The Final Splash
July 22, 2025
Day 10: Service and Swim
We kicked off the day with a bit of extra rest, ready to take on the service project ahead. Macy and Dallas were our Leaders of the Day, guiding us through a busy but rewarding morning. Our task was to help the National Botanical Gardens by raking mulch around the palm trees to prevent the Coconut Rhinoceros beetle from invading. Everyone grabbed pitchforks and mulch rakes, jumping right into the work. Braden, Nate, Colin, Dallas, Andy, Tristan, Macy, and Gracelyn turned the task into a fun challenge, launching mulch into the garden’s designated spots with impressive precision. It was a lot of hard work, but the energy was high and there was no shortage of laughs.
Once the mulch was spread, we took a tour of the garden, learning about the unique plants—including the elusive rack-of-ribs plant. We even got to stand under the famous tree featured in Jurassic Park. After the tour, we were ready to refuel, and a hearty Caesar turkey salad hit the spot. A quick round of hacky sack followed before we packed up and headed to Poipu Beach for a much-needed break.
The beach was absolutely stunning, with soft sands and a calm inlet. Nate and Macy managed to make a quick pit stop at the store to grab bathing suits, and soon enough, everyone was in the water or lounging by the shore. The afternoon was spent swimming, relaxing, and playing cards in the sunshine.
We made a stop at Target to grab some ingredients for dinner and decided to go for breakfast-for-dinner. Dallas cooked up some fried eggs, Liza took care of the scrambled eggs, Gracelyn worked on the onions, and Macy and Braden handled the potatoes and bacon. The meal was a hit, and everyone was more than ready to eat after such a fun and active day.
After dinner, Macy and Braden led a wonderful Moonup. We shared a few hilarious embarrassing stories that had everyone in stitches, and we took a moment to reflect on some of the happiest memories in our lives. It was a special moment of connection for the group, leaving everyone feeling grateful. Later, Cameron, Tristan, Andy, Elizabeth, Caroline, and Colin cleaned up while jamming out to some tunes. Andy, Dallas, and Colin even had a little toothbrush party, adding soccer-style celebrations to their routine and ending the night with plenty of laughs.
Day 11: From Sea Level to Above the Trees
One of our last full days, and the energy was high from start to finish. We kicked things off with a surf session at another spot in Hanalei Bay that the locals know as “Grandpa’s.” The waves were the biggest we’ve seen all summer—reaching up to 3 feet! Everyone was so hyped, and the round one surf crew of Tristan, Braden, Cameron, Gracelyn, and Liza came out of the water calling it the most fun they’d had all trip. Surfing with a rainbow is hard to beat! During group two, Rachel and Macy were unstoppable on party waves, even as a mid-surf downpour soaked us all—much to the dismay of Colin and Andy, who realized too late that they’d left all their clothes out at camp. Our guide Mitchell played videographer, getting shots of Elizabeth, Caroline, and Dallas from all angles.
We got to the zipline spot early and hung out over lunch before Andy, Colin, Braden, and Dallas nailed their new favorite group hacky sack trick—all four boys got the sack from chest to foot in one go! Ziplining brought tons of laughs, views, and adrenaline, and Liza and Colin crushed their fear of heights. The freshwater swimming hole delivered too, where the kids got to jump off an 18-foot dock and drop from a zipline-style T-swing.
Dinner at Costco was a highlight of its own, with LODs Colin and Liza helping Rachel snag all the goods: pizza, chicken legs, Caesar salad, ice cream, and the forever crowd-favorite dried mango. We closed out with Moonup at Kapaa Lookout, sharing our go-to people for advice and favorite fast food spots as the sun dipped below the coast.
Day 12: Earning Na Pali
Kayak day, baby!!!
We woke up early to make sure we got to the beach on time. Our LODs, Gracelyn and Tristan, led a smooth morning, and within seconds of hitting the road, everyone was passed out in the van. The final stretch of the drive took us down our classic bumpy dirt road, with Rachel carefully maneuvering it while Janie set the vibe perfectly with her playlist. Songs like Fast Car, Highway to Hell, Life is a Highway, and Shut Up and Drive set the theme just right.
