Last Day in Paradise!
June 21, 2026
Aloha from Maui!
Just like that, our time on the island has come to an end. Over the past two weeks, this group has embraced every opportunity that came their way, from surfing and snorkeling to service projects, cooking classes, hiking, and everything in between. While the activities were incredible, the friendships, laughter, and memories made along the way are what made this experience truly special.
One of our final days brought us to the MOC Marine Institute, where students spent the day learning about Maui’s coral reefs, monk seals, sea turtles, and marine ecosystems. We also had the opportunity to explore the aquarium and learn more about the incredible marine life that makes Hawaii so unique. During the day’s trivia competition, Baker led his team to victory with an impressive performance and a strong knowledge of everything they had learned throughout the program.
That afternoon, we joined the other Maui groups for the annual Maui Olympics at Waipuilani Beach Park. Students competed in relay races, spikeball, soccer, volleyball, and a variety of other games that brought out plenty of friendly competition and team spirit. Mason, Macon, and Brahm put on a clinic on the soccer field, helping lead their team to an exciting overtime championship victory. Over at the spikeball net, Sam L and Madelyn worked together to claim a championship of their own. The entire group brought energy, enthusiasm, and plenty of cheering throughout the afternoon, making it one of the most memorable events of the trip. To cap off the day, the students finally got their long-awaited trip to Raising Cane’s, which was met with plenty of excitement.
Our final full day began with a windsurfing lesson at Kanaha Beach Park. Students eagerly took on one last adventure and spent the morning learning a completely new skill. Marianna and Avery showed awesome determination throughout the session and were cruising across the water by the end of the morning. Frances even teamed up with one of the guides to try out a few tricks, embracing the experience with her usual enthusiasm.
Later that afternoon, students headed to the thrift store to find outfits for banquet night, and the results did not disappoint. Austin especially stood out with an all-time banquet outfit that had the group cracking up all evening. We then attended a luau with the other Maui groups before heading into Paia for our final dinner together.
That evening, Sam K did a fantastic job serving as a final Leader of the Day, helping guide the group through our last full day in Maui. Back at camp, we packed our bags, shared favorite memories, and held our final Moonup. One of the highlights of the night came from Pierce, whose collection of spot-on impressions had the entire group laughing and helped make our final Moonup especially memorable.
As leaders, our favorite part of this trip has been watching this group grow closer with each passing day. Whether they were surfing, snorkeling, cooking, hiking, playing cards, competing in the Olympics, or simply hanging out around camp, they created a positive and supportive environment that made every day fun. It was amazing to see students who started the trip as strangers leave Maui with genuine friendships and shared experiences they’ll remember for years to come. The laughter, inside jokes, and support they showed one another throughout the trip helped make this group truly special, and we know the connections they built here will extend far beyond their time on the island.
Thank you for allowing them to experience the adventures of Maui with Moondance. We feel incredibly fortunate to have spent the past two weeks with such a kind, adventurous, and enthusiastic group of students. They represented themselves and their families wonderfully, and it has been an absolute privilege to be a part of their summer adventure.
Mahalo for an unforgettable trip!
Carter, Annie, and Ryan 🌺🌊☀️
Making the Most of Maui
June 19, 2026
Aloha from Maui!
It’s hard to believe we are already nearing the end of our time on the island! Over the past several days, the group has continued to embrace every opportunity with enthusiasm, positivity, and a willingness to try new things. From ocean adventures and service projects to cooking classes and hikes, this stretch of the trip has been packed with memorable experiences and plenty of laughter along the way.
One of the highlights of the week was our kayaking and snorkeling adventure. Students loved exploring the ocean and searching for marine life beneath the surface. Baker especially loved free diving and became very confident in his abilities. It was exciting to see how engaged everyone was while learning more about Maui’s marine ecosystem. Later that day, we returned for a service project where students harvested carrots and planted cabbage. Despite getting pretty muddy, Frances and Madelyn made a huge impact, helping clean and prepare carrots for the farmers’ market. After a productive afternoon, Evan rewarded us with a visit to his waterslide and pond, which quickly became one of the group’s favorite activities of the trip. Avery flew down the waterslide with her contagious smile from start to finish, laughing the entire way before splashing into the pond and immediately racing back up for another turn. It was a great way to wrap up our hard work on the farm.
The next day, we headed to our first surfing lesson. Many students arrived feeling nervous, but by the end of the session, everyone was standing up and catching waves. On their first time surfing, Marianna and Macon stood up and rode the wave all the way to the shore. It was rewarding to watch students build confidence and celebrate one another’s successes. The afternoon was much less adventurous but equally enjoyable as we tackled laundry and grocery shopping. Surprisingly, these simple errands became a highlight because the group has become so close. Whether at the laundry mat or competing in a Costco grocery race, students found ways to make every activity fun.
