The Saddest Good-bye!
July 11, 2022
Dear Maui 2C families,
With heavy hearts and few dry eyes, we have bid farewell to the kids and gone our separate ways. It’s so hard to believe our time together on Maui has come to an end, but we had the most incredible two weeks together. There is no doubt the kids formed friendships here that will last a lifetime. They’re a remarkable group, and we had so much fun watching them grow. Thank you so much for sharing your precious kiddos with us! Here is one last update before we sign off.
On Thursday, we woke early and departed for our final conservation activity of the trip. We met up with our guide Ekolu, who owns and operates Maui Cultural Lands, a conservation nonprofit in the Olawalu Valley of West Maui. We hiked down into a beautiful canyon, which is the largest archaeological site in Maui. Ekolu gave us a quick lesson on the history of the site before putting us to work removing invasive species. Grady led the charge on the tough labor, single-handedly taking down entire sections of invasive plants and motivating the crew as we went. The project was awesome as we got to see our efforts make an immediate impact on the rainforest. It was a great moment for the kids to give back to Maui after all the wonderful times we have had on the island. Ekolu then took us on a tour of the valley, teaching us about the magical healing powers of certain endemic Hawaiian plants. We then headed home for a late lunch of mac n cheese cheffed up by our very own Tommy and Lila.
That afternoon, we grabbed some pizza for the road and headed up the windy roads of Mt. Haleakala. Standing at over 10,000 feet, Mt. Haleakala is the tallest point on Maui and the second largest dormant volcano in the world. Close to the top, we found a grassy pullout and set up for a picnic dinner as the sun set over the island. Many of the kids said it was the most beautiful sight they’ve ever seen, and we got plenty of great photos to capture the moment. We enjoyed the last moments of daylight as our wonderful LODs Myles and Sarah led our best Moonup yet. The group reflected on the amazing trip we’ve had and all the great memories we’ve formed along the way.
Friday marked our last full day together on Maui. We enjoyed a later than usual morning marked by pancakes. Finn tried his hand in the kitchen and learned so much. He will need to put his skills to the test when he arrives home. We then loaded up the van for one last activity, rappelling. Rappelling took us to an area of East Maui we had not yet explored, and it proved to be incredible. The lush rainforest was unlike anything we’d ever seen before. Coco accurately noted that some of the trees looked like they were straight out of a Dr. Seuss book! When we arrived at our off-grind destination, our group quickly got suited up in our rappelling gear and excitedly headed to the rainforest to begin our adventure. The group went on three rappels, each more incredible than the last. After our gang got the hang of how to rappel, we all were stoked to try our skills next to some beautiful waterfalls. Many members of the group even jumped at the end of their rappel into the water!
After our crew made the trek back up to our van, we grabbed all our lunch supplies and had some amazing homemade sandwiches and snacks next to some peacocks! After piling back in the van and heading back to camp, we made a pit stop at Goodwill to grab some “formal attire” for our banquet dinner, which marks our last dinner together as a group! When we got back to camp, the crew speedily put their clothes on to snap some awesome pictures together. Everyone thought that Julian’s “sleepy Captain America” looks and Grady’s Christmas robe outfit absolutely killed it. The crew then piled into the van to head to our banquet destination: delicious local food trucks! Grady and Miles enjoyed some amazing Thai food and Annabel had some mouthwatering sweet and sour pineapple chicken.
When everyone finished their last bites of food, the crew headed back to camp to get started with our final moonup. The gang reflected on all the once-in-a-lifetime experiences they had and all the close friendships they had formed with one another. We all laughed uncontrollably about all the funny occurrences that had happened and it was so hilarious when we closed our moonup with a massive dog pile!
The next morning the gang got an early start in packing up their bags and helping clean camp. After we had one last hurrah at camp by playing a quick basketball game on the courts, everyone said goodbye to our beloved campsite at Maui Montessori and headed off to some food trucks for lunch. Coco’s meal of sweet and sour pineapple chicken looked incredibly tasty and even inspired much of the group to order the same! After lunch, our crew headed to the airport to begin checking in for departures from Maui. After exchanging everyone’s phone number and sharing many tearful hugs, our crew said goodbye to each other one last time before heading to their flight.
We still cannot believe that the trip has come to an end. This group has bonded so close over these last two weeks. We are so thankful that you shared your phenomenal kiddos with us and we’ve enjoyed the meaningful talks and hilarious conversations we’ve had with each and every one of them. We know that each individual in our group is going to accomplish great things and utilize their amazing skills of connecting with others and always showing their kindness to everyone they cross paths with to make this world a better place. We’re so happy that we shared this monumental journey with your incredible kids!
