Hello from beautiful Hawaii!
July 25, 2024
β’ July 20th
Today was our 13-hour day with Jacks Diving Locker, truly becoming one with the ocean. Instead of showing up at the store/pool location or public beach spot like the day before, the van took us to Honokohau Harbor to hop on a boat, donned in wetsuits. Everyone was eager to get in there and explore, especially Violet and Alice for their controlled free ascents (they dominated those). At our first dive spot of the day, Golden Arches, the team used compasses to navigate below the waves. Yes, they all swam through an arch (!) with colder water beneath the natural structure itself. It was no surprise that aquaman, aka Bennett, led his dive group through and back toward the boat in a precise manner. He did so looking good alongside Gingers pink mask she bought – a worthwhile purchase (good fit: rare leaks) abound with compliments all day. Sydney and Jenna caught some rays on the deck of the boat (up top with Captain Gary) on the way to the next spot without a worry in mind about the certification dive. They had excelled in the pool and came to realize that the ocean wasn’t as tough a task as made out to be; their confidence carried them to claim their certifications!! And a huge congrats to everyone who did!! As well as being a buoyancy king, Telfair had mastered his air conservation so he had more time to explore before having to come up. Officially in her mermaid era, Ann Harper attained her certification with an ever-growing love for the ocean, and a great job properly handling her gear, BCD, tank, and all. Back on the boat, Comer was chatting up with the gals about lore from back home, sprinkling those storytelling skills we’d been witnessing at Moonup. Since our second spot was so close to the harbor, we headed back for lunch on land. Quickly following the classic sandwich that the boat crew provides, the ice cream cooler inside was raided and a few boxes of pizza magically appeared to fuel our second half of the dive day. No one relaxed harder than Alex, who kicked back and took in the final sandwich lunch with funny comments about our circumstances having to hop back on the boat way earlier than planned. The Manta dive consisted of a “twilight portion” this time, having our group hop back in the boat in no time. In this dive, Brooks spotted several eels hidden in coral (foreshadowing) and even saw a crown of thorns starfish in the beginning. After that 3rd dive of the day, the group gathered up top and took a great photo with tons of laughter flowing throughout – watching the gorgeous sunset too! Our final dive was at dark with the Manta Ray, which had our divers organized in a circle around a “campfire” of beaming lights, attracting Manta-Ray food: zoo plankton. The moon dancers took up about a third of the circle, but the manta loved them the most! Just inches above the heads of Bennett, Alex, Alice, and Telfair, the beaut flapped around and our group was able to witness its fascinating mouth up close. A little farther down while witnessing it all, a green moray eel slipped right over Brooks’s wrists! A sight which took us all off guard. When our tanks were running barren, we swam back up for the boat ride back to the harbor, getting back in the van for our drive back northward to Hawi. “The moon dancers are animals, 4 dives in one day..” everyone was impressed and our group asleep earlier than ever. Living the salt life π€πΌ
β’ July 21st
Today marked the bittersweet end of our incredible journey here on the Big Island. We appreciated the rare opportunity to sleep in this morning by starting our day with a leisurely breakfast of M&M pancakes and a delectable assortment of tropical fruits – including white pineapple, mango, and apple bananas – expertly prepared by Brooks, Jenna, and Bennett. Bennett’s pancake artistry and Clare’s culinary skills truly made for a memorable feast. Following breakfast, Sydney and Ann Harper basked in the warm sun in enu hammocks before embarking on an afternoon hike to the breathtaking PololΕ« cliffs. Brooks and Comer’s daring flip-flop hike was truly impressive, offering us unparalleled views of the black sand cliffs. We then strolled through charming Hawi, indulging in some refreshing ice cream before immersing ourselves in a delightful cooking class experience. Under the guidance of a skilled chef, we prepared and savored a 3-course dinner featuring braised beef stew, citrus garden salad, and a decadent chocolate and fruit crisp – all sourced from the farm we were visiting. Alex and Alice showcased their impeccable cutting skills and culinary prowess during the class. As the day drew to a close, we made our way to the Waipi’o Valley lookout to witness one last mesmerizing sunset, reflecting on the cherished memories we’ve created during our time together. Violet, Ginger, Brooks, Telfair, Ann Harper all rolled down the hill, which had us all cracking up. Upon returning to camp, we gathered around a crackling campfire to enjoy s’mores under the starlit Hawaiian sky, savoring the final moments of our unforgettable adventure.
