At the start of winter break, the girls and boys’ Varsity basketball teams travelled to Hawaii for six days to compete in a tournament hosted by Seabury Hall in Maui.

A total of 39 people attended this trip, including Varsity players, coaches, staff chaperones, and team managers. The trip was meant to encourage team bonding as well as give the members the opportunity to play more basketball games. Throughout the entire trip, both teams stayed at the Kihei Akahi condominiums.

“I thought the trip was a success,” girls’ Varsity basketball assistant coach Jonah Reyes said. “Personally, I had a lot of fun and felt the teams were able to do a lot of team bonding during our time there. Coaching there was an experience with the referees and slightly different rules. However, I felt the teams continued to play “Harker” basketball and didn’t let minor differences skew their game.”

The girls and boys’ teams each played three games and proved victorious over every opponent, with both groups resulting in 3-0.

“The games in Hawaii got the team chemistry going and really helped us get more familiar with one another,” John Hughes (11) said. “Hanging out with the Seabury team after the game went really well. There was no hostility between the teams even after the game. We really got to know the players and built friendships.”

While the teams spent much time on the court, they also enjoyed their time off, playing on the beach or shopping in local stores and flea markets. On the last day, the group played mini-golf in the morning, shopped in Lahaina in the afternoon, and attended a luau at night.

Senior Priscilla Auyeung believes that the trip was her “most memorable school trip yet” and it was the “perfect experience to bond as a basketball program, rooming with each other and seeing each other every minute of every day for six full days.” After the trip, the coaches and returning players are hoping for a similar event in the upcoming year.