Roots, Waves, and Goodbyes
June 20, 2025
Day 10 6/16: Serving the Community and Serving on the Dance Floor
Another day another sunrise! Woke up to a beautiful morning on the beach before getting dressed and heading to the south side of the island to the National Tropical Botanical Garden for our service project. Everyone was up for the challenge, even after our long day yesterday and hit the ground running as soon as we arrived! The project we were assigned for the day was clearing out an invasive weed from a garden bed near one of the entrances. By doing so, we helped protect and conserve a native Hawaiian plant that the Garden is very proud to display. Lucas won the Biggest Bundle competition, and Anna had no problem putting her head down and getting dirty to help the cause. William also did a stellar job helping out! It was incredibly rewarding to see the tangible difference we were making in the garden, because with a team of 15 people we were able to clear out a 50 ft bed in just under 2 hours that would have ordinarily taken the Garden’s employees multiple days to finish. With content hearts and minds, we headed back to the Visitor’s Center for a picnic lunch of Hawaiian roll slider sandwiches again! Nate, Lucas, Parker, Micah, Graham, and James all enjoyed lunch in the shade and talking with Sonia, our contact and the Volunteer Coordinator for NTBG. She provided a great perspective on how the island of Kauai grew over time and her work with NTBG. After our yummy lunch, we headed towards the McBryde & Allerton Garden for a private tour led by Tobias, the Director of the South Shore Gardens! His insight into the plants and the cultural history of how the island came to be was fascinating, and everyone enjoyed walking around the beautiful setting, which has been used to film multiple blockbuster movies! After wrapping up our tour, we loaded into the van and drove into Old Koloa Town for the afternoon! Cate, Janie, Rachel, Anna, and Addison all bought matching gold necklaces in the store, much ice cream and shaved ice were consumed, and James and Parker bought burgers at a food truck, while Lily and Maren also splurged on some local pineapple for the group to try! The man at the stand taught them to smell the bottom of the core of the pineapple to tell if it’s ripe or not, which they are now excited to implement into their pineapple picking at home. We had to make a stop at Walmart on the way home to grab the last few items needed for dinner, and LODs Parker and Anna helped out Janie and Rachel in the store, grabbing group snacks and other items. The rest of the gang hung with Nate in the parking lot and played Disney bangers trivia – of course Cate won and was awarded with a shopping cart ride around the parking lot provided by Nate! Once back at camp, Cook Crew started cheffing up Mediterranean bowls for dinner with chicken, rice, hummus, veggies, chickpeas, feta, and more! Everyone fueled up after a long day and enjoyed our meal together in the pavilion. After Clean Crew wrapped up their duties, a spontaneous dance party broke out in the outdoor kitchen, with Parker, Maezie, and Lily getting down on the dance floor. William requested some songs of his own tool! While everyone was dancing and singing, Nate, Rachel and Janie attempted to surprise the crew with a skillet cookie on the griddle, which ended up becoming a fun game of cookie roulette – will your bite of cookie be raw, burnt, or perfect? Either way, slathering it in some Cool Whip helped. The gang headed out to the beach for Moonup, which started off with the inaugural Veggie-Off. James unfortunately lost in the final round of Disappointed Dill. LODs Parker and Anna led us through insightful questions before everyone shared their mountain, peak, and valley of the trip so far. Hard to believe our trip is coming to an end, but excited to make every last second count!