β’ July 22nd
Our final day had sadly arrived, but we aimed to make it the most sentimental departure of the summer. Waking up at Nani ranch for the last time, sleeping in a little bit again too, a breakfast of waffles and more tropical fruit fueled our packing efforts. Like the morning before, Bennett handled the stove and Jenna chopped up most of our fruit. Those mangoes were a 10/10. Once everything was ready, Mia and Clare took our group in the van to a car wash (Brooks was a massive help!! Foregoing the Starbucks run with others and not leaving a grain of sand in there) while Alex drove the U-Haul to the surprise location. There at a banquet-prep-fashion-factory, aka Goodwilliam, our group balled out with the fits! Telfair picked out a stunning unicorn toboggan to go with his Kenny Chesney shirt while Comer found himself in a glistening pink bellydancing skirt. Sydney rocked some pink as well, along with blue Hawaiian shorts, and Jenna wore a Santa hat paired nicely with her pink dress. Once we were outside the restaurant, in a speculating public eye, Mia and Clare popped over with a large Poke platter consisting of the most delicious fish that could ever grace yer tastebuds. Ginger claimed to have never had any better fish! Finally settled and seated, Banquet lunch was underway with an energy equivalent to the wind turbines outside of Waimea. Reminiscing and munching, we all enjoyed the $20 budget and reflection. Violet, Alex, Alice, and Ann Harper conveyed their original takeaways from arrival day; hilarious group dynamic mixups and assumptions were shared. Following lunch was our final Moonup, then and there in the coconut grove itself. Each of us shared a sincere comment for everyone and we had our final nug jug, the big kahuna, bursting with gratitude. Leaving for the airport for no easy task, everything we let go of this day had mental claw marks on it. Checking in and passing out the phones always comes as a hectic start but once reality settled back in the tears and hugs ensued. Despite the recent airline mishaps, everyone was able to get through tsa with a valid boarding pass, thankfully not denied due to their youth. Waving goodbye caused a tsunami of emotion. We’ll never forget how 3B came together, a group with moxie to say the least.
Hello from beautiful Hawaii!
July 22, 2024
7/16
Today marked the beginning of our exciting journey to the Big Island, as we bid farewell to Kumu camp and made our way to the airport, eagerly anticipating the adventures that lay ahead. Our flights were surprisingly short, feeling more like a smooth car ride up in the clouds- with a brief layover in Honolulu. Upon our arrival in Kona, we were welcomed by a luxurious van equipped with CarPlay and dependable AC, ready to whisk us away to our next destination, Nani Ranch. Nestled amidst stunning cliffs and a delightful array of farm animals, the campsite reminded Jenna of familiar sights back home. Ginger, Anne Harper, and Sydney were thrilled to explore the new surroundings, learn that the showers at this campsite has warm water! Violet and Alex loved interacting with goats, horses, ponies, bunnies, and even wild boars. After settling in at the camp, we embarked on a visit to the Mauna Kea observatory, where we were left in awe of the volcanic mountaintop and its remarkable elevation from the sea floor. As we marveled at the breathtaking sunset, Brooks, Bennett, and Comer eagerly lent a hand in carrying our pizza to the top. Meanwhile, Alice and Telfair serenaded us with their rendition of carpool karaoke on the way back, treating us to a lively mix of Zach Bryan and Hamilton tunes that filled the van with joy and laughter.
7/17 –
Happy Birthday Telfair π₯³! We started the day off by waking up the birthday boy with some festive tunes and then headed to our first day of scuba school. The kids dove into learning how to assemble scuba gear, master mask skills, and understand the importance of equalizing underwater. Ginger and Sydney excelled at putting together their gear, while Mia and Clare took charge of planning Telfair’s favorite meal – filet mignon paired with Alfredo pasta.
As the kids honed their scuba skills in the pool, Mia and Alex worked on decorating the van for Telfair’s surprise. Singalongs filled the air on the way back home, with Alice and Brooks engaging in a friendly pineapple cutting competition and Violet and Alex helping prepare the meal. Comer kept Telfair distracted while everyone signed a birthday card for him, and Telfair took charge of cooking his own steak to perfection.
