Day 2
We started the morning with breakfast at the hotel before hopping on a bus to make our way to one of the most meaningful stops of our trip: Pearl Harbor.
After an engaging and educational guided bus tour of the island, we arrived at Pearl Harbor with time to explore the grounds and memorials. We then gathered in a theater to watch a short film documenting the events of December 7, 1941, and the attack on Pearl Harbor. It was a powerful opportunity to learn more about that day and better understand the history behind such an important place in our nation's history.
One of the most memorable parts of our visit was taking the boat out to the USS Arizona Memorial. Standing above the remains of the battleship, seeing small bubbles of oil still rising to the surface more than 80 years later, and reading the names of those who lost their lives was an incredibly moving experience. The memorial provided a meaningful opportunity to pause, reflect, and honor everyone whose lives were forever changed that day.
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We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to experience this place together. It was a reminder not to take for granted the sacrifices others have made and the freedom we enjoy today. After returning to the hotel, we had a couple of hours to enjoy some downtime. There was a little bit of everything happening—shopping, grabbing lunch, swimming in the pool, and spending time with family. It was a nice chance to recharge before shifting our attention back to basketball.
Later in the afternoon, we loaded up the vans and headed to our first practice in Hawaii. It was exciting to finally get on the court and get some work in as we prepare for the games ahead. After practice, we made a quick turnaround at the hotel to get ready for the evening's Welcome Dinner Luau. We joined the other teams and families for a great night of food and entertainment. The buffet did not disappoint. We enjoyed salad, rice, noodles, chicken teriyaki, freshly carved pork and roast beef, fried plantains, and pineapple. The gelato for dessert definitely hit the spot.
We also had the opportunity to hear from the head coaches of the participating teams before enjoying a show filled with music and entertainment. To finish the night, we walked back to the hotel for a quick film session to get ready for our first game.
Everywhere we go in Hawaii, we hear people saying the word “Mahalo.” In Hawaiian, Mahalo means “thank you” and is an expression of appreciation, gratitude, and respect. As we wrapped up Day 2, we went to bed with a tremendous amount of gratitude—for the people who made this trip possible, the opportunity to represent Winona State, and the experiences we get to share as a team.
Mahalo, Hawaii. We are thankful for the opportunity and excited for the adventures ahead. GO Warriors.
Day 1 - Travel day
If you thought our early morning practices were tough, try waking up at 2:15 a.m. to catch a flight to HAWAII. Day 1 of our trip started early, but the excitement made it a little easier to get moving. Our first stop was Seattle, and after a four-hour flight, we landed with just 45 minutes to make our connecting flight.
Once we boarded our next flight, you could feel the energy picking up. Everyone was excited, the anticipation was building, and HAWAII was finally starting to feel real. Six hours later, we touched down in Honolulu. After a 16-hour travel day, we were officially on island time.
We grabbed our bags, loaded up the rental cars and made our way to the hotel. After getting settled, we could not resist taking in the scenery, snapping some pictures and enjoying the surroundings. Many of us added some Hawaiian flowers to our hair to officially kick off the island vibes.
Before dinner, we made our way down to the beach for a team picture. The views were unreal and the ocean a bright blue. Some of our teammates even spotted a seal hanging out in the sand.
To wrap up the day, we headed to Duke's for dinner. Good food, laughs and views made for the first meal in Hawaii. After dinner, everyone had a chance to explore the beach, check out the shops and take in the things surrounding us.
After a long day, we were ready to rest.