Day 11 6/17: Zippin’ Through the Waves and Mountains
Today was our second day of surfing! The waves were small but the vibes were high as we all got another chance to hop on some boards in Hanalei Bay. Our first group (Rachel, Nate, Graham, Cate, Lily, Maren, Micah, and Parker) impressed our new instructors of the day, Lemon and Hendrix, as they showed off the skills we learned the other day and caught some waves on their own! At the same time, the crew on the beach (Janie, Addison, Maezie, Anna, James, William, Lucas) enjoyed relaxing and walking along the beautiful coast and exploring the nearby shops. Then the groups swapped and got to take on the other activity! Afterwards, we hopped in the van and had a bit of a drive to our next activity, ziplining! We got there early and enjoyed a delicious lunch of turkey caesar salad wraps and everyone had fun jamming to some music while playing spike ball and frisbee, and redecorating the van with our window markers. Once we got going, our guides took us on a scenic drive to our first zipline, which was a solo run of 800 feet. The kids conquered their nerves and hopped off the platform looking like pros. The second zipline was a pendulum-style run and everyone got to go tandem with a buddy. Our guides taught us how to go upside down, and Cate got to be our videographer with the GoPro mounted on her helmet and captured the moment alongside Addison! We then got a break at a watering hole where all the kids jumped off a platform and a T-rope style swing, right into the fresh water. Once everyone had a turn and cooled off, we made our way to our grand finale, the 4,000 foot zipline, the longest in all of Hawaii! We put on new harnesses that looked like aprons and laid flat so we were horizontal to the ground. We got to take in the amazing views from a completely new perspective above the trees, and this time around William got to be our videographer. The landscape was breathtaking and we were right in the spot where the floating islands were filmed in Avatar, and the opening scene of Jurassic Park, where we could see the lake that was created specifically for the opening scene of the movie! In the evening, the leaders caved to the group’s requests for dinner and had a Kid’s Menu style hodge podge of foods including grilled cheese, tomato soup, hot dogs, pot stickers, and salad. It was a crazy combination but a favorite for many! In the evening, we enjoyed hanging and chatting in the pavilion after dinner until our LODs Cate and Graham led us in a heartfelt Moonup to end a jam-packed day.
Day 12 6/18: Surfing and Turfing
Woke up early today to get our foot on the gas for a beautiful ridgeline hike. Our LODs, Lucas and Lily, led a productive morning huddle as we ate breakfast and packed sandwiches for the hike ahead. Despite the early morning and long car ride, the whole crew brought the energy. Maren and Lily braided James and Parker’s hair to be extra aerodynamic for the hike. At 8 AM sharp, we met our awesome tour guide, Iggy, and set off on our 7-mile hike. The girls in the front (Maren, Lily, Cate, Anna, Addison, Rachel, Janie, and Maezie) sang songs as they riffed off each other and went through the alphabet, picking a song for every letter. I’m sure the birds in the sky could hear Lily and Cate jam out to “Party in the USA.” Meanwhile, the boys were working on a song/rap with Nate, Parker, and James focusing on lyrics while Micah laid down the beat, with Lucas on chorus and Graham on ad-libs. When we stopped for lunch, they showcased the slightly rocky song and the fans (seven Moondancers) seemed to love it. Along with the performance, we enjoyed lunch with a beautiful scenic view of the Na Pali coast, the valley below us, the Pacific in front of us, and an endless coastline view of mountains. After learning some fun facts about the island from our tour guide, Iggy, we made our way back onto the trail. William, Cate, Micah, Nate, and Iggy led the front of the pack as we tackled a rocky and tough opening stretch! Following that, we put our heads down. Lily and Janie grabbed walking sticks, and Maezie and Rachel jammed to some 2010s pop to power through the final few miles. After finishing the hike, we pounded some water and Gatorade, then hit the road to check out the Waimea Canyon, a stunning view a few miles away that is known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. That view called for a Macarena dance led by Rachel, followed by Janie, Nate, James, Graham, Lucas, Addison, Parker, and Micah. After enjoying the view, we stopped at Costco. Lucas and Lily helped Rachel pick out a surf-and-turf dinner with steak and sushi while others jammed to some rap music in the parking lot. Back at camp, we kicked off dinner prep. Graham was a killer on the grill and showed the leaders how to get a charcoal grill going, while Lily, Maren, Lucas, and Anna helped season and start the steaks on the stove. Meanwhile, William crushed the mashed potatoes as Maezie stirred up some mean stir-fried vegetables. The dinner hit the spot! Toward the end of dinner, one of our camp friends from down the way joined us for a veggie-off and took on Anna, Parker, and James. While Clean Crew cleaned up, everyone else danced with new campground friends around the kitchen as we taught them a game of Shake ‘n’ Pop, led by Anna. After cleaning and the dance party, we headed to the pavilion to celebrate our last full day together with three beautiful mini chocolate cakes, decorated by Rachel and Janie. We wrapped up the day with a beautifully led Moon-Up, with Lucas and Lily leading the way, a perfect close-out to a phenomenal day.
Day 13 6/19: So Long, Farewell, We Hope to See You Soon!
