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!
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!