JASH Education Programs Join the Oahu Charity Walk
Milo, Wesley, Eleanor, and Lilian, this year’s Asian-Pacific Children's Convention (APCC) delegates, Kala, this years Peace Ambassador, and Wendy, the 2025 APCC Chaperone, are getting ready to travel to Fukuoka, where they will meet kids from across the Asia-Pacific region to exchange cultures, ideas, and friendship. Mia and Chloe, this year’s Hiroshima Peace Scholarship (HPS) delegates, HPS Chaperone Todd, and HPS Program Coordinator Cindy, are getting ready to travel to Hiroshima where they will delve into the history and impact of World War II, participate in collaborative activities with students in Hiroshima, and share their messages of peace in both Hiroshima and Hawaii. This year’s APCC and HPS delegates, along with APCC alumni and families, participated in the Oʻahu Visitor Industry Charity Walk. For these Junior Ambassadors and HPS Scholars, it wasn’t just a walk—it was the first step in their journey of learning, connecting, and representing Hawaiʻi.
Even though the walk was fun, it also taught the JAs and HPS scholars a few big lessons—about giving back, supporting others, and what it means to represent Hawaiʻi. The walk helps raise money for all kinds of causes, like youth programs, food banks, and shelters. It was eye-opening to see just how many people and organizations are working to make the community better. On the way, we met a couple of our JASH staff who were volunteering as course marshalls! Every year JASH staff volunteers as course marshals to keep walkers safe but also enjoy the walk as well. As the JAs and HPS scholars prepare to head to Japan, the Charity Walk gave them a confidence boost. It helped them get more comfortable with each other, learn to represent their program in public, and experience how small actions can make a big difference. Plus, it was just a really fun day.
Programs like APCC and HPS aren’t just about travel, they’re about growth. And events like the Charity Walk help set the tone. They remind students that leadership starts in your own backyard, and that learning comes in all forms: in conversations, in shared laughter, and in taking part in the community.