After returning home, Jenna and Anne Harper spent time with the farm animals and after that we all embarked on a cliff hike. We saw 3 rainbows throughout the course of this adventure; they were absolutely stunning. Bennett’s impressive speed hiking up the cliffs left us all in awe. To cap off the amazing day and birthday bash, we surprised Telfair with cake and a cozy campfire under the stars. We are so grateful for all the wonderful kids we have on this trip!
7/18 – scuba 2 & akaka
We started our second morning of SCUBA back in the pool at Jack’s. The group excelled on every skill, which meant we were done with our lessons for the day early enough to stop in Coconut Grove for a mid-day snack. Alice ordered shaved ice which she kindly shared with counselors Clare and Alex while Ginger got a smoothie from the coffee shop next door. Once everyone got their post-SCUBA frozen treat, we boarded back into the van to embark on a surprise adventure across the island.
The drive through the countryside was stunning, but the combination of a long morning learning to SCUBA and the sweet treat sugar crash eventually lulled everyone to sleep. Violet was the first to wake up and guess where we were going. Then we queued a certain T.L.C song to wake up the rest of the group. To everyone’s surprise, we had arrived at Akaka Falls!
While we were gathering ourselves at the trails head before we began the hike to the waterfall, Sydney & Ann Harper befriended a couple of cats who almost joined us on the walk. Then we followed Jenna down the trail to the stunning lookout point. Once we arrived, Ginger got out her camera to take pictures of us all, Alice & Telfair read up on the history of the waterfall, and Bennett and Comer left their mark by carving their name into a wooden board.
Back in the van, Alex, Clare and Mia had another surprise in store. Instead of turning back onto the highway, we turned into food truck lot! After adventuring all the way to Hilo, it was only fitting we stop for some dinner too. Since Comer told us on the first day that his favorite food comes from a taco truck, we decided to stop at Tacos Jalisco, and boy was he right. The tacos were delicious. Telfair said they were some of the best he ever had and Bennett had to go back for seconds to try birria consΓΊmete.
After dinner, we went for a walk along the waterfront. Sydney, Telfair & Clare threw the football and Alice, Alex, Mia
& Violet cruised behind chatting away. Then we turned back into Hilo’s sleepy streets. It was just our luck to stumble upon a bookstore where a group of musicians had gathered for a jam session. Mia and Clare were the first to spot the piano and sneaked away to see if Alex could play a song. To the group’s surprise, Alex sat down behind the keys to play Tiny Dancer. Brooks and Violet knew all the words and sang along while the rest of us gathered close and joined in karaoke-style. It was the perfect way to close out our adventurous day.
Back at camp, we held our nightly moonup before and gathered around for one big group hug before settling to bed in our enos and tents.
7/19 – scuba 3
Aloha! Today was the day our SCUBA divers finally hit the water! We met Jack’s at the Kailua Pier bright and early. The kids quickly set up their BCDs before marching into the water from the beach. Looking very official in all of her gear, a little boy asked Jenna if she was a marine biologist. Once in the water, Alice and Ginger were the first to descend. The group explored the ocean floor until we reached a sandy bank where Telfair showed off his buoyancy skills and Bennett challenged us all in a game of rock, paper, scissors. When it was time to ascend, the students practiced the tired diver tow and regrouped on shore for lunch. After everyone finished their sandwiches, we set up our tanks again. Brooks built his BCD in record time, showing everyone how he mastered the skill. Since the group was excelling underwater, the second skill-based dive was short and sweet. After the dive, we headed back to Jack’s Diving Locker to record the day’s work in our dive logs before jumping back into the van to explore Hawi.
In Hawi, Bennett, Ginger, Telfair, Sydney and Ann Harper decided to stop in the local Mexican restaurant for a second lunch of tacos, chips, and salsa. Violet and Comer explored the stores, buying gifts for her family and Brooks thrifted a retro Hawaiian shirt. When it was time to leave, Alice and Clare decided to take the scenic route back to camp, electing to make the short walk instead of hopping in our van.