We announced kayak pairs like MJ entering the Bulls arena, with Sirius playing and Janie making the calls. Everyone jumped in to help get the kayaks to the shore. The first kayak out, with leaders Rachel and Janie, is still under a bit of controversy. Leader Nate tried to help get them in, but “according to tour guide Brian,” Nate pushed them in and caused the flip. Big hmmmm from Nate.
Macy and Colin flipped shortly after too—but mostly because Colin was doing everything in his power to protect his curls from getting fully wet, and honestly, who can blame him (well… maybe Macy). On the way out, we spotted a huge pod of dolphins, which was awesome . Just inches from our boats, the dolphins were flipping, coasting, and swimming under us. We saw at least 30 to 50 of them.
Caroline and Braden are currently under investigation after dominating the kayak trip both there and back. Even with a cooler added to their boat on the way back, they didn’t slow down at all. During our break at the stunning Miloli‘i Beach, we saw a Hawaiian monk seal napping in the sand—which is honestly how we all felt after finishing that paddle.
Cameron and Nate led the way back home. Liza and Dallas looked smooth on their boat. Dallas, Andy, Nate, Colin, and Braden also got some body surfing in on the way back. Tour guide shoutout of the day went to Tristan, who was complimented for his consistent helpfulness. And to top it off, our whole group was told we were the best Moondance group all summer. I know comparison is the thief of joy, but I’m making an exception for that one.
We hit the road and made a well-deserved stop for ice cream, followed by a burger shop. Tristan taught blackjack at one table, while Nate taught Jacob’s Up at another—though that ended in heartbreak. Nate, Macy, Elizabeth, and Gracelyn went down 4–0, made a heroic comeback to tie it 4–4, only to lose the final point 5–4 to Colin, Dallas, and Andy. Tough.
After that, we headed home. Everyone passed out from the exhausting day, and that’s when you know it’s been a good one.
Day 13: Final Day Feels from HWI 3A!
This morning started off nice and slow. We all got to sleep in a little—at least until the sun was fully up and heating the tents. Once we rolled out of bed, we kicked things off with one last plunge in the ocean. The waves were big and definitely did the trick to wake us up.
While everyone started rinsing the sand out of their suits and packing up, the leaders got breakfast going. M&M and banana pancakes were on the menu. Janie was on pancake flipping duty, Rachel handled toppings, Andy and Braden took charge of the sausage, and Tristan cut up fresh pineapple and mango. Safe to say we ate very well for our final breakfast. Clean-up crew killed it—especially Cameron, who helped organize and clean out our action packer with kitchen supplies (Nate was smiling from ear to ear looking at the beautifully organized and sparkling bin). Caroline, Liza, and Tristan were jamming to some Post Malone to keep the vibes high in the kitchen on the final clean.
We were seriously impressed by how fast everyone packed up their gear. Bags were zipped and ready to roll in record time. Liza even led the charge on cleaning out the Moonvan and swept out all the beach sand. Tristan jumped in to help too.
Next stop was Ross for banquet clothes. Gracelyn had the brilliant idea to make it a Secret Santa-style event, so we spun a wheel and each person got to shop for someone else in the group. The results were hilarious. We had everything from bedazzled hats to oversized hoodies, floral dresses, baggy jorts, and the craziest graphic tees you’ve ever seen. It was pure chaos in the best way.
For lunch, we surprised the crew with Paco’s Tacos Cantina. Everyone had been begging for Mexican food, and it totally hit the spot. We made quite an entrance with our wild outfits but just leaned into it—the energy was unmatched, especially once queso made it to the table.
We wrapped up the day with our final Moonup at Lydgate Beach. Caroline and Cameron led the circle along with yesterday’s LODs Tristan and Gracelyn, plus Rachel, Nate, and Janie. It was easily our best Moonup yet. We shared funniest memories from the trip, biggest takeaways, and went around the circle giving out “personal nugs”—little shoutouts and appreciations for each person in the group.
To close it all out, the leaders surprised everyone with a sparkling apple cider toast. It was the perfect way to end an unforgettable two weeks together. We couldn’t have asked for a better final session. This crew is something special.
Having Fun in the Hawaiian Sun
July 19, 2025
And we’re back! Follow along for another sneak peak into what we’ve been up to here in Hawaii – and here’s a hint… it’s a whole lot of fun!
