Day 1: Airport Obstacles & Warm Hawaiian Welcomes by Ingrid Wahlstrom

 

I was flooded with mixed emotions when I woke up this morning. Nervous yet very excited. I had no idea what this day had in store for me. I had been preparing for this trip all week, and it was finally time to go. Half awake at the airport, I said goodbye to my mom and boarded the plane. The fact that it was my first time flying by myself further contributed to my anxiety. Walking onto that plane was my first, as my teacher would say, "Aha moment." The independence I felt as I left the security of my parents was something I would have to get used to since I would be heading to college in a year. I was happy to be able to find another student, Sam, who was on my flight.


Once in Honolulu, we met up with some of the others. It was easy to find everyone since it wasn't a big airport. This moment is when we hit our first roadblock of the day. Our connecting flight from Honolulu to Hilo was canceled. We all were relocated to different flights later than initially planned. This change was obviously upsetting, and I didn't know what to do. After waiting in the Hawaiian Airlines customer service line for who knows how long, I finally got on the 3:15 pm flight to Hilo. This news relieved me, but I felt bad for the others waiting until 5:00 pm. But we were able to make the best out of the situation we were given. 

Being stuck in the airport allowed us to get to know one another before getting to the hotel. We got lunch, explored the airport, and even played cards to pass the time. It was enjoyable! I liked having some time to chill and talk. Was the situation good? No. But were we able to turn it around? Yes! 

Eventually, Alyssa and I made it to our final destination. But when we went to claim our luggage, it was not there. After such a long day of traveling, the last thing we needed was for our luggage not to make it. We were told we would be notified when our bags arrived, so we left the airport and went to the hotel. Hunger and exhaustion started to kick in, and I just wanted to get there. Finally, when we arrived, we were greeted warmly by the rest of the group. By dinner, I had a chance to speak a little with everyone, which was nice. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming.

After dinner was when I had my second "Aha moment." A group of very lovely women came to teach us some traditional Hawaiian dances. When I first heard that we would be dancing, I was a little hesitant. But once we got started, all the doubts went away. Learning the Huki Lau was a great way to eliminate nerves or awkwardness. It was super fun, and the woman were just the sweetest people. I learned how caring and welcoming the Hawaiian culture is. Ahola, a word I used only to know as hello and goodbye, has a much deeper meaning. It represents love, harmony, and respect. Such a wonderful sense of community among these people makes you feel included. My highlight of the day was watching everyone sing and dance together. It was definitely a memorable and successful first night.




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