Our second day of surfing gave everyone a chance to build on the skills they learned the day before. With bigger waves rolling in, students were eager to challenge themselves and continue improving. Sam K and Austin especially stood out, confidently riding some of the larger waves throughout the morning. Later that afternoon, we visited a dairy market, where students learned about the farm and sampled a variety of goat cheeses. While it was a different type of activity than we are used to, the group enjoyed trying new foods and learning something new.
Another early morning brought one of our favorite adventures of the trip: a boat tour and snorkeling excursion. Students spent the morning exploring Maui’s coastline, snorkeling, and learning about the island’s history. That evening, we hosted a boys-versus-girls Iron Chef competition. The boys prepared cheeseburgers while the girls made pasta, and both teams took the challenge very seriously. At the end of the competition, Mason treated everyone to homemade fried oreos that got amazing reviews from the group. Between the cooking, judging, and friendly trash talk, the entire evening was filled with laughter and teamwork.
Most recently, we tackled the beautiful ridge trail. The weather was clear, and the views were incredible from start to finish. Sam L and Brahm were loving skipping around rocks on the way down while listening to music. Later that afternoon, we participated in a cooking class at a farms, where students harvested fresh ingredients and worked together to prepare an amazing meal. Pierce especially enjoyed learning some new cooking skills and proudly took on the task of dicing onions for the group(tears were shed from the onions).
While the activities have been incredible, our favorite part of this week has been watching the group continue to grow closer. Whether they are surfing, cooking, hiking, playing cards, or simply hanging out around camp, students have built strong friendships and created a positive, supportive environment. Their willingness to encourage one another and fully embrace each experience has made this trip an absolute joy to lead. Thank you for sharing your wonderful kids with us this summer. We are looking forward to making the most of our final days on Maui and creating a few more memories before heading home. Talk soon!- Carter, Annie, and Ryan
Dear Mom and Dad, I am having so much fun here. Thank you for sending me on this trip. I’ll See you soon- Mason
Dear mom and dad thank you for sending me on this awesome trip. I had so much fun and made so many friends and memories. Love you all. – Brahm N.
Dear mom and dad thank you for sending me on this trip. I did so many cool activities and made many good memories. I’m glad I was forced to go. See yall soon and tell Alexa happy birthday from me.From Austin J
Dear mom and dad thank you so much for sending me here on this trip. I made so many friends and tried a bunch of activities that I had never done before. I had so much fun love you and see yall soon.-Sam L
Dear mom and dad, thank you guys so much for sending me on this trip. Everything we have done has been so much fun and if I could stay here all summer I would, even without my phone. Tell Jack I said hi again and that I miss him! I love you guys so much and I cannot wait to see yall in just 2 days! -Marianna
Dear mom, thank you so much for sending me on Moondance. This has been one of the best trips of my life. I’ve tried so many new activities and made countless of new memories. I can’t wait to see you. -Sam K
Dear mom and dad, I have had a great time on this trip!! Thank you so much for allowing me to go. I am miss you so much. Happy Birthday Dad, early or late depending when y’all see this. I love y’all so much. Tell Beau I miss him too. He should totally go next year. -Avery-
Mom and dad, Thank you for sending me on this trip. We did so many things and fun activities. I’m very exited to see you guys soon and I miss you. -pierce
Dear mom and dad This trip has been great I’ve had so much fun doing all these amazing activities I’m excited to se you guys when we are going to Europe. And dad I hope you had a good father’s day. – Baker
Dear Mother/girlieeee I’ve missed y’all so much and can’t wait to see everyone when I get back but I’ve had so much fun and this has been unlike anything I’ve ever done. I love y’all so much and I’ll see you in 3 days❤️ cant wait. Tell Maddie I can’t wait to see her and I love her so much😘Thank you for letting me come it is a lot better than I expected. I’ll see u soon. Love you-Macon
Dear mom, thank you so much for sending me on Moondance I have had so much fun. I miss you and can’t wait to see you once I get back. Love you -Madelyn
Dear mom and dad, I miss y’all so much and I’ve been having a lot of fun here. We have done a lot of fun activities and I’m excited to see you. See you soon! -Frances
Sunny Days in Maui!
June 12, 2026
Hey Moondance Families!
Aloha from Maui!
It’s hard to believe how quickly the days are flying by! This group has brought incredible energy, positivity, and enthusiasm to every activity, and it has been so much fun watching friendships form and confidence grow. Over the past few days, we have packed in stand-up paddleboarding, service work, lei making, rappelling, ziplining, beach games, and countless laughs along the way.
