She also made history for the Greater Dunedin branch of the organisation as the first child it has hosted.
Friendship Force is an international organisation with 367 clubs in more than 55 countries, which exchange members, who stay in each other's homes and explore with locals.
Nineteen members of the Kaua'i branch are visiting Dunedin for the week before they travel to Wanganui.
Among the activities planned for them was yesterday's visit to Otakou marae, a trip to Macraes and Middlemarch and a chance to see some of the region's wildlife.
Kaua'i exchange director Hualani Duncan, whose husband David is also a member, said she loved Dunedin and "it's the best exchange ever".
Her daughter, Makana, had gone on her first exchange aged 21 months, also to New Zealand, and yesterday was wearing her ceremonial attire to pass on as a gift to Otakou runanga chairman Tahu Potiki.
Hawaiian protocol was similar to Maori protocol, so it was good to be able to visit a marae and have an informal discussion with Mr Potiki, she said.
Greater Dunedin branch exchange director Dorothy Walsh said the fine weather had made the trip out on to Otago Peninsula and it was wonderful to share the experience with people from another culture.
"It makes life very interesting and you meet such a variety of people," she said.
Both branches celebrated the Greater Dunedin branch's third anniversary on Sunday night.