Mahalo nui loa!
Annie, Philip and Read
Final Update!
July 11, 2022
With heavy hearts and few dry eyes, we have bid farewell to the kids and gone our separate ways. It’s so hard to believe our time together on Maui has come to and end, but we had the most incredible two weeks together. There is no doubt the kids formed friendships here that will last a lifetime. They’re a remarkable group, and we had so much fun watching them grow. Thank you so much for sharing your precious kiddos with us! Here is one last update before we sign off.
On Thursday, we woke early and departed for our final conservation activity of the trip. We met up with our guide Ekolu, who owns and operates Maui Cultural Lands, a conservation nonprofit in the Olawalu Valley of West Maui. We hiked down into a beautiful canyon, which is the largest archaeological site in Maui. Ekolu gave us a quick lesson on the history of the site before putting us to work removing invasive species. Grady led the charge on the tough labor, single-handedly taking down entire sections of invasive plants and motivating the crew as we went. The project was awesome as we got to see our efforts make an immediate impact on the rainforest. It was a great moment for the kids to give back to Maui after all the wonderful times we have had on the island. Ekolu then took us on a tour of the valley, teaching us about the magical healing powers of certain endemic Hawaiian plants. We then headed home for a late lunch of ma n cheese cheffed up by our very own Tommy and Lila.
That afternoon, we grabbed some pizza for the road and headed up the windy roads of Mt. Haleakala. Standing at over 10,000 feet, Mt. Haleakala is the tallest point on Maui and the second largest dormant volcano in the world. Close to the top, we found a grassy pullout and set up for a picnic dinner as the sun set over the island. Many of the kids said it was the most beautiful sight they’ve ever seen, and we got plenty of great photos to capture the moment. We enjoyed the last moments of daylight as our wonderful LODs Myles and Sarah led our best Moonup yet. The group reflected on the amazing trip we’ve had and all the great memories we’ve formed along the way.
Friday marked our last full day together on Maui. We enjoyed a later than usual morning marked by pancakes. Finn tried his hand in the kitchen and learned so much. He will need to put his skills to the test when he arrives home. We then loaded up the van for one last activity, rappelling. Rappelling took us to an area of East Maui we had not yet explored, and it proved to be incredible. The lush rainforest was unlike anything we’d ever seen before. Coco accurately noted that some of the trees looked like they were straight out of a Dr. Seuss book! When we arrived to our off-grind destination, our group quickly got suited up in our rappelling gear and excitedly headed to the rainforest to begin our adventure. The group went on three rappels, each more incredible than the last. After our gang got the hang of how to rappel, we all were stoked to try our skills next to some beautiful waterfalls. Many members of the group even jumped at the end of their rappel into the water!
After our crew made the trek back up to our van, we grabbed all our lunch supplies and had some amazing homemade sandwiches and snacks next to some peacocks! After piling back in the van and heading back to camp, we made a pit stop at Goodwill to grab some “formal attire” for our banquet dinner, which marks our last dinner together as a group! When we got back to camp, the crew speedily put their clothes on to snap some awesome pictures together. Everyone thought that Julian’s “sleepy Captain America” look and Grady’s Christmas robe outfit absolutely killed it. The crew then piled into the van to head to our banquet destination: delicious local food trucks! Grady and Miles enjoyed some amazing Thai food and Annabel had some absolutely mouthwatering sweet and sour pineapple chicken.
When everyone finished their last bites of food, the crew headed back to camp to get started with our final moonup. The gang reflected on all the once-in-a-lifetime experiences they had and all the close friendships they had formed with one another. We all laughed uncontrollably about all the funny occurrences that had happened and it was so hilarious when we closed our moonup with a massive dog pile!
The next morning the gang got an early start in packing up their bags and helping clean camp. After we had one last hurrah at camp by playing a quick basketball game on the courts, everyone said goodbye to our beloved campsite at Maui Montessori and headed off to some food trucks for lunch. Coco’s meal of sweet and sour pineapple chicken looked incredibly tasty and even inspired much of the group to order the same! After lunch, our crew headed to the airport to begin checking in for departures from Maui. After exchanging everyone’s phone number and sharing many tearful hugs, our crew said goodbye to each other one last time before heading to their flight.
We still cannot believe that the trip has come to an end. This group has bonded so close over these last two weeks. We are so thankful that you shared your phenomenal kiddos with us and we’ve enjoyed the meaningful talks and hilarious conversations we’ve had with each and every one of them. We know that each individual in our group is going to accomplish great things and utilize their amazing skills of connecting with others and always showing their kindness to everyone they cross paths with to make this world a better place. We’re so happy that we shared this monumental journey with your incredible kids!
