Memories in Maui!
July 3, 2026
Hey Moondance Families!
The second half of our adventure has been just as memorable as the first! Over the past several days, this group has continued to embrace every experience with enthusiasm while growing even closer as friends. From kayaking alongside sea turtles and exploring Hawaiian culture to hiking through the mountains and cooking together, they have continued to challenge themselves, encourage one another, and make the most of every opportunity.
Day 6 began with an early morning sea kayaking and snorkeling adventure. Paddling along Maui’s beautiful coastline before jumping into the crystal-clear water to snorkel with sea turtles was an unforgettable experience. The students were amazed by how many turtles they saw, and everyone loved exploring beneath the surface. Millie and Jake H especially impressed us with their free-diving skills, making the most of every chance to explore underwater. After lunch, we visited a goat farm, where the group sampled goat cheese, met the goats, and enjoyed a fun afternoon learning about one of Maui’s unique local farms. We wrapped up the day with sunset volleyball at the beach before another meaningful Moonup back at camp.
Day 7 was one of the group’s favorites as we headed out for an incredible boat day. The weather was perfect, allowing us to visit multiple snorkeling spots throughout the morning. Sam was especially excited to arrive at Turtle Town, eagerly searching for sea turtles as soon as he entered the water. That evening, we met up with the other Maui groups for dinner on the beach and a beautiful sunset. The students loved spending time together, playing games, meeting new friends, and enjoying another unforgettable Maui evening.
On Day 8, we traveled to a new beach to learn how to windsurf. While windsurfing is one of the most technical activities of the trip, the students showed great perseverance as they learned a completely new skill. Abigail and Jake M stood out with their determination, continuing to get back on the board and improve throughout the lesson. Afterward, everyone enjoyed some downtime together during our laundry trip, which has become an unexpectedly fun tradition full of card games, conversation, and plenty of laughs.
Day 9 focused on learning more about Hawaiian culture and giving back to the island. During our conservation project, the students worked together to remove invasive weeds and care for this special place. Turner brought a fantastic attitude to the project, working hard while encouraging those around her. Later, everyone enjoyed making traditional leis, learning a few hula dances, and relaxing together at the beach. That evening, Iron Chef gave the group another opportunity to put their cooking skills to the test. Drew and Max helped lead their team to victory by preparing delicious steaks for Philly cheesesteaks, and it was exciting to see how much confidence everyone has gained in the kitchen since arriving in Maui.
Our most recent day took us for a scenic hike. The incredible views and shared sense of accomplishment made it well worth the effort. Anne Lanier finished the hike with a huge smile on her face after conquering the trail, and Eloise brought positive energy from beginning to end and had an absolute blast along the way. Later that afternoon, we visited another farms for a cooking class where the group prepared a delicious meal together. Vivi helped make fresh pineapple pico, and everyone enjoyed spending the evening learning new recipes before finishing the day with another sunset game of beach volleyball. Volleyball has quickly become a favorite pastime for the group, and Frankie has especially embraced it, hustling after every ball and bringing contagious energy to every game.
As we near the end of our Maui adventure, we continue to be impressed by how incredible this group is. Whether they’re encouraging one another during a challenging activity, laughing over card games around camp, or diving into the ocean in search of sea turtles, they consistently choose positivity, kindness, and teamwork. Watching their friendships grow stronger each day has been the best part of this experience, and we are so excited to finish the trip with this amazing group. Mahalo for allowing us to spend these unforgettable weeks with your wonderful kids!
— Annie, Ryan, Carter
Thank yous!!!
Hey mom and dad, Thank you so much for letting me go on this trip. I have met some of the best people and had such a great time! I can’t wait to tell y’all all about it!! Love and miss y’all!! AL
Hey mom and dad, Thank you so much for sending me on this trip. It’s been really fun—I’ve met a lot of great people. I miss you and can’t wait to see you. Andrew Ladd
Hi mom and dad, Thank you so much for letting me go on this trip. I have had a lot of fun and made lots of friends. I love you both and can’t wait to see you soon. From Max
Hey mom and dad, Thank you so much for letting me go on this trip! I have had the best time. It has been a great experience and I have met so many new people! See you soon! Love you, Turner
Hi mom and dad, Thank you so much for giving me the chance to go on this trip. I have had so much fun and I have tried so many new things. I love you both so much and I will see you soon! Eloise
Hello mom and dad, Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to go on this amazing trip to Maui. I have had so much fun doing new activities including surfing and snorkeling. I have made many new friends during this trip. Once again, thank you, and I love you all so much. Frankie
Hey guys, Thank you so much for letting me come to Maui for Moondance. I am having a really fun time going on all of these activities, and as I type this we are heading to hike up a mountain. I’ll see you guys soon. Love y’all, Jake H
Hey mom and dad, Thank you so much for letting me go on this trip. I am having a great time and having so much fun, and I’m excited to see y’all. I love y’all and miss y’all! Abigail
Hey mom and dad, Thank you for letting me go on this trip. Maui is so pretty and I miss y’all!! Can’t wait to see y’all. Love you, Millie
Hey mom and dad!! Thank you so so much for letting me come to Maui. I’ve been having so much fun but miss everyone so much!! Can’t wait to see y’all! Love and miss you guys!! Vivi
Hey mom and dad, Thank you guys so much for giving me this opportunity to travel to one of the best places in the world! And trust me, Maui lives up to the hype. I can’t wait to see you guys up in Michigan soon! Jake M
Hey mom and dad, I am having so much fun and couldn’t thank you enough for giving me the opportunity to go on this trip. I’ve met so many people and made new friends. I can’t wait to see you guys in Roaring Gap, and play a ton of golf! Sam S
Mahalo from Maui!
