6月10日、ハワイでの生活も残り1ヵ月半となりました。学生たちはハワイでの生活にも慣れ、インターンシップや勉強を頑張りながらも、楽しく過ごしているようです。また、ホームステイ先やレストランで味わったアメリカ・ハワイの食事を通して、現地の食文化や由来を学んだようです。

　
Hawaiian Culture & Food
Anna Hatsushima

After two months in Hawaii I feel I have grown accustomed to the lifestyle here. I also experience new things, so I'm satisfied every day. I will now write about Hawaiian culture & food. I went to a nursing home as a volunteer, and the staff gave us lunch. The lunch menu this day was "Kalua Pork", "Poi", and "Haupia." "Kalua Pork" is a traditional Hawaiian dish, and it is eaten by many people now. My host mother often cooks it. "Kalua" means to bake, so "Kalua Pork" is a baked pork dish. In the past they didn't have any kitchenware, so people dug a hole in the ground and they steamed the pork with stones and leaves. That was how they ate the "Kalua Pork." Now we have a lot of kitchenware, so we can cook it easily. "Poi" is made by kneading taro and water. I cannot eat it because I do not like the taste. It is similar to yam, but it doesn't have the same taste. "Haupia" is also a traditional dessert made with coconut. It tasted good. It's like a pudding. At university, we can learn not only English but also about traditional Hawaiian food and culture. The second picture is of a "Hale" where farmers can rest. We visited a taro patch and we listened to the history of taro. I want to eat other Hawaiian food during my stay here in Hawaii.
　

　
Famous foods - Loco Moco & Poke -
Rina Hamada

At first, I was nervous when I came to Hawaii, but I am now used to life in Hawaii and feel better now. During my first two months I experienced a variety of foods and learned about their history. I will write about the foods I like best. First, Loco Moco. This is a special lunch plate and was probably created in Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii around 1949. This dish includes white rice, macaroni salad and a seasoned hamburger steak with a fried egg and brown gravy. Loco Moco is one of my favorite foods. Second, I will write about Poke. Actually, there are two kinds. One is a traditional poke and the other is a modern poke. The traditional poke was originally a seasoned raw fish meal that was eaten by the ancient Hawaiians before European contact. So, a traditional poke has simple ingredients, such as aku fish or octopus, sea salt, limu seaweed, and kukui nut. But very few people eat this kind of poke today. Most people know the modern poke which uses ingredients introduced to Hawaii such as shoyu, round onions, spring onions, sesame oil, mayonnaise, etc. Also, modern poke uses a wide variety of fish, such as ahi tuna, salmon, swordfish, and even tofu. Before returning to Japan, I will try more Hawaiian foods.
　

　
Hawaiian food and culture
Minori Tamaru

I have experienced many things in Hawaii since I arrived. Specifically, I ate a lot of Hawaiian food. These were really delicious. Especially, I recommend poke and acai bowl. These are the most famous Hawaiian foods. Poke is made with fresh fish and rice. It's similar to Kaisen don. So when I miss Japan, I often eat Poke. And, there are many kinds of poke, such as tuna, salmon, octopus, etc. I haven't eaten octopus poke, but I would like to try this. Also, I ate acai bowl for the first time. Acai bowl is an acai smoothie topped with banana, strawberries, and granola. I was fascinated by this taste. And, I heard that acai bowl contains a lot of nutrients. So, it's good for health. I would like to eat acai bowl again.
I really feel the difference in culture between Japan and Hawaii. I think if I didn't come to Hawaii, I wouldn't have noticed this great part of Japan. I also feel that people in Hawaii are so friendly. When I buy something, shop assistants are so friendly and smile. I feel happy every time. They attend to me like an acquaintance. So, I would like to be friendly like them because they make people around them happy. Studying abroad is sometimes hard for me. But, it gives me a lot of experiences and motivation. Before I leave, I would like to experience many more things and really connect further with Hawaiian culture.