Day 5 Sharks, Salsa, and Spikeball
Another big day for Hawaii 3A! Gracelyn and Andy kicked things off by leading our Morning Huddle before we all made our way to the pier for a relaxed breakfast. The open water crew-Andy, Braden, Elizabeth, Caroline, Cameron, Dallas, Macy, Janie, and Gracelyn-spotted two swimming turtles as soon as they hit the ocean for the first time for their shore dive. Meanwhile, the boat squad (Rachel, Colin, Nate, Tristan, and Liza) was enjoying another day out to sea, and during Nate, Tristan, and Colin’s very first dive, they spotted a 5-foot reef shark-it felt like they were on Shark Tank! Rachel and Liza were snorkeling and watching the commotion from above, spotting a ton of wild marine life themselves including a Christmas tree wrasse, unicorn fish, and dragon wrasse. Once reunited back on land, we headed to Hapuna Beach for some much-needed chill time-because there’s no such thing as too much beach in Hawaii! Nate and Tristan went on a beach run while the girls dove straight into the ocean. Spikeball kicked off soon after, with Colin and Andy taking down Dallas and Braden, but falling to the dynamic duo of Nate and Tristan. Rachel and Macy played Colors in the water while chatting with Elizabeth, Cameron, and Janie. The rest of the group relaxed-some swimming, others soaking up the sun with a good beach nap. After cleaning up, we got to work on a dinner of Mediterranean bowls. Andy, Braden, and Macy shredded the rotisserie chicken, Liza and Cameron chopped veggies, and even scouted the campsite’s fruit trees for limes. The med bowls hit the spot-especially the salsa, which turned out to be the unexpected star of the meal. We wrapped up the day with an awesome Moonup led by our LODs Gracelyn and Andy and then headed to bed to catch some z’s before our biggest boat day yet!
Day 6: Boatin’ and Floatin’
We had a big day on deck with the whole crew heading out to sea! Leaders of the Day, Colin and Liza, set the tone early with a morning quote and some classy tunes-Lionel Richie’s All Night Long playing in the background as we rolled down to the harbor. Spirits were high as everyone took a crack at their best Boston “hahbah” impression before grabbing a quick breakfast and gearing up for the boat. Once aboard, the front deck quickly became the hangout spot as we soaked in the sun and scanned the shoreline for whale sharks or dolphins (none today-but we’re convinced they’re waiting to surprise us in Kauai). Tristan was fired up for his 100-foot dive, supported by Janie and Colin-who kept the dive buddy energy alive with front flips at 60 feet underwater. Meanwhile, Andy, Braden, Elizabeth, Caroline, Cameron, Dallas, Macy, and Gracelyn stayed focused on their Open Water certification dives. On dive number 1, Braden, Dallas, Rachel, Andy, and Elizabeth had a surreal experience watching an eel go after an octopus, only for it to ink and make a slick getaway. Nearby, Nate and Liza were snorkeling and spotted a trumpetfish plus two slithering eels right under the reef-the marine life was definitely putting on a show. After another round of diving where the students navigated and led their own dives, which every single one of them conquered, they became newly certified divers – let’s go! We cruised back to the harbor, where they filled out logbooks and Liza introduced the card game Shanghai to Janie, Rachel, Nate, Colin, and Tristan. We capped off the afternoon with a celebratory Costco dinner-pizza, salad, and ice cream pops-before heading back to the harbor to gear up for our night manta ray snorkel. While we waited for sunset, the crew kept busy: Liza and Caroline faced off against Andy and Macy in the spikeball championship match-Andy and Macy came out on top and claimed the unofficial Kona crown. Elsewhere, Elizabeth, Cameron, and Nate battled it out in a manta ray drawing contest on the back of the van. Cameron took home the win, while Nate’s entry was lovingly described as “a butterfly-vacuum hybrid.” On the sidelines, Braden, Dallas, Colin, and Gracelyn threw the football around, with Gracelyn throwing tight spirals that gave serious QB1 energy. Once the sun dipped, we wet-suited up and boarded the manta ray snorkel boat. The boys staked out the front, the girls held down the back, but everyone came together when the sky lit up with sunset colors. Moments later, manta rays started gliding below the surface. We jumped in-and were immediately surrounded. Rays swooped within inches, and Dallas and Colin even got slimed after a close pass. Tristan and Gracelyn got some incredible GoPro footage, and the group fully embraced the moment by practicing their whale calls (now officially rebranded as our manta ray summoning technique). On the boat ride back, Nate, Tristan, and Janie chatted with the guides to learn more about manta behavior, while Colin and Liza closed out the night with a laughter-filled Moonup on the dock under the stars, featuring the question of the night: how each of us found out the truth about Santa. The van ride back to camp was silent in the best way-everyone happily worn out and ready to give it their all for tomorrow’s travel day to Kauai!