One of our first adventures was stand-up paddleboarding at Makena Landing, where Pierce was all smiles and not letting the strong winds slow him down. Frances and Austin stepped up as our first Leaders of the Day (LODs), with Frances bringing her contagious positivity and Austin setting a great example through his willingness to help and jump into every task. Later that day, we had a relaxing afternoon at the beach where Mason showcased his athletic abilities on the sandy gridiron, weaving through the defense. That evening, one of the highlights of the day came before dinner when everyone gathered around talking, laughing, and simply enjoying each other’s company. It was the first glimpse of the strong group dynamic that has continued to grow throughout the week.
The next day was spent at Maui Culture Lands completing a service project where students worked hard helping care for the land. It was rewarding to see everyone take pride in giving back to the land and making a positive impact on the local community. Macon was a huge asset to the project through his hard work and encouragement. Later that day, we learned about traditional lei making and created our own. This quickly became a favorite activity for many in the group when everyone was fully invested in the process and proudly wore their leis. Marianna fully embraced the spirit of the afternoon by wearing her lei as a crown, and it was an instant hit. We all enjoyed spending time together at the park playing football, kicking around a hacky sack, and chatting in the sunshine. The sense of community and harmony throughout the afternoon was truly special. As the sun went down, Brahm, Thomas, Madelyn, Sam L, and Pierce established themselves as the spike ball experts, competing in marathon games lasting over 100 points.
Our adventure activities have continued to challenge and excite the group. During our rappelling activity, students encouraged one another to step outside their comfort zones and celebrate every success. Macon set the tone by volunteering to be the first person down the wall, helping others feel confident as they prepared for their own turns. Later that afternoon, we headed to the beach, where an intense volleyball tournament quickly became the event of the day. Avery was the clear MVP, with some killer serves during some highly competitive points. The day wrapped up with Marianna and Sam K stepping up in the kitchen and chefing up quesadillas like it was their job, making sure everyone left dinner happy and well-fed.
Most recently, we spent the day ziplining through the beautiful hills of Maui. The incredible views and fantastic guides made the experience unforgettable. Sam L showed no fear and stepped up to be the first to fly down the ziplines during the rain, bringing great energy to the group. One of the best parts of the day was seeing how much the group has bonded. That night Baker became the unofficial host of card night, serving as dealer each evening and making sure everyone has enough (Bananagrams pieces) to stay in the game. Whether they were split into activity groups, working together during service projects, or competing in games, they have consistently supported and encouraged one another.
As leaders, our favorite part of the trip has been watching this group come together. They have embraced every challenge, supported one another through new experiences, and filled each day with laughter. Their kindness, enthusiasm, and willingness to jump into every opportunity have made this trip an absolute joy to lead.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful kids with us this summer. We are looking forward to making even more memories during the rest of our time together here on Maui!
Talk soon!
– Carter, Annie, and Ryan
Shoutouts!
Hi Mom and Dad I’m having a lot of fun and have done really cool stuff. Love you! -Sam L
Hi Mom and Dad I’m having fun see you soon love you. We are doing a bunch of cool activities and I’m excited to see y’all soon – Pierce
Hey Mom and Dad I’m having fun and we have done a lot of fun activities. I love y’all and will see y’all soon. – Frances
Hi Mom I’m having so much fun and have done so many fun activities. Love you – Madelyn
Hi Mom, I’m having an awesome time and the days are passing like minutes. I can’t wait to see you when I get back, I miss you and I love you. Tell Maddie I miss her and love her❤️ – Mason
Hi Mom and Dad, Moondance has been so much fun and we have been doing so many great things that I can’t wait to tell y’all about. Tell Jack, Eloise, Elle, Charlie, Abby, Kate, Anne, Ellie, and Leighton that I say hi and that I really miss them! I can’t wait to see y’all and I love you guys so much!! – Marianna
Hi Mom, this trip has been so fun. All of our activities so far have been great . Maui is absolutely amazing. I love you and can’t wait to see you. -Sam K
Hi Mom and Dad, I am having so much fun on my trip. It is so pretty here and so different from any place I have been. I hope Marlowe is doing well. Tell Beau I miss him! -Avery
Hi Mom and Dad I’m having a great time in Maui we have been doing so many different fun things and it’s so beautiful, like yesterday we went zip-lining and today we are going on a hike. I miss you so much and can’t wait to see you- Baker
It is cool and I am having fun. See you soon, love you! – Macon
Hi Mom and Dad this trip has been fun but can’t wait to get home. The repelling was fun and it’s kinda cool being to a new state. See yall soon, love you- Austin
Hey Mom and Dad, hope all is well at home. I am having so much. We went water repelling, zip-lining, and more. My favorite was Zip-lining because of the views and how fast it was. Love y’all. -Brahm N.F
Safe Arrival!
June 7, 2026
Hello Maui Families!
We heard from our leaders last night that the group has landed safely in Maui! Please remember that 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 their adventure. You can also follow us on Instagram, @moondanceadventures, to see more of what we are up to!
-Moondance HQ
