Farewell Fiji!
June 19, 2026
Hey Moondance Families
Bula for the last time families! These last two weeks have been a blast, and this group has formed into a tight knit and energetic unit. We have had so much fun getting to know each other while scuba diving, surfing, kayaking, whitewater rafting, and living in the villages.
The final leg of our journey was spent at the beach house. Upon reaching the coast, we spent the remainder of the day relaxing and taking much-needed warm showers. We had an abundance of shirley temples and desserts after dinner, did Moonup, and went to sleep.
Our next day was spent rafting, and was many of the kids’ favorite part of the entire trip! We floated through sixteen miles of insane gorges and lush scenery. At points, the vaulting rock walls on either side of us were no more than sixteen feet apart! It had also rained the night before, so there were rushing waterfalls feeding into the river all over the place! We ate chicken sandwiches on the riverbank for lunch, and got back to it. The river mellowed out a bit, and this is where the fun began. Our guide took Sebi and Neva by surprise, leaping off of his raft and knock them into the water! We spent the next hour jumping from raft to raft, pushing each other in, and trying to keep other people off of our rafts. Bruce was paddling hard at other boats in attempt to knock people in the water. Charlie was fearless as well. He even pulled one of the guides in! Law was also loving these rafting battles and would drag people into the water with him! One of the funniest parts was when George was knocked out of the raft, and as he was floating along the river, local children started paddling towards him on a bamboo raft to reach him! We were still laughing when we finally pulled him into our raft. We all had an incredible time, and were exhausted on the bus ride back to our lodging. We spent the rest of the day hanging out together on the beach, drinking copious amounts of shirley temples and virgin piña coladas, and taking fire pictures. After another great dinner and Moonup, we headed to bed for an early morning of surfing!
We awoke to a beautiful morning and vibrant double rainbow arching over the ocean, which we caught our first waves under! Our surfing instructor taught us how to recognize a good wave, how to stand up, and how to maintain balance. We paddled out, and started catching some gnarly beginner waves! Emmie, Cooper, and Ethan were very impressive, catching nearly every one that she attempted! Surfing under the rainbow was a cinematic and unmatched experience. We had a great breakfast, then spent the day lounging together in hammocks on the beach. Asha relaxed and read her book with Kate while she journaled! It was the perfect day to be present with each other. Some in the group shopped at a handmade jewelry stand, and the rest of us spent time journaling, listening to music, and swimming. Shoutout to Charlie for playing some fire songs! Mattie, Neva, and Zach took a long walk across the exposed sea floor during low tide, seeing bright blue starfish, long sea cucumbers, sea centipedes, slugs, and a whole host of other critters! Arey and Vivian had the great idea of getting Fijian massages at our resort! They returned to the group much more relaxed, which inspired others to get massages too. Later on, we all took a sunset swim together, hanging out in the shallow water as a calm dusk gave way to a starry night sky. There were even a few bright shooting stars! We had dinner and our final desserts before starting our last Moonup. It was a bittersweet occasion, filled with laughs, thoughtful answers, and reminiscing on shared memories of the trip. During Moonup, we all took time to write notes to each other in each others’ notebooks, and we hope the kids will cherish those.
We had another early morning of surfing today! The waves were even bigger and more fun than they were yesterday, and we are basically pros at this point! Neva was catching crazy waves, and even learning some tricks! The kids spent the morning soaking up the Fijian sun for the last time before packing up and heading to our last stop for dinner and departure. We had a great banquet dinner, then sadly said our goodbyes in the airport.
We are so proud of how this group navigated these last two weeks. The trip was so much fun, but it was also challenging at times. The kids consistently stepped up to the plate and approached unfamiliar experiences with curiosity. They made Fiji such a blast, and we will miss them. Thank you families for sharing them with Moondance and letting us get to know them.
Vinaka!
Zach & Kate
That Fiji Feeling!
June 17, 2026
Hey Moondance Families!
What an incredible experience we all just had living in the Fijian villages. We met so many kind people who opened their homes to us, had some tasty food, and experienced a totally different way of life.
We started our journey with a bus ride, stopping in a town for a great lunch of fried rice and chow mein. We shopped around a bit, loaded up on snacks, then we were off! Sebi has established himself as our group DJ, and his aux playlists have become a staple of our bus rides. After bumping along dirt roads through BEAUTIFUL mountain scenery for an hour, we arrived in our first village home. They welcomed us with a traditional Fijian kava ceremony. We all sat down around a large kava bowl with the village chief and other important elders, our guides, and a few children who wanted to join. The conclusion of the ceremony marked our official acceptance into Draiba. We quickly toured the village, then walked along a river to the small cluster of buildings on a hill where we would be staying. A large rain tree covered the main building where meals were cooked and some of the villagers stayed, and the hill offered breathtaking mountain views. The region is known for its horses, and we saw plenty trotting around, both wild and tamed. We even saw kids riding them to and from school! Vivian and Emmie’s cameras have been vital on this trip, constantly taking photos and videos so that no moment goes uncaptured.
