While learning about sustainability and how to survive the zombie apocalypse in Hawaii, 8th graders created eco-friendly improvements around campus and prepared a 4-course dinner for 100 guest using many local and sustainably farmed ingredients, including local ulu (breadfruit), APIS garden greens (lettuce, kale, basil), and Oahu-raised beef. 7th grade shared their learning about Hawaii’s path from isolation to a globalized business and tourism hub through interactive stations, including virtual reality, flight simulation, and student-made podcasts. 6th grade exhibited their learning about Hawaii’s deep and surface culture through their artist statements, beautiful murals, and music. There were many tearful goodbyes at the end of NPCA, but also many relationships that will continue across our two campuses! Aloha 'Oe and see you again soon, Seoul friends!

6th grade was ambitious today with writing exhibition presentations, mural critique, and experiencing some spectacular views from the Koloa gulch trail! The murals are looking great and students got really into writing kind, helpful, specific, feedback for each other. They are almost ready for exhibition tomorrow!

6th grade is killing it on their projects! Surfboard murals are coming along well, and community organizations have begun to contact us back about displaying our work. With the murals underway, we drafted our artist statements to accompany the pieces as well. Time to revise, paint, and rehearse our presentations! 

Today, 6th grade began truly working on their mural surface - surf boards! They developed their concept sketches through feedback from various teachers,  and started to put their ideas onto the canvas.  In the afternoon they honed their myth drafts and sent off emails to community organizations in hopes that they will exhibit our murals.  We finally ended the day at the beach with a plastics clean up and playing in the waves! 

6th grade put their noses to the grindstone (and the noseflute) today as they got busy working on their final projects! We listed all of our many Hawaiian cultural experiences and begin sketching mural  designs to represent these. Students rehearsed in small groups to create harmonies in their musical performance and also began drafting their own myths based on Hawaiian and Korean folklore. 

The weekend had a few events, as well as today (Monday)! On Saturday, students enjoyed a relaxing morning on campus and then visited the Polynesian Cultural Center in the afternoon. There, they experienced the dance, song, and cultural presentations from all over Polynesia, including Hawaii, Fiji, Tonga, and Aoteroa. 

On Sunday, there was more chilling on campus, but we squeezed in some afternoon hula dancing with the Woodward family halau. They taught us basic hula moves as well as explaining hula as a modern dancing tradition in Hawaii. 

Today, we spent the morning getting ready for our mural project showing Hawaiian culture. We studied murals from past NPCA groups to see if we can improve on their works. In the afternoon, students visited the Hale'iwa art gallery to talk to professional artists about murals and cultural art. We can't wait to start our designs tomorrow!

Today the six graders got off to a bright an early start and drove into Honolulu to visit the Bishop Hawaiian history Museum. There they screened a documentary about the Polynesian voyaging ship Hokule'a, viewed historical artifacts from Hawaii's monarchy period, and  learned how to navigate a vessel using only the stars, wind, and birds. After the museum, we return to campus to prepare questions for our trip to the Polynesian cultural Center tomorrow. Students also rehearsed Aloha 'Oe, a song written by Hawaiian Queen Lili'uokalani.

The 6th grade stayed on campus today, but local and global perspective came to us! In the morning, Mr. Hopkins led us in an examination of how where you live affects how you live using case studies from the Human Planet film series. We also had the chance to interview local activist Joshua Noga and Hawaiian canoe paddling Coach Vonn Chee about their work and growing up in Hawaii. In the afternoon we had our first Socratic seminar of the program, giving students time to share their opinions and impressions of Hawaii thus far! We rounded out the day with a trip up into the mountains behind APIS to catch some ocean views and surround ourselves with the Oahu forest. 

On Wednesday the 6th grade students from APIS Hawaii and APIS Seoul travelled to a beach called Pipeline. There, they had some time to study the motion and size of the waves as part of their investigation of the history and culture of surfing. They also had the opportunity to meet, listen to, and interview local surfer, Uncle Sergio. He told them of his upbringing as a surfer, the importance of surfing in his life, and his opinions about surfing as a sport and as a way of life. 

The students then travelled to the surf shop of Eric Arakawa. There they learned the process of designing and manufacturing surf boards. Students also designed, carved, sculpted, and colored their own miniature surfboards as part of a learning activity. Afterwards, students had the opportunity to interview Eric to further their understanding of Hawaiian culture and of the history of surfing. 

Sixth grade began the day in the classroom creating a human timeline of Hawaiian history, read Hawaiian legends of the volcano goddess Pele, and concluded our campus time with more musical practice. We finished the day at Brigham Young University with Professor of Hawaiian studies Kamao'e Walk. He and his students gave us tours of the traditional Hawaiian farm and invited us to sample delicious fruits of the land - coconut and ulu (breadfruit). 

Sixth grade laid a great foundation for our study of cultures by analyzing Korean American Taiwanese and Papua New Guinean surface and deep culture aspects. We also kicked off the music element of the project by exploring Hawaiian traditional percussion instruments and designing our own ukuleles. Finally, students practiced and honed their interview skills through mock interviewing and several rounds of feedback. We are about ready take our cultural study into the field!

This weekend the NPCA students enjoyed a number of activities.  On Saturday, 6th and 7th graders snorkeled at Turtle Bay, played in the pool, and competed in board games.  The 8th grade went to Honolulu to hike at Diamond Head and shop at Waikiki.  On Sunday, everyone enjoyed the nearby Koko beach, and field games on campus.  

We began the morning with our first Hawaiian language lessons and an exploration of the project's essential questions. From there we moved to Kahana bay and experienced the ancient sport of Hawaiian canoe paddling with Kumu Sage Chee. We also helped care for the earth by cleaning up Kahana beach! in the afternoon, sixth graders also created and performed skits to demonstrate their pre-existing knowledge of Hawaiian culture and traditions. Looking forward to more 6th adventures on Monday!

The New Pacific Century Academy began today.  The Middle School students from Seoul arrived to campus around 2 PM.  The grade 6, 7, and 8 NPCA programs kicked off today.  There was also free time for students from both campuses to bond through Water Polo, basketball, 9 square, ping pong, and board games.  It looks to be a great 20 Days!

APIS Hawaii is excited to welcome APIS Seoul tomorrow.