Hard to believe we already reached the last morning of our trip! Everyone enjoyed sleeping in a little bit and then we gathered around in our morning huddle where Janie opened us up with a quote about our ability to have a lasting impact on the world. Then Nate, Janie, and Rachel hyped up the group to put on their suits and head into the ocean for a morning plunge. Anna, Maezie, Lily, Cate, Maren, Addison, Parker, Lucas, and Graham followed suit and we all enjoyed jumping in the waves to wake us up. Once the cobwebs had been cleared, our cook crew exhibited some amazing teamwork to chef up our last breakfast of the trip – pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, mango, and pineapple. Cate cut up the pineapple, showing off her impressive knife skills that have for sure grown throughout the trip, and then had a competition against the leaders to see who had the best method to cut a mango. We also had Parker setting up the stoves, Micah on the perfectly cooked scrambled eggs, Addie on the sausage, and Lily on the pancakes. After our feast, we finished getting packed up and soaked up the last bit of sun on the beach before heading to Thrifty Gypsea to seek out some silly outfits for our banquet lunch. No one found anything that spoke to them there, however the group made their way across the street to a tattoo parlor where they got temporarily tatted up for one last memory of the trip. We then made our way over to Paco’s Tacos across the street for Banquet Lunch and everyone had a delicious meal of tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and chips and guacamole. We loved having one last chance to sit down over a meal together and enjoy each other’s company and some laughs. On our way back to the van, we made a pit stop at Lana’s Cafe, where the girls treated themselves to some shaved ice for the road, a Hawaiian staple they have enjoyed a couple of times on the trip. Our final Moonup was a phenomenal finale. We stopped at a beautiful beach in between our lunch spot and the airport. Nate, Janie, and Rachel led a trip capping quote, along with 2 questions to encourage reflection and continued adventures post Moondance. To wrap things up, everyone went around the circle and received 4 compliments from peers. Us trip leaders were honestly blown away at the genuineness and details that students shared about one another. Every compliment shared felt effortless. There was a special energy leaving the beach as we headed to the airport, and we all left a little lighter (as multiple people had to do a makeshift bathroom stop in the beach bushes). As we arrived at the airport, the first group of students (James, Maren, Lucas, and Graham) had to say their goodbyes first, and the tears got to flowing before their heartfelt exit. The rest of the group checked into their flights as the leaders enjoyed observing what felt like Christmas morning as we gave teenagers back their phones and immediately lost their attention. We headed to security and said goodbye to Cate, William, Parker, Micah, Anna, Addison, Maezie, and Lily as us leaders tried to keep it together. Janie shared how her heart grew 3 times bigger that day, which all the leaders can attest to. We can all agree that 12 pieces of our hearts are now scattered across the mainland!
Genuinely felt like the best possible group us leaders could get for our first trip of the summer. To everyone reading this, these students are truly special. For the parents, thank you for sharing them with us. And to our students, y’all rock!
Surfing, Sea Turtles, And Starry Nights
June 18, 2025
Day 6 6/12/25 We’re all in this together on the Boat and Manta Snorkel!
Big day today! Last full day on the Big Island and we soaked up every second. Woke the gang up early, followed by a helpful Morning Huddle led by the LOD’s Lucas and Lily. Headed off to the dock at the marina where we ALL went on the boat to scuba and snorkel!! Having everyone back together again felt like a dream come true. Everyone squeezed on our full wet suits and boy did we look like a professional dive team! We had 2 dive groups, a snorkel group, and a tanning crew. On the first dive at Garden Eel Cove, Addison, Micah, Nate, William, Maren, Parker, Graham, and Lucas spotted some sweet coral, a flutter fish, an eel, and much more while finalizing the very last bits of their open water skills. That same group after the second dive were officially PADI Open Water SCUBA Divers, meaning they can explore the ocean down to 60 ft deep! Crazy cool!!! Once at the surface again, they met up with the other dive group (Anna, James, Rachel) and swam under the two Golden Arches underwater!! We all enjoyed the boat ride back to the marina and played some dancing games at the picnic tables while snacking. But the day was not over yet! The group jumped across the street to Costco for a yummy dinner of pizza, hot dogs, salad, and salad with hummus and carrots. The leaders even surprised our diving pros with some Island Way sorbets to keep them ready for the next activity – night snorkeling with the endangered Hawaiian Reef Manta Rays! We headed back to the pier to load up on the same boat and head out to the famed spot. For the entirety of the ride, the whole gang threw a dance party on the bow of the boat, setting the tone for an amazing evening. Lily and Janie led everyone in line dances, two steps, and swing dances. Everyone out on the water was impressed by our talents! With the sun setting in the background, Micah, Parker, Addison, and Cate showed off their moves. We even spotted some dolphins surfing the bow, wishing they could join in on the party! After suiting back up and hearing a briefing about the importance of manta rays to the Hawaiian marine ecosystem, we jumped into the water and immediately spotted one swimming right under us. Overall, we saw 10+ manta rays, some of which even flipped up literally inches from our body below us. So cool to see such majestic marine megafauna up close and personal! William and Micah were so excited to put their underwater photography skills to good use while capturing such an incredible encounter. With smiles and awe plastered on our faces, we headed back to the dock in the dark, but not before everyone took a hot shower (a luxury) off the back of the boat! We piled into the van and caught some zzz’s on our way back to camp in preparation for our big travel day tomorrow!
