During Fall 10-Week NICE Program, students who took Service Learning elective courses, visited and experienced Lyon Arboretum, Kānewai Loʻi, and Mālama Maunalua.
Lyon Arboretum
Kānewai Loʻi
Mālama Maunalua
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This Halloween 2025, the Fall 10-Week NICE Program students participated in an immersive Halloween Learning Activity. During the event, students were first tested on their English speaking ability through integrated skills practice, then engaged in a complementary lunch gathering. Notable activities held were Halloween-themed ice breaker activities, collaborative group competitions, and a costume contest to cap off.
In the first game Gimmie Gimmie, one person stands in the middle of the group and calls out for a specific item—for example, “Gimmie gimmie something orange!” or “Gimmie gimmie something spooky!” Everyone quickly looks around to find that requested item and bring it to the person in the middle. The person to reach the center with the correct item earns a point. This is a lively fast-paced game with quick thinking and swift observation.
The Story Circle (one-word story game) is where students sit in a circle and take turns adding one word at a time to tell a story together. You can start with the a Halloween-themed prompt such as “ghost” (as stated above) and see where the story goes. The challenge is to listen closely and work as a team to build a fun, spooky, or silly story one word at a time.
To cap off the activities, Telephone is a classic listening game where players sit in a circle. One will whisper a Halloween-themed message—like “The black cat stole the candy”—to the person next to them. The message continues around the circle until the last player says it aloud. This is a great method to practice listening skills and communication, but comes with a lot of fun seeing how the sentences change along the way.
The final portion of this Halloween event entailed a costume contest between students. Congratulations to each of the winners for your creativity and spirit!
These activities were a fun and effective way to build English speaking and communication skills. By encouraging students to talk, listen, and interaction in fun situations, there is a greater comfort for using the language naturally and confidently. With the Halloween theme, the activities grew more exciting—students shared imaginative ideas about costumes, creatures, and celebrations. This playful context allowed students to connect language learning with real world fun, making the event a lively and memorable part of their NICE Program experience.
International Programs Office Staff – NICE Program Fall 2025 Thank you to the International Programs staff for all the hard work and effort put into preparing for the Halloween Learning Activity! The continued execution and support for the 10-Week NICE Program would not be possible without your persistent contributions.
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Oʻahu is an island with rich history and culture. Here are some of the most popular landmarks and attractions visitors (including NICE students!) can experience and learn in Hawaiʻi!
Pearl Harbor Memorial + USS Arizona Memorial
The Pearl Harbor Memorial is where you can learn about the Pearl Harbor Attack on December 7, 1941. This is one of the most visited destinations on O‘ahu. You can enter on your own and visit the museum and memorials for free, or join a tour group that offers a guide to the various monuments inside the gallery.
There are three main memorials: the USS Utah Memorial, the USS Oklahoma Memorial, and the USS Arizona Memorial. The most popular of the three is the USS Arizona Memorial.
This structure was completed in 1961 and officially dedicated in 1962.
Designed by Austrian architect, Alfred Preis.This is the resting place of over 1,000 sailors and Marines who lost their lives during the attack on Pearl Harbor. This National Memorial sits on top of the sunken ship, with large floor-to-ceiling windows that allow visitors to look at the ship below.
NICE students at Pearl Harbor For more information, visit Pearl Harborʻs official website at: www.pearlharbor.org
ʻIolani Palace
NICE students in front of ʻIolani Palace during a Downtown Walking Tour. 
King David Kalākaua
Source: Hawaiʻi State Archives, Photograph Collections, PP-96-11-001Built in 1882 by King Kalākaua, ʻIolani Palace was the home of Hawaiʻi’s last reigning monarchs and served as their official royal residence until the overthrow of the monarchy in 1893. ʻIolani Palace was recognized as a historical landmark in 1962 and is also the only royal residence in the United States.
ʻIolani Palace hosts 60-90 minute tour options with guided tour guides, or audio tours (available in English or Japanese).
Fun fact: ʻIolani Palace had electricity (1886) before the White House (1891)
Image Credit: ʻIolani Palace
Click the link to check out the offered tours here!
Queen Liliʻuokalani, the last monarch of Hawaiʻi, was held in house arrest at ʻIolani Palace after the overthrow of the kingdom.
Source: Hawaiʻi State Archives, Photograph Collections, PP-98-11-003.
ʻIolani Palace is a popular site for NICE students to visit in their Downtown Walking Tour as part of the Community Day curriculum.
