Basketballs bounced across the Sacred Hearts Academy gym in August as students from Honolulu and Fukuoka came together to play basketball and participate in a cultural exchange. The event gave both groups a chance to practice skills, share cultural experiences and build lasting friendships.

The event was organized through the sister city relationship between Honolulu and Fukuoka, which has promoted cultural exchange for decades. Athletics Director Ryan Hogue coordinated with teachers to host the visiting Fukuoka team and used the newly-renovated Skybox as a meeting space for activities and lunch.

Students from both schools practiced drills led by coaches from each team, exchanged conversations and participated in hands-on activities like making keychains

“I hope Sacred Hearts can continue hosting Japanese students,” Hogue said. “My ultimate goal is for our students to travel to Fukuoka, visit schools, participate in cultural activities and join basketball opportunities in Japan.”

For Hinata Funatsu, a visiting player from Fukuoka, the experience was both familiar and exciting.

“My first impression was that the school was very big, and the uniforms were similar to those in Japan, which gave me a sense of familiarity,” Funatsu said. “I thought it was amazing that the students were so friendly and that many of them used Japanese. This experience made me want to improve my English.”

Despite some challenges with scheduling practices and finding space, using the Skybox proved successful. Hogue hopes to continue hosting dreams of the Academy students travelling to Japan in the future.

Funatsu also enjoyed discovering Japanese comics in the Academy’s Upper School Library and still keeps the handmade keychain as a memory of her visit.