Academy students have returned after winter break to take part in G-Term, a special interim where students engage in a non-graded class before the second semester starts. Students selected courses from more than 70 options, including campus sessions, four-day experiences on O‘ahu and extended international and domestic trips.
The immersive courses cover a wide variety of topics, including Hawaiian culture, the arts, community service, social responsibility, cultural awareness, history, technology and life skills. “G-Term allows students to gain meaningful experiences that extend beyond the classroom walls and are not possible during our regular school year schedule,” said Trisha Kawamoto ’98 Caley, director of Academy special terms.
Here are some scenes from the 2020 G-Term:
Molokaʻi Retreat –Mindfulness, Yoga and Hawaiian Culture
Students experienced Hawaiian culture and values of the Island, practicing aloha ʻāina through community service.
Fishing 101
Students fished in the nearshore waters of Oʻahu using their own bamboo poles harvested from the forest.
Design and Build a Solar Powered Charging Station
Students designed, prototyped and built a portable weatherproof charging station that can be used to charge a phone or a computer.
Singing the Circle: Exploring Sound, Creativity, Self, and Community Through Song
Through a cappella and improv, students learned how to create spontaneous music in the style of circle singing – a technique populated by musician Bobby McFerrin – and demonstrated their new skills for first graders.
GOLF, and How to Step up your Game!!
Students spent time on the course practicing their swing, volunteering at the Sony Open and diving into sports psychology in order to improve their golf game both physically and mentally.
Gyotaku (Fish Printing) and Impressions of Plants
Students made prints on paper, shirts and other textiles using different fish and plants, and shared their newfound skills with fourth graders from Jim Smart’s class.
The Ultimate Frisbee Experience
Through practice on campus and at Waimānalo Beach, students honed their skills at Ultimate Frisbee and other disc games. President Mike Latham ’86 even got in on the fun, participating in the course as a student.
Inspiration Benches
Punahou and Kaimuki High School students teamed up to assemble, paint and decorate wooden benches to be donated to nonprofit organizations and schools in the community.
Becoming Ben and Jerry: Making and Marketing Your Own Ice Cream Flavor
Students were guided through a crash course on the world of food entrepreneurship, focused on developing and marketing their own ice cream flavors and brand.
Skateboard and Skimboard Making
Students designed, cut and shaped baltic birch plywood skateboard decks and skimboards using a variety of woodworking tools and techniques.
Habitat For Humanity Service Build
Students helped build a house alongside contractor supervision – including assembling parts, lifting supplies and painting – for a family in need in Kapolei.
Exploring Oʻahu – Off the Beaten Path
This on-island travel session took students to the east, north and west shores of Oʻahu, including hiking at Nānākuli/Māʻili, touring the Hollywood Hawaiʻi Backlot at Kualoa Ranch, as well as spending one night at a camp in Mokulēʻia.
Create Your Own Punahou Scavenger Hunt
Students looked through documents from the Punahou Archives to put together facts and clues as part of a scavenger hunt they designed. Academy students tested out their scavenger hunt, which included sampling foods found on an 1871 lunch menu, with fourth and seventh grade students.
Local Grindz
Students sampled a diverse array of local ethnic foods and were inspired by chefs and restaurant owners, with affiliations to Punahou, who “talked story” about their passions and career journeys in the culinary arts.
Japanese Arts and Sharing Peace
In this course, students developed a stronger awareness and commitment to intercultural understanding and global peace. They created artwork to deliver messages of peace, including handing out origami cranes at the Pearl Harbor Memorial visitor center. They also learned about other aspects of Japanese culture such as wearing kimono, bon dancing and creating kage-e (shadow art).
Aperture Art
Students learned how to improve their photography skills by exploring campus and unique locations on Oʻahu in this G-Term experience. Students focused on how to use different camera technologies, including DSLRs, smartphones and instant film cameras, to create stunning and thought-provoking photographs and contribute to an end-of-term showcase.
Champions of Cause: Advocacy and Entrepreneurship for a Better World
In this session, students rolled up their sleeves to engage in hands-on activities to solve real problems. They visited various local social ventures to learn about different ways to give back to the community. Above, students hear from social entrepreneurs at the Mana Up accelerator, run by Punahou alumna Meli James ’96.
Punahou Ninja Warrior
Students designed, constructed and competed in an on-campus obstacle course inspired by “American Ninja Warrior,” the high-energy competition TV series. Students also challenged themselves on the military obstacle course at Schofield Barracks.
Positive Reinforcement Dog Training
Students learned techniques and commands for training dogs to be obedient members of any household during this G-Term experience.
Let’s Ride! Horses!
In this G-Term, students learned basic horseback riding skills and horse care in Waimānalo from trained paniolos, including how to groom, saddle and ride a horse, as well as take basic care of other farm animals.
Active Science in Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Parks
As part of this G-Term, students ventured to two iconic national parks: Grand Teton and Yellowstone to learn about wildlife, climate, geology, human history and ecology. Here, they take a cross-country skiing trip at Grand Teton and track wildlife.
Exploring and Comparing Seoul and Tokyo
Connecting with Korean students at the Starfield COEX Mall, an underground mall in Seoul’s Gangnam district. For this G-Term, students engaged in numerous activities that compare and contrast the Korean and Japanese cultures, while visiting Seoul and Tokyo.
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