Eight students from Kalani High School in Hawaii visited our school and engaged in exchanges through classes and Japanese cultural experiences. Their visit was featured in the local edition of the Chunichi Newspaper on October 22.
The following article and photos are reprinted with permission from Chunichi Newspaper.
📰 Exchange Program Begins with Kalani High School in Hawaii
After a five-year pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bihoku High School in Konan City has launched a new short-term exchange program with Kalani High School in Hawaii. From October 14 to 16, eight students from Kalani visited Bihoku High School, attending classes and experiencing Japanese culture while deepening their interactions with local students.
🏫 Background of the Exchange
Previously, Bihoku High School had an exchange program with a high school in Vancouver, Canada, but it was discontinued. As part of efforts to revitalize international exchange, Bihoku initiated a new partnership with Kalani High School in Honolulu, where many teachers and students are of Japanese descent. In November, Kalani’s principal and two teachers visited Bihoku to finalize the program. In February, eight first- and second-year students from Bihoku stayed with host families in Hawaii and studied at Kalani High School.
👘 Cultural Experiences
The visiting Kalani students—six girls and two boys aged 15 to 17—stayed with the families of the Bihoku students who had previously visited Hawaii. On the first day, they participated in a chemistry class where they experienced indigo dyeing and took a field trip to Inuyama Castle. On the second day, they attended math and other classes, and tried calligraphy and tea ceremony.
Kimono dressing was supported by Bihoku alumni and staff from “Kimono-kan Nakane,” while tea ceremony instruction was provided by volunteer Takie Kanazawa (age 76) from the city’s social welfare council. Although some students struggled with sitting in the traditional seiza position, they commented that the experience was relaxing and calming.
🎉 Farewell Party
The farewell party was organized by host families with a summer festival theme. Students changed into yukata and enjoyed traditional games like ring toss and yo-yo fishing, along with food such as yakisoba and rice balls. The Ichinomiya Taiko Preservation Society performed, and students had the chance to try taiko drumming. The event concluded with a lively bon dance.
💬 Student Reflections
Yuna Egawa, a second-year student at Bihoku who visited Hawaii in February, said, “It was my first time studying abroad, and although I was nervous, it turned out to be a valuable experience.”
Mia Nishiguchi, a Kalani student who stayed with Egawa’s family, said, “Everyone was so kind, and I’m very grateful. We were able to talk about each other’s schools. I’d love to come back again.”