ALOHA!!
June 21, 2024
June 18! Yay! Today was amazing – we were greeted with not one but two rainbows in the morning! It was such a magical sight! The first group, including Avery Perkins, Avery Alonso, Delaney, Lila, and Anna Wesley, had a blast starting their day with a surfing adventure. They all did so well, and Avery Perkins rode plenty of waves with friends! While in the water, the second group, comprised of Wes, Alston, Claire, Sophie, Ben, and Rachael, went to a local bakery for a fun morning treat. After that, they switched, and the second group took their turn surfing. Wes and Claire were absolute pros, showing off their skills and even pulling off some tricks! After surfing, we all went zip-lining with our fantastic guides, Bruce, Patty, and Lono. There were three zip lines and a swimming break in the middle, with an exciting eighteen-foot jump called “the jump of faith.” Lila jumped off first! The zipline into the water brought so much laughter! The last zipline was over 4,000 feet, the longest in Hawaii, and we flew down like Superman on our stomachs. Sophie and Ben led the way, and it was such a thrill! After ziplining, we stopped at the grocery store for dinner ingredients, and the kids got some energy drinks for our big hike tomorrow. Back at the campsite, Alston cooked up some delicious chicken and cheese quesadillas for dinner. Then, we played a few games and enjoyed stargazing on the beach before Moonup. It truly was an epic day!
Wednesday was our most physically challenging trip day- however, our group never wavered once during the 7.5-mile hike on the Nu’alolo Trail, which has an elevation gain of 2,398! Our guide, Sarah, said we were the fastest and most enthusiastic group she has ever led on the trail! We all stuck together the entire time and kept each others’ spirits high by singing songs and shouting inspirational anecdotes. During the halfway point of the hike, we stopped for lunch at a beautiful lookout spot, where we could admire the stunning Na Pali Coast, where we had sea kayaked a few days prior. Though the hike back was undoubtedly strenuous, smiles remained on faces, and laughter prevailed. At the end of the hike, group hugs and high-fives ensued as we all piled into the van for a drive down the mountain to JoJo’s Shaved Ice! Once we arrived at our campsite, students spent a bit of time packing, and we ate a group dinner of chicken alfredo pasta under the pavilion. LOD’s Avery A. and Avery P. hosted our last Moonup of the session with very thought-provoking and reflective questions.
Thursday was our last day of the trip, so we had to go out with a bang! We woke up early, as the kids thoroughly enjoyed seizing each day, enjoyed a bit of goofing off, then packed up our gear and took down our tents. We surprised the kids with doughnuts and headed to Hanalei Village for a final shopping spree. After everyone found something special, we went to a thrift store to get goofy outfits for our final banquet lunch at a local Mexican restaurant called Paco’s Tacos. The food was delicious, and everyone was excited to munch on tortilla chips, salsa, quesadillas, and tacos! After finishing up our feast, it was time for superlatives! Our students are unique and bring so much zest for life to the table, so we were excited to celebrate them! Alston and Delaney received the “Meet the Parents Award,” as they are both so well-mannered and great conversationalists. Wes received the “Jack of All Trades Award,” as he is a master photographer, future architect, great baseball player, and we are all convinced that he may someday own a pineapple farm. Avery A. received the “Most Likely to Brighten Your Day Award” because of her quick wit and positive outlook, which always put a smile on our faces! The biggest patriot and Kenny Chesney fan we know, Lila earned the “Miss USA Award!” When the energy or morale was occasionally low during our trip, Avery P. would shout words of encouragement and sing song lyrics that inspired the entire group to get excited about the activity or just life in general. Always one with an exciting story to tell, Sophie received the “Most Likely to Write a Memoir Award!” Claire received the “Most Likely to Win Survivor Award” for her confidence and resourcefulness. After lunch and awards, we went to a nearby beach park, where we had our final laughs and surprised the kids with ice cream sandwiches. Our drive to the airport was filled with music, love, and appreciation for each other – no one wanted to leave each other.
Parents – each of your kids has the biggest heart, and we are so grateful to have gotten to know them over the past two weeks! Their humor, wit, and enthusiasm are contagious! We cannot thank you enough for allowing us to get to know your child!