Day 7: Flights and Flash Mobs
The day started early with Nate, Rachel, and Janie waking up ahead of the crew to make some celebratory pancakes for breakfast in honor of our time in Kona coming to an end. Colin joined in to cook up the sausage, Macy helped flip pancakes, and Gracelyn added the all-important chocolate chips. The whole group sat down to enjoy the spread before packing up for a big travel day. Rachel led a final camp sweep game of “Ew!” to make cleaning up a little more fun, and soon we were off to the airport. Security and boarding went off without a hitch, and we were on our way to Kauai! During our layover in Honolulu, Liza and Caroline celebrated with their long-awaited Starbucks run, and Colin tried his first pink drink-courtesy of Gracelyn. After we fueled, the group helped Nate cross off his #1 bucket list item (as shared with the group on night 1)-a full-on flash mob. The Macarena started playing and Nate jumped in first, with Liza and Cameron quickly joining, then Caroline and Rachel, followed by Andy, Elizabeth, Dallas, and Colin. We may have been a little off-beat, but it was hilarious, and even passersby joined in. Later, a woman on our flight recognized us from a video her friend had taken of the moment! After arriving in the Garden Isle of Kauai, Rachel made a quick Costco run while the rest of the group headed back to our camp right on the beach to settle in and play an intense sand volleyball tournament. We were blown away by the change of scenery and how lush and alive the landscape is! Cook crew (Elizabeth, Caroline, Andy, Colin, and Tristan) whipped up a delicious dinner of tortellini, chicken sausage, and salad with some help from Rachel. Meanwhile, Macy and Janie made time for an ocean dip. We wrapped up the night with Moonup led by LODs Colin and Caroline, reflecting on what food we’d choose to eat for the rest of our lives and some lessons we’ve learned so far. The day closed out with rounds of Paranoia under the pavilion -an epic ending to a full and unforgettable travel day.
Day 8: Surf, Sun & Seahorses
We kicked off the day with a quick breakfast at camp before heading to Hanalei Bay for our first surf lesson. Group 1-Nate, Caroline, Macy, Elizabeth, Andy, Dallas, and Colin-hit the water first, followed by Group 2-Rachel, Janie, Liza, Cameron, Gracelyn, Tristan, and Braden. Everyone crushed it on the boards, catching waves like pros. While one group was out surfing, the rest explored town and grabbed their much-needed coffee fix. After the lesson, we soaked up the sun with some more beach time. Liza, Caroline, Nate, and Colin squared off in a spikeball match, which Colin and Liza dominated. The rest of the group played cards with an epic view of the towering green cliffs and waterfalls around Hanalei. It was easily one of the sunniest and most beautiful days we’ve had in Kauai all summer. Lunch was at a nearby food truck lot, where everyone got to choose their favorites-everything from Thai bowls and sandwiches to Brazilian plates. We lingered there for a while, taking in the views and writing postcards home, enjoying a laid-back afternoon. Next, we headed to Princeville for an art and music festival, where the whole crew got face painted-everything from flowers, jellyfish, and seahorses to Batman, the Joker, and even a dragon. We picked up local white pineapple and dragonfruit from the market to try before heading back to camp. That evening back on the beach at camp, we ran into a local culture guide who taught us how to play the traditional nose flute and ukulele. Cameron, Liza, Rachel, and Janie all gave the nose flute a go while Dallas strummed the ukelele, while still sporting his Joker face paint of course. Later, the guide continued to teach the group about the local Hawaiian language and the meaning of the words Hawaiʻi and Aloha to Janie and Cameron. Dinner was fried rice and orange chicken, followed by a Moonup led by Andy and Cameron featuring a silly question that sparked plenty of laughs: what five liquids we’d shoot from our fingers!
