2026 Sister-State Study Tours: Student Application Form

2026 Sister-State Study Tours: Student Application Form
Apply to join public high school students from across Hawai‘i on a Sister-State Study Tour to one of three destinations:
- Ilocos Norte & Ilocos Sur (Philippines)
- Okinawa (Japan)
- Jeju Island (Korea)
Cost: $500 or less. Payment plans are available. Scholarships are generously provided by the State of Hawai‘i in partnership with the East-West Center.

All three tours will take place during Spring Break and the week after.
Selected students will be assigned to one destination, so you must be open to traveling to any of the three.

Who Can Apply:

Current 9th–12th graders in Hawai‘i public high schools (SY 2025–2026); preference given to 10th and 11th grade students. Charter, private, and independent school students are not eligible for this program but may apply to PAAC’s Summer Study Tours to Taiwan or Palau. Students who participated on last year's Sister-State Study Tour are also not eligible to apply.

How to Apply:
- Read the full application before starting
- Prepare any required documents before you begin
- You may not be able to save and return later, so have your answers ready to copy and paste.
- Have your parent/guardian sign and complete contact information at the end of application.
Deadlines:
- Application (except teacher recommendations) due Monday, October 20, 2025, at 11:59 PM HST
- Teacher recommendations are due Wednesday, October 22, 2025
- Incomplete applications will not be considered
Expectations:
- If selected, you are expected to participate fully and represent Hawai‘i with professionalism while abroad.
Program Dates:
- Virtual Parent Meeting: December 18, 2025
- Virtual Pre-Trip Workshop: February 12, 2026
- In-Person Orientation: February 21–22, 2026
- Travel Dates: March 14–26, 2026
- Final Presentation: April 11, 2026
Please note, all program dates listed above (except travel dates) are tentative and will be confirmed as soon as possible. Participation in this program requires attendance on *ALL* program dates. PAAC will work with students outside of O'ahu to arrange transport and lodging during pre-trip orientation.

More info: www.paachawaii.org/2026-sister-state

Questions? Contact Ms. Carol Li, Study Tours Director at paac@paachawaii.org, (808) 944-7784, or Instagram @carol.ssaem

Note: Submit a personal email address (Gmail preferred) since some school accounts block outside messages. Check your email often for important updates.

SECTION 1: BASIC INFORMATION
Email*
example@example.com
Name*

First NameLast Name
Name that you would like to be called if different from first name listed
High School*
Open to public high school students. Charter, independent and private school students are not eligible for this Study Tour.
Current Grade Level (2025-2026 School Year)*

9th10th11th12th
Do you currently have a passport that will be valid to at least October 2026?*

YesNo (You will have to apply by December)
Do you have any commitments in December 2025 - April 2026 that may prevent you from being available during all program dates listed at the beginning of this form?*

Yes, I have a conflict with these datesNo, I do not have any conflicts

SECTION 2: PERSONAL INFORMATION

The following questions will deal with some details about you. All information will be held confidential.
Date of Birth*

MonthDayYear
Date
Gender *

WomanManNon-binary/Third genderAnother gender
If you selected "another gender" and feel comfortable, please share how you identify.
Preferred Pronouns
(ex: she/her, he/him, they/them, he/they, etc.)
Phone Number*
Please enter a valid phone number.
Country of Citizenship*
If you are not a U.S. Citizen, do you have a valid permanent resident card or other current, legal residence status?*

YesNoN/A - I am a U.S. Citizen
Do you have your parent/guardian’s permission to apply for this international travel opportunity?*

YesNo

SECTION 3: EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
What extracurricular, work, or volunteer activities do you participate in regularly? What leadership positions, if any, do you hold?*
What hobbies, skills, or areas of special knowledge or expertise do you have?*
Let us know what you like to do and what you think you are good at. This is just for us to get to know you more.
What experience do you have traveling, living, or studying outside of Hawaiʻi if you have any?*
Include location, purpose, and length of time.
In what ways have you been involved with PAAC?

Club OfficerClub MemberGlobal Vision Summit (GVS) AttendeeAcademic WorldQuest Competition (AWQ) CompetitorStudy Tour ParticipantGlobal Issues Certificate ParticipantAfter-School Global Studies Class (ASGSC) StudentN/A
Have you ever been involved in disciplinary action at school or elsewhere? If so, please describe briefly. *
Put none or N/A if you have not been involved in disciplinary action.