Mahalo nui loa!
Annie, Philip and Read
Island Living!
July 7, 2022
Hello Maui 2C families!
Welcome back to our Hawaiian adventure. We have been so busy since we last updated you and we can’t wait to share. Hard to believe our trip is approaching its final stages — we are soaking up every last minute.
On July 4th, we woke up at the crack of dawn (literally) for our much anticipated snorkel tour of the famed Molokini Crater. After the van ride, our day began with surprise cinnamon rolls on the boat… not a bad way to get our Fourth started. Before long, we arrived at the dive site and excitedly hopped in the water. The water was the clearest any of us had ever seen. We could see the reef 30 feet below us as clear as day. At the first spot, Coco pointed out a 3-foot-long Moray Eel, which our guides said was a super rare sighting! We continued to cruise around the South Maui coast, spotting countless reef fish, sea turtles, lobsters, and even two white tip reef sharks. Finally, at the last spot, Grady alerted us all to an octopus hiding under a rock! It was super cool, and he even dove to the bottom to get a better look. Many of the kids agreed that the snorkel tour was their favorite activity to date. Afterward, we headed back to camp to enjoy a picnic lunch and a quick afternoon nap to reload for the rest of the day.
That evening, we headed over to Maui Prep to celebrate the 4th with the other Moondance groups on Maui. Annabel hopped in the kitchen and helped us grill up some excellent July 4th cuisine — hotdogs and burgers, of course. We then enjoyed each other’s company and took in the amazing sunset as we dined. From the other group’s campsite, we were able to see the Lahaina firework show. What a day!
The next day, we enjoyed a later start time, so we celebrated with a big M&M pancake breakfast at camp. Tommy continued to be a great help in the kitchen, and just maybe, he will be a pro at flipping pancakes in the air by the time he gets home. We then headed off for an exciting new experience, a submarine tour in the Lahaina Harbor. The tour was a first for all the kids, and we had such a blast. The tour took us up to 130 feet below the surface to a shipwreck. We spotted endless marine life, but more notably a Spotted Eagle Ray! Afterward, the kids had an opportunity to explore historic Lahaina Harbor and buy a souvenir or two. For dinner, we cheffed up a delicious meal of BBQ chicken, asparagus, and zucchini. Drew and Miles jumped into cook crew with record enthusiasm. There’s no doubt the two new friends will be a force to be reckoned with in the kitchen in a few years.
The next morning the crew got up and quickly grabbed their bowls to enjoy a delicious breakfast of yogurt, fruit, and cereal before heading off to Kahana Beach to learn how to windsurf! The crew excitedly strapped into their water shoes and grabbed their boards to head out to the beach with our instructors for our lesson. After learning the basics of the sport, the gang fearlessly set out in the water and quickly became pros at maneuvering the wind and the waves. Lila was a master at utilizing her sail to propel her straight out to the sea while keeping her balance on the board. After the kids got comfortable implementing starts and turns on their board, the guides introduced a couple of new tricks for the gang to try out. Lily showed off to the crew a new cool trick where she was able to turn the sail completely around while keeping her feet planted on the board.
After having fun in the water, the crew packed up their gear and jumped back into the van to head back to our campsite for lunch. After our delicious lunch of sandwiches, fruit and chips, the crew began to get ready for the long-awaited Maui Olympics, a jam-packed event where all three Maui groups get together to compete for their group. The gang dressed out in all their blue attire (our team’s trademark color) and excitedly set off to one of the group’s campsites in Lahaina. Sarah even showcased her amazing talent at hair styling when she styled every girls’ hair in matching French braids!
When we arrived, everyone quickly got wrapped up in an intense rock, paper, scissors tournament with the other Maui teams. One of the most exciting events was the soccer game where Catherine courageously stopped numerous opposing players from running down the field and getting a clear shot at goal. Also, Julian was an absolute beast as the goalkeeper and blocked so many shots, and had some amazing punts downfield. During the spikeball tournament, Finn and Miles were such a dynamics duo and killed it working together as teammates which resulted in our team scoring some massive points.
After the finale of our Olympic competitions, all the Maui groups got together and ate a mouthwatering meal of chicken sandwiches and hot dogs. Everyone loved the chance to sit down and share stories and laughs with one another while watching the beautiful sunset over top of the ocean. The gang then said their goodbyes and piled back into the van to head back home to our Maui Montessori campsite for a good night’s rest.
