.”

Then we went to beach, someone went surfing -or at least they tried- and some others went swimming. The weather was getting worse and worse…so we decided to make a new plan!

A dozen of people and I had lunch right next to the hotel, at some place called Lulu’s; the people were so nice and the food SO good (and I’m Italian, you can trust me!!)

The trip staff made a wise decision and sent us at the mall. Everybody knows that shopping is like a medicine, especially if you’re a girl.

Around 6 we had supper at Bubba Gump, only 3 words: best shrimps ever!!!

I had so much fun, I can’t even explain. I didn’t know these guys and now we’re like brothers and sisters?! What just happened?!

When we went back at the hotel we had a walk on the main street and probably the people around hated us because we were singing in 7 different languages, how cool is that?

I think that there’s only one thing that’s better than an exchange student: a bunch of them all together.

This experience makes us grow up, we lose our shyness and we get a different view of the things surrounding us. I hope everyone realizes how lucky we are, not only for being here, IN HAWAII, but for every single thing. Who could ever say, a couple of years ago, that I was going to be in “paradise” with a mix of cultures inside of me. I am not an Italian girl anymore, I am Spanish, Japanese, Portuguese, Albanese, American, Brazilian, and so on. We are all lucky to have parents back home who supported us in this adventure that, honestly, is making our backbones stronger than anybody else’s.

But I got to say that, we have to thank ourselves: our persistence and curiosity, our bravery and our craziness, our being limitless and our capability of overcoming everything that could stop us.

We are exchange students; it’s all I need to say.

Goodnight!

Caterina from Italy



Aloha!!

Get ready for a week in paradise...the Hawaiian Expedition is here! With its breathtaking natural beauty, its never-ending list of fun and exciting things to do, and its spirit of "aloha," Hawaii is a dream destination for anyone!

We will be staying in beautiful Waikiki on the island of Oahu, and we will spend each day exploring a new and fascinating aspect of Hawaii's unique culture.

Join us as we test our surfing abilities, celebrate in a traditional luau, and hike to one of the island's best-known lookout points. We'll come face-to-face with Hawaii's rich history...and maybe even a sea turtle or two! And along the way, we'll get to know each other, forming friendships to last beyond our week together.

This will be our day-to-day journal... each day, you'll get news, information and pictures from the students. Join us on our adventure!

Have fun!!! MAHALO!