HAWAI'I WAYS, HAWAI'I DAYS
Camping trip a lesson in family values
By Kelly Ann Sakai
I wasn't exactly thrilled when I learned that I would be accompanying my sixth-grade students to Camp Erdman. In fact, as a teacher, I was dreading spending three days and two nights with 70 pre-teens with racing hormones. I knew those kids were planning to enjoy their time away from home, gossiping, gorging on sweets, and even proclaiming their newest crushes.
Excitement flowed through the classroom early Wednesday morning as the students arrived with their bags. "Eh, wot you wen' bring fo' snack? Wot you going weah fo' da dance? Ho, we go awredy!"
After the usual morning rush of collecting assignments, taking attendance, and repeating reminders and announcements, we were on our way to our first class trip.
After the 45-minute trip to Mokule'ia, we pulled into the parking lot of Camp Erdman. Everything looked exactly like how I remembered it to be, more than 15 years ago. The peppy camp leaders introduced themselves and gave the students an orientation. After a few games and a tour, we enjoyed our lunches a few feet away from the ocean.
Accustomed to air-conditioned classrooms, we were not used to the scorching hot sun and gentle breezes. Sweat dripped profusely through the various activities of the day.
Afterward, a stampede of 11 girls ran through the door of our cabin to claim their bunks. "I like sleep on dis side! I'm on da top!" I chose my bunk carefully — away from the girls and near the door.
While the students were taking showers and socializing, I stumbled upon the most alarming realization — oh my goodness! I'm turning into my mother! Girls, you have a half an hour to get ready. Did you put mosquito repellent on? Not too much snacks or else you can't eat dinner!
The sixth-grade talent show, silly games and science activities consumed our night, and we returned to our bunks just before 10. I was exhausted. The girls in my cabin had plans to stay up all night telling ghost stories and taking pictures. At 11 p.m., we were all fast asleep, dreaming of the adventures that lay ahead.
The next morning, instead of waking up to the lovely music of birds chirping, I was startled half to death by blaring alarm clocks. Games, hiking, archery, swimming, and more games — and the day was not over yet.
During dinner, I couldn't help but notice the slick metallic-colored hairdos, glossy pink lips, and clothes too fancy to wear to school. The students were ready for their dance.
Our dedicated part-time teacher traveled through the dark and winding roads to be a disc jockey. Soon, the auditorium turned into a mini-disco-dancing club with flashes of blue lights, loud music and pre-teens dancing as if they were on MTV.
Back at the cabins later that night, after the lights turned off and voices fell to whispers, the seven teachers and chaperones met to feast on our midnight snacks. Although we were tired from our 16-hour work day, we talked and laughed about the days' events.
On our final day, we had one last activity and, feeling a little lethargic from intense running, laughing and a large lunch of turkey sandwiches, we left the grounds of Camp Erdman. Our camp leaders waved goodbye and wished us a safe trip home.
As I dreamily gazed out the window, I sighed with relief. And then I smiled. Camp Erdman wasn't just about fun and games. It was about respect, honesty, trust, cooperation, compromise, problem-solving and communication. It was about being a family. A family is what we are all about. We must teach our children how to live, work, love and function in a family because one day they will be our guidance and the light of the future 'ohana we call Hawai'i.
Kelly Ann Sakai is a Pearl City resident and a teacher at Pearl City Elementary School.