Aloha from Kauai!
June 19, 2024
We are happy to report that our time in Kauai has been nothing short of wonderful! Here’s a quick rundown of our days:
June 14: Travel Day Our travel day was seamless! We started the morning by taking down our tents, where Delaney, Avery Alonso, and Sophie crushed it, packing up exceptionally fast! Once packed up, we headed to the airport, eager to explore Kauai. The day consisted of two short flights, filled with laughter, bracelet-making, and reading. After arriving, we grabbed our new van (named Hector) and headed to our beach campsite. The kids were thrilled upon seeing the volleyball court and our new view! After unpacking, we had a delicious dinner of hot dogs, potato salad, and a green goddess salad, expertly cooked by Alston. We ended the night with Moonup on the beach under the beautiful stars.
June 15: Surfing Day Saturday was a surge (surfing term for strong waves) of a day! We started with our first surfing lesson, where instructors Cole and Shawn, along with Cole’s dog Fin, made the experience unforgettable. After surfing, we had a picnic and played volleyball at the beach. We explored a tidal pool and spotted two sea turtles! Back at camp, we showered and had a delicious dinner of Mexican bowls made by Claire, Sophie, and Lila, and enjoyed catching grapes in our mouths—Alston was a pro at it! We ended the night with Moonup on the beach.
June 16: Na Pali Coast Adventure Sunday was our earliest day yet. We caught a colorful Hawaiian sunrise before driving across the island to the Na Pali coast. After a long drive, we met our Kayaking outfitters, Brian and Rajah, at Polihale State Park Beach. Following a safety briefing, we conquered the waves. Avery P. and Ben dominated the kayak race, with Delaney and Anna Wesley pulling off impressive comebacks. Lila and Wes were often found in the water, making the trip lively. We explored sea caves and snorkeled to see funny fish. After a delicious lunch of turkey and ham sandwiches, we stopped at Waimea Canyon for an epic view. Back at camp, we had a pre-dinner dance party before enjoying barbecue chicken and mac and cheese. Sophie and Avery P. led Moonup, ending the day perfectly.
June 17: Service Day at NTBG We began early, catching a glimpse of the sunrise before heading to the National Tropical Botanical Gardens. Blown away by the vibrant greenery, we started our service work with a tour. Helping with restoration after an April flash flood, we picked up twigs and trash. Lila excelled at finding the biggest branches. Sarah gave us a lovely tour, letting us sample apple bananas and fresh coconuts. We enjoyed a scrumptious lunch of Hawaiian roll sandwiches made by Alston and Ben, alongside fresh local fruits. Wes couldn’t get enough of the apple bananas, eating four! Neal, a local volunteer, gave us a fascinating tour, sharing stories about Hawaiian history and culture, keeping Avery Alonso and Alston intrigued with questions. Back at camp, the kids set up their enos and hung out, while Anna Wesley and Rachael gathered ingredients for dinner. Alston and Ben grilled burgers and hot dogs, and we ended the night with Moonup on the beach, sharing laughs and conversations.
Our time in Kauai has been incredible, filled with adventure and bonding. Mahalo!
-Ben, Anna Wesley, Rachael
Now, a few words from our students 🙂
Wes O’Neill: Hey, mom and dad. Thank you so much for not letting me work at camp. This place is so much better. I killed it surfing. We have been constantly doing stuff all day every day, which is so fun and different from Athens. Tell Janie and Nora I love them. I love and miss y’all and can’t wait to tell y’all everything when I get back.
Alston Logan: Hey, mom and dad. I am having a great time here in Kauai. Very fun. Surfing here is just incredible. I can’t wait to show y’all all the photos I’ve taken and tell you what I have done. Love and miss y’all.
Sophie Wilson: Hey, mom, dad, Mark, and Jazzy!!! I miss you both so so much it’s soooo pretty here and I’m having so so much fun. I love you guys so much!
Claire Kirchner: Hi mom and dad I miss you so much! Having an amazing time though and Hawaii is amazing! I wish you could see it. Tell Seger I miss him. I love y’all so much!!