For our final dinner at camp, we made the long-awaited Mediterranean bowls. Our chefs, Ginger, Ann Harper, and Violet, chopped up lots of fresh veggies while Bennett cooked the chicken and rice on the Coleman. The rain poured down on us hard, but the groups spirits were high. One thing we learned this summer was the beauty of dancing in the rain. With Rihanna playing from the speaker, Sydney and Ginger danced in the kitchen. Alice and Alex went for a long stroll around the ranch and Brooks brought out the card games. After a couple rounds of spoons and BS, Jenna established herself as the card game champion.
At dinner, we enjoyed perfectly seasoned pita and some special blue agave hot sauce. The meal was delicious and a fan favorite by all. Afterwards, Sydney, Telfair and Jenna helped clean dishes before we sat back down underneath the tent for Moonup with the sound of the rain in the background.
Parent love
Violet – Hi mom and Luke! Thank you so much for sending me on this trip I’m having the most fun time! We started scuba diving and it is so cool! I can’t wait to tell yall everything about it πΊ
Comer – Thank you mom and dad for letting me go on the trip. It is pretty fun and cool and too much to explain so I’ll tell yall later. Thanks
Brooks – Thank you mom and dad for getting me in this trip. It’s been a lot of fun and I’ll tell yall about.
Alice – Thank you Mom, Dad and JuJu for letting me go on this trip! I am so glad that I came because it had been a super fun trip! You should know that I will be a pro scuba diver by the end of this! Thank you! π
Alex – Thank you dad for sending me on this trip I’m glad I went it’s so fun and they have really good food and we always do fun activities love you! β€οΈπΊ
Bennett – Hey mom and dad thank y’all for giving me the chance to go on this trip I’m having a great time and miss yall. Tell Lily I miss her too. Love y’all
Sydney – Mom and dad, thank y’all so much for giving me the opportunity to go on this trip I’m having the best time and i am so grateful for the both of you!! Love you both so much! Can’t wait to tell you all the things
Ann Harper – Thank you so much mom and dad for letting me go on this trip. This has been the best time and I’m doing so much cool things that I’ve never done before. I miss yall and Wilson but will see yall soon. Love y’all!
Jenna – I have been having so much fun on this trip, thank you so much mom and dad for letting me go. I have lots of new core memories and true stories that I can’t wait to share with you when I get home. I love both of you so much see yall soon.
Ginger – this trip has been so amazing and I’m so appreciative of the opportunity. I can not thank you enough Mama and Dada for this trip. The friends I’ve made and the adventures I would usually be terrified of being conquered will change the person I am forever. I’m so excited to tell you guys everything about this trip and hopefully continue to be adventurous in nature when I’m home with all of yall (Dada Mama Walt Sam Evan) Thank you guys so much and I love yall SOOO much like a million π
Telfair – Thank you so much mom and dad for letting me go on this adventure! I have been having the best time here and can’t wait to tell yall all about it! Love y’all!!
Update from Hawaiian Islands!
July 17, 2024
7/10
Welcome HWI 3B for our last final ride! Aloha from Hawaii! Violet arrived first to the airport where she was greeted by Alex with a warm smile. Next arrived Comer, followed by Sydney, Jenna, Ann Harper, Alice, and Bennett. Shortly after Ginger, Alex, and Brooks got in and joined us all. Last but not least, Telfair landed and then the power across the entire island went out. With no power, pizza was off the table, so we headed straight back to camp and gathered around the Coleman for the first time to chef up some good old Kraft Mac N Cheese. After dinner, we commenced the trip with our first Moonup and the climbed into our tents for a good night sleep on the beach!