Day 7 6/13/25 Travel Day to Kauai!
Airport day!!! After everyone slept in past sunrise, Nate, Rachel, and Janie surprised the gang with a celebratory plain, chocolate chip, and banana pancake breakfast in our campsite’s Garden of Eatin’ to honor all the students that passed their SCUBA open water certifications and a last hoorah to Kona before we left! Whipped cream, pancakes, and champagne (aka sparkling apple cider) set us up for a great packing session! Headed to the airport and after giggling about some minor snafus in security, everyone made it through. Since we had such a late night yesterday, our phenomenal LODs Lucas and Lily led us through a Moonup at our gate in the airport. We were so proud of everyone for sharing personal stories even in a crowded public space! Once we touched down in Honolulu, we exited the plane for a brief layover and ran into Moondance HWI 1B! William and his brother even had a short and sweet reunion. Lucas, Graham, James, Parker, and Micah grabbed Burger King crowns and strutted onto the plane to Kauai like royalty. Once we arrived in Kauai, we made our way to our stunning campsite right on the beach, where Addison led a demonstration on how to set up a tent. Anna, Maezie, Marin, and Lily enjoyed a beach walk as Graham, Lucas, James, Parker, and a Micah played some football on the beach. Addison, Cate, and Lily made a delicious spaghetti and meatball dinner, and who knew that cooking and cleaning in a kitchen with lights on at night was such a game changer. With full stomachs, our fabulous LODs Graham and Addison led a Moonup in our new pavilion where we shared embarrassing stories about ourselves! The group was definitely giggling. The gang then crashed early to gear up for surf lessons in the AM!
Day 8 6/14/25 Surfin in the USA
Everyone woke up feeling especially patriotic today, since it is Flag Day of course! The girls stocked up on 4th of July gear at a previous Target stop, so we all donned our best Americana gear to take on the day, including Lily’s flag cowboy hat and Cate’s flag bathing suit! After breakfast and a morning huddle led by LODs Micah and Maezie, we headed towards Hanalei Bay to meet our surf guides from Hawaii Surfing Adventures! Sean and Kavai engaged everyone in some informative on land surfing lessons before we hit the water in our sporty rash guards. The first group of surfers consisted of Anna, Nate, Lucas, James, William, Addison and Maezie. While Group 1 shredded the gnar, Cate, Micah, Graham, and Parker had a riveting game of Spikeball on the beach. Group 1 dominated the waves led by Lucas, the seasoned vet, and William was so talented his hair didn’t get wet once! All of us hit multiple waves as we watched a rainbow form literally a few waves from us. The second group was made up of Micah, Rachel, Janie, Cate, Parker, Graham, Lily, and Maren, with Nate as videographer on the GoPro! We spotted a sea turtle swimming under our boards which was sweet. Maren and Lily caught a tandem wave looking like pros. Graham hit a gnarly head stand on his surf board, as all of the second group rode multiple waves and made it look easy. While both groups were surfing, the local canoeing competition took place, which was really neat to witness from the water – sort of felt like the huge crowds were cheering for us! After a few light drizzles throughout the morning, we can all safely say that surfing in the rain is one of our new favorite activities. After enjoying the beach for a little while longer, we headed back to camp for some Hawaiian Roll slider sandwiches, chips, and salad for lunch. Lily ate an entire bag of baby carrots in hopes of becoming as orange as an Oompa Loompa, as per Rachel’s wisdom. After our refueling stop, we departed camp for a hike of the famed Ho’opo’i Falls, where they filmed a scene of Jurassic Park! Everyone swiped some mud on our faces so we looked like a unit on the trail. After a few wrong turns, the group’s spirits remained high and we made it to the beautiful falls and swimming hole, where the gang took a dip in the fresh mountain stream. Before leaving, the group scampered up the falls for a group photo with the Moondance flag! On the trail heading back, Cate, Lily, William, Nate, Rachel and Addison played a riddles game. We stopped briefly at Target and Costco to collect the last bit of food for our festive Flag Day dinner of hot dogs, hamburgers, mac and cheese, and salad! Our LOD’s Micah and Maezie prompted the crew with two thought provoking questions at Moonup as we sat under the beautiful Hawaiian starry night, ready for our big kayak day tomorrow.
