June 22, 2024
A Hui Hou!
As our last and final trip update brings many feelings to the table, we are excited to reminisce on the past 4 days spent together. Keep up with us as we close out the best two weeks spent in Maui!
Tuesday morning started off slow as pancakes and yogurts filled our bellies. After a good night’s rest and a late sleep-in, we headed up Hana Highway to attempt a hike.. but of course, ended up at our regular beach spot just out of Paia. Our afternoon activity included a cooking class, in which we made venison tacos with taro tortillas, beet salad, and papaya slaw. It was a hit! Rosie’s beet salad and Anne Collins’ limeade were phenomenal.. so good that we even took leftovers home! The banana macadamia nut ice cream topped off our healthy meal that everyone was raving over. Our cooking class was on a beautiful farm, in which we got to feed pigs and see goats and lambs once we finished cleaning up. The sun set beautifully during this time, in which we climbed to the rooftop to take pictures and enjoy such a precious moment. Moonup back at home followed quickly after, and an early bedtime to prepare for a big day……
WOOOHOOO!!! HAPPY MAUI OLYMPICS!!! The white team has spent the past week and a half preparing for this wonderful Wednesday afternoon. We kicked the day off with paddle boarding down in Wailea. Hawaiian stories, sea turtles, and lots of laughing at Jackson C falling off kept the vibes high for the day. After a long drive back home, we surprised the kiddos with a WATERSLIDE! It was the best call for a hot afternoon in Maui. We then geared up for the Olympics (decked out in WHITE!) and headed down to the park to meet Maui A (red team) and Maui C (blue team). The Olympics started off with icebreakers, birdie on a perch, and relay races. Kickball started to get intense, and Jackson K knocked it out of the park (literally). Then, spikeball started.. and Jared’s boot camp paid off with a WHITE TEAM WIN! An amazing cookout by Chef Jared brought all Maui groups together to bond and celebrate all that Maui has given us since being here. After a Nug Club party, chubby bunny, and gummy bears later, Neva and Davis did the honors of pieing Jared and me (Gretchen here!) in replace of taking home the gold. We did a massive Moonup with the other groups and then headed home to do a Moonup of our own back at camp.
When Thursday rolled around, our reeeaaalllly early morning wake up call was for one good reason: GRIFF! Watching Elle paddling with Jared made all of us laugh until our stomachs hurt as we constantly heard “FULL STEAM AHEAD!” Meanwhile, Mattie and Finley snorkeled and witnessed 3 different turtles come out of a cave! And boy was one of them HUGE. It was perfect timing and truly encapsulated all the beauty we’ve experienced as a group. Once the afternoon approached, we did a Secret Santa for banquet night, where everyone drew a name and got to go into Goodwill to pick out an outfit for the person to wear to dinner in Paia. Eloise might have won this one, dressing Jackson K in the craziest outfit that has probably ever come out of Goodwill. As LOD, Beckett navigated the group to Tobi’s Poke and Shave Ice which came in clutch to feed us starving crazies walking through Paia in the most insane outfits. Banquet night means a long Moonup, and although lengthy, it was so heartfelt. 3 deep questions really tied together our group as a family. Everyone was able to be their beautiful and authentic selves, just as we invited them to be.
With airport day upon us, there was truly no better feeling than waking up and seeing all the kids in their enos, wanting to spend every minute together and soaking in the time we have left on the beautiful island of Maui. Of course, we couldn’t leave without going to the food trucks just onneeeee more time. And maybe one last Walmart run to fuel up for a long ride home. Once getting through security, Maui B all got together to shed some tears, give out some hugs, and say goodbye to the strangers who turned into family in just a matter of two weeks. What we’ll do without our 11 guinea pigs, birdies, nuggets, and children (all nicknames given by Gretchen) – I’m not so sure. Thank you is an understatement for the kids who pushed us out of our comfort zones to be better leaders, showed us how to have patience but have even more fun, and to love big, deep, and wide. We love you all, could not be more proud of you, and are so excited to see how you take on life. Keep in touch. Don’t be a stranger!
Yours always,
Gretchen & Jared & Sadie