7/11
We started day one off strong with surfing in Hanalei bay! The waves were totally tubular π. Ginger and Alex were naturals at shredding the gnar! Telfair did a wicked backflip off the surfboard! Comer made friends with a turtle while surfing. Ann Harper played with mermaid while she was in the waves. After a quick lesson from a local instructor, we were riding the waves like pros. The feeling of catching a wave and riding it all the way to shore was absolutely exhilarating. After a morning of surfing we had a beach lunch and headed out to zip lining where we got our adrenaline pumping even more. One of the zip lines was the longest zip line in all of Hawaii! The lush green surroundings and stunning views of the island made for an unforgettable zip lining experience. Zooming through the trees and soaring over valleys was a thrill like no other. Jenna and Sydney flew through the sky while both going upside down while zip-lining. It was awesome to zip line where they filmed Indiana Jones Raiders of the Lost Ark. After one of the zip lines we took a break at a blue lagoon where we all jumped off a 20 foot drop! Violet, Alice, and Mia were so brave and were some of the first people to jump! For dinner, we had ourselves a taco Tuesday- it was delectable! Brooks showed off his knife skills cutting up onions and peppers. Bennett was a huge help in assisting with all the enu hammocks setups. We finished with moon up and the crowd favorite dessert: cookie dough.
7/12
It’s hike day at the Nu’alolo trail in Koke’e state park! An early morning drive from Kumu camp had us winding upwards in our 15-passenger van all the way to the trailhead. We packed our backpacks with snacks, filled up both our water bottles and met up with our guide Hannah, a former firefighter on the island. The first half of our hike (to the most amazing lunch spot / epic view of all time) was a 3 mile downhill trot. We each had some strawberry guava picked fresh from the plants themselves, yellow juicy ones and red tart ones. Bennett was the last to get to the spot, only because he kept taking in the views on the way within the final mile. Alex had her camera ready and took the first shots from our first peak-through, at the front of the trail. Upon reaching the overlook over the world famous Na Pali coast, our jaws were on the clay ground and our stomachs were quivering for those spinach turkey wraps. Sydney and Jenna walked straight to the edge with no fear. As we all scanned the scenery, the numerous green cliffs and muddy red ground complimented the blue horizon, looking out at the island of Ni’ihau to our left was the cherry on top. After taking in our view and our lunch, we played a quick game of “zip-zap-zop” courtesy of our guide Hannah’s recommendation. Alice took home the crown! All packed up, we started the steep incline back up to the trailhead.. so steep but so ultra-rewarding back at the top. We all chilled at the Koke’e lodge for a bit to catch our breath and slurp some coconut water. Telfair tossed the frisbee with me for a while in the mountain pasture adjacent to the lodge. Before we headed back to camp, a shaved ice stop ensued! Comer started a trend with the “lilo and stitch” flavor, red and blue raspberry. Next door was a little souvenir store where Ginger and Ann Harper were able to find some goodies they liked. Many jokes were cracked by them two among the others there in the front, viewing all the goofy merch. Back at camp, while waiting for Clare and Mia at the store, Violet and Brooks lined up myself with a marvelous mullet, continuing our goofy antics. I’ve never had a better chop in my life. After the long day, falling asleep was quite easy after our moonup. Another day of surfing awaited us and even another hike, a surprise, to a special spot. Today was fulfilling and full of so much beauty and laughter.
7/13
Surf’s up! πββοΈ We started the day back at Hanalei Bay for our final day of surfing the famous Hawaiian waves. The swells were totally tubular today, and Bennett caught every wave, riding through the barrel all the way to the shore. At the end of our surfing sesh, Violet hopped back in the water to get some final rides in before we headed into Hanalei. In town, Brooks, Comer, and Ginger headed to the fish market to try some fresh poke while the rest of the group stopped by our favorite coffee shop, Slow Yourself Down, to grab acai bowls and smoothies. Anne Harper and Violet even got some mason jars to bring home! After some shopping and exploring Hanalei, we got back in the van and headed off to our next surprise destination. Once we arrived at the unknown spot, our LODs, —-, led us on short hike along the river until we came across a rushing waterfall! Comer and Telfair were the first to discover the rope swing and immediately jumped into the swimming hole beyond the falls, with Bennet and Brooks filing in line. Alex got out her GoPro to document it all, but the highlight of Ho’opii Falls wasn’t discovered until the end when Jenna, Sydney, and Ginger discovered a secret waterfall behind the trees and everyone quickly rushed to swim beneath the falls. The group discovered that Ann Harper is secretly a mermaid girl and Bennett showed us all that the rocks made a great natural water slide. Once we had our fun at the falls, we headed back to camp for dinner. Alice cut up pineapple to give the group a little appetizer while the water our boiled. Once dinner was ready, we all sat down to eat some delicious pesto pasta and Caesar salad. Then we ended the night with another great Moonup!
