Zack Pollack- Blog- January 10, 2010

Aloha,
Nine days in Hawaii and I am having an incredible time.
It's hard to believe that the trip is more than half way
over. Each day is filled with a new adventure, experience
and lesson. Today January 10, 2009 I had the intentions to
venture kayaking with a few of my fellow "Hawaiian
classmates". However, due to confusion with the bus
schedule and being dropped off in a location, which was not
the University of Hawai'i, and rather a street, which I
did not recognize, I missed the opportunity and I did not
partake in the activity of kayaking on the beautiful Pacific
Ocean. I was originally upset for two reasons: Firstly
Kayaking has always been an activity which I had always
found to be relaxing which would give me a sense of harmony
and joy, especially being out in the beautiful Hawaiian
weather and secondly, today I am scheduled to post my blog
and I was unsure of what I could write about in order to
replace the activity of Kayaking, since I missed it. Luckily
Andrew had the phone numbers of both Professor Bullard and
Professor Miceli, so he called them and Professor Miceli
told Andrew that she knew Dean Goldenberg was interested in
visiting the Iolani Palace, which was a site that is not
on our trip itinerary but a site recommended by many local
Hawaiian residents who explained this is a site which
tourists should visit. However, we found out the palace is
closed on Sunday. Dean Goldenberg asked if a few students
and myself would be interested in visiting North Shore which
is about a 40+ minute drive in a car and 2.5 hour drive via
bus from the Queen Kapiolani Hotel. Once we arrived we
stopped for shaved ice, which is similar to a snow cone.
Interestingly, Dean Goldenberg informed us that President
Obama had visited this place with his family to get a cold,
refreshing treat of shaved ice, when he recently visited
Hawaii. Over the course of the past week many people have
told us to visit North Shore because it was a beach, which
has unbelievable sized waves this time of year, reaching a
high of 30 feet. Depending on how far along the beach you
go, you will observe how the waves vary in size. We drove
down until we found a comfortable spot to stop and we
watched the large waves crashing onto the sand of the beach.
Although the weather was rainy and it wasn't typical
Hawaiian weather, it appeared to be a beautiful beach with
some of the largest waves I had ever seen. Dean Goldenberg
told us of a Mexican restaurant which he believed was the
best Mexican food on the island (which I am sure it was
because it was delicious). It was great to have lunch and
spend the day with Dean Goldenberg. I had always known who
he was, but this was a great opportunity to have more of a
thorough exchange with the mastermind who runs Hillyer
College and the one who invited me on this remarkable trip
to Hawaii. After lunch we walked around a shopping center,
which had many interesting Hawaiian stores where we observed
many unique Hawaiian artifacts and unique stores which we
would not see back on the East Coast. Although my day was
different then I had expected and I was originally
disappointed that I missed kayaking, I truly had an amazing
time visiting a part of the island, which I did not think I
would see during this trip, and it was great to share the
experience with Dean Goldenberg, Brendan, Andrew and
Brittany. As we approach our last few days of the trip I
would like to express how I am having a great time and
learning so much culturally. I hope you all are enjoying
yourselves as much as I am while each day is filled with
something new.
Mahalo,
Zack Pollack