Day 9: Cliffs, Guavas & Shave Ice
It was hike day, and the group was up before the sun. Gracelyn’s hype for the hike was contagious, which the leaders always love to see. After a big camp breakfast, we loaded up the van for the long drive down south and around the island, heading up into the mountains. The early hour knocked most people out-Dallas even caught some Z’s on Andy’s shoulder. We arrived at Kōkeʻe Lodge where we met our hike guide, Lizzie, then hit the Nualolo Trail. The crew flew through the first 3.75 miles-easily our fastest pace yet-cruising downhill and soaking in the scenery. Along the way, we spotted native koa trees, tried wild strawberry guava straight from the tree, and learned how fences help protect endangered species from wild boars. Many memorable convos took place along the way, and everyone enjoyed chatting it up! Janie’s dried mango stash helped refuel everyone along the trail with it strapped to her backpack for communal access. At the lookout, we were rewarded with crystal-clear views of the towering Nā Pali cliffs and brilliant blue ocean below-our future sea kayaking route on full display. Helicopters buzzed overhead taking advantage of the clear skies, and we enjoyed lunch on the edge, spotting the mysterious Niʻihau (aka the “Forbidden Island”) off in the distance. Fueled up and ready to take on the climb, we hiked back up the ridge. Nate led the charge at the front of the pack, with the name game helping keep spirits high through the toughest incline. The group crushed the uphill, finishing the trail in record time thanks to perfect weather and solid trail conditions. Back at the lodge, we grabbed cold Gatorades and a few wellness shots (Macy and Nate gave it a go-results were questionable). Our leaders thought the crew earned a sweet treat, so we headed to Hanapēpē and stopped at Longie’s, a local family-run shave ice and dessert spot. Andy, Elizabeth, and others went classic with vanilla ice cream, while Cameron, Liza, and Janie got adventurous with Lava Flows. A few rounds of the card game Kemps broke out while we waited for our treats. On the way back to camp, we swung by Target to restock essentials and pick up dinner, chosen by LODs Braden and Elizabeth. Once home, Macy took a quick ocean swim while Janie, Dallas, Colin, Andy, and Tristan got a hacky sack circle going. Dinner was a cookout dream-burgers, hot dogs, fries, salad, and classic Kraft mac & cheese. After burning serious calories on the trail, everyone demolished their plates.
Clean crew nailed their duties before we circled up for Moonup, led by Braden and Elizabeth in the pavilion. Conversations ranged from silly “nug jug” jokes to what kind of car matches our personalities, to deeper thoughts on what makes us feel appreciated. Elizabeth wrapped it up with a thoughtful quote to get us ready for tomorrow’s service day. Before lights out, the crew squeezed in a quick game of Mafia-then fell asleep fast after a full, unforgettable day on the trail, reflecting on how gratifying it is accomplish hard things!
As you can tell, we’re taking advantage of every waking moment. We can’t believe the trip is coming quickly to an end – we want to stay forever! Nonetheless, we’ll continue to soak it all up and laugh and smile all along the way. Now a few quick notes of gratitude from the gang!
Talk soon!
Rachel, Janie, & Nate
Colin: Hey Mom and Dad, thank you for sending me on this trip it’s been so much fun. I can’t wait to see you guys when I get back. Love and miss you and see you guys soon.
Tristan: Hey Mom hey Dad I’m excited to see y’all in a couple of days. I’ve had a lot of fun with the trip and I’m more than ready for a warm shower after 2 weeks!
Dallas: Hey Mom and Dad we are almost done with our trip and I have had so much fun. Thank y’all for sending me on this trip it’s been the most fun of my life. Love yall and see yall soon.
Andy: Hey guys, I had so much fun. Thank you for sending me on this trip. I can’t wait to see y’all. I miss and love y’all.
Braden: What’s up y’all, thank you so much for sending me on this trip it’s been so much fun. Love y’all and I can’t wait to see you all soon.
Caroline: Hey fam! This trip has actually been the best ever! Thank y’all for allowing me to come and experience Moondance for a second time. I love my group and this place so much! Love and miss y’all so so much. Can’t wait to see y’all!
Liza: Hey y’all! I am so thankful y’all gave me the opportunity to go on this trip I have had the best time! We have had such a good group and it’s been so much fun getting to spend activities with them. I will see y’all soon! Love y’all!