Avery Alonso: Hey, y’all! I can’t wait to see y’all in a couple days!! I am having so much fun and I have so many stories to tell you!!
Avery Perkins: Hi mommy and dad!!!! Having so so much fun!!! Wish y’all were here with me and i am so excited to see you. Love y’all best parents ever no parents better!!! And happy father’s day dad love u!!
Delaney Jeff: Hi!! I love and miss y’all so so much! I am having so much fun and can’t wait to see y’all soon! Thank you so much for this trip and I hope you had fun in Nantucket! I love you!!
Lila Highsmith: HI mom and dad!!! I am having SO much fun! I love and miss y’all and can’t wait to see everyone! I’ve met the best people and we’re already planning reunions! Thank you guys so much for making it possible to be on this trip, I am SO grateful! Scuba diving and surfing were so lit and I am so excited to tell you all about it! Love you and HAPPY FATHAS DAY!
Deep Dives in Paradise
June 13, 2024
Airport Day!! Rachael, Anna Wesley, and I couldn’t have been more excited for the group to meet in Hawaii! We got up bright and early to set up camp for everyone, ensuring a smooth transition after a long travel day. The day before, we prepared for their arrival by making fun, colorful signs and getting leis for everyone to wear once they got off their long plane ride. We got to the airport early and got set up in the baggage claim with music, games, and yummy snacks. Delaney and Lila arrived first, with Sophie and Avery Alonso following right behind! Since we had time to kill before everyone else arrived, we took Delaney, Lila, Sophie, and Avery Alonso to a nearby beach. They did not hesitate to remove their shoes and put their feet in the clear, blue water! We explored the beach for a little while, where we spotted a rare Hawaiian monk seal! We then headed back to the airport to greet Wes with an enthusiastic welcome! While we all got to know each other, Alston and Claire joined us for an airport pizza party. To finish the day, we drove to our campsite and held our first Moonup with the group!
Day 2 – June 9 Day 2 started early, as students woke up to see the sunrise and were surprised by a rainbow over our beach campsite! After the beautiful sunrise, we cooked breakfast. Lila helped cook cheesy eggs while Alston fried the sausage for our breakfast sandwiches! After all the laughs at breakfast, we cleaned up and headed for our first beach hike at Ala Kahakai National Historic Park. We hiked from Hapuna Beach to Mauna Kea along an ocean-side trail. There was a slight breeze that kept trying to steal Alston’s hat! We ended the hike by cooling off in the ocean! Afterward, we headed to Pu’uwai Gardens for our cooking class! We arrived early, ate lunch, and played spike ball and soccer. We had a blast on our orchard tour, petting cows, chopping down a banana tree, sampling lychee, and trying an orange Hawaiian flower loaded with vitamin C! The kids sharpened up their cutting skills, especially Lila! Soon after, Avery Perkins arrived and jumped right into the action! Dinner began with an unbelievable lilikoi, coconut, sparkling water concoction! The salad everyone prepared had carrots, radishes, goat cheese, avocado, and a fresh spring mix with a citrus herb vinaigrette. Kristina, the head of Heart Beet kitchen, served us braised beef with onions, carrots, and ube, with quinoa for the entree. The best part was the dessert: seasonal fruit + chocolate crisp with local macadamia nut topping! She also let us sample local, homemade dark chocolate! It was delicious! Once dinner was completed, we packed up and headed back to our stunning campsite on the beach, where we had Moonup under the stars.
Day 3: June 10 We had a quick breakfast before heading to Jack’s diving locker for our first day of SCUBA(Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus). They started in the classroom reviewing what they learned from their online Padi E learning course; after a quick refresher, they got familiar with their scuba gear and started pool lessons! They kicked it off with a swim test where Claire beat everyone by a mile—learning different skills, including clearing their masks, conserving their oxygen, all about buoyancy with instructors Carlos and Adam. After the lessons, we checked out 2 Step Beach and saw baby eels in the sacred waters where fresh spring water mixes with the ocean in pools. Once fully blessed, we drove back to the campsite and swam on the grey sands beach. The waves were huge, and everyone in the group swam around as the sun started to set! We might’ve seen a sea turtle, but we were unsure; then we got out, showered, and made spaghetti and red sauce with a salad and garlic bread. Then we had Moonup on the beach under a clear sky with the stars out and headed to bed.
