Broadening Horizons: Experiential College Visits
Broadening Horizons: Experiential College Visits
Iwikua focuses on holistic community health: expanding access to educational opportunities, mentorship, and healthy food for West Kaua’i youth - including farm internships, school programs in partnership with Waimea High School, our own Makana Training Center, food hub and more.
One remarkable initiative that made significant impact was our experiential college visit, made possible with the support of generous grant partners. For many West Kaua’i youth, the prospect of visiting colleges remains difficult due to socioeconomic and geographical constraints. To address this disparity, we embarked on a transformative journey, taking eight high school student athletes to Bozeman, Montana in March of 2023.
A Packed Itinerary With Purpose
The trip’s itinerary was fast-paced and packed for maximum exposure. The trip kicked off with a visit to Lone Peak Physical Therapy, where students had the opportunity to interact with renowned Physical Therapist, Cole Shram. This encounter was especially valuable for Track & Field athletes, providing insights into potential career paths in athletics and real-world physical therapy settings.
The group explored Montana State University campus and met with Steven Davis, an Iwikua Board member and Assistant Teaching Professor at MSU. This connection has been nurtured through the MSU Honor Bound Program, a unique initiative that brings indigenous students to Kauaʻi for cross-cultural exchange. This interaction served as a testament to the power of reciprocity and shared experiences in building a global sense of kinship and community.
A significant part of the trip involved participating in the 47th annual American Indian Council Powwow. Our students engaged in volunteer activities, including serving food and drinks to attendees. This underscored the essence of our programming - fostering a spirit of volunteerism and reciprocity while promoting cross-cultural understanding. Witnessing the rich culture of the dancers, singers, and drummers was unforgettable.
Athletics played a vital role throughout the journey. Students met with the MSU Track & Field team and coach, gaining insights into collegiate athletics and touring top-notch facilities. Additionally our students pushed through their own limits by competing in a high school track meet in challenging conditions - races at 5,000 foot elevation with temperatures as low as 37 degrees fahrenheit and snowfall. This experience epitomized the program's ethos of embracing discomfort to foster personal growth and resilience.
Reflections
The impact of this trip is best summed up through our students own words as they gained real-world exposure, broadened their horizons, and were immersed in another culture. These experiences motivated them, expanded their perspectives, and ignited a desire to learn more about different cultures:
“Seeing how passionate these people were about their cultures lit a fire inside of me to learn about my own culture.”
“This trip made me feel immersed in Native American culture with the inclusion of going to the Pow Wow…Although things like language, clothes, food, and people were different from that of Kauaʻi, there were also many similarities that left a lasting impact on me. For example, seeing how passionate these people were about their cultures lit a fire inside of me to learn about my own culture. As someone who is Native Hawaiian, it was extremely inspiring to see that these native people also had an intense drive for their culture; moreover, this being comparable to my own. Overall the trip to Montana’s lasting effect on me is the fact that I want to learn. Learn not only about my own culture but as well as other cultures, through mediums like books. Montana’s vast culture will always have an effect on me, which couldn’t have been done through my own accord.” -17 year old
“What had the most impact on me during this trip was visiting the track at MSU because we got to see how college athletes were training and the facilities they were using. I think it had the most impact because it motivated me more and made me excited for college and future experiences and opportunities with track.” - 16 year old
“Being around the college and students gave a little taste of how experiencing new things and exploring greater opportunities outside of Hawaiʻi is essential for youth to expand the horizon of options and availability.” -16 year old
Looking Ahead
We are actively working to broaden horizons and nurture entrepreneurial initiatives within our West Kaua’i community. By exposing our youth to a spectrum of opportunities and experiences, we aim to spark innovation and drive positive change. We are committed to expanding this program’s impact by exposing students to higher education, diverse career paths, cultural exchange, volunteerism, and athletics.