Day 9 6/15/25 Sea Kayaking the Na Pali Coast
Challenging day ahead but our crew was more than ready for it! Super early wake up call at camp – up before the sun on Moondance time to get ready for one of the most impactful days of the trip! Half asleep, we loaded up the van and headed to the west coast of Kauai to the beautiful secluded beach of Polihale State Park, which served as our launch point for our 10 mile sea kayak of the jaw dropping Na Pali Coast. On the way down the 4 mile dirt road in the 15 passenger van, we vibed to the Mario Kart theme song, giving everyone a giggle. After unloading and packing the kayaks with our local guides Iggy and Brian, we launched from the shore and headed out into the calm morning seas, everyone looking spiffy in our sun hoodies and loads of sunscreen. Not even 5 minutes into the challenge, our fresh arms paddled straight into the welcoming committee – a huge pod of spinner dolphins! The guides estimated the pod was 300 strong! They were all around, surfing the waves and swimming up under our kayaks and jumping into the air. Everyone was pretty awestruck, and it set the tone for an amazing rest of the paddle. Kayaking along the coast provided a unique perspective of a landscape not many people get to witness, and our Moondance crew more than rose to the occasion. We shouted into Echo Canyon from the sea and heard our shouts reflected back to us, which everyone loved. Paddling alongside the daunting moss covered cliffs of the Na Pali coast was truly a once in a lifetime experience, and we were grateful for the physical challenge and absolutely stunningly perfect weather. Each and every partner pair in the kayaks got to know each other a little better and improve our teamwork. Graham and Addison and Lucas and Maezie were somehow always at front of the armada, keeping pace with the local guides. Paddling against the current on the way to our lunch spot was certainly challenging, but the view rounding the corner of the island, paddling on top of a reef, gave everyone the final motivational push they needed to finish strong. Landing at a secluded beach in Polihale State Park that is only accessible by water assured we were one of the few groups there. We enjoyed a yummy lunch of sandwiches, fresh pineapple, and Hawaiian sodas while our guides informed us of the historical significance of Kauai and the Na Pali coast in Hawaiian history. With a little bit of free time before heading back, the boys collected shells along the shoreline and spotted one of the most endangered marine mammals, the Hawaiian monk seal and her pup, plus a baby shark! The girls took a leisurely stroll along the shoreline and played in the shore break. Once everyone was refueled, rehydrated, and re-sunscreened, we launched our kayaks from the beach and started the second half of our journey. Lily and Parker’s energy and enthusiasm helped them crush it in kayak, winning the mini race on the way back! William and Cate soaked up the coastal view with Nate and Janie in the rear. The entire squad were total troopers and absolutely killed the biggest physical challenge of the trip, with smiles plastered on our faces nonetheless. Anna even mentioned it might have been the prettiest view she’s ever seen! Once safely back on shore, the boys helping reload the kayaks while the girls swam in the ocean and played in the waves. Maren even led an underwater photoshoot! Since the leaders were so proud of everything our group accomplished, we treated everyone to an ice cream stop in town on the way back to camp! For dinner, Lily and Micah spearheaded the BBQ chicken quesadillas and everyone chowed down after an especially long day. Our LODs William and Maren led a successful Moonup under the stars before everyone crashed hard, proud of our accomplishments and the challenges we’ve overcome!