If you’re interested in visiting the Iʻolani Palace, visit: www.iolanipalace.org
Bishop Museum
NICE students in front of Hawaiian Hall, one of the exhibition buildings at Bishop Museum. 
Bishop Museum was built in 1889 by Charles Reed Bishop in remembrance of his wife, Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop. It is the biggest museum in the state, and houses Hawaiʻiʻs historical and culturally significant artifacts as well as displays of natural science of the Pacific.
Charles Reed Bishop (left) and Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop (right). Source: Kamehameha Schools
Bishop Museum stores historical Hawaiian artifacts ranging from royal heirlooms, to instruments, and weapons that paints an idea of what life was like in Hawai’i of the past.
There is also exhibits dedicated to nature and sciences. Bishop Museum has the third largest insect collection in the U.S. In this exhibit, visitors learn about the science behind volcanoes, the deep sea, fauna and flora of the Pacific, and many more.
NICE students viewing marine life exhibition.
The Bishop Museum is also a popular destination for Off Campus activities NICE Program students partake in.
For booking information visit: www.bishopmuseum.org
Queen Emma Summer Palace
By Daderot. – Self-photographed, CC BY-SA 3.0 Queen Emma Summer Palace, also known as Hānaiakamalama, Queen Emma Summer Palace was originally built in 1848. In 1915, a non-profit organization called Daughters of Hawaii obtained the Summer Palace and was granted the use of the home, along with 22,750 sq ft (~2,113.5 sq meters) of the grounds from the Territorial Government. This was under the condition that the home was to be used and maintained as a museum. Today the Palace is a historic landmark, museum, and cultural site preserved by the Daughters of Hawai‘i.
Queen Emma (left), wife of King Kamehameha IV, is also known for establishing the Queen’s Hospital.
John Kalaipaihala Young II (right), son of John Young and commonly known as Keoni Ana, first bought the house in 1850. He then gifted to his niece, Queen Emma in 1867.
Source: Bernice P. Bishop Museum, Public Domain
Hānaiakamalama currently houses a collection of Queen Emma’s belongings, such as antiques, furnishings, and royal regalia.
Photo: David Croxford, Hawaiʻi Magazine
If you are interested in visiting Queen Emma Summer Palace, click this link!
Hawaiʻi’s Plantation Village
NICE students at Hawaiʻi’s Plantation Village Hawaiʻis Plantation Village is a historical museum displaying the life on sugar plantations during 1850-1950s. During this time, the sugar plantation was booming and required a lot of people to work. Most of their workers were immigrants from different countries such as Japan, China, Philippines, Portugal, Okinawa, and Korea. This influx of immigrants made Hawaiʻi the melting pot it is today.
Visitors walk around and inside the buildings replicated of the old times to be immersed into the lives of plantation workers. There are tour guides available to provide additional information and context of the artifacts and buildings.
NICE students on a guided tour.
For visitor information visit: www.hawaiiplantationvillage.org
Washington Place
Washington Palace now Washington Place is best known as Queen Liliʻuokalani’s last residence. She described her home as, “…a large, square, white house, with pillars and porticos on all sides, really a palatial dwelling, as comfortable in its appointments as it is inviting in its aspect…a choice tropical retreat in the midst of the chief city of the Hawaiian Islands.”
Queen Liliʻuokalani on the porch of Washington Palace (1990-1997). Source: Hawaiʻi State Archives, Photograph Collections, PP-98-13-014 
The house was originally built in 1842 by Captain John Dominis, who was a trader. He was lost at sea before the house was completed in 1847.
His wife, Mary Dominis, took responsibility of the house and named it after America’s first president, George Washington.
Portrait of Capt. John Dominis. Source: Hawaiian Journal of History, volume 10, Page 7
Queen Liliʻuokalani and her husband, John Owen Dominis, the son of Capt. John and Mary Dominis, first started living in the house in 1862.
She resided at the Washington Palace till her death in 1917.
Queen Liliʻuokalani (seated, second to the left) and John O. Dominis (standing, middle) Source: Hawaiʻi State Archives, Photograph Collections, PP-98-9-014.
From 1918 to 2002, Washington Palace was the home of Hawaiʻi’s governors until it was converted to a museum.
The property also has a Garden that features plants originally planted by Mary Dominis, along with a Muy Lang tree that was planted by the Queen herself.
For more information, visit the official website: www.washingtonplace.hawaii.gov
NICE Program 