For most people, Hawaii usually conjures images of white sandy beaches, warm breezes and days spent relaxing. But for the members of the cross country team, who traveled to the Aloha State Sept. 20 to 23, it was not all play.

The 24 students raced the Iolani Invitational on Ford Island against other teams from all around the country, just as they did last year in New York.

Due to limited space, only 24 of over 80 cross country athletes were invited to go on the trip, 12 boys and 12 girls. "Some athletes had a guaranteed spot as early as the spring of 2007, and the remaining spots were determined with a time trial on the first week of school," senior captain Brian Hand said.

The team currently practices everyday after school, sometimes including optional Saturday runs at Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve in Los Altos. The team practices up to 10 hours a week during the school year and had optional practices twice a week during the summer.

The trip was kept at as low a cost as possible, around $300. "Each athlete [paid] for their plane ticket and expenses in Hawaii," head coach Ernest Lee said. "We've fundraised money to cover the hotel rooms and the rental vans."

The members raised money by helping at the Juana Run race in Barron Park. Donations from Gunn Sports Boosters and the Terman Parent Teacher Association also helped keep costs for team members down.

The team flew on Hawaiian Airlines, leaving from the San Jose Airport early Thursday morning, and staying at the Waikiki Banyan hotel in the city of Honolulu on the Oahu Island. They returned last night.

The team did more than simply run, however. In the four days that they spent in Hawaii, they snorkeled in Hanauma Bya, ran up Diamond Head Volcanic Crater, visited the United States Ship Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, watched the sunset at Sunset Beach on the north shore of Oahu and did general sightseeing in Waikiki.

The team stayed relaxed about the race before leaving, Hand said. "I don't view the race as the primary focus of the trip," he said. "The best and longest lasting memories will probably be of us sightseeing, having fun at the beach and simply hanging out with friends." Other team members shared this opinion before the trip and looked forward to spending time with their teammates and exploring Hawaii.

Members of last year's team attended a race in New York last fall, the Manhattan High School Invitational. The team famously missed the last few days of Homecoming, but they did well in competition, held in Van Cortlandt Park in New York City.

The runners explored the city, visiting Times Square and the site of the Sept. 11 attacks. In addition, the athletes were featured on television on the morning news as the team that had traveled the farthest to the competition.

The cross country team also traveled to Hawaii in 2002. They did well, so there are some expectations already in place that the team is hoping to meet. "While we are hoping to bond as a team, we also want to do as well in the race as the last time around," senior captain Paige Lin said.

Girls: Danielle Aspitz, Janet Chang, Emma Dohner, Lisa Fawcett, Kelsey Feeley, Naomi Glassman, Paige Lin, Allie Mayer, Claire O'Connell, Joanne Reid, Tara Saxena, Rachel Wittenauer

Boys: Robert Chen, Ethan Glassman, Alec Goodrich, Aaron Guggenheim, Brian Hand, Dezmon Hunter, Alex Johann, Arlie Krigel, David Ku, Benny Parkin, Johnny Popovich, Paul Summers