SECTION 4: TEACHER RECOMMENDATIONS
We will consult with adults (non-relatives) who know you well in an educational or extracurricular context.

Please write the name and title of two adults (teacher, coach, advisor, mentor, manager, etc.) who can fill out the Teacher Recommendation Form to speak to your suitability for this kind of program.

You are responsible for providing your recommender with the link to the form and ensure that they get it done. PAAC is collecting their contact information in case further follow-up or clarification is needed.
Recommender #1 - First & Last Name, Title, School/Organization*
Ex: Carol Li, Study Tours Director, PAAC
Recommender #1's Email*
example@example.com
Recommender #1's Phone Number*
Please enter a valid phone number.
Recommender #2 - First & Last Name, Title, School/Organization*
Recommender #2's Email*
example@example.com
Recommender #2's Phone Number*
Please enter a valid phone number.

SECTION 5: SHORT ESSAY

500-1000 words. Help us get to know you, your goals, and your vision as a student ambassador for Hawai‘i.
Please type your responses to the following questions in one essay:

1. About You & Your Community
Tell us about yourself and what makes Hawai‘i feel like home. How have the people, places, or experiences in your life shaped who you are?

2. What You Hope to Learn
What do you hope to gain from this international travel opportunity to another Sister-State? How could serving as a representative of Hawai‘i support your future goals?

3. Your Vision & Impact
What is your vision for Hawai‘i’s future? How will you use what you learn to make a difference in your community, school, and state?

💡 Reminder: We want to hear your voice. AI can help you brainstorm or edit, but it should not write your whole essay. Be honest about your use of AI because integrity matters for this program. Using AI to write your entire essay or lying about your usage may disqualify your application. We will be running your essay through an AI detector.
SHORT ESSAY UPLOAD*

Label your file as: [First Name Last Name] - 2026 SS ST Written Essay (Example: Carol Li - 2026 SS ST Written Essay)
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If you used AI while working on this essay, please briefly explain how it supported your writing process.*
Put N/A or none if you did not use AI.

SECTION 6: HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT

To ensure you are in good academic standing to miss 3-4 days of school during the first week of 4th Quarter to participate on this Study Tour. An unofficial copy is acceptable.
HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT UPLOAD

Label your file as: [First Name Last Name] - 2026 SS ST Transcript (Example: Carol Li - 2026 SS ST Transcript)
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OPTIONAL: If you faced any hardships that may have resulted in an undesirable grade for a class, please use this space to explain your situation at the time.

SECTION 7: TRAVEL INFORMATION

Please rank the Sister-State destinations in order of your preference. We will consider your preferences, but you may be assigned your last choice and should be willing to represent Hawai‘i in any of the three.*

	Top Choice (1)	Second Choice (2)	Third Choice (3)
Ilocos Norte & Sur
Jeju Island
Okinawa

Do you speak or understand any of the languages spoken at our destinations? *
Ilokano, Tagalog, Jejueo, Korean, Okinawan, Japanese
Do you speak ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian)?*
Have you traveled to the Philippines, Korea or Japan before? If so, where did you go? *
Do you have any food allergies? If so, please share how severe it is.*
Are you prone to motion sickness? If so, please share how severe it is.*
Anything else you'd like us to know?*
Traveling is a big step. Is there anything we should know to best support you before or during the trip? Your answer will not affect selection and is only for planning purposes.
Do you have training or experience with photography or videography?*
We are looking for trip documentarians to create content.
How did you hear about this opportunity?*
Do you have any questions?

By signing below, I certify that all information provided in this application is true and accurate. If selected, I am willing to fully commit to and participate in this program.
Student Signature

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Signature Date

MonthDayYear
Date
Parent/Guardian Name*

First NameLast Name
Parent/Guardian Email*
example@example.com
Parent/Guardian Phone Number*
Please enter a valid phone number.
By signing here, I give permission for my child to apply for and, if selected, participate fully in this program.

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Date
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2026 Sister-State Study Tours: Student Application Form

SECTION 1: BASIC INFORMATION

SECTION 2: PERSONAL INFORMATION

SECTION 3: EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

SECTION 4: TEACHER RECOMMENDATIONS

SECTION 5: SHORT ESSAY

SECTION 6: HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT

SECTION 7: TRAVEL INFORMATION