7/14
Gooood morning from a wake up before the sunrise! Our journey across the island of Kauai to sea kayak the Na Pali coast began in the darkness, and upon arrival at the Polihale state park, the longest beach in Hawaii, the UV was scorching. One of our guides names was “Hawaiian Brian,” while the other went by “Ajah,” and our war paint (colored zinc on our faces) was applied while chatting with them two. Brooks had some aesthetically applied designs going for him on his cheeks and chin. We each hopped in a kayak with our partner to be pushed into the breaking waves and started our paddle with strong strokes. Ginger and Sydney were thriving from the get-go as the double-gal-paddling-team of dreams; and did well until the end! About 10 minutes in a pod of spinner dolphins approached us and came right up to Alex and Comer’s kayak, swimming up to just a few feet away. Hawaiian Brian explained to us how most of the dolphins were actually sleeping, instinctively coming up for air when needed – a fascinating split brain phenomenon. After lots of pics we paddled onwards to the snorkel spot, a reef boasting numerous colorful fish. When Telfair got out of his kayak, his costa sunglasses unfortunately sank to the bottom, only for Ajah to happen to see them and grab em from the bottom before we left – he put them on not knowing of the tragedy and Telfair saw them on his face with awe a few minutes later. The paddle back to the beach had some boat wake at our backs because there was a missile launch from a base back at the beach. It ended up happening so quickly that we could only see the glint and resulting smoke. The views from the coastline would do regardless, with some of the most beautiful and ancient cliffs you’d ever see. Back at the beach for lunch Alice cut up our pineapple and Jenna found a new love for guava nectar and lychee. I had a good bit myself. With full bellies and tired arms, the sleeping van winded right back up the mountains for a view of Waimea Canyon: the Grand Canyon of the Pacific! Violet and Mia took in some great angles, walking around to the various ledge-points and reading about how the lava formed the canyon. A family asked Bennett to take a picture of them with a camera we later looked up to find that costed thousands of dollars. Buttons and lights galore. Up at the viewpoint we experienced a wonderful omen by actually running into our guide for the following day, wise Neil at the garden. Back at camp, Ann Harper was running a hair tinsel show with golden strands in the guys hair. We all had glistening locks by the end of the night. We had moonup afterwards on the beach, reflecting on our time together and sharing profound moments from back home.
7/15
This morning we headed to a new side of the island to visit the National Tropical Botanical Gardens. When we arrived, Sonia, the Head Volunteer Coordinator at NTBG, suited us up in gloves and boots, which Telfair excellently modeled for the group. Then we went to the nursery, where we’re helped weed and reseed the creek. Jenna, our animal whisperer, was the first to spot the enormous toads, picking one up to show us all and giving it to Brooks who pretended to give it a big kiss in hopes of finding his princess. We listened to gardening music while we worked, covering ourselves in mud before taking a break to sit in the shade. Sydney cuddled up next to the two garden cats while we all snacked. Once we were back to work, Alex and Alice volunteered to help clean pots, while the rest of the group planted seedlings. By the end of the morning, we had not only cleared and replanted the entire creek, but also provided NTBG with a number of pots to plant new seeds. It was really rewarding to see our impact on the garden. In just a couple of hours, we did weeks worth of work for the volunteers at NTBG. Sonia’s gratitude for our hard work was overflowing and she brought us tropical fruits to try as a token for her appreciation. Jenna was super excited to see the soursop, as she had been wanting to check it off her list of fruits to try, and Telfair’s eyes lit up as he tried the lychee. Violet loved the fruit as well, trying apple bananas, dragon fruit, and papaya for the first time. After lunch, it was time to take a tour of the gardens. Our guide, Neal, led us through the canoe garden, sharing his knowledge about Hawaiian plants and the Polynesians and his wisdom about living a life fueled by curiosity and passion. By the time we made it back to the van, both our minds and