I was lucky enough to be part of the first Headmaster's Experiential Learning Trip to Hawaii. I packed my boots, warm clothes, my camel pack and embarked on a hiking journey with eight adventurous kids, seven Baldwin students and one that we “adopted” from another school.
This trip was meant to be a hiking trip and hiking we surely did! From the dark underground Thurston Lava Tube to the enthralling Mauna Kea Volcano we hiked and hiked, miles and miles through volcanic debris! Some paths were smoother than others, but never easy. And…all of this happened thanks to “Madame Pele,” the Hawaiian goddess of fire and the constant eruptions of her volcanoes on this island.
We also climbed to what I call the “top of the world” Mauna Kea Observatory, and while going up more than 9,000 feet, the variety of climates and ecological features truly amazed me. Getting used to less oxygen, the decrease of air pressure, and an average temperature of about 50 degrees, the night sky fell on us, showing clearly the jewels of the night. The Milky Way, Polaris, Saturn and the Cross Constellation appeared to be the limelight of the blackest night of my life.
We hiked long trails under the hot sun which led us to hidden beaches where the sand was emerald green. The Green Sand Beach, my favorite, where the sand was made of olivine (mineral), unveiled one of the most beautiful beaches of the world.
On the opposite side of the island, we found Black Sand Beach, which captivated all of us with some native friends, sunbathing along the shore; the Hawaiian sea turtles. This beach made of pearly black sand, offered excitement to our group of young hikers on their journey. We played and built sand castles on the black sand and even made up stories about them.
Learning how to make a fire at night was also really cool at camp. Under the fascinating “glow” of Kilawea Iki Crater sky, we ate s'mores, a delicacy of Mr. Nelligan’s outdoor cuisine, which we handcrafted slowly and with great care and devoured in the fastest way possible.
This trip was full of Science, but also loaded with experiences which made us more human. As we climbed volcanoes, hiked difficult lava trails, and walked around vents of sulfur dioxide, we also practiced teamwork, how to take care of ourselves and the basic elements for survival. While playing under the “glow” of Kilawea we practiced our good manners, the respect and patience for each other and most importantly, our 500 ways to laugh together…we bonded.
In a land of contrasts we learned the power of nature, we also learned about the endangered Hawaiian geese; “Nene’ and about the Ohi’a plant, that never gives up.
Through this learning process we started to love the land with the faults and cliffs and the kind people of Hawaii; their rich culture and most importantly, their high sense of caring for their land. My heroes, Emilia, Alberto, Juan, Roby, Jean Marco, Miguel, Hans and Charles, and my very good buddy and “right hand man” Susette (for being always there for us) and our “tour guide, teacher, leader, “Jefe” and most importantly, our friend, James Nelligan. Thank you Mr. Nelligan for a perfect trip, we treasured experiences in common and the love that you taught us for this land; and as we say in Hawaii, “Mahalo Nui Loa”.
Kindly,
Lizette Duteil