More than 150 young people on the Big Island will live like refugees in south Kona for one day this weekend. It’s a twist on Big Island Youth Day, a Lenten retreat and Confirmation prep for youth in grades 9-12, hosted annually by a different parish. This year the host parish is St. Benedict in Honaunau.

“Our youth look forward to coming together every year and participate in whatever the activity we have planned,” said Edwina Fujimoto, one of the organizers. “They especially enjoy overnighters and since we don’t have a retreat center, camping out is okay with them.”

“So we figured why not make it educational, spiritual and touch them deeply as they grow in Christ,” she said.

The “refugee experience” theme is being planned by Iwie Tamashiro of the Parish Social Ministry Office.

According to Tamashiro, the experience is a 10-stage “game” called “Passage,” developed by the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.

In the simulation, the youth are given new identities, young and old, and divided into “soldiers,” “border patrol officers” and “families.”

“Supply kits” are distributed and “event cards” deal out imaginary conflicts, injuries, struggles and actions which the “refugees” have to deal with, Tamashiro said. Sound effect CDs add to the experience.

“SOS cards” enable participants to bail out of the activity if things get too intense, Tamashiro said.

The buses arrive at St. Benedict Church around 11:30 a.m. on March 8. After lunch and some of the “refugee” activities, Bishop Larry Silva will celebrate Mass at 4 p.m., which is followed by a “vocation call” by Father Peter Dumag, diocesan director of vocations.

Then the kids and their 30 chaperones will gather their stuff and head for the St. Benedict beach lot next to the City of Refuge, about a two-and-a-half mile walk down hill.

The bishop will lead an evening prayer and the youth will camp out until morning when breakfast will served “Operation Rice Bowl-style” concluding the refugee camp experience.

Among the fun daytime activities will be a 40-minute desert hike. A 1 p.m. luau ends the day. Goodbyes are at 2:30 p.m. and the buses depart at 3.