In March, a dozen Punahou faculty and staff members went on the journey of a lifetime to the majestic kingdom of Bhutan. Organized by Wo International Center, the 10-day trip built enduring memories for the cohort. “We wanted to create an experience that would leave a lasting impact on their hearts and transform their teaching practices,” says Paula Arias, director at Wo.
The landlocked South Asian country has been captivating the world’s imagination for years, inspiring countless books, art and research about its unique way of life. One of Bhutan’s most studied exports is its groundbreaking concept around Gross National Happiness, which is the collective measurement of well-being and contentment in a population – extending beyond material wealth and status. Health, spirituality, economic stability, social needs and a host of other factors are taken into account.
The trip, funded in part by the travelers themselves, was a prime learning opportunity on many levels. “Our teachers had the opportunity to immerse themselves in a variety of enriching experiences,” Arias says. “Seeing the structure of the Bhutanese educational system, exploring the Gross National Happiness Curriculum and observing how schools integrate mindfulness for all age groups was fascinating.”
The journey was also a lever for strengthening our community. “We intentionally selected a variety of faculty and staff from across the K – 12 spectrum who wouldn’t necessarily have many opportunities to get together in school,” Arias explains. The purpose for structuring this diverse cohort is to set the stage for future collaboration across campus.
This was not the first time a group of faculty and staff has traveled together. “Throughout its history, the Wo International Center has offered faculty trips to global destinations such as Kenya, China, Costa Rica and more,” Arias notes. The Center has been organizing student trips to Bhutan since 2016 and leveraged its extensive local experience and connections to create this travel experience for faculty and staff.
During the trip, faculty had the chance to meet with high-ranking officials in Bhutan, including the country’s secretary of education, the governor of Haa district and the dean of the nation’s only law school. They also spent two days in a homestay, went to ancient temples, and visited the Karma Leksheyling orphanage, where they enjoyed the company of the children and the nuns.
Having gone on this journey, the cohort is in a better position to understand how the student travel experience should look and feel. “Faculty were able to walk in the footsteps of their students, enabling them to better understand the myriad benefits in this type of cross-cultural experience,” says Tyler Fujita ’06, assistant director at Wo Center. “It is our hope that these educators will become advocates for the work of the Wo International Center and potentially even trip leaders in the future.”
In keeping with almost three decades of serving as a beacon for educational practices, discussions and learning through a global perspective, Wo International Center hopes to continue offering more opportunities for faculty travel in the future.
Four faculty members shared their lasting takeaways from this transformative journey.
Taylor Hamilton ’09
Academy Math Faculty
I chose to go on this journey to connect with Buddhism and mindfulness practices that I could apply to my work at Punahou and to learn about Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness (GNH) work and initiatives. I also wanted to spend more quality time with my colleagues.
This trip was something that I will never forget! It meant so much to me to meet and get to know our guide, Jamtso, and his family, the families at our homestay and other community members at each of the places we visited. It was also amazing to take in all of the beautiful nature, sights and smells – not to mention the Bhutanese culture.
One of the outcomes that I got to experience was an appreciation for this journey – and all of the work that has gone into creating this amazing travel experience for our students over the many summer trips. Things have come full circle with the faculty now taking this trip and being the beneficiaries of this prior work. This trip came at a good time for me and felt like a mini-sabbatical where I got to disconnect and reflect on what I really care about, what truly matters in life, and train my mind to be the best version of myself.
Sarah Burke Man
Grade 6 Social Studies Faculty
I loved the idea of learning from the Bhutanese people, exploring their Buddhist religion and culture and studying Gross National Happiness, all in a part of the world I had never been.
On a personal level, this trip meant putting a new lens on my life as a full-time parent and teacher, learning about the Bhutanese educational system, studying gross national happiness, value-based education and learning how mindfulness and meditation are infused into the curriculum.
We were fortunate to have a wonderful tour guide, Jamtso, who also acted as a spiritual advisor. He said we are all climbing a mountain. In order to ascend, you must be compassionate, vulnerable and do the work. While it was very challenging at times, I feel I made progress in getting closer to the mountain top. I will forever be grateful for the support of Jamtso, his family and my dear colleagues on the trip who are now good friends.
A dozen travelers visited Bhutan. The group was strategically assembled with diverse staff and faculty ranging from grades K – 12, who normally don’t cross paths on campus. In the process they developed deep collaborative relationships with each other and learned about the makings of a sound student travel experience.
Trislyn Tom ’00 Ferris
Culinary Arts Faculty
I was drawn to the trip as I wanted to learn more about the culture of Bhutan and to see how mindfulness and values were integrated in the School curriculum. Being that far away from my family for that long would be outside of my comfort zone – and yet I knew that it would be an amazing opportunity to learn and grow.
There were so many beautiful moments on the trip, but the highlight was visiting the orphanage and spending time with the kids. Although our time there was brief, I had a chance to experience their community and witness their compassion for each other.
I returned from Bhutan feeling very peaceful and grounded by the trip. I felt connected to my faculty peers through our time together and loved learning about each of their personal journeys. For me, it was a good reminder to keep challenging myself with travel and new experiences.
Kinaʻu Hirahara ’86 Shipman
Third Grade Faculty
I wanted to gain insight into the Bhutanese educational system. We were able to achieve our goals by visiting elementary and secondary schools, monasteries and orphanages, and spent two days in a homestay program. We were fortunate to have many opportunities to interact with other educators, observe classes, interview high-ranking officials and see the beauty of the country.
I also wanted to go to Bhutan to learn more about how indigenous groups of people are able to maintain their traditions, values, practices, beliefs, language, dress, stories and culture in these modern times. As a Native Hawaiian, I feel it is important to keep all of these things alive. While in Bhutan, I was pleased to learn that their Buddhist beliefs, in which all things are connected and mutually dependent on one another, is a guiding force in moving forward.
My participation in this program also helped me to connect with other faculty and staff within and across academic disciplines and grade levels. These connections are powerful and I hope others can experience this too as they will help promote a welcoming, caring and respectful environment on our campus.
Wo International Center has been sending explorers to Bhutan since 2016. Organizers used this expertise to craft an unforgettable itinerary that included visits to historic temples, immersive cultural experiences at a local homestay and a touching visit to the Karma Leksheyling orphanage.