[Caption] Some students on the New Zealand trip took the chance to bungee jump ofF the AJ Hackett Bungy Kawarau Bridge.
This spring break, HBA students traveled to New Zealand as part of their Science studies and returned with meaningful and unforgettable experiences. It was the first time visiting the country for many of them and the trip was a mix of adventure, learning, and personal growth.
One common highlight shared by students was bungee jumping, which was included in the itinerary as a lesson in Physics. Jaydi Dakujaku, a senior, described it as one of the best parts of the trip. She especially enjoyed watching others build up the courage to jump off the bridge. Similarly, classmate Vanessa He found the experience exhilarating. “The scariest part was standing on the ledge, and waiting for the staff to count down when to jump, feeling like a fish out of water with the wind rushing,” she recalled. Ava Ortega, a junior who took the plunge, also recounted how nervous she was when standing on the edge. and that it was “the most thrilling experience of her life.”
Another once-in-a-lifetime experience on the trip took place at Lake Tekapo, on the South Island. The group traveled to the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve for a chance to see the stars in one of the “darkest night skies in the world.” Besides being in awe of the bounty of stars in the skies, the students were treated to a display of the aurora borealis. He felt deeply impacted by the experience. “It made me realize how small we are compared to the universe and [I felt] really privileged being able to witness shooting stars and the southern lights,” she said. In addition to bungee jumping, Ortega said that stargazing in New Zealand was one of her favorite experiences on the trip. Dakujaku was also grateful for the opportunity to see beauty of the stars, especially though the telescopes provided at the stargazing site.
Despite all these exciting moments, there were also challenges that involved getting to the more remote places on their itinerary. Dakujaku and He did not enjoy the long bus rides. One of the longest bus rides was the journey to Milford Sound, a fjord in the south west of New Zealand’s South Island. While the fjord offered beautiful scenery, Ortega noted that it felt less exciting because she is used to similar scenery back home in Hawaii.
This trip also gave students a glimpse of Maori culture and traditions. Ortega shared that learning about Māori history further deepened her understanding of the natural beauty of New Zealand. Dakujaku enjoyed the traditional Māori dinners that were cooked in pits dug in the ground, similar to the Hawaiian imu. The students also remarked on the friendliness of New Zealanders and the high-level of environmental consciousness in the country. Ortega noticed the commonplace practice of recycling and how store hours reflected how businesses valued their employees’ work-life balance.