It’s so crazy that we only have a couple of days left with each other before everyone in our gang heads to the airport to catch their flight back home. Looking back on our first day, it’s so incredible to see how much each member has progressed in their confidence and leadership abilities while also growing closer to one another. We’re so grateful that we have the chance to spend time with your amazing kiddos and we’re so excited for what these last couple of days have in store for us!
Mahalo!
Annie, Philip, and Read
A word from the Olympians…
Tommy: hey mom and dad! I’m so excited that I was able to go on this trip and thank you for sending me on it! See you in a few days.
Lily: hey fam!! I am having the best time ever, thank you so so much for giving me the opportunity to go on this trip! It has been so amazing and everything has been so fun! I miss and love you guys but I will see you soon!!
Lila: hey guys! I am having a great time and I snorkeled with turtles, a eel, and a shark! Next year is Africa and I have my chair but I broke my hammock. Love you and see y’all in a couple days.
Coco: hey mom and dad. I’m having so much fun, and thank you so much for letting me go on this trip. Cannot wait to see y’all!
Sarah: hey mom and dad. I’m having the best time on Moondance! Miss you so much and can’t wait to see you soon!
Miles:Hey mom and dad. I am having so much fun here and thank you for sending me. I can’t wait to see y’all in just a few days!
Finn: hey mom and dad. Moondance is so fun. I miss y’all and can’t wait to see y’all soon.
Drew: Hey mom and dad, thank you for sending me here, I love the activities. I love y’all, and see you soon!
Catherine: hey mom and dad!! I am having the best time here so thanks to both of you for letting me come out here. I am going to be so sad to leave but I can’t wait to see all of you (especially Lola and piper) see you guys in a few days!!!
Annabel: hi papa hi mom. I’m having a stoke time here. I love the people so much. We have done so many activities that have been so cool. Miss y’all and milly too! Can’t can’t to go to EH
Julian: hey mom and dad! I miss you so much. Thank you for sending me on this trip, it has been great so far. I can’t wait to see you soon.
Grady: hi mom and dad I am having so much fun. Cant wait to see you in a few days. Excited for JH
Aloha everyone!
July 1, 2022
Aloha everyone!
We are off to a fantastic start here during our epic Maui adventure! Right at the start of our journey in the Kahului airport, this crew has grown very close with one another, and it has been so amazing to watch everyone’s incredible personalities come out. We are so ecstatic to see this group continue to bond closer and we can’t wait to see what the future has in store for our group. Thank you so much for giving us the opportunities to be with your remarkable kids!
Airport day was an absolute blast because everyone arriving came into the group with so much positive and outgoing energy towards each member of our crew. After all 12 kiddos arrived, the entire gang set off to arrive at our wonderful campsite, Maui Montessori, to set up camp! Following the kids setting up their tents and gear, the crew set off to grab a couple pizzas and eat dinner at the beach! Everyone eagerly grabbed their things and the food and ran onto the sand to catch the sunset. Annabel was super speedy in being the first to jump into the refreshing water and then cheered everyone on to do the same! She also made everyone in the group laugh when she jumped out of the water and ran over to one of our leaders to give her a massive hug.
After grabbing a couple pizza slices while enjoying the spectacular view, a bunch of the boys quickly grabbed the football and started a friendly football game that lasted until the sun went down. Right after the sunset, the crew got in a big circle on the beach and had our first moonup together before piling back in the van and heading back to camp for bed.
Our first morning on our campsite went great and everyone quickly grabbed their swim gear while eating some hot oatmeal and fruit. Delicious! Then we all went in the van to head out to Lahaina to hang out at the beautiful beach for some fun in the sun before our zipline adventure. In the car ride, Julian captivated the conversation by rattling off countless sports facts and statistics. I know what we’re going to be talking about for the next two weeks! Once there, half the crew set out immediately for the water while the other half organized a friendly game of touch football on the sand.
After rinsing off and heading back to the van, the gang set out back to camp to make some delicious homemade chicken quesadillas to satisfy our appetite. They were absolutely delicious! Grady had the expert idea of putting hot sauce inside our chicken quesadillas, which really turned up the heat for everyone.
After eating and chilling at our campsite for a little, the kiddos excitedly jumped back into the van to arrive at our amazing zipline tour with Skyline Adventures! The girls set off in their harnesses with our trusty instructor Zach to begin our activity! Each of the girls fearlessly zipped through the incredible Maui skyline that was so high up in the mountains, you felt like you were up in the clouds. Sarah was an absolute master at getting the best running start before jumping to start the zipline. She even almost reached the top of our final zipline portion where you go so fast that you reach the top of the line and come back down! Tommy captured a few epic shots on the GoPro that I can’t wait to see in a few weeks.