Cameron: Hey Mom, Dad, and DK! I miss you guys so much but I’m going to see y’all soon. I am so grateful for you guys to have given me this opportunity and I wish you could’ve experienced it with me. I love you guys so so much and can’t wait to tell you about everything we have been doing here🩷
Gracelyn: Hi Joni and Cork!! I miss y’all so so much but I’m having so much fun with my friends. I wanted to thank y’all for letting me come to Moondance even though there’s a lot going on in Dallas. Forever grateful for all of the blessings y’all lay in my hands. Tell everyone I say hi! XOXO G
Macy: Hey guys miss u so much! See u soon, love Macy ✅
Elizabeth: Hi guys!! I miss you guys so much and can’t wait to see you so soon. Thank you so much for letting me go on this trip, I am so grateful and appreciative. Love you, Elizabeth 💕
From the Trip Leaders: Mahalo 3A parents for sharing your kids with us in Hawaii! We have had an incredible time getting to know each and every one of them, and watching them laugh and bond as a group has been the highlight of our summer! We are so grateful for the opportunity to share this beautiful island with all of them and plan on soaking up every last second we can!
Hello From Hawaii
July 15, 2025
Aloha friends and family of Hawaiian Islands 3A! We have been having an absolute blast and a half here on the Big Island, and we’ve loved getting to know each and every student. We feel so grateful to be sharing this island with all its natural beauty and cultural significance with such a great group of kids. Follow along here for a little glimpse into what we’ve been up to!
DAY 1 7/09: Welcome to Hawaii
ALOHA HWI 3A!! The Big Island is so excited to see you it’s bursting at the seams – no literally the Kilauea Caldera erupted today (it was very minor and has calmed down now)! Some students mentioned they could see all the smoke from the plane 🤯 Rachel, Janie and Nate fought off every urge to go see the lava shooting up in the sky and instead drove to camp to set up tents in preparation for everyone’s arrival! Once finished, we headed back down south to grab our first airport arrivals – Macy and Colin! Not long after, Tristan touched down, followed by Gracelyn and Andy! Since everyone was gradually trickling in throughout the day, we entertained ourselves with card games, volleyball (until Janie hit the ball onto the roof! RIP), and decorating the Moonvan. Gracelyn and Macy showed off their beautiful handwriting, branding the van with the Moondance logo, Rachel drew a whale shark and a manta ray, and Tristan drew an awesome volcano. After Braden joined the gang, we grabbed everyone’s bags and then headed into the town of Kailua-Kona to pick up some dinner at Kona Crust Pizza. With the pies in hand, we swung back through the airport to scoop the last flight of 5, Liza, Caroline, Cameron, Dallas, and Elizabeth! Once everyone had all their belongings and was loaded up in the Moonvan, we sped over to Kaloka-Honokohau Beach to catch the waning glimpses of the sunset! We traversed around the flooded path to get there, so everyone enjoyed the yummy pizza after a long travel day. Under the shelter on the beach, we circled up, introduced ourselves, and jumped right into our first Moonup! Moonup is a special Moondance tradition where we gather every night to debrief our day, talk about what we’re looking forward to, and share personal stories. It’s a very special part of the trip, and since every trip across the Moondance universe partakes under the same moon every night, it bonds us together all across the world. Tonight we shared our bucket list items and a goal we have for the trip! It was so fun to hear what each student is excited for, and we’re confident we’ll be able to accomplish all our goals! A sand scorpion wanted to get in on the silly question and joined the circle. Gracelyn handled him like a pro, showing off her Bob Irwin skills. We are one with nature already. After wrapping up, we headed back to camp, announced the much-anticipated tent groups, and everyone got settled for the night! We fell asleep easily thanks to the long travel day and time difference, but we’re more than ready to have the best 2 weeks of our lives!
DAY 2 7/10: Salty Food and Salty Air
First day here we go! The gang slept in a little, but not too much – we’ve got an island to explore! We started the day with a leisurely breakfast of cereal, oatmeal, and yogurt at camp and got an introduction from the camp manager, Sequoia. With full stomachs, we headed south to the Hawaii Ocean Sciences and Technology Park, home to Kona Salt Farms. Our first drive in the daylight down the Hawaiian coast was stunning as always, and everyone was surprised by the views of the expansiveness. At the Salt Farms, we filled up our water bottles with ice cold water and tried the magnesium they generate as a side product of the salt, which includes many nutritional benefits. Everyone enjoyed learning how the product of salt travels from the deep sea to our dinner tables. Before lunch, we all sampled flavors of salt with fresh pineapple, tomato, and cucumbers.
