July 12, 2016 and July 13, 2016

Tuesday, July 12, 2016 marked the start of this amazing adventure for the 5 students from HAAS, along with the 20 students from Kealakehe High School (on the island of Hawaii), Lelehua High School, & Kailua High School (on the island of Oahu).

The HAAS students met me at the airport at 11:17 am and completed their first assignment after check-in, a one page introduction letter to their roommate (all students were mixed and are rooming with someone from a different school, in their same age group).

The students and I flew from Hilo International Airport to Honolulu International Airport and met the other schools students and chaperones and Mrs. Adele Wada from Gear-Up Hawaii. The entire group then flew from Honolulu International Airport on what was supposed to be a 9 hour direct flight to Washington Dulles Airport.  Unfortunately, our flight had to make an emergency landing in San Francisco to get medical aid for a passenger in distress.  The students were very patient, calm, and respectful in the very stressful time.  Our flight to Washington DC took 11 hours and 30 minutes with the layover.

The group arrived in Washington DC tired but ready for the day on Wednesday, July 13, 2016 at 8:30 am local time, 2:30 am Hawaii time.  Our tour guide, Mrs. Judy Marrazzo of GoCAMPUSing.com greeted us at the gate and guided us to our chartered bus.
*** The students commented on the weather, saying it was hot and humid just like home! :) ***

First stop on our tour was breakfast (at a local mall) and then the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia!  We were greeted at the 911 Memorial by the Assistant Secretary of the Army, Mrs. Wada (who just happens to be the step-daughter of our Mrs. Adele Wada) and her escort.

She explained the 911 Pentagon Memorial and congratulated our students on being chosen for this amazing experience!  The students were then given time to wander the garden that is the 911 Memorial.

Second stop on the tour was Bowie State University (pronounced Bow-wee) in Bowie, Maryland.

 We had lunch at the cafeteria and the student were give a tour by a senior at Bowie, Ms. Ashley.

 

 A blog about Bowie State University will be done by Ms. Rayna Robinson.

After Bowie was check-in at our hotel (which the students have only good things to say about this far) and then dinner at Joe's Pizza and Pasta in Vienna, Virginia.  After dinner we returned to the hotel to complete reflections and down-time before lights-out.  

Overall, today was a great day.  The students were tired but definitely were present and enjoyed themselves.  They were exposed to the tragedy of 9/11/2001, a time when most of these students were toddlers, the rest were not born yet.  They were very respectful and enjoyed the opportunity.  They were also given their first east coast college tour and were engaged and learned a lot (of which Rayna will elaborate in her blog).  The students enjoyed the food and are enjoying the accommodations (both ground transportation and lodging).  The students are not  enjoying the weather, which has been in the high 80's low 90's and very humid.  We were also rained on (more like poured on) during the college tour and had to ride the AC bus back to our hotel in our wet clothes.  It has been an adventure and I look forward to the rest of the trip!