On Friday, the Hawaii Winterim group continued to help at the Kua O Ka La public charter school, located in Pu'ala'a, Puna, before they left to visit Waipio Valley and then later Kohala on Saturday.
On Friday morning, students studied the myths and culture of Hawaii. Afterwards, they helped out at the charter school and worked with students in the lower school, which ranges from kindergarten to sixth grade. That afternoon the students helped with a community service project at the charter school and then participated in making ti leaf leis.
Over the weekend, the group first traveled to Waipio Valley, which is referred to as the "Valley of the Kings" a valley that was once the home to many Hawaiian rulers.
They then drive to Kohala and visited an ancient petroglyph area, Pu'ukohala He'iau, and later Lapakai, one of the original settlements in Hawaii. Sunday evening the group participated in a luau with a Hawaiian family.
Today, and through the first part of this week, the group will be staying at the Hale Lokahi Lodge while they travel around the area and visit the , the Halema'uma'u crater, and then the Volcanoes National Park, to learn about the geology and ecology of the area.
The group will also be volunteering at the Niaulani Trail, helping to remove invasive species. They will finish the week with a hike up Akaka Falls and a visit to the Lyman Museum before they leave for home on Friday.