bodies were well worked and everyone fell asleep the moment they sat down in the car. On our way to the Secret Beach, we stopped at Ola Farms for a well deserved sweet treat. Bennett, Brooks, Telfair, and Alice ordered banana frosties made from 100% organic fruit. Ginger, Ann Harper, and Alex even tried some local Kauai chocolate from farm stands next door where Jenna introduced us all to the blue ice cream banana. Unfortunately, it wasn’t ripe but us to try, but we’ve got our eyes out for another one so Jenna can cross another tropical fruit off her list. When we got to the beach, Bennett grabbed a boogie board and ran into the waves followed by Telfair, Sydney, Ginger, Ann Harper, and Jenna. On the beach, Mia, Alex, Comer and Alex took on Brooks, Clare, Violet, and Alice in a pretty competitive soccer match (the final score is still being debated). We played until we were covered in sand and sweat, then ran into the water to join the rest of the group. The waves were some of the biggest we’ve seen and Comer challenged himself to catch every one on his boogies board. Ann Harper showed us her mermaid tail, Sydney practiced her floating skills, Bennett started a game of over under, and Alex captured it all. Everyone was having so much fun in the waves that we decided to stay to watch the sunset and Ginger wrote Moondance in the sand so we could get a cover-worthy group shot. Back at camp, we had an eclectic, yet delicious meal of hotdogs cooked with special technique by Brooks, chicken quesadillas seasoned by Alex and Bennett, and a Caesar salad constructed by Alice. To close out the night, our LODs, , gathered us all around the table for one final moonup in Kauai. All in all, it was a beautiful last day on the Garden Isle! πΊ
Alice: Hey Mom and Dad! I am having so much fun and making so many amazing memories. I miss y’all! My favorite activity has been ziplining and shopping! See y’all soon!πππΊπ¦βοΈ
Alex: Hey dad I love you I miss you we’ve done so many fun things on this trip and made so many memories. We went surfing and kayaking i think I’m for sure a pro now.
Jenna: Heyyy mom, dad, Eva, and Carmen, I love and miss yall so much. I have been having a great time. I have been surfing, ziplining, hiking, and sea kayaking so far. I have also made some new friends. Can’t wait to update y’all in person, and I’m also interested in seeing what’s been happening while I’ve been gone.
Comer: Hey y’all I am all good still. It’s fun I’ll tell y’all when I’m home
Bennett: Hey mom and dad I’m having a ton of fun and I cant wait to tell y’all all about it. I miss y’all, tell lily I miss her as well, love y’all.
Telfair: Hey Mom and Dad and Scottie! Hawai’i is unreal and I have been having the best time and can’t wait to tell y’all all about it and can’t wait to celebrate my birthday with y’all. Love y’all
Anne Harper: Hey mom and dad I miss y’all so much but I am having the best time. We’ve done so many cool things so far and Hawai’i is so pretty. Tell Kennedy, Wilson, Charlie, and the rest of my friends I miss them and cant wait to tell them all about it. Love y’all πΌπΌ
Violet: Hi mom, Luke, Lucy, and Isabel! I’m having such an amazing time and I can’t wait to tell y’all all about it! Mom I hope you had the best birthday and I can’t wait to celebrate it with you when I get back. Have fun in Alaska! Love y’all ! πΊπΊ
Ginger: Hi Mama, Daddy, Evan, Sam, Walt, Reston, Nadia, JB, and Reese. I’m having so much fun in Hawaii. It’s so pretty and I’ve really gotten out of my comfort zone. We’ve done so many crazy adventurous things. I’m so excited to see y’all in a week and tell y’all all about it. Tell Lacey and Gryffon I love them. Stay legends and I love all of y’all ππΊπ§ββοΈποΈποΈππ
Sydney: Hey family, missing y’all lots but I’m having the best time. It’s so amazing here, we are flying to the big island tomorrow I’m excited to see it but also sad to leave this one it’s so pretty and everyone is so nice. Can’t wait to tell y’all about all the excursions we have been doing. Love love y’all πβοΈπ¦
Brooks: Hey mom, dad, Thomas, Jack, Nicolas, Amy, winter, and paco. Missing y’all but I’m having a really great time, learned to almost surf, think I might be the best kayaker to ever do it, snorkeled, and had fun ziplining. Love y’all
Safe Arrival to Hawaii!
July 11, 2024
Hi Hawaiian Islands Families,
All students have arrived safely and are well on their way to their lodging for the night. We will be in touch with updates as we receive them.
-Moondance HQ
