Checking in from Hawaii!
July 6, 2024
Day 7:
Travel day!!!!! The kids were stoked to head to the Big Island and check out all its different scenery! We headed to the airport, checked our bags, and got on our first flight to Honolulu. Then, after a quick layover, we settled back onto the plane, Sunday comics in hand. Once we arrived in Kona, we ooohed and ahhhed over the volcanic rock landscape. The Big Island is the newest Hawaiian Island, and its diverse terrain ranges from volcanic rock to grassy fields to jungle. Some people like to say it looks like we’re on Mars!
We headed to the local grocery, where we ate fruit, sushi, and poké before the boys went to Costco with Ben, and the girls went to Target with Rachael and Anna Wesley. Later that day, we arrived at our campsite in the island’s mountains!! Cheers of excitement rang out as students discovered the horses and goats around our campsite and the fire pit! The cooking crew, consisting of Chip, Zach, Lilly M, and Tatum, made a delicious meal of BBQ chicken, mac n cheese, and salad for the group. Everyone was very impressed with their cooking skills; many thought this was one of our tastiest meals! After Moonup around the fire and lots of laughs, we all went to sleep in our tents, excited for the next day!
Day 8:
First full day in Kona! Woohoo! We had a lovely, slow morning. The breakfast crew, Cameron, Caspar, and Lilly McMillen, crushed it and whipped up breakfast burritos for us. Cameron made immaculate eggs while Caspar cooked the sausage perfectly, and Lilly flipped the tortillas. Once breakfast was ready, we all gathered together and grubbed. After playing around and exploring our new paradise, we headed out for our first adventure of the day! We hiked Pololu Valley. The hike was quick and steep, but it was worth the view.
Afterward, we stopped by a local food truck, which was a huge hit! The kids were obsessed with it… especially the poke nachos! Across the street was a local Hawaiian pineapple stand with a special kind of pineapple called Kahili pineapple! It was unreal! Cameron and Tatum had a great time talking to the owners about the origin of this pineapple. After that, we headed to Pu’uwai Gardens for our cooking class! The garden was beautiful!
Day 9:
First day of SCUBA! The kids were ready to get their scuba on! We arrived at Jack’s early morning to get the most out of the day! Students started in the classroom and quickly went to the pool to practice hard skills! Day one of SCUBA was a success, and students celebrated after in town – Lilly M and Mary Drew got gelato at a local shop and loved it, and Jack Ryan got a fun tiki souvenir! We then ate a quick meal of tacos in town from a local stand.
After SCUBA and hanging out in Kona town, we went to hike Mauna Kea, a 13,803 ft inactive volcano, to catch the sunset! The students could not stop oohing and ahhing over the beauty of the mountain and sunset. On the way home, we stopped for a quick snack of pizza, and the kids made s’mores after Lilly M and Zach led a thought-provoking Moonup.
Day 10:
Scuba day two! What a day – the students were excited to get in the water for another day of SCUBA skills! Today, students mastered mask recovery, buddy swimming, and giant strides in the pool. During SCUBA lesson breaks, students enjoyed showing off pool jumps. John and Chip competed for the biggest splash! The students got a snack from a local shop in the afternoon, and we returned to our campsite.
We saw a local market in Hawi and stopped to check out local Hawaiian food. We tried fried banana with ube cream on it. John became this dessert’s biggest fan! Cameron, Grace, Rachael, and Anna Wesley walked around the campsite property, seeing ponies, horses, goats, chickens, and a rainbow! The boys all kicked around the soccer ball, listening to music and laughing! We had a hearty meal of pulled pork and brisket sandwiches, buffalo chicken dip, Caesar salad, and good ol’ mac n cheese for dinner. We ended the night with a hilarious and chatty Moonup led by John and Lillie H.
Thank You’s
John
Hey guys! I have had so much fun and have love all of the new experiences. I cant wait to see you guys soon and tell you all about the trip. Thank you so much for letting me go on this trip. Talk soon!
Caspar
Hey guys! I’m have been having the most incredible time in Hawaii. I wanted those thank you for giving me the opportunity to go on such an amazing trip. I cant wait to tell you about all I have done. Love you so much and see you soon!!
