Submitted by Alyssa Stagnitti on the 2022 winter session program in Hawaii sponsored by the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration…
On Sunday, January 16, I and a group of my peers attended a local craft fair in Lahaina. We had spent a good deal of time in Lahaina throughout our program, and the town is full of stores targeted towards tourists. However, it was cool to see some of the work of the smaller, local artists. There were lots of jewelry makers, as well as people who were selling authentic Hawaiian clothing and decorations. I enjoyed getting to talk to the locals, and hearing each of their stories as we shopped around for souvenirs. I loved getting the chance to hear about the day to day lives of people who live on the island, and compare how they differ from life on the East Coast.
On Monday, January 17, we made the difficult drive halfway back up “The Road to Hana ”, which we had driven just two days prior, to visit the Ka’anae Peninsula. The Peninsula is essentially a bunch of lava rocks that extend out into the water, and we spent the afternoon walking around; watching the waves crash over the rocks. The ocean looked especially powerful and intimidating from here. Views like these give me a greater appreciation of nature and the beautiful scenery of the island.
We had our last official excursion to Haleakala on Tuesday, January 18, and it was one of my favorite memories of the program by far. It took us about an hour to drive to the top of the summit of the volcano, where we got to watch the sunset. Watching the sunset from a 10,000 foot elevation was unlike anything I have ever seen before, and I was happy to get to share this experience with my classmates, and new friends. Most of us were in agreement in saying that this was one of the craziest things we had ever seen, and we all thought it was the perfect thing to do for our last excursion. We all sat together, huddling up because it was cold at the top of the volcano, and shared our favorite memories and funny stories as we watched the sun go down. We pointed out how crazy it is to think that just three weeks prior, we were all strangers, and now we feel like we had all been friends for years.
We met a man at the summit who seemed to be there on his own, directing people where to walk and not to walk, because there are endangered plant species growing in the area. He explained that he was not native, but had been living on Maui for years now. He thought it was important to do his part in educating tourists whenever possible, to give back to the land and make sure it was being taken care of. One of the main things we have been learning about in our Leadership class has been sustainable tourism, and protecting Hawaiian culture, so it was exciting to see someone putting these ideas into action. He also told us that he comes up to Haleakala as often as possible to watch the sunset. I was jealous, as I could not imagine ever getting used to the view. Throughout the program, I made it a point to get to know as many people as possible, because I loved hearing the different stories of what brought people to this island. Although Hawaii is part of America, it feels like a completely different world in some ways, and it is interesting to see how the lifestyle differs.
As our program has come to an end, I could not be more thankful to have had this opportunity. Getting to explore a new place and culture with this group of people has been one of my favorite college experiences by far. I learned so much about Hawaiian culture, and gained such an appreciation for the land. Going into this program, I was nervous to push myself out of my comfort zone, and travel with a group of people I didn’t know. Now, I am returning to Newark with twenty-three new amazing friends whom I would not have had the chance to meet if it were not for this program.