Kristina led our cooking class everyone got to hone in on their knife skills, chopping onions, uala (a type of sweet potato), radish, carrots, and apples. We made a crunchy salad to start us off followed by pressure cooked beef with mashed uala, and a sweet treat of chocolate macadamia nut with fresh fruit! Once our stomachs were full and energy was high, we made our way to Kua Bay, one of the most beautiful white sand beaches on the island! After a rip current lesson led by Janie, the kids all immediately jumped in the water with Nate for a quick swim test. After some swimming, Caroline and Liza came up to chill on the beach, and Nate led the crew to some rock jumping. Later on the beach the guys enjoyed tossing the football, and then digging a massive hole with Rachel. Of course someone had to get buried, and the lucky nominee was Colin! Back at the campsite, our first cook crew of the trip whipped up some delicious dinner for us. Macy and Braden were cheffing the meatballs, Cameron was on the spaghetti, and Andy and Liza tossed the salad. After dinner we had a toothbrushing party with some tunes by DJ Nate and headlamp strobe lights, and then reeled it in with an intentional Moonup led by Rachel, Nate, and Janie.
DAY 3 7/11: Moon Up at Moonup
First day of open water course in the books! We got to the dive shop bright and early and enjoyed a chill breakfast poolside. The group made their way to the classroom where we did introductions and everyone shared their favorite marine animal and what they hope to see. Instructor Carlos did a great job teaching us about some endemic sea animals and then led everyone in a review of their e-learning course. During this time, Nate and Liza headed to the harbor and enjoyed a boat day and some snorkeling, where they got to see the state fish, a humuhumunukunukuapua’a! Back at the pool the open water crew split into dive groups and Tristan and Colin did their refresher course with instructor Elle. They finished up early and hung by the pool with Rachel and Janie, while the rest of the crew smashed out the first few sections of pool skills. We got to break for lunch all together, and then Tristan and Colin explored the town of Kona and got some souvenirs from a nearby market, plus shaved ice to top it off! Once everyone finished their water activities to the day, we headed to Honokohau Harbor and hit the beach where we immediately saw 3 sea turtles right by the shore! After everyone got their turtle fix, all 14 of us broke into teams of 2 and played an intense spikeball tournament, which will be continued tomorrow. We then made our way to Sack and Save grocery store, for the best poké on the island! The reviews were top notch and we were impressed by everyone’s willingness to try it out, despite not all being the biggest fans of seafood. Next we drove to our grand finale of the day, the dormant volcano Mauna Kea. Most of the volcano is underwater, but if you measured the full thing top to bottom it is actually the biggest mountain in the world! The sky was crystal clear and we made it with perfect timing to watch the sunset above the clouds. Everyone soaked in the views and took some awesome photos to capture the memories. Once the sun went down we made our way back to the van and had a lovely Moonup in the parking lot led by LODs Macy and Dallas, where we talked about what we would choose as our B+ super powers, and who inspires us most. Not only were we in a breathtaking setting under the stars, but we even got to watch the moon rise above the mountains, which was such a surreal experience, and how fitting to watch the moon literally rise up during Moonup!