Mary Drew
Literally best time ever‼️‼️‼️‼️ I’ve met amazing ppl and have done so many fun things!!! thank you for sending me on this trip💟❤️🔥🏖️🏄♀️🍒🍉🍓🌺🌈👙 cant wait to see yall soon:):):)
Lillie Hewatt
Hi pookiez🥰🥰thank yall so so much for letting me go on this trip i have loved it so so much and i have done things i would have never done otherwise. Last night the manta rays was the coolest thing ever and the best 4 of july i could ask for. Thanks love u❤️❤️💙💙🤍
Lilly M
Hi fam!! I have had the best time ever in Hawaii! Thank you letting me come here, ive met really fun people and done amazing new things. I cant wait to see yall soon ❤️❤️😆❤️🇺🇸😎🤙🤙💘💘💖💖 love Doo
Cameron
Hey mom and dad!!! Thank you sooooo much for letting me take this trip, its been so much fun and I did so many crazy things that I will probably never get to do again!! We have done so much cool stuff and I cant wait to see you and virginia sam and the pets when I get home!! Love you!! 🩷🩷
Tatum
Hey mom and Dad! THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH for allowing to come on this trip!! I am having the best time ever. I cant wait to tell and show yall everything! Love you and see you soon!
Zak
Hey Mom and Dad, thanks so much for letting me have this awesome opportunity, I’m having the time of my life. It went by really fast but cant wait to get home and see u guys.
Jack
Hey guys! Thank you so much for letting me go on this trip. I have been having a great time! I cant wait to see yall when I get back!
Grace
Hey mom and dad!! Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to have such an amazing experience. I have had the best two weeks ever but am so excited to see y’all in only two days😱😱 last nigjt we went swimming with manta rays for the fourth. It was soooooo sick😆😆This trip has flown by so fast I feel like i just got here. Cant wait to tell y’all all about it! I need a fat nap asap😴 xoxooo grace
Chip
Hey guys i have had so much fun in the past two weeks and have had some amazing experiences. Thank yall for letting me have this time and i can not wait to see yall when i get home. Love you guys
Here is our trip update + thank you! Sorry it was late… we were living in the moment too much!!!
Thanks!
Rachael, Anna Wesley, Ben
Aloha from Kauai!
July 1, 2024
Day 1
We were so eager for our new students to arrive! We came to the airport with a beautifully decorated sign, thanks to Anna Wesley, and snacks for the kiddos! Grace, John, Caspar, and Cameron were the first to arrive. After everyone but Zach came, we went off to get our first meal together… which was pizza! YUM!! Our final member, Zach, landed in Kauai, and Ben picked him up from the airport. After dinner we all unpacked and got familiar with our new home for the week. After that we had our first Moonup, with a surprise sweet treat of chocolate chip cookies!
Day 2
Our first full day!!! Woohoo!!! The kids were pumped for their first full day. Clearly eager, they all woke up with the sun! We had an early morning, therefore we had breakfast on-the-go on the way to surfing! Tatum and Zach were naturals getting up on the boards! We also explored Hanalei bay and grabbed a morning treat! After exploring town, we had a picnic on the beach for lunch, and the Hawaiian roll sandwiches were a hit! Following lunch we headed to Ho’opio Falls. The added sprinkle of rain made this adventure even more fun! There was tons of mud… especially on Chip! At the bottom of the Ho’opio Falls there was a stunning waterfall with a rope swing where we all got to swing off into the cold, crispy water! We had a blast! Once we finished exploring the waterfall we rinsed off our muddy legs and headed back to camp! After some much needed downtime, we had a Mexican fiesta! In honor of June 25, Christmas in June, students unwrapped Moondance gear and alumni presents at the beginning of Moon up while listening to Christmas music. Tired from a big first day, students fell right asleep after moon up!