For dinner, we had a large spread of different meats, curry, rice, fruits, and bread. As always, we concluded our night with Moonup. The sky was clear and the stars were so bright that you could see the Milky Way with clarity! The boys were even ready to sleep outside under the stars.
On our second day in the village, we woke up with the sunrise and the roosters. After a breakfast of fresh fruit, cake, and fried dough. Law graciously let the kids film on his GoPro; He happily let the kids take videos, watch clips back, and run around documenting their own adventures. We had lunch, and one of our guides taught us how to sing the first two verses of a traditional Fijian song.
We played some intense games of soccer and rugby with them, and the boys enjoyed learning how to play an unfamiliar game. Every time one of our boys touched the ball, he would be swarmed by the young Fijians. They were a tough match! We all went and played in the river together, tossing around a rugby ball, splashing each other, and climbing up a slick log to jump off of. Arey wasted no time and was the first into the river with the kids, they absolutely adored her. Before long we had a full crew splashing around.
We had another incredible meal for dinner and sat around with the children as they braided the girls’ hair, kicked around a soccer ball, and hung out with us. When the sun set, our hosts surprised us with a massive bonfire! Before it started, Ethan, Sebi, and Bruce were recruited to help set everything up and build the bonfire. It was the perfect way to round out our time in our first village, and we sat and talked around it until it died down. We had Moonup next to the dying coals, then got to sleep.
The next day was spent kayaking down the river! We packed up and loaded into two-person kayaks to get to our second village destination. It was a rainy and overcast day, but the kids made the absolute most of it. Charlie looked at home in the kayak and was a strong paddler, while Mattie’s paddleboarding experience paid off as she cruised along confidently.
We stopped for lunch in another village where sandwiches and fruit were graciously prepared for us. We had about an hour left of kayaking before reaching our second village destination and home for the night. It was a chilly day, and we were warmly welcomed with hot tea and homemade pastries, which was the perfect reward after a long day kayaking in the rain.
We stayed in this village and were surrounded by incredibly welcoming people.The girls immediately went exploring and returned with flowers in their hair. Asha may have had the most flowers collected in her hair throughout the day. Mattie and Asha even returned from exploring with coconuts bigger than their heads after villagers kindly cut them open so they could drink the coconut water.
We were then officially welcomed into the village with another kava ceremony. After that, our guides taught us how to make kava bowls out of coconut shells, and Cooper discovered a hidden talent for making these kava cups, the speed he was able to make them was impressive! Vivian also seemed to gain a particularly dedicated fan in this village; a little boy followed her around all day and was often found sitting beside her.
We then ate another delicious dinner prepared by the incredible women of the village. Later, Emmie and Ethan led one of our favorite and very special Moonups of the trip because several Fijians joined in with us.
We woke up excited because it was a special day… NEVA’S 17TH BIRTHDAY!!!! We woke her up with birthday music and balloons, and the village had baked her a delicious cake for breakfast. We had candles, sang with the entire village, and she even got a traditional Fijian birthday song. It was such a special and unforgettable way to celebrate Neva!
We then packed up to head out in the kayaks one more time. This route was shorter than the day before and even more beautiful. We could see the mountains in the distance through the overcast skies and fog. George kept us entertained the entire ride with impressive celebrity impressions, turning the rainy day into one of the funniest stretches of the trip.
Eventually, we arrived at a natural Fijian cave for a tour. Charlie approached the cave exactly the way he approaches everything else on the trip and jumped right in. The cave was incredible and even had a pool over 400 meters deep, which is a reminder of the crazy structures nature can create.
We wrapped up with delicious make-your-own barbeque sandwiches outside of the cave before heading to our final resort destination. We can’t believe how quickly this trip has gone by, and we can’t wait to update you all from our final destination!
Sota tale!
Kate & Zach
Fun in the Sun!!!
June 12, 2026
Bula families! We have just rounded out our scuba section of the trip, and it has been incredible! We have eaten some delicious food, had exciting new experiences, met the friendliest people, and made great friends.