Day 4: June 11Today began with an early start as we had a quick breakfast before jumping into the van for our final day of pool training in preparation for tomorrow’s open water adventure. Upon arriving at Jack’s Diving Locker, the students promptly started their morning training sessions. One of our scuba instructors, Carlos, mentioned a nearby gelato stand to his group (consisting of Sophie, Claire, Lila, and Delaney), leading to a much-anticipated stop there before we headed south to Green Sands Beach. This beach is one of only four naturally occurring green sand beaches worldwide. The coastal hike to the beach was stunning, and upon arrival, we were greeted by enormous waves. Wes and Alston attempted to conquer the swells but met their match. After everyone had their fill of swimming, we returned to camp, and the cooking crew, Sophie, Lila, and Alston, crafted Mediterranean bowls for dinner. Our dinner was followed by Moonup before bed led by Leaders of the Day, Delaney and Lila.
Day 5: June 12 Today, sea creatures stole the show! This morning, we headed off to the pier for a shore dive to practice skills needed for SCUBA certification with Jack’s Diving Locker. During our two dives, we saw a Freckled Snake Eel, Moorish Idols, Reef Squid, and countless other native Hawaiian fish. It was so exciting to get an ocean scuba experience after two great days in the pool. After our dives, we learned how to fill out our dive logs. The students then had some free time in town, returning with “Shaka-attack” shirts! But our day didn’t stop there, so we headed to our manta ray snorkel session. The boat took us to a nearby cove; we were treated to a beautiful sunset! We then we suited up and hopped in to watch some rays, which did not disappoint! Plankton are attracted to the light from the boats, which in turn attract Manta Rays for feeding! As we watched the rays eat their dinner, they flipped within arm’s reach of us! Tired and happy, we drove back to our beach campsite for Moonup led by our leaders of the day, Avery P. and Sophie!
Shout outs
Wes – Hey mom and dad. I am loving this so much more than being at KB. We are casually camping on a black sand beach. Tell Lucy I miss her. Feature me in a letter to Nora. Tell Jamie I’m having fun. Love y’all, can’t wait to tell y’all everything!
Delaney – Hi mama and daddy! I love and miss you! I am having so much fun and it’s so so pretty here! I am good at scuba and haven’t gotten sunburnt yet! Hope Lucas is having fun in Europe and I can’t wait to tell you everything! Love you!!
Sophie – Hey mom and dad. Miss you guys so much! Hawaii is beautiful and I’m having such a great time.
Claire – Hi mommy and father. Love and miss you. I’m having an amazing time and seeing such pretty sights. Tell Seger I love him.
Avery Alonso – Hey y’all! I miss you guys! Hawaii is beautiful and I am having a lot of fun with the people in my group. I’m a scuba pro now! Can’t wait to meet up with everyone in Necker!
Alston Logan – Hello dad and mom! I hope you guys are having a great time tearing up CLT and where else you may be. I miss y’all a lot. Hawaii is so cool. I am having a great time. See y’all soon.
Avery Perkins – Hi mommy and dad! I miss y’all like crazy but I’m having so much fun in Hawaii. Tellboth Jacks, MK, and the puppies I love them! Love y’all so much.
Safe Arrival in Hawaii!
June 9, 2024
Hello Hawaiian Island Families!
We heard from our leaders this afternoon that the group has landed safely in Hawaii and is headed to their first campsite! One student, Avery Perkins, had some flight issues and will be joining the group today! We are so excited for everyone to be together soon, and can’t wait to hear all about their exciting adventures over the next couple of weeks!
Please remember our leaders and students will be unplugged during their trips, but we will be posting trip updates throughout the next two weeks! This will allow you to follow along with the trip. You can also follow us on Instagram, @moondanceadventures, to see more of what we are up to!
-Moondance HQ
