Bedecked with leis of aloha, twenty-two Indonesian educators from Islamic boarding schools--primary and secondary, administrators and teachers--spent the day at ‘Iolani School on November 4, 2008. 

Beginning their day as observers of our morning chapel service, they visited classes in both the upper and lower schools before joining in four topics of conversation with our students and faculty:  an introduction to Islam, a mini-introduction to Arabic, women in literature and society, and international relations regarding Indonesia and the United States.  

Students and faculty were invited to attend any of the four offerings during the day’s extended schedule “meeting period,” a 55-minute period when no classes are held.  During lunch and the early afternoon, our guests met with Dr. Iwashita and the organizer of the event, Ms. Driskill, along with other upper and lower school administrators to discuss school administration and management.

The Indonesian educators were in Hawai’i through the coordination of the East-West Center’s Asia Pacific Education Program and the U.S. State Department.  Prior to their visit to ‘Iolani School, the participants spent two weeks at schools across the mainland.  The program’s goal was to explore the question, “How can schools best prepare youth to live and work peacefully and cooperatively with diverse communities ­ at home and across borders ­ in a fast globalizing world of the 21st century?”  

‘Iolani’s Peace Institute was pleased to welcome these guests to our campus and extends a warm mahalo to Namji Steinemann, director of the East-West Center’s Asia Pacific Education Program and an ‘Iolani parent (Nicolas ’12), who invited our participation.  Together our guests and the ‘Iolani community came to a better appreciation of one another and of our common desire for peace in our world.