[ SUNDAY TRAVEL ]
KO OLINA KIDS
The Disneyland travelers included, from left, chaperone Natasha Clarin, Aquila Sotelo, Thomas (Alama) Soares, Zondra Baker, Trysti Kawaiaea (front), chaperone Pele Toomata (back), Nehzhelle Timoteo, Alika Kalani, Conan Vierra, Danielle (Nan) Kanui, Israel Sanchez and Roylyn Kaululaau.
Ko Olina Resort rewards
10 goal-oriented kids
Just before Christmas, Ko Olina Resort Marina fulfilled the dreams of 10 Leeward Oahu intermediate school students with a trip to Disneyland. Two students were chosen from each of the following neighborhood churches: Arc of Safety, Paradise Chapel, Holy Hill of Zion, His Highest Praise Leeward Side and City of Joy. The criteria for student selection included grades, goals and coming from low-income or single-parent families.
Students were asked to provide an essay on their life goals and "How my life would change if I could go to Disneyland," in addition to providing a letter of recommendation.
"The primary goal of the Ko Olina Kids program is to establish an ongoing grass-roots effort to improve every child's opportunity for a better education by encouraging good study habits, setting goals for the future and becoming better citizens of their community," said Jeffrey Stone, managing director of Ko Olina Resort Marina. The program provides "incentive to maintain grades and fulfill goals while using education as a gateway opportunity to travel to Disneyland and meet Mickey Mouse."
COURTESY OF SHAWN M. SAMPSON
The Grizzly River Run sends riders careening through mountain caverns and waterfalls patterned after the Sierra Nevada foothills.
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First time away makes
her heart race like
roller coasterOne of the Ko Olina Kids shares her
adventures in the following essay:
I have been blessed and had one of my dreams come true: I finally got to go to Disneyland.Ko Olina Association selected me, along with nine other students from the Westside, for an all-expense-paid trip to Disneyland on Dec. 4.
I had always wanted to go but had never been able to go because of the cost. My parents felt that whatever extra money we have should go toward our education, so this was probably the only way I would ever be able to visit Disneyland. I am the first one from my mother's side of the family to ever go to Disneyland. My grandma, aunties, uncle and cousins on my mom's side, as well as my mom and dad, have never been there.
I was blessed to be able to meet other kids my age who attend different schools and churches. I was also blessed to be able to bring my Aunty Miriam Hokoana along with me. We were so excited!
I have never gotten on a big airplane or left Hawaii. I have never been in cold, cold weather or been to anything as exciting. The most exciting event here would be the 50th State Fair, which I now realize does not even compare to Disneyland. I was able to see a whole new world beyond Hawaii.
KO OLINA KIDS
Ten Leeward students discovered the magic of Disneyland through a Ko Olina Kids-sponsored essay contest.
FROM THE MOMENT we met at Ko Olina, my heart was racing. I was so excited. I was actually going to ride on a big plane and actually going to leave Hawaii. We boarded the plane, and I couldn't believe how many people could fit inside of it. We actually could watch movies on the plane.
When we got to the mainland airport, it was so big that my heart was racing even faster. I was excited but also scared, but we already started having fun at the airport. It didn't seem that cold, but we could blow smoke out of our mouths. That was really cool. The air felt really good.
On our way to the hotel, we saw Disneyland. That night, we could hardly sleep. This is the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me in my life. We got up the next morning and were on our way to Disneyland. WOW, was it awesome!
We spent about 15 hours at Disneyland. We got to ride the Matterhorn, the Race Cars, Indiana Jones, Pirates of the Caribbean and Splash Mountain, which I think was the scariest. I got a picture of us riding Splash Mountain, and you can tell by the look on my face that it was an unbelievable ride.
At night they had a fireworks show. That was so, so, so cool. They had all kinds of beautiful colors of fireworks just bursting in the sky. I couldn't believe how beautiful it was.
The next day, we went to California Adventure Park. We spent about 14 hours there and went on two roller coaster rides, returning to the California Screamin' ride about 12 times. We also went on the Grizzly River Run, which got everyone wet. It was just too cool.
That night, they had the Electric Light Parade, and I have never seen anything so beautiful. You have all these floats or vehicles driving down, all lighted up. It was unbelievable! I couldn't figure out how they could do something like that.
THE WALT DISNEY CO.
Fireworks are a highlight of any trip to the Magic Kingdom, and the Ko Olina Kids were duly impressed.
I don't think the excitement in my heart ever stopped. I think even when I was sleeping it was still going.
California Adventure Park is different from Disneyland, but I really liked both of them and can't decide which one I like the best. Anyone who goes to California should go to both.
There is a whole world out there, and I was able to see a tiny little portion of it. I would always see pictures of Disneyland or see the commercials on TV, but to actually be there and see and experience everything was beyond my dreams and expectations.
I was able to ride a huge airplane, spend two days on the most unbelievable rides, see an awesome fireworks show, the most beautiful electric light parade, feel cold weather and make a whole bunch of new friends for life, in four days. What more could any kid ask for?
I am so thankful to Ko Olina, Jeff Stone, my family, friends, my church, Paradise Chapel and, most of all, God for blessing me with this chance of a lifetime. I am also thankful to Uncle Pele, Aunty Natasha, Uncle Boy, Aunty Kelly, Aunty Miriam and Keohi for putting up with us and letting us drag them all over Disneyland and the California Adventure Park. They were awesome and kept up with us. They made our experience even more special and took real good care of us.
I would like to go into law enforcement when I get older, but most of all I would like to bless a child someday with the same opportunity that was given to me. There is so much out in the world, and I'm grateful for seeing a part of it. This experience has been one that I will always cherish.
Thank you.
COURTESY OF SHAWN M. SAMPSON
The Ko Olina Kids couldn't get enough of the California Screamin' roller coaster, riding it about a dozen times.
Leeward Coast middle-schoolers set sights on careers
The 10 who traveled to Disneyland are:>> Nehzhelle Timoteo, Kapolei Middle School; wants to be an actress
>> Trysti Kawaiaea, Ka Waihona O Ka Naavao; wants to be a doctor
>> Zondra Baker, Nanakuli Intermediate School; wants to be a massage therapist
>> Danielle Kanui, Nanakuli Intermediate School; wants to be a veterinarian
>> Roylyn Kaulula'au, Maili Bible School; wants to study law enforcement
>> Alika Kalani, Waianae Intermediate School; wants to be a firefighter
>> Aquila Sotelo, Waianae Intermediate School; wants to be a heavy-equipment operator
>> Israel Sanchez, Waianae Intermediate School; wants to be an NFL player
>> Conan Cordero Vierra, Waianae Intermediate School; wants to be an engineer
>> Thomas Adams Lopes Soares, Waianae Intermediate; wants to be a lawyer
