Submitted by Megan Perdue on the 2022 winter session program in Hawaii sponsored by the Department of Biological Sciences…
Aloha! During the first week in Hawaii, we are staying in Waikiki, a popular beach on Oahu. Here, there are sand volleyball courts set up on the beach from sunup to sundown. After noticing these nets and watching people play for a few days, I decided to find out if I could join a group already playing. They informed me that in order to play, I needed my own net and ball or I could introduce myself to the friendly Hawaiian man who owns many of the nets. After introducing myself, he threw me into some doubles games until the sun went down. After playing, I helped take down the nets and talked to some locals that also played. They invited me to come back on Sunday and play. I went early in the morning and played multiple doubles games with new partners each time. This was the perfect opportunity to make friends and learn more about people who lived on the island.