DAY 4 7/12: Tank Time & Tacos
Nothing like starting the day to Hooked on a Feeling playing at sunrise, courtesy of Braden and Elizabeth selecting the morning wake-up song to get the vibes going! Today was day two of our scuba and snorkeling adventures. The boat crew headed out to sea for the day, exploring some incredible snorkeling and diving spots at a beautiful coastline spot with a golf course. Rachel, Colin, and Tristan got to explore some underwater lava tubes and caves, while Tristan worked on some skills for his advanced certification including hovering upside down! Meanwhile Janie and Liza enjoyed taking in all the fish and coral, and got to pop the bubbles from the divers below. Liza brought her A game to the snorkel and got tons of compliments from the guides for her skills. Back at the pool, Braden, Andy, Dallas, Caroline, Elizabeth, Cameron, Macy, and Gracelyn continued working on their scuba skills – and they absolutely crushed it, finishing up in record time. After wrapping up, Nate took the pool crew to celebrate with a visit to the local farmers market and grabbed some well-earned ice cream, where Caroline, Cameron, Dallas, and Gracelyn went for the classic Hawaiian pineapple Dole Whip to really lean into the local flavor. They them went to the beach, where Nate, Dallas, Andy, and Braden got a fun game of walking football going while the rest of the crew soaked up the sun and blue water. Dallas impressed us all with his one-handed catches – definitely some Julio Jones energy! Once the boat group returned, we all reunited for a quick Costco run, with LODs Braden and Elizabeth, plus Nate and Rachel leading the charge. In the parking lot, Janie and the rest of the group kept the energy high with some music trivia, where Caroline and Dallas went head-to-head before Dallas pulled off a last-minute win. On the drive back to camp, we kept the game going with movie song trivia and plenty of laughs. Tonight’s cook crew – Colin, Dallas, Tristan, Gracelyn, Elizabeth, and Caroline – cheffed up for taco night, while the rest of the group hung out and played cards. Dinner was a huge hit, and the clean crew followed it up with an all-star performance. We ended the day with Moonup led by Braden and Elizabeth, who had us completely fooled and cracking up with their full commitment to their nug jug story. Even after Moonup wrapped up, no one was in a rush to end the day – everyone stayed up playing more cards, chatting, and enjoying each other’s company before heading to our tents for some well-earned rest.
As you can tell, we are filling up every possible waking moment with fun. We love these kids so so much and can’t wait for what’s to come! Now here’s a word from the gang 🙂
To be continued!
Nate, Rachel, and Janie
SHOUTOUTS
Liza: Hey Mom, Dad, Will, and Kate! I am having so much fun. I have been going on the boat and snorkeling the past couple of days and saw a lot of different fish! I hope y’all are having fun in Columbia! We go to Kauai soon where we will surf and kayak and hike! I love and miss y’all!
Gracelyn: Hi Mama and Cork!! I miss y’all tons! We are on our way to day three of scuba diving then tomorrow is our last day here but we do a night time manta ray snorkel which I’m so excited for. Tell Cash, Avery, and Case that I miss all of them too!! I wish y’all could experience some of this with me!! XOXO G
Macy: Hey guys! Scuba diving in the ocean todaysee u soon love ya✅❤️
Cameron: Hey Mom, Dad, and Daniel! I miss you guys so so much today I am scuba diving in the ocean for the first time! I love you guys and can’t wait to see you soon space to ant❤️
Elizabeth: Hi parents! These past few days have been so so fun. We’ve been doing scuba diving which is amazing. Love and miss you guys! 😘😘
Caroline: Hey Jer, Wiam, Tush, and Bby Boda haha. I hope y’all are having so much fun in Cola and at the beach. I am having the best time and have the best group! I surprisingly really like scuba diving. I love and miss y’all so much. Can’t wait to see y’all in a week! 🩷🩷🩷🩷
Dallas: Hey Mom and Dad we are having a lot of fun in Hawaii and we are going scuba diving today and tomorrow. Love y’all and have fun in Japan.
Braden: Hey y’all, I’m having lots of fun down here and I can’t wait to see you when I get back. Mom, I hope you’re having fun in the Bahamas, and that Dad and DR are holding it down in Chatt. Henry, finish third session strong, and say what’s up to my buddies. Catch a few at the lake for me DR and give Kwas a hard time as usual. Love you all, and I’ll see ya in a few.
Andy: Hey Mom and Dad, I’m having a lot of fun in Hawaii. We are going scuba diving in the ocean for the first time today. I hope y’all are having fun in Memphis. I miss and love y’all.
Colin: Hi Mom and Dad I’m having so much fun here. We are doing SCUBA first and I’ve been doing fun dives while the rest of the group gets certified, which are amazing. We are going Manta Ray snorkeling tomorrow which is gonna be really fun. I love and miss you guys.
Tristan: Hey Ma hey Pa, I’m having fun, I’ve read the first bit of Liberty but Imma need a crash course on the infallibility argument when I get back. I love y’all see you in a week kisses ❤️
Safe Arrival!
July 10, 2025
Hello Hawaiian Islands Families!
We heard from our leaders this morning that the group has landed safely in Hawaii! 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