Day one was a catamaran day! We touched down in Fiji at six in the morning and transferred to our hotel, where we ate a filling buffet-style breakfast. After hanging out and swimming in the pool for a bit, we drove over to board the catamaran. Lounging on the nets, the kids soaked in the stunning views and the island sun. The lush mountains rising directly out of the deep blue Pacific Ocean were a sight to behold! After riding with the wind in our sails for a while, we anchored down next to a reef and snorkeled around. It was a great appetizer for scuba diving to come, and we saw beautifully vibrant fish and coral formations! Upon returning to the boat, the guides gave us a fruit platter along with an incredible homemade meal of chicken pasta with veggies, flaky bourekas with an incredible sauce, and divine carrot cake. The kids still haven’t stopped talking about that meal! After lounging and swimming for a little while longer, we set sail back to the port. The guides were so kind and helpful, and the catamaran was a perfect way to kick off our trip after a long plane ride.
We then drove to our ocean hostel, where we had stayed for the last few days. We stopped for snacks along the way, and the group found a new obsession with salsa-flavored Doritos. We arrived at Club O, ate a pizza dinner from a local spot, and rounded out our night with a brief Moonup before hitting the hay. Law was a huge help for the group by figuring out how to turn on the hot water in the showers!
Day two was our first day of getting our scuba certifications! We awoke to a beautiful sunny morning and a breakfast of eggs, sausage, beans, and toast provided by our accommodations. We did our morning huddle, then split into two groups to learn dive skills in the pool. We learned how to assemble and put on our gear, clear our masks, inflate our BCDs, move around in the water, and assist each other in out-of-air emergencies. Our instructors, Mans and Sam, were fun, patient, and so helpful. Cooper loved it so much that he was pushing off the walls and swimming laps in the tiny pool like a pinball! In the meantime, the rest of the group set up hammocks, played spikeball, and went to the beach. After lunch, the second group geared up for scuba skills. While we were doing that, the boys decided to go fishing. They rigged up a fishing pole using a broomstick and fishing line, and almost caught an eel! They were too scared to grab it, so it got away, but the near catch caused quite a stir. One of the scuba instructors gave Sebi an entire tuna head that he excitedly carried around and showed off, giving us a good laugh! Before dinner, Ethan rallied a group for an impromptu swim, and they went into the ocean. Before long, they had organized a game of chicken and made the most of our first day by the beach. Charlie has also become our official retriever of anything that accidentally ends up in the ocean or nearby river, like volleyballs or soccer balls. He is super quick and scrambles like it’s nothing!
Once our first day of scuba skills was done, we had a nice and relaxing afternoon/night of chatting in the hammocks, playing on the beach, and playing lots of spikeball. Law has been killing it on the spikeball net! We walked over to dinner and bought a 4.5-liter tub of ice cream on the way back. We ended the day with a great Moonup, led by Bruce and Neva, our first Leaders of the Day (LODs). For our Moonup closing ceremony, we got on all fours in a circle and had a moo-off! Charlie went all-out and crushed us!
Day three was our first day of real scuba diving! We split up into the same groups and rode out to a beautiful reef. Diving down to six meters, we saw bright blue starfish, tons of vibrant fish, HUGE coral formations, and long striped sea cucumbers. Once we got over initial nerves and figured out how to control our buoyancy, the ocean became a wonderfully peaceful place. Several of our newly certified divers looked at home underwater, but Arey especially impressed everyone, including the instructors! They commented on how quick a learner she was of the skills! Back on the boat, we demolished the cookies that the guides gave us. In the meantime, the rest of the group got volleyball going, continued trying to fish without much luck, and hung out listening to tunes in the hammocks. Mattie has impressive friendship bracelet-making skills and was teaching Asha how to make them! George has acted as the group’s scribe and historian, filling over 70 pages of his journal so far! He has been documenting what seems like every second of the trip and might return home with a full novel. In the afternoon, we took a bus over to the capital city of Suva! We walked around and waved “Bula!” Everyone was extremely welcoming, and we had a great time exploring the city! For dinner, we ate at an Indian restaurant called Maya Dhaba, and it was a hit! We stuffed ourselves with garlic naan, butter chicken, tikki massala, and mango lassie. Indian food may have become one of the trip favorites. In particular, Sebi and Ethan have declared themselves huge fans. They keep asking to go back! We ended the day with another great Moonup in our hammock circle next to the water.
Day four was certification day! The group went out in the morning to a larger reef, and dove down twice to 18 meters of depth. We encountered breathtaking marine life and got to experience the serenity of being that deep under the surface. We even got some great GoPro footage of the dive! Meanwhile, the certified divers group went to the beach. Emmie gathered the group and fully embraced a relaxing morning on the beach, getting tropical drinks and relaxing by the ocean!
The already-certified group went out to another reef in the afternoon, and we saw many schools of tropical fish among beautiful reef formations. Emmie, Ethan, Bruce, Neva, and Vivian were troopers and demonstrated their strong scuba skills, swimming in the strong current! They did great!
