FEATURE Headin g West Bound

BY LEVITICUS KAOPUIKI

I first came across the Heading West Bound program one day when I was doing my weekly Gmail decluttering session. I was going through everything as usual when an email with the word “Congratulations” on it caught my eye. Now I don’t know about you, but that word alone gets my attention. So excitedly I click on the email hoping it’s the lottery announcing me as their next lucky winner. But to my shock—and mild disappointment—it’s an email from the school saying that I’m eligible for a scholarship.

It states that the scholarship will cover the costs for my first year of college. However, upon reading further I learn in order to receive the scholarship I need to attend 11 events spanning a total of nine weeks. All of which are mandatory. I am just about to click o when something in me tells me to just sign up. So I fill out the form nonchalantly, close my computer and forget all about it.

and welcome us to the first day of the Heading West Bound summer event. We are given a short briefing, then boarded onto a bus and driven down to Ko‘olina Lagoon where the activities will take place. At the beach we play a few games to ease the tension, then the advisors tell us to head into the water and circle up. The activity we are about to do is called Ho‘oponopono and the Bowl of Light. It is explained that we all possess this bowl of light through which all our abilities, gi s, and even joy come from. But over time pōhakus (stones) can accumulate in the bowl through the negative thoughts or actions in our life. So standing in the water we close our eyes and envision all the negative things that are holding us back and dimming our light. Then one by one we remove the pōhakus until only the light remains.

The purpose of this poll was to identify students’ preferences when it comes to the methods of their education. As the pandemic regulations have changed in the recent year, more and more students are finding themselves in person. The culture is continuously changing and it’s important to know how students want to learn.

Fast forward a few days I get an email from the school reminding me that tomorrow is the first day of the program. The event starts at 8 and will be held at a beach in Kapolei. Now FYI, I live in Mililani and my summer sleep schedule has me waking up around 12 p.m. So chances of making this event are close to impossible. But with nothing better to do I convince myself that maybe this could be worth a shot.

So there I am, standing in front of the school, half awake and already dreading the activities to come. With my limited energy, I drag myself to the building, sign in, and try my best to keep to myself. A er a while, the advisors come in

Now although that wasn’t the first time I did that activity, something about this time felt special. Looking inward I realized that one of the stones I had been carrying in my bowl for a long time was fear, and uncertainty. But now that stone was gone from my bowl, and upon opening my eyes I was hit by a wave of renewal. A er the first day, I le with a feeling of gratitude for this opportunity I was given and a feeling that I was getting into something special.

As the weeks went by, I got to participate in many activities that have helped me get a strong footing in my college journey. I’ve made many connections with sta and students, many of whom I look forward to seeing and getting closer to this year. Yet nothing compares to the amount of love and aloha emanated by the advisors, as shown by the constant smiles and laughs shared with each and every one of them. In the short time I was there, I was blessed to have the opportunity to expand my knowledge and grow as a person. But most importantly, becoming a part of this university’s ‘ohana.