So hard to believe there are only a few days left of our trip, but we’re planning on making the most of every second. We can’t wait for what’s to come and seeing our Moondance team grow even closer than they are. Now, a few words of gratitude from them! Signing off! – Nate, Rachel, and Janie
THANK YOUS
Micah: Hey Mom and Dad, Happy Father’s Day 🧓 Dad. My trip is coming to an end but I have been having lots of fun. Yesterday I was in 9 to 10 foot waves by our own beach camp site. Thank you guys so much for this opportunity I have enjoyed it. I took lots of pictures and videos to share with you guys when I get home, see y’all soon🦧
William: Hi Mom and Dad, I’m doing fine. We just finished doing some service at the National Tropical Botanical Garden and shopping. I got something for you for Father’s Day Dad, hope you like it. See you soon.
Cate: Hi guys we are having the best time ever in Hawaii and I’m so glad I was able to come. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to meet new people and do new things! I love everyone here and can’t believe it’s going to be over soon. But I’m excited to see you guys Friday!! Miss y’all and love y’all so much!! Thanks again!!
Anna: Hi everyone! Thank you so much for this trip I’m having so much fun! We did service today and are going surfing tomorrow! Love y’all and hope everything is good at home!
Addison: Hi everyone! I am having the best time EVER in Hawaii! We made it to Kauai and it’s been so much fun. I have met so many new friends who are all so awesome! I have so much to tell y’all when I get home. Thank you so much for this trip of a lifetime. Love and miss y’all so much! See you soon! And yes Mom I haven’t gotten sunburnt at all and have worn so much sunscreen!
Maren: Hey I’m having so much fun and I’m so glad I’m here we are zip lining tomorrow which I’m excited for and we surfed the other day tell everyone I said hi thanks for letting me go on this trip
Lily: Hi hope you are having fun in Utah and OBX tell Scarlett and Abbie and Olivia that I miss them
Maezie: Hey! I’m having so much funnnn!!!! I have so many awesome friends and 3 super great leaders!!! I’m with 6 girls and 6 boys and no one is from Bama. We have been snorkeling, swimming, boating, surfing, hiking, visiting the town, etc. Love y’all so much! Thanks so much for letting me do this!
James: Hello Mom and Dad!! I am genuinely having the best time in Hawaii and made a ton of great friends so far. I like everyone in our group and have been having a blast. I would like to thank you guys for sending me on this trip and allowing me to gain lifelong stories and memories. We have so much to talk about when I get back and I can’t wait to see y’all soon!
Parker: Hey Mom and Dad, I’m having such an amazing time and I’m so glad you and Mimi gave me the opportunity to go on this trip. I have made so many great friends and everyone is so sweet. Kona was pretty fun, but now we’re on the island Kauai and it’s even better, way prettier and just a blast. I have so many stories to tell you and Mom when I get home. Can’t wait to see y’all soon!!!
Lucas: Hey Mom and Dad, I’m having so much fun, thank you for letting me come. Yesterday we went sea kayaking where y’all did the hike and it was so cool. Tomorrow we are going to surf and zip-line after which I’m excited for. Thanks again for the opportunity, see you soon, Lucas
Graham: Thank you Mom and Dad for letting me come out here, I am having a blast. We just kayaked on the shoreline and are getting ready to surf and zip-line again tomorrow. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to be here. Love Graham
From the leaders: Mahalo HWI 1A parents for sharing your prized possessions with us in Hawaii! We have had an absolute blast getting to know each and every one of them, and seeing the whole group grow so close to one another has been our highlight of the trip. We are so grateful to have experienced Hawaii with the greatest crew around! Many thanks – Nate, Rachel, and Janie
Having A Blast In Hawaii
June 13, 2025
DAY 1 06/07
Airport day and Aloha to HWI 1A! The first flight arrival brought Graham, Lucas, James, and Maren to Kona, and everyone got to know each other quickly through card and dancing games. Cate arrived shortly after to join the early airport gang, who all ended up being troopers while waiting for everyone else to arrive. Still can’t believe every flight was early and even on time. The gang picked up pizza from Kona Crust and brought it back to the airport to enjoy with new arrivals Anna and Addison! Micah landed not long after and joined the crew, after having already met Addison and Anna in the HNL airport. Finally, Maezie, Parker, Lily, and William touched down in paradise! We loaded up the van and headed back to camp for our first night in Hawaii. Despite the little drizzle and long day, we had our first Moonup and got to know each other a little better. Then everyone was off to their tents for our first night of camping!
