Freshmen, Sophomores Head to East Coast

→ By Samuel Ruan (‘25) NEWS

After a five year hiatus, the East Coast Trip is back. It is not only a chance for freshmen and sophomores to travel outside of Hawaii, but also an opportunity to experience, learn, and explore the historical struggle and culture of the United States’ long and complex history.

This year, 40 students will be going on the Spring Break trip, which is led by George Honzaki, middle school principal. Honzaki says that the purpose of the trip is “to see how God shows up throughout our nation’s history and appreciate the way our nation grew through its struggle to become a great nation. To top it off, there is something special about seeing these sights with your friends; we’ll form great memories together!”

The group’s itinerary will take them on a ten day trip to Washington DC, Pennsylvania, and New York. The students will be visiting many historical landmarks and tourist attractions like the 911 Memorial World Trade Center, the Capitol Building, and the Statue of Liberty. When asked about what part of the trip he is most excited about, Jacob Hofacker, a sophomore, said, “I’m looking forward to going to the Smithsonian and the

Statue of Liberty for the first time. Traveling to the East Coast can also be a chance for students to find and try new things that are not necessarily found in Hawaii.”

At the landmarks, the students will be assigned to collect artifacts such as ticket subs, brochures, and photos. Afterward, they will write journals about what they enjoyed the most about the visited landmarks. Mari Casamina, a freshman, said, “While we do have a journal and some assignments during the trip, it’s not as bad as having to stress about every little detail, not having to worry about being graded by what I took or didn’t take interest in, and having my knowledge of the subject put to the test.”

For a number of students, this trip will be their first visit to the East Coast. Drew Lohr, a sophomore, said, “I have been to a few of the places, but I have never been to New York. I know how cold it will be, and I know my classmates will be very cold.”

Besides experiencing East Coast weather, the students will also encounter cultural differences, going from a small island to a big city. Social Studies teacher Anna Hamaguchi, who will be one of the chaperones on the trip, hopes that students will keep an open mind as they experience the East Coast for the first time. “Culturally, I can’t think of a more opposite setting from Honolulu than New York. Seeing a vastly different cultured city is helpful to broaden the students’ horizons.”