2023 EPIC High School Exchange Program Students Visit Hawaii
(Originally published October 7, 2023)
From September 29-October 3, 2023, eight students from various Ehime high schools traveled to Hawaii to participate in a cultural exchange hosted by the Ehime Prefectural International Center (EPIC), which promotes cultural understanding and international cooperation through various programs and exchanges. Since 2013, EPIC has organized this exchange program that annually sends students from Ehime to Hawaii. JASH was excited to welcome back students from Ehime again this year.
Mr. Yasuoki Kosaka, Executive Director and Ms. Yukari Niiyama, Counselor of Foreign Residents from EPIC and Mr. Kazuki Takemiya, English Teacher from Imabari West High School accompanied the students as they visited various sights on Oahu, such as the Ehime Maru Memorial, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, and local high schools.
The Ehime students participated in a two-day home visit program with students from Punahou and St. Louis Schools over the weekend. On their last full day in Hawaii, the girls visited Punahou School and the boys visited St. Louis School to experience school life in Hawaii and give presentations about their hometowns, culture, and school activities. After their presentations, they had some time to converse with local students in English and Japanese. In the afternoon, they had an exchange with members of the Japanese Club at Moanalua High School.
