The school was buzzing with camping fever! Everyone from the Office Technology Management day class was antsy with anticipation about going camping over the long weekend. (HTI observed Veteran’s Day Monday instead of Tuesday.)
After class on Friday everyone took off to Bellows Air Force Base in Waimanalo arriving at about 5:30 p.m. The HTI caravan headed in together and camp set up began. Students, ohana and significant others challenged their hand/eye coordination as they began assembling a 20x30, 20x20 tarps and 2 sleeping tents in the dark. One of the many obstacles that drove the students crazy was having to match the colors marked on the poles for one of the tarps to go up. Matching red with red or green with green proved to be a difficult task to perform in the dark. It also offered moments of hysterical laughter among all there. When they stood the pole frame up, the legs were going every which way but in the direction they were supposed to. It was hilarious!
When the set up was completed and dinner had been cooked, everyone sat down and devoured the meal. One quick glance around brought on a question: Hey, what kind of camping is this? They had brought not one but two generators, a string of lights that ran the length of both tarps, a gas stove, and a gas grill. The only things that were missing were a T.V. and a microwave oven. The bathrooms had showers with hot water - any bathroom you chose to use, and they were all within walking distance from the camp site. Not only that, but there was also a sink to wash dirty pots and pans, complete with running hot water! All the luxuries of home! It was certainly more like we were all sleeping over a friend’s home than going camping for the weekend.
The entire weekend was filled with good times, laughter and fun, everything that goes into making awesome memories. The air was filled with the joy that overflowed out of everyone there. The students and their family members and friends played card games and the banter in between made stomachs hurt from laughing so hard. Domino games went on till early morning, and the water balloon fight lasted two whole days! Talk about having a great time! The students of the OTM day class definitely know how to do just that!
Leaving was difficult. Leaving the place; leaving each other. Such a bond was built amongst one another, it can’t be touched. The students have vowed to stay in touch with each other after they complete the OTM program.
Lifetime friendships have been established right here on the campus of Hawai’i Technology Institute. People have shared so many experiences, learning in and out of the normal classroom setting, creating memories that will remain with them for a lifetime. Memories they’ll share with their children, grandchildren and everyone else they care about.
