Sun, sand, shave ice, and some food is the recipe for a good time, according to Holomua staff. Holomua participants celebrated by coming together at the beach to enjoy time together after finishing the ACT exam. Mentors and staff express how they appreciate the hard work and Holomua participants share how this week will be a “cherished memory” to them.
“They have have accomplished so much this week,” said Alohilani Housman, a sophomore mentor from Hawaii studying Hawaiian studies and communication. “[The party] is a great way to celebrate their accomplishments, to come together as one family.”
In accordance with Holomua six-day theme program, the beach party was held on Friday, July 13, and the theme of the day was Hukilau. According to Housman, hukilau literally means to pull leaves, but more symbolically it means to come together in unity.
Agreeing with Housman, Holomua director for 2018 and admission officer, Maurice Mo`o, said the meaning of Hukilau comes from “everyone pulling together to make something happen. I want to thank our mentors, our Holomua staff for pulling together and making this happen for our visiting students. They made this week a success, and of course admissions and recruitment staff.”
The Holomua students ate, mingled, and enjoyed the nice weather at the Hukilau beach party. Housman smiled and shared how happy she was to be part of this year’s Holomua program. She said, “I did the program when I was their age. It’s special to me, and I’m grateful I could be a mentor. It’s worth it.”
One of the Holomua participants playing volleyball on the beach was Aileen Tseng from Guam. Tseng is a convert to the LDS church and was baptized only a few months before coming to participate in Holomua. She shared how her mother wanted her to participate in Holomua, but because she wasn’t a member she had to get a bishop’s endorsement. During her interview, she reluctantly accepted the bishops invitation to receive the missionaries. Later, she gained a testimony and was baptized.
Tseng shared, “Initially, I was pretty nervous, Everyone here is so talented and unique, I’m really glad I got the opportunity come here and meet new people. Being here [has] been a really good experience because you’re with people who are from around the world and they have the same beliefs as you. They are all willing to help you, and they [are] kind and welcoming. I think this will be a really good memory that I will cherish forever.”
Before the party the students took the ACT, a college-entrance exam used to test the readiness of students for a college curriculum. The students in the Holomua program spent the whole week preparing for the test, and the beach party was the celebration to honor the work they put in.
Relieved to be done with the exam, Tseng said, “It’s like all the weight on my shoulders [is] gone. I’ve never taken the ACT before, [but now] we’re able to just have fun and not worry about anything now.”
Content with how the week was ending, Housman commented, “For the most part, I think they did really good. I talked to a lot of my students, and they said felt pretty confident, so I was really proud of them for that.”
Maurice Mo`o shared a positive story from a Kahuku student who was nervous about taking the ACT exam, who afterward felt confident they did well. He said, “The reason they said they took it very well is because their mentor, last night, gave them a priesthood blessing, so instead of being very nervous, she was very calm, and she said she thought she did very well.
Mo`o continued, “That’s awesome, that a success story for us. We like to think students… are prepared and gain confidence for themselves [and] the test.”
Writer: Dani Castro