Submitted by Elizabeth Donovan on the 2022 winter session program in Hawaii sponsored by the College of Health Sciences…
My Name is Elizabeth Donovan and I am a student participating in the UD Global Health Study Abroad Program in Hawaii.
I arrived in Hawaii on Wednesday and wanted to share and reflect on my experience thus far. On Wednesday, I visited the Iolani Palace where I learned all about King Kalakuna and Queen Liliuokalani. Queen Liliuokalani had so much influence when she was in power, which was extremely rare for a woman in the 1800s. She cared deeply about education and healthcare for the underserved which was very important. Below is a photo of a replica of a dress she wore.
On Thursday I traveled to the Bishop Museum where I learned about the importance of holistic medicine. Hawaiian used to use plants as medicine as well as use massages as a form of medicine. This is interesting as holistic medicine is starting to become present in today’s time. Additionally, on Thursday I saw the Halona Blowhole Lookout. It is one of Hawaii’s natural wonders that was created thousands of years ago. The Blowhole was formed after volcanic eruptions. I really enjoyed my time here. It was absolutely beautiful and brought me a lot of peace.
On Friday I started off the day doing Yoga with the locals. I was able to learn about another form of holistic medicine through yoga and meditation. Additionally, yoga is part of some Hawaiian culture so it was something I got to experience. I was also able to experience part of the Hawaiian culture by consuming foods available on the island such as poke!