DAY 2 06/08
First full day down! We kicked off the morning by cooking some yummy breakfast burritos all together and feasted after a long travel day for everyone. We then made our way to Kona Salt Farms for our cooking class and tour! We learned all about how salt is created and produced in Kona, got to taste a wide variety of different salt flavors and then learned some important knife skills and chopped up some fresh vegetables for our meal. Everyone is stoked to show off their new culinary talents! We enjoyed a jicama salad, local island beef with carmelized onions, garlicky purple sweet potatoes, and papaya and banana with chocolate macadamia nut sauce for dessert! We then made our way to Hapuna beach for a swim and beach afternoon. Everyone took a dip in the Pacific Ocean, and the girls loved splashing in the waves while Micah provided the frisbee for the boys to have an epic game. We stopped at a local grocery store before heading back to camp to grab our key ingredient for dinner – locally caught Hawaiian tuna poké! After returning to camp we had a blast preparing the homemade poké bowls with the fresh tuna and chicken for those who weren’t feeling as adventurous. Cate impressed everyone by showing off her new knife skills while cutting the veggies for the meal. It was a day full of local food and expanding our comfort zone to include new foods we had never tried before!
DAY 3 06/09
First diving day at Jacks! Cate and Lily collectively bought a pink mermaid tail to fully become one with the fish. The certified crew of James, Anna, and Cate plus snorkelers Lily and Maezie took a refresher course and then explored Kona’s shops, beaches, and grabbed some local açaí bows! Most importantly, they took the time to decorate our van with adorable Moondance slang and Hawaiian sea creatures so we can represent in style all over the island now. The rest of the group spent the whole afternoon in the pool working on diving skills and learning how to breathe underwater safely! After we were all finished, the group headed to Magic Sands Beach and watched the boogie-boarders take on some huge waves while we played volleyball and frisbee. We then headed to Island Ono Loa Grill for our local food stop, since they allegedly have the 8th best burger in the world… The burgers and fries were certainly delish! Nate also spotted a peacock out the window on the drive up to the active volcano of Mauna Kea, where we witnessed a breathtaking view of the sunset above the clouds. The gang rallied together to have our first official dance under the full moon! Back at camp, our first LODs Cate and William led us through Moonup to debrief an amazing day!
DAY 4 06/10
Jam packed day! Woke everyone up with the sunrise and had a successful morning huddle led by LODs Maren and James. After everyone was ready and we played a hydration game, we loaded up the van and headed into town. We first got to Jacks and had breakfast in the parking lot. After that, Rachel drove the boat crew to the marina to load up on the dive boat! Cate, James, Anna and Janie did 2 boat dives and got to see a manta ray, octopus, and plenty of fish! Direct quote from James coming out of his first open ocean dive was “that was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen I think”. Lily and Maezie snorkeled with a guide from the boat at the first dive site and were able to see a local Hawaiian monk seal! Everyone fell asleep on the bow of the boat in between dives. The pool crew had a long but rewarding day of lessons and drills, but a little gelato and shaved ice lightened the mood. While the girls hung out enjoying each other’s company, the guys got a riveting game of beach volleyball going with some local kids. Graham’s killer serve allowed his team of Nate, Janie, and Parker to sneak out a close 11-10 victory against James, Micah, Lucas, and the local kids. Once it was time, we loaded up the van and headed back to camp in lifted spirits. Tents 2 and 4 helped out with cook crew and 1 and 3 cleaned it all up. We had a delicious meal of pesto chicken pasta, roasted zucchini, and Caesar salad, all thanks to Lily’s newfound chicken cooking skills and William as food runner. Once everyone got the shower situation figured out, the LODs led a deep and meaningful Moonup under the stars. After a light drizzle, everyone was off to bed and Anna, Lily, Maezie, and Maren cowboy camped under the stars in their enos!
