Rotary Friendship Exchange (RFE) to Hawaii

2014 Rotary District 9640 Rotary Friendship Exchange to D5000 Hawaii.

Dan and I have been fortunate to be selected to be included in a Rotary Friendship Exchange to District 5000 in Hawaii. Originally there were 13 of us going. However over the past few months, due to personal circumstances, this number has decreased to 9. Each of us represents a Rotary Club within our District of 9640.

Pauline and Reg Norvill from the Rotary Club of Tweed Heads South

Scout Symons from the Rotary Club of Casino

Don and Frances Hall are from the Rotary Club of Glen Innes

Chris and Bev are Wheelahan from the Rotary Club of Grafton

Wendy and Dan Rotary E-Club NextGen

The purpose of the friendship exchange is foster good will and fellowship with Rotarians in another District. This is done by being hosted by local families. We are also able to see some of the local attractions. There is a reciprocal trip planned of a group from District 5000 to our District which will link into the Rotary International Conference in Sydney.

The team arrives in Hawaii on Wednesday 23rd April where we land in Honolulu. We spend the night there.

Early the next morning we leave Oahu for Hilo. Here we meet our first host family.

We are visiting the East Hawaii Rotary Club Steak Fry at the large pavilion in Wailoa State Park. I think that a steak fry is similar to a BBQ. I will have to let you know what it exactly is.

On Friday 25th April (ANZAC Day) we are  hoping to do some form of memorial to mark our respects to those who have fought and died for us. This is followed by a day visit to Volcano National Park.

Evening: Informal BBQ for host families and guests at Richard and Jenny Johnson’s.

On Saturday 26th April, we meet up with the East Hawaii Rotary Clubs and we will march in the Merrie Monarch Parade. After this we say goodbye to our host clubs and families and drive to Kona in West Hawaii. Here we meet our next host families. During our time in Kona, we are able to blend some sight –seeing with Rotary fellowship. We are attending a fund raising function for the “Friends of the Children of West Hawaii” This is an annual event to raise money for children who have been subjected to abuse. This organisation has been established for more than 25 years.

We are also going to visit the annual Spring Concert of the Kona Music Society Chorus which will include local music. We will also be visiting some of the natural beauty in the area. We might even get to visit the Kona Coffee Plantation as well.

On Tuesday 29th April we say goodbye to our second host family as we fly from Kona to Maui. On arrival, we are visting the Waikamoi Preserve near Hosmer Grove. After this hike we will meet our next host families.

We will doing a presentation at a lunch meeting at the Rotary Club of Kihei Wailea.

After lunch we are off to the Ocean Vodka Tour (Kula)  and a visit to the Makai Glass Works.

We will be spending the evening at a Pot Luck dinner at a Rotarian’s home.

We then spend some time at Lahaina where we go on a Sailing trip followed by lunch at the Yacht Club

After some more sight seeking of the Maui Tropical Plantation in the Lao Valley and some retail therapy we are guests at a joint meeting of Central Clubs members at Vineyard Food Company. Our host club is the Rotary Club of Valley Isle Sunset Club. We will do our presentation to this group.

On Friday 2nd May we leave our hosts as we fly back to Honolulu. In Honolulu we are attending the District 5000 Conference.

After the conference we meet up with our last host families. We spend some time sightseeing in Waikiki before being guests at the Rotary Club of Honolulu Sunset Club at the Waikiki Yacht Club.

We will be visiting the Rotary Club of Pau Hana. The guest speaker is a lady from Mexico.

We leave Hawaii after two wonderful weeks.

I will provide some updates during our trip and will give you a more comprehensive report when we get back.