Day 3
An early morning today! We got up early and had a quick breakfast before hitting the road and driving to our big 7.5 mile hike of the trip. We made the hour and a half drive up Wamiea Canyon and saw some glimpses of the canyon on the way up! It was unreal… the red sand made it look like we were on Mars! Once we arrived at the trailhead, we met our awesome guide Sarah! We started the hike off strong and crushed it getting to the top! Extra props to Cameron for killing it and facing her fear of heights! The view at the top of the canyon was incredible! With a 360 view of the canyon, everyone’s jaws were dropped. All you could see was lush green canyons and the crystal clear ocean. It was so peaceful at the top with not a sight around. At the top of the canyon, we all had delicious sandwiches. Once we were all fueled up we headed the trek back down. Just minutes into the hike down, Chip got a Charley horse! He was a warrior and toughed it out! The hike down was a challenge but everyone finished strong! After such a challenging and exhausting day, we treated the kids to Jo Jo’s Shaved Ice! The ice bowls were almost the size of their faces! With a sugar buzz in motion, we headed back to camp. The car ride back was filled with laughter and singing! Back at camp, everyone cleaned up and started getting ready for dinner. John did a stellar job of preparing the chicken and Lilly McMillen crushed it by cutting peppers! They both have some serious skills! Thanks to our fabulous chefs, everyone had a delicious Mediterranean inspired dinner! Once dinner wrapped up, we closed the day with Moonup, led by Tatum and Caspar, on the beach under the stars.
Day 4
Day four started bright and early, per usual, as we all woke up to the sunrise over our campsite! We all hopped in the van towards the National Tropical Botanical Gardens for community service- where part of Jurassic Park was filmed! We were greeted when we got to the gardens and began chopping down, uprooting diseased banana trees so healthier ones could grow. While everyone worked very hard, we also brought some fun into our work! We had an intense limbo contest, which ended in Lilly M. and Anna Wesley settling it with a rock paper scissors game! Anna Wesley came out victorious. After some uprooting of trees, we had a water break that ended with a game of Ninja! Chip put up a strong fight, winning the match! To finish off our service, we moved logs to the compost pile. Cameron showed off her strength and grit, showing the logs who’s boss! During lunch at the gardens, our wonderful guide, wearing the cutest flower hat, treated us to local fruits- including mango, pineapple, lychee, papaya and soursop! Grace absolutely loved the soursop, perfectly describing it, saying it “tastes like a hichew!” We then took a tour of the gardens guided by a wonderful volunteer named Neil! Tatum asked a lot of very thoughtful questions-and we learned so much about the history of Hawaii!
After the National Tropical Botanical Gardens, we went to Poipu Beach and enjoyed a swim in the cool water! Zach and Chip surfed a few good waves! Mary Drew, Lilly M, Caspar and John competed in spike-ball while Ben and Jack swam to a little island just off the beach! When we got home, the cooking crew- Lillie, Zach, and Grace- made us a delicious pasta and we all bonded over a fun card game of Kemps! Our LODs, Chip and Grace, then led a wonderful moon up to finish off the evening!
Day 5
Day five was a rockstar day! We woke before sunrise to attack our full day of kayaking the Na Pali coast! It was quite a view! We woke the kids with a hearty breakfast of waffles, sausage, muffins, and yogurt bowls. Once everyone’s bellies were full and satisfied, we headed on our kayak adventure. Despite the early morning, the drive was filled with energy and good music! The drive was worth the view, with crystal clear water, soft sand, and an insane view of the canyons. The weather was immaculate, with blue skies and calm waves. After a brief safety talk, the kids piled into their kayaks with their partners. Everyone had a smooth descent into the water without flipping. Less than one mile into our journey, we stumbled upon a pod of about 300 dolphins!!! They were flipping and doing tricks in front of us! It was unreal – we were all in awe. While kayaking, we were lucky enough to go into a cave! All of the kids were fascinated. Furthermore, all of us snorkeled and saw some pretty neat things! Swimming was so refreshing, and it revived us to finish paddling back into shore. Once we all made it back to the beach, we had a lunch feast! The guides, Brian and Hannah, were kind enough to bring us local pineapple. It was so sweet and refreshing! Caspar could open the pineapple in half just by twisting it! After we fueled back up, we went back to the beach for a little swim. The water is so clear, it’s unbelievable! The boys had a blast body surfing while the girls relaxed on the beach. After our long beach day, we stopped on the way home for our dinner feast – ribs, drumsticks, chicken, caesar salad, and chicken salad. The kids were stuffed! Once we got back to camp, the kids showered, and we ended the day with Moonup under the pavilion.
