The initial student data collecting field trip of the study took place on March 11-12, 2004, when twelve 7th grade students from Kamehameha Schools/Kea'au and four 6th/7th grade students from Kanu o ka 'Aina worked at the field site in Waipi‘o Valley. The students were accompanied by five teachers from the two schools. Guiding the students were three scientists and an educator from Bishop Museum, and the education specialist of the state's aquatic resources division (DAR).
The students began their experience the first morning by conducting cultural protocol at the valley lookout, asking permission to enter and work in the valley. The two school groups alternated in performing four oli (chants) and they were done with strength and humility.
Some
of the students walked in to the valley, while others, along with teachers
and scientists, drove in 4-wheel drive vehicles. The "home base"
was the old Araki Hotel located not too far in to the valley at the Hi'ilawe
Stream road crossing.
Students began their field study with a discussion of
Hawai'i stream ecology and the goals of the stream
restoration study. They stated their scientific questions
(what they're trying to find out in this study), some of
the hypotheses (scientific predictions) and how they
will be collecting data to test their hypotheses.