After the dives, we went to the beach and got an incredible meal. Ribs and shirley temples were fan favorites! You could really tell how much the group had bonded at this point, and there was tons of laughter through dinner and Moonup.
Yesterday would have been our final day of dives, but a storm system moved through the area, making the water far too choppy to safely dive in. Although disappointing, we still made the most of the day. In the morning, we walked to the nearby arts village and explored before stopping for some delicious ice cream! Neva and George bought a pineapple from a fruit stand on the way back, and we had our final lunch at Club O. In the afternoon, we drove over to do a waterfall hike in Coto-i-Suva, a beautiful park outside of Suva. The scenery was incredible!! Surrounded by the songs of tropical birds and a gurgling stream, we hiked about three miles to a gorgeous waterfall that fed into a deep blue swimming hole. We changed into swimsuits and jumped into the refreshingly cool water! The kids loved this stop, and we had so much fun jumping in and splashing around. Neva and Vivian wasted no time and jumped in fully clothed! They were determined to feel refreshed no matter what, and they know the best way to dry clothes on a Moondance trip is to wear them! We drove into Suva again to eat dinner and walk around. We explored a large open-air market, and everyone was so eager to talk to us and say “Bula!” again! We ate tasty Mediterranean food, and the restaurant had live music. The singer had one of the most incredible voices we had ever heard, and a few of us got up and danced around during her cover of “Valerie,” by Amy Winehouse. At this dinner, we played lots of games. Mattie led the group in Black Magic, while Asha dominated in the game Contact. Asha is also an MVP of the group by using her bug zapper to make anyone’s mosquito bites not itch anymore! Bruce branched out and tried braised lamb shank and became a fan! We drove back to our accommodations, had our final Moonup there, and got a good night’s sleep.
This morning, we woke up, had breakfast, and then packed up for the village section. We will spend the next four days and three nights in different inland villages. Many people cite this as their favorite section of the entire trip, and we couldn’t be more excited to experience and appreciate a new culture and way of life.
The trip has been amazing, and we can’t believe how fast it is flying by. Bula families, and wish us luck in the next leg of our adventure!!
Bruce
It’s been only a week and it’s been so fun. The place we stayed at was pretty nice. I also love the villages! Thank you so much for letting me go on this trip.
Charlie
What’s up mom and dad,Fiji is so cool and beautiful.all the locals are so nice and scuba diving was otherworldly and so fun. Love y’all -Charlie
Law
Hi Mom, and Dad, Fiji has been fun. My group is good this year. We are on the way to the village see you soon love you. ❤️
Neva
Hey mom and dad!!! I’m having so much fun in Fiji right now! I have met so many amazing people and have eaten such amazing food! I’m so excited to see yall and go to the fair! Love and miss yall💛
Vivian
Hey mom and dad I miss yall so much!!! I’m having so much fun and have made literally my best friends. The food is actually insane here and I went scuba diving, we have done so much fun stuff and the culture is so cool. I love my leaders so much and jumped off this cliff and rope swing. I hope Monroe is going well. 💚
Asha
Hi mom and dad!! I miss you guys so so much. The food is so good here and I got scuba certified! There is a lot of Indian culture and it’s so cool here. Say hi to the pups for me!! Love, Asha
Mattie
Hi mom and dad! I miss you so much and can’t wait to tell you about my trip. Scuba diving has been so much fun. I love you and am excited to see you soon. Love, Mattie
Emmie
Hii mama and dad! I miss yall so much!! I’m having a great time and everyone in my group is super fun! We are otw to the village right now. I love yall so much and can’t wait to see yall !!💕💕
Cooper
Scuba diving is fun. Fiji is cool. our councilors are good!
Ethan
Fiji is super fun and the weather is nice. I also have a good group and I’m having fun.
George
Hey mom and dad i’m good fr but when i come home i would love to see either 5 guys or Taco bell at home. My time in fiji has been really cool. I would say about 2 days ago we left our lil ocean hotel and now we’re in the village with these funny little kids, and we’re up in the mountains and it’s pretty sick. Love yall and im excited to see yall. Just don’t forget about me love you bye bruh.
Arey
Hey mom and dad❤️ I am having so much fun I am forgetting to miss y’all! But I miss yall and am making awesome friends. I hope Hinton had fun at the beach. I love scuba diving and actually the food here. Can’t wait to see yall🥰
Sebi
hey ma and dad love yall Fiji is a blast super chill i scuba dived and I can’t wait to see yall ❤️
Safe Arrival!
June 6, 2026
Hello Fiji Families!
We heard from our leaders this morning that the group has landed safely! 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
