Trinity Academy students embarked on perhaps their shortest field trip on Friday, but it went a long way in understanding Caldwell's history.

Approximately 90 fourth- to eighth-graders walked the short distance from the school to Grover Cleveland's Birthplace to celebrate Hawaiian Restoration Day with a flag-raising ceremony and a tour of the grounds with a group of native islanders who made the trek for the fifth straight year.

"We couldn't resist," Trinity Academy Principal Dory McMahon said. "The children all decided to bring in a $1. We're going to put it all together and make a donation to the birthplace."

In their annual trip to the original home of the country's 22nd and 24th president, the group of Hawaiians, led by Dr. Ha'aheo Guanson, executive director of the Pacific Justice and Reconciliation Center, and Rev. Keleo Patterson, attended Caldwell's first Presidential Luau on Thursday night and spent time illustrating their traditions and explaining Cleveland's impact on the Hawaiian islands.

After stopping by Lincoln School on Thursday, the group made an interactive presentation of Hawaiian culture to all 300 Trinity Academy students Friday morning.

"The presentation was far different than what we had expected," McMahon said. "We thought people were going to come in and speak, but instead they engaged the children. They really had a lot of fun with the demonstrations."

Following the demonstrations, students joined Mayor Susan Gartland, Council President Ann Dassing, councilmen Joseph Norton, Richard Hauser and Peter Murrary along with other members of the community at the ceremony where the American and Hawaiian flags were raised outside of the birthplace. Students then toured the home and placed handmade leis on Cleveland's former crib.

Cleveland, the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms, fought off the United States' annexation of Hawaii when he took office for a second time in 1893. 

While he formed an agreement with Queen Lilliuokalani, Cleveland was unable to prevent the annexation of the island after he left office. The treaty was signed by President William McKinley in 1897 that made Hawaii a U.S. territory. Hawaii eventually became the 50th state in 1959.

The Hawaiians have reminded the Caldwell community of Cleveland's significance to the island in each of their trips over the past five years. 

A year after the group began visiting Caldwell, Hawaiian legislation passed a resolution to officially mark April 30—when the islanders believe Cleveland asked for a day of prayer for restoration and healing for the entire country, and specifically, the Kingdom of Hawaii—as Hawaiian Restoration Day.

"It's been our honor and our pleasure to host them. It's a wonderful, wonderful thing how they've involved the children. It's educational. That's what they're here for," Gartland said.

"They come and learn about what we do as well as us learning about the Hawaiian traditions and the Hawaiian Restoration Day. This is a wonderful, educational thing and a wonderful tribute to Grover Cleveland."