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To get to know each other better on the first day, our cluster of 22 students (and the #1 cluster, might I add) played a game to find out all the things we have in common! Our huge group goes to the same ENG 100, REL 150, and SOC 100 (and CAS 110!) courses together. We have students who have traveled the world, who are from neighbor islands and the mainland, and even some from the very same high school!
This cluster is led by two Peer Mentors- myself (Christy Wagner) and Mari Takemoto-Chock. We both love how on top of things our students are, and know from the questions they ask us that they’ll be super involved at UH!
One of the best things you can do adjust to a new community like UH is to find your place in the crowd. That’s why the RIO website (aka Registered Independent Organizations) is a great resource to find fabulous clubs where you can meet people with your same interests! Look up all the clubs already established on campus at: http://www.hawaii.edu/caps/rio/rio.htm. If there’s a club you want to join but doesn’t exist yet, you can also make your own! This website is a great tool for information and a great place to start getting involved on campus to make the most of your experience at Manoa.
(P.S. if you love eating healthy, check out the Sustainability Courtyard next to Kuykendall and Sakamaki Hall- Govinda’s and Da Spot offer tasty alternatives to the fast food on campus!)
~Christy Wagner
Hey everyone!!! I’m Amy Mikasa, and I am one of the Peer Mentors for Cluster #2! We have a gargantuan cluster of 20 Students!!!!!! Even though there are so many students in cluster #2, they all share a few things in common and yet are unique in their own ways. We have students from California, Kauai, Big Island, Oahu, Washington, Chicago and Japan ; and they are all enrolled in ENG 100, SOC 251, and HIST 151 as well as CAS 110!! Some have shared stories of awesome adventures they have been on, like climbing water falls and cutting their tendons, (YIKES), or moving to Hawai’i after spending several years in Japan, and others have shared with us their talents such as being able to play multiple instruments or spear fishing!! Cluster #2 is truly amazing, and the year has just begun!
Since it is the beginning of the semester, I have decided to highlight one of the best and most fun resources available on campus…..THE LEISURE CENTER!!!!!! The leisure center is connected to Bale which is right next to Sinclair Library. And we all know that every single one of you know where Sinclair is. The leisure center is a great place for students to sign up to take classes for a good time, and for a cheap price. Plus, it’s on campus, so for those of you who do not have a car or are living on campus, it’s super convenient! Some of the classes the Leisure Center offers are:
Salsa dancing , Astronomy Star Parties, Capoeira, Yoga, Kayaking Excursions, Hiking Trips, Bodyboarding, Basics of Home brewing, Ceramics, Surfing, Guitar, Slack Key, Sailing, Tai Chi, First Aid, Intramural Sports, Scuba
And soooo much more!!! The prices for classes range from anywhere between $5.00 to $200.00, and usually you pay once for a months worth of classes ^_^!! This month they are featuring a Turbo Kick TM Party and the first day is Free!! It starts on September 8, so go check it out! Aaaaalllllooooohhhhhaaaaaa!!!!
Even through all the hustle and bustle of the first day of school, the students of cluster #7 came to class early and enthusiastic (some even getting to class earlier than me, the peer mentor!).
We are a general education cluster with a variety of classes which include BOT 105, ENG 100, and HWST 107. Some of us would like to continue our studies in English or Hawaiian Studies, such as Sara who would like to pursue an English degree or Aloha, who would like to become a Hawaiian Studies teacher after she graduates. While some students are certain of their majors, there are still some of us that are undecided, but have goals of learning more about majors, and possibly deciding one by the end of the semester.
Although each one of us is unique in our own ways, we discovered some similarities as well; almost all of us are local residents either from Oahu or the Big Island. Born and raised on the islands could be a reasonable explanation for the fact that most of us love the ocean and going to the beach. Almost half of the class told me that they would be a dolphin, whale, turtle, so some other sea creature, if they could be any animal they wanted!
As a class, we set various goals for ourselves for the semester. Some of these goals include:
1. getting good grades
2. discovering a major
3. meeting new people
4. attending a sporting event
5. joining an intramural sport
We hope to accomplish most, if not all of these goals. We can easily accomplish goal #4, and possibly even #3 when the football season starts next month! UH football games at the Aloha Stadium are a great way to show school pride, and also a fun activity to do with friends. Plus, attending football games is also an awesome way to fulfill the “Co-Curricular Activity” menu item.
Our first day together was fantastic and we’ve learned so much about one another. After our ice breaker, we learned even more—discovering our pet peeves, hobbies, and favorites foods. Most of us agreed that we like Hawaiian, Japanese, Italian, or Chinese food, but surprisingly, none of the students said THAI FOOD! I can honestly say this is my latest “obsession.” If any of you would like to try some great Thai food, you should check out Chiang Mai Northern Thai Cuisine on South King Street, across of Longs and near Honolulu Stadium State Park!
I hope everyone else’s first day was as wonderful as ours!
-Marissa-Lyn Chomko
Getting to know one another during our icebreaker activity 