DAY 5 06/11
Another early morning at Pueo Ridge Farms! Woke up with the sunrise to Under the Sea (James’ pick) and got ready quickly before heading into the van. We drove to the marina in town and dropped off Cate, Lily, Maezie, Anna, James, and Rachel for their second day of boat diving. We all munched on breakfast at the picnic tables. Once we had full stomachs for our long day, the rest of the crew headed over to Jack’s where they participated in their first dive briefing for their shore dive! We drove the van to Mile Marker 4 and the gang geared up on the side of the road and endured the treacherous walk with tanks to the shore, a whopping 25 yards. The crew had a blast diving in the ocean for the first time and not within the confines of the pool. Seeing fish while clearing your mask hits different! After they proved all their skills, we switched over tanks and they got back in again! This time around they worked on some of their underwater partner skills like sharing air. Addison pointed out an eel to the gang and they also spotted the state fish of Hawaii, the humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa. After successfully completing all their skills, they are now officially certified SCUBA divers! The Jacks instructors hit us with a sweet treat before heading back to their storefront to clean gear, eat lunch, and log their first dives in their new logbooks! In the meantime, the boat crew saw dolphins, a puffer fish, and sea turtles on their dives and to and from the dive sites. James the go getter knocked out two long dives from the boat with Rachel, and Anna and Cate dove once before joining Maezie and Lily swimming in the open ocean! Once the whole gang was reunited at Jack’s in the afternoon, we headed to Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park and climbed the trees on the beautiful serene beach. We were so lucky to see 3 green sea turtles, or honus as they’re known in Hawaii, swimming near the shore! The whole group was excited since sea turtles are high on everyone’s bucket list of sea animals. After loading back up in the van we headed back to camp and vibes were high before everyone dozed off! Back at camp, Micah, Maezie, Cate, and Addison cooked up some ground beef, veggies, and cheese for quesadillas and tacos – it was a hit with a bunch of toppings and everyone fueled up. Tents 2 and 4 cleaned it all up! Once everyone was showered and clean, Anna and Parker led us through Moonup in a new spot in the circle of lounge chairs at camp under the stars! The group hung out for a while after, and Anna, Maren, Maezie, and Lily slept in their enos once again.
Maezie: having fun! Happy Father’s Day!
Lily: happy fathers day I am having fun miss you I am in Hawaii bye love you
Cate: hi everyone!! We are having so much fun!! Happy Father’s Day dad!! Love y’all and miss y’all so much!!
Anna: hi everyone!! I am having a blast and love Hawaii! Happy Father’s Day hope you have a great day dad! Love y’all so much and miss y’all!!
James: Hey Mom and Dad! I am having so much fun in Hawaii and have made such great friends. 2 of the guys on the trip are from Charlotte so we can even hang out after Moondance. By the time you are reading this we will be on our way to Kauai after being on Kona for around 6 days. I miss you guys so much and happy Father’s Day to the best dad in the whole wide world.
Maren: hey miss y’all I’m having fun I scuba dived today. And happy Father’s Day
Addison: Greetings family and happy Father’s Day day!! I am having the best time ever and I am not sunburned!!!!! Love and miss y’all! See y’all soon!
Parker: Hey dad it’s Parker I’m having a great trip and have made a bunch of friends so far. Just got my scuba license and went 57 feet deep and saw some really cool fish. I’m having a ton of fun, tell mom everything I said. And happy Father’s Day love you.
Lucas: hey mom and dad I’m having a lot of fun. We just went scuba diving and I got certified officially today. Tomorrow we leave to the second island where we stay on the beach. Happy Father’s Day dad, see you soon,
Graham: hey mom and dad, we have been scuba diving all week and just got scuba certified. I am having a lot of fun over here . And happy Father’s Day dad.
Micah: Hello mom and dad, happy birthday to dad and Asher. Today I finished my scuba class and got my certification. It has been really great so far + making friends. I’m halfway through and it has been flying by, see you guys soon. 👋
William: hey mom and dad, just finished my diver certification and swam through some old lava tunnels. I’m having fun here, miss you.😘
Safe Arrival!
June 8, 2025
Hello Hawaiian Islands Families!
We heard from our leaders this morning that the group has landed safely in Kona! The trip is off to a great start, and we cannot wait to hear more stories from their adventure! Please remember our leaders and students will be unplugged during their trips, but we will be posting trip updates throughout the next week! 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
