Four Days of Growth, Courage, and Community: LEAD Summit 2025
Four islands. Sixteen schools. Thirty-nine student leaders.
The 2025 LEAD Summit at Camp Erdman was four days of teamwork, laughter, and transformation, where students discovered that leadership isn’t about titles, but connection, courage, and showing up for others.
Here’s a glimpse into their journey!
Day 1 - Community Building and Communication
The Summit kicked off at Camp Erdman with welcoming icebreakers, distribution of exclusive PAAC Swag, and team-building exercises.
Students were split into groups to engage in competitive games, mingle with new friends, and craft collaborative community guidelines for a supportive and respectful group dynamic.
The day concluded with a camp tour and evening activities including a beach walk and a fun exercise for practicing active listening and communication.
Day 2 - Leadership & Teamwork
On Sunday, students began the day with a rotation through exciting climbing and archery activities led by Erdman’s Camp Counselors, as well as a lei making workshop and trivia on Pacific Island nations.
From there, Leadership development was front and center with the LEADERSHIP COMPASS session. Students familiarized themselves with their individual leadership styles and brainstormed ways to leverage their strengths during teamwork.
In the evening, students had a chance to share successful projects that their officer teams have executed in previous year, and share ideas for collaboration. The day closed with a evening of bonding through board games, karaoke, and the must-have tradition of campfire songs and s’mores.
“I think my confidence and drive to be a leader evolved during the Summit, and my ability to make small connections with others through simple conversation grew as well!”
Day 3 - Service Planning & Navigating Conflicts
The morning took an unexpected turn when storm clouds rolled in and blanketed the camp in heavy rain. While sheltered indoors, students took the opportunity to nurture the connections they have made so far and get closer through cabin games and deep conversation.
With the return of sunshine in the afternoon, the program reconvened for a workshop on planning Global Action Projects. Students were led through a step-by step process to help them brainstorm organized service projects that meaningfully address challenges in their communities.
For the final evening of the program, students engaged in communication exercise to address challenges within their clubs and how to navigate conflicts in leadership teams. The program concluded with writing “Dear Future Me” letters, a reflection activity that encouraged students to envision the kind of growth they hope to see in themselves as leaders by the end of the school year.
DAy 4 - Reflections and Looking Ahead
The final day of the Summit focused on equipping student leaders with tools to carry on with their club leadership responsibilities. After packing for departure, students spent the morning in rations of workshops that covered fundraising, social media, and club recruitment/retention.
Our Summit concluded with one final group debrief activity on student takeaways and personal growth, as well as a reflection of the bonds created and memories made during this experience.
“I now understand how to run the WHS club and how I encourage members to participate and stay. I now need to learn how to develop my relationship with my fellow officers”
🌺 Looking Forward
The LEAD Summit continues to be one of PAAC’s most transformative programs, empowering Hawaiʻi’s youth to lead with empathy, collaboration, and global awareness.
✨ Mahalo to sponsors like Southwest Airlines, our facilitators, volunteers, and supporters who make experiences like this possible.
📣 Are you a incoming PAAC officer and want to experience LEAD for yourself?
Join us for our Virtual LEAD Workshop on Saturday, January 24, 2026.
Follow @paachawaii for updates.