While waiting for the second group, the girls grabbed the football and started to show off their skills and even came up with a few plays of their own! Catherine led the group as quarterback with her incredible leadership and her powerful but precise passes. After the rest of the crew returned, everyone traveled back to camp and started prepping for dinner right away. Our trusty cook crew, Catherine, Coco and Finn, did an amazing job helping cook a mouthwatering dinner of cheeseburgers that were grilled to perfection! Coco even had the super cute idea of shaping some of the patties into hearts, which the rest of the group loved. While waiting for the burgers to finish grilling, cook crew began an intense game of Ratslap that was taught by our very own Finn. Finn was an absolute beast at this game and the rest of us were so impressed at his amazing reflexes whenever a car would be played. After eating dinner, the crew reflected on the spectacular day during moonup and then got ready for a great night of sleep before our sea kayaking and snorkel activity in the morning!
The next morning, the gang had an early start to arrive on time for our sea kayaking and snorkeling lesson with our very own legendary past Moondance leader, Griff Dempsey! After devouring toasted breakfast bagels and fresh fruit, the crew put on their swim gear and jumped into our van to meet with Griff at Kihei. Griff greeted the crew with massive energy and after distributing gear and helping everyone get out in the ocean, the gang was kayaking in the open water like pros! Miles and Lila were super quick in the water as they skillfully paddled in unison through the waves. The group set off to arrive at a coral reef that was filled with numerous sea turtles. After slipping into our fins and snorkel gear, each kiddo excitedly jumped off their kayak into the water! Everyone was swimming around and marveling at the exotic underwater wildlife and each person was constantly pointing out to other group members new animals that would pop into view. So incredibly cool! The gang happily swam beside numerous sea turtles and even caught sight of a few baby ones as well.
Every member of the group had massive smiles on their faces after getting their kayaks in, and the car ride back to camp was buzzing with laughter and singing. Hungry from kayaking all morning, the gang quickly devoured the sandwiches and chips they made. After everyone finished eating and was sitting and laughing with each other, the crew piled into the van and headed to an awesome beach in Paia to splash around in the water and even play a couple games of soccer on the sand. While on the beach, the gang noticed the dark clouds that started to surround them and smartly decided to rush back to the van to beat the rain.
When we got back to camp dinner crew started right away at whipping up a tasty meal of chicken and veggie stir fry! Tommy was an excellent chef in the kitchen and did a superb job at making sure all the vegetables were sautéed perfectly. While dinner was being cooked, a couple members of the group started a fun game of pickup basketball. Drew put his team on the back and shot the lights out despite the 30 MPH winds we were playing in. When dinner was done, everyone in the crew was called over to sit down together and enjoy the food while it was hot. It was so yummy! Tired from our day’s activities, the crew had a quick moonup to talk about our magnificent day together and then went to bed.
After a great night of sleep, the gang excitedly woke up for our super-fun day of surfing in Kihei! After a delicious breakfast of fruit and oatmeal, the gang headed out to our destination to meet with South Pacific Outfitters to get suited up for catching some gnarly waves. After practicing our skills, a little on shore, the gang set out with their boards to the waves. Everyone in the crew was a natural and quickly became confident in their skills. Lily quickly stood out as a star in the group and showed us all how it’s done, catching both the first and last wave of the day. Drew and Miles were also super impressive as they both caught countless waves despite it being their first time. Sarah and Catherine even caught a wave sharing a board! This tandem ride was quite the feat. Salty and smiling, we headed back to camp for a delicious lunch and break from the action.
This afternoon, we departed to the beautiful Kapalua Bay for a brief walk along the coast. Our hike culminated at a jagged crag of black lava rocks jutting into the Pacific, aptly named “Dragon’s Tooth”. We took in the breathtaking views and snapped a few photos before heading to camp for a dinner of spaghetti and meatballs.
What a start to the trip we had! We absolutely love the energy and distinct humor this group brings to the table. They are already so close, and we can’t wait to see what the next week and a half holds together. Would love to chat more, but we’ve gotta roll!
Until next time,
Annie, Philip, and Read
Arrived in Maui!
June 28, 2022
Hello Maui Families!
We heard from our leaders late last night that the group has landed safely in Maui! The trip is off to a great start, and we cannot wait to hear more stories from their adventure.
Please remember our leaders and students will be unplugged during their trips but we will be posting up to three trip updates throughout the next couple of weeks! This will allow you to follow along with the trip and the students will also give a special shout out mid-way through! You can also follow us on Instagram, @moondanceadventures, to see more of what we are up to this summer!
-Moondance HQ
