Huaka’i to Hale’iwa

This year, my high school class is celebrating 35 years, Kamehameha Schools Kapālama ’89! During alumni week, my best friend from high school and I signed up for a huaka’i to Hale’iwa.

Being open to adventure (field trip!). Taking the day off from work, the huaka’i was a day to celebrate our reunion and also reflect on how far we have come – and where we are going. For us, Hale’iwa is far from Honolulu, so we treasured the opportunity to visit.

I felt a little like a kid again. I remembered the field trips we took on school buses, bouncing in our seats in excitement, the loud chatter of kids almost non-stop on the way there and quieting on the way back.

Appreciating what we have been given. We started our trip with an early morning visit to Mauna ‘Ala, the Royal Mausoleum for Hawai’i royalty. This is only the second time I’ve visited Mauna ‘Ala, and it was as beautiful and solemn as I remembered. Several alumni brought ho’okupu (gift or offerings) of lei and heliconia to lay at Bernice Pauahi Bishop’s tomb. Listening to the songs and prayers reminded me of all that I have been given – gifts of education, gifts of connection, gifts of belonging.

Then a long bus ride to the North Shore. With someone else driving, we could relax, talk, and just look around without worrying about traffic, parking, or getting lost.

Waialua Bay felt like stepping a little back in time, calm blue waters separating us from gently sloping mountains. There was a lot of open space and only a few people walking along the rocks. As we paused at Pua’ena Point Beach Park, a sailboat cruised through the waters. No snack bar, no surfboard rentals, no jet skis interrupting the waves. I didn’t worry about whether we were on time. I took deep breaths and looked out over the bay, glad for the chance to walk around and feel the breeze.

One of my classmates is the land asset manager for the North Shore area, overseeing agricultural, conservation, and urban lands in Waialua and Hale’iwa. He gave us a quick overview of Kamehameha’s land holdings and then led us away from an old airstrip, along a sandy path that opened up to beautiful Kawailoa Beach. My feet sinking into the clean sands, my heart absorbed the peace and quiet of the beach, pale sands giving way to rock and then the ocean stretching out before us.

Because of the recent heavy rains, we couldn’t visit the Little Plumeria Farm or the Kawailoa Solar and Wind Farms, though we saw the tall, graceful wind turbines in the distance, standing over 300 feet tall. We got to meet Randy Paty at the North Shore Macadamia Nut Co. and I was charmed by the “Welcome to the Nut House” sign.

Being good stewards of the land means talking about and earning money. At the Hale’iwa Store Lots, I was impressed by how they maintained Hale’iwa’s historic character and made it more pedestrian-friendly with a wooden boardwalk. All the stores are locally-owned or has roots in the North Shore. We got to hear stories from entrepreneurs – like Guava Shop, started by two women who curate things they love; and Kahala, the first company to commercially make aloha shirts with unique collaborations. I found a “sweet Leilani” coconut clay soap from Saltwater Buddha Maui with a scent that makes my heart happy.

Reconnecting with friends – and ending with a sweet treat. We ate lunch at Teddy’s Bigger Burgers and had time to catch up with two other classmates over burgers and fries. Then we gathered around Stan Matsumoto to hear about Matsumoto Shave Ice, while the line for shave ice stretched out behind him across the courtyard. We ended huaka’i on a sweet note ( “tropical” shave ice for me, with lilikoi, guava, and mango flavors!) that left us smiling and content.

Reunions area time to reflect on where we’ve been, how far we’ve come, and who we will become. What are your favorite field trip memories? How do you celebrate alumni reunions?

Explore posts in the same categories: Community

Tags: Alumni Reunion, Hale'iwa, Huaka'i, Kamehameha Schools

You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site.