The COE School of Teacher Education (STE) offers students and in-service teachers an opportunity to take learning beyond the classroom through short-term field study huakaʻi to Japan. In 2026, students participated in two immersive experiences—traveling to Sendai in April and Kyoto in June—to deepen their understanding of education, culture, and place.
These huakaʻi—grounded in Sense of Purpose, Sense of Place—are intentionally curated, place-based learning journeys that invite participants to build pedagogical and cultural knowledge through meaningful experiences and a deeper connection to the places and communities they visit.
Across the two 2026 huakaʻi, 31 College of Education students, five in-service teachers earning reclassification credits, and eight faculty members participated in these transformative experiences.
The short-term huakaʻi to Japan are designed to help participants develop an appreciation for Japan’s education system and culture through direct engagement in PreK through university educational environments, cultural experiences, and interactions with local university students and faculty.
In Sendai, participants stepped into a variety of learning environments and cultural experiences. They practiced kendo and kyūdō, participated in a traditional matcha tea ceremony overlooking Matsushima Bay—famous for its nearly 260 islands—and engaged with students across grade levels. Participants explored play-based learning with kindergartners, taught an art lesson to elementary students, and worked directly with Japanese middle schoolers to teach an English-language lesson focused on conversation and cultural connections between Hawaiʻi and Sendai.
In Kyoto, participants experienced the city through a local lens, beginning the week with a guided tour led by Doshisha University students. Students from Bukkyo University introduced participants to traditional Japanese arts, including shodō (calligraphy) and playing the koto. Throughout the week, participants visited and engaged in kindergarten through high school classrooms, experienced school lunch firsthand (a real treat in Japan!), explored the close-knit rural community of Ohara through the lens of local students and residents, and shared aspects of Hawaiian culture by teaching ʻohe kāpala and the hula E Huli.
Beyond the structured learning experiences, time was spent eating the oishii foods of Japan, singing karaoke, and developing friendships that extended well beyond the huakaʻi.
These experiences offer more than a trip abroad—they’re an opportunity to see teaching and learning through a new lens, build cross-cultural understanding, and return to Hawaiʻi with experiences that can shape how we teach and connect with our students – becoming globally connected, locally committed.
Ready for an adventure that can inspire you? We offer both non-credit and 3-credit options, and courses are open to all UH students and in-service teachers. Learn more about a huakaʻi to Sendai, Japan (March 2027) or Kyoto, Japan (June 2027) at https://bit.ly/COEJapan2027 or email Patricia Massoth at pmassoth@hawaii.edu, and follow @COESTE on Instagram to see more of our huaka’i on “Field Study Fridays” during the Fall 2026 semester.
Participant Feedback:
“It would be hard to put into words, but it truly felt like an out of this world experience. We blended fun, educational, and hard-work into one week of incredible experiences. So profound and engaging, you would be begging to go on another trip with COE!!”
“I hate to be cliche but life changing. The effect on my own worldview has been staggering.”
“A once-in-a-lifetime experience that was both personally and professionally transformative. It was the most valuable professional development opportunity I have had since beginning my work with the Hawaiʻi Department of Education five years ago, as it expanded my perspective on education, culture, and student learning in meaningful and lasting ways.”
“It was not just about visiting schools in Japan, but about being fully immersed in a different education system, culture, and way of life. From observing classrooms to navigating daily life in a different language, every moment challenged my thinking and helped me grow as an educator. It is one of those experiences that is hard to fully put into words, but it left a lasting impact on how I view teaching, learning, and the importance of culture in education. This was truly unforgettable and at the end of the week, it left me wanting more.”