Day 6
The morning started with rain but that did not stop our group! We hopped in the van towards Hanalei Bay for our surf lessons! Zach and Jack showed off their skills and John attempted a surfboard headstand! Lillie also stood out, as she caught every wave she worked for! After surfing, we went to the local Saturday Market in Hanalei and tried loads of samples- from Ube Honey to Lilikoi butter to electrolytes. Jack bargained for a coconut and Lillie got a cute locally made necklace! We then headed towards the Zipline activity! We went on 3 ziplines, with one of them being over 4,000 feet long, the longest in Hawaii! Cameron and Lillie Hewatt overcame their fear of heights and went down the ziplines like pros. We also had an amazing time jumping off the rope swing into a tucked away pond in between ziplines! When we returned to the camp, a fierce Boys vs Girls Iron Chef competition commenced. The Boys Team created an appetizer of chickles (cheese-pickles) and sliders, while the Girls Team created pizza bagels. For the main entree, the Boys Team served a Cuban Brisket Sandwich and the Girls Team served their take on a Taco Bell Doritos Locos Taco! It was very impressive to see their cooking skills shine through! We finished the night with Moonup, and went to sleep dreaming of the travel day ahead.
The trip is off to an AMAZING start, and we cannot wait to see what adventures lie ahead! Thanks for checking in, we will be back with another update soon!
Signing off for now,
Ben, Anna Wesley, and Rachael
Student Shoutouts
Jack: Hey Mom, Dad, and Matt! I am having such a great time in Hawaii. We have done so many cool things such as hiking, sea kayaking and surfing. Thank you so much for sending me on this trip! Love you guys!
John: hey mom and dad, I’m having so much fun in Hawaii. I’ve loved the surfing and snorkeling so far and have had a great time with all the other kids in the group. See you soon!
Caspar: Hey Mom and Dad! Having such a great time in Hawaii. Was just surfing, and were zip lining a little later. We leave for the second island tomorrow and will be scuba diving a lot! can’t wait to see you guys soon! Also HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELLA🎉🎉🎈🎂
Zachary: Hey family, Hawaii is a blast and I have a great group. Sea kayaking and the hike had such great views. Going zipling today and am super excited for it. Miss yall a lot, see you guys in a week!
Lillie H.: Hi muffins🌺🌺 i miss u guys so so much but im having such a blast. I learned to surf and survived my 8 mile hike. I hope yall r doing okay without me miss yall and cilla so so much🦋🦋🦋
Cameron: Hi mom and dad!!! I am having SOOO much fun in hawaii #shesalocal we have been surfing, a little bit of hiking (i survived 😇😇) and kayaking which was probably my favorite so far!! My group is so fun and we have had the best time!! Give Bo lots of pets for me and I cant wait to see you soon!!
Chip: hey mom and dad missing you guys and Molly, love y’all.
Grace: Hey mom and dad!! I miss yall sooo much but I’m having the best time ever. I just know yall would love this place so much. Took lots of pics and vids on the GoPro for you dad!! I don’t even miss my phone one bit😱😱Btw can yall pleaseeee put money on my card im broke!!😛 thank yall so much for giving me this opportunity, best two weeks ever. give bob and Lucy kisses for me💋💋 LOVE YALL
Lilly M.: Hi mom, dad, Woodson, and Pheebs! DOO here, I miss yall!! My fav things have been kayaking and surfing. It’s so beautiful here but I haven’t seen a mirror in days… I love yall so much, and yay for the vols winning the World Series. 💖💖💖💖❣️❣️❣️🏄🏄🤙🤙
Mary Drew: BEST TWO WEEKS EVERRRR😋😋👙👙🌺🌺🌞🌞🌈🌈☀️☀️🍒🍒🍉🍉🍓🍓🏄🏼♀️🏄🏼♀️ I’m having sm fun but I wish there were normal beds instead of tents lol and maybe I need a bigger mirror next time 😆😆 but other than that I’m having a great time!!! LOVE YALL!!!!!:):):):):)
Tatum: Hey mom and dad!!! I miss yall so much. You guys must see this place it is awesome! Everything is going swimmingly 😉. I don’t even miss my phone one bit Thank you for sending my passport. Can’t wait to see yall and my bed. PS, I NEED A MASSAGE WHEN I GET BACK PLS!❤️😘
Safe Arrival!
June 25, 2024
Hello Hawaiian Island Families!
The group landed safely in Hawaii and the trip is off to a great start! We 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