June 27, 2026
Aloha from Maui! Our first five days together have been packed with adventure, new friendships, and plenty of unforgettable moments. From arriving on the island to surfing, ziplining, rappelling, and giving back through conservation work, this group has already formed a strong community and embraced every opportunity that has come their way. After everyone arrived safely on Day 1, we headed to camp to get settled in and oriented with our new home for the next few weeks. Once everyone unpacked, we picked up pizza and made our way to the beach for a beautiful Maui sunset. It was the perfect way to kick off the trip, allowing everyone to relax, get to know one another, and soak in their first evening on the island.
Our first full day, or Day 2, started with ziplining through the beautiful mountains of Maui. Flying through the trees was an incredible way to begin the adventure, and everyone encouraged each other throughout the course. Afterwards, we headed to the beach for lunch and time to swim, relax, and continue getting to know one another. Back at camp, the group jumped into their first cook and clean crews. Jake M has especially enjoyed taking on the role of chef, embracing the opportunity to learn new cooking skills while helping prepare meals for everyone. Jake H and Vivi also served as our first Leaders of the Day, setting a positive example through their enthusiasm, encouragement, and willingness to help wherever needed. Each evening continues to end with Moonup, giving the group time to reflect on the day and recognize one another.
Day 3 started bright and early as we made our way to Kalama Park for our surfing lesson. Many students stood up on their boards for the first time, and it was exciting to watch everyone’s confidence grow throughout the morning. Eloise and Abigail quickly found their rhythm on the waves and had an amazing time surfing. After lunch back at camp, the group spent the afternoon playing volleyball and spikeball before heading out for our Pono conservation activity. Turner stood out by taking initiative while planting lettuce and helping lead the group throughout the project, encouraging everyone to work together and make a positive impact on the local community.
After a well-earned chance to sleep in on Day 4, everyone enjoyed a big breakfast before heading to the Garden of Eden Arboretum for one of the week’s biggest challenges: rappelling. While it pushed many students outside of their comfort zones, it quickly became one of the highlights of the trip. Sam admitted to being nervous before stepping over the edge, but after his first rappel he couldn’t wait to do it again and was incredibly proud of himself for facing the challenge. Ann Lanier also showed tremendous courage, leaving the experience with a huge sense of accomplishment. We spent a relaxing afternoon back at camp playing cards, and Millie brought great energy to the group’s volleyball games with her competitive spirit and constant encouragement for her teammates, before heading to the beach to cook dinner and enjoy another incredible Maui sunset. Frankie and Max made the most of the evening, having an absolute blast playing spikeball on the beach as the sun went down.
Our fifth day focused on giving back to the island during our Marine Institute conservation activity. The group worked hard throughout the morning before rewarding themselves with an afternoon at the beach. Drew wasted no time embracing the adventure, becoming the first person to volunteer for the cliff jump and inspiring others to give it a try. After cooling off in the water, everyone celebrated the day’s accomplishments with a stop for gelato before heading back to camp for dinner and another meaningful Moonup. As we head into the second half of our adventure, this group continues to impress us with their positivity, willingness to try new things, and support for one another. Around camp, card games, shared meals, and evening conversations have filled the downtime, creating countless opportunities for everyone to connect. We are excited for everything that still lies ahead and can’t wait to share more stories from Maui in our next update.
Mahalo for allowing us to be part of this incredible adventure with your amazing kids!!
– Ryan, Annie, and Carter
Student Shoutouts
Sam: Hello parents, I miss you and am having so much fun in Maui. I can’t wait to see you and I love you,tell Kat and Wes I said hi
Drew: Hello I miss you guys. It’s been really fun and I will see you soon.
Jake M: Hey Mom and Dad, I just wanna let you guys know that I’m having the time of my life in Maui doing so many fun activities. Even though im having fun and I still miss you guys and tell the whole family I saidhi.
Jake H: Hey guys, I am having a lot of fun in Maui and I will see you guys when I get home. The views are crazy. Love yall.
Max: Hi mom and dad, I am having lots of fun in Maui and have done lots of cool things. I miss you and I love you. Cant wait to see you guys again.
Millie: Hey mom, Maui is sooo pretty. I miss you and everyone in CHS so much, and I can’t wait to come home. A lot to fill you in on. Love you
Eloise: Hi Mom and Dad, Maui is so beautiful and I am having so much fun. The weather is perfect but I miss you guys so much and I can’t wait to see you soon. Love you.
Frankie: Hi mom and dad Maui is so cool and beautiful. I miss you guys so much and love you guys somuch. Cant wait to see you soon!
Ann Lanier: Hey mom and dad, I love maui sooo much! It is so pretty and the views are incredible. I havemet some of the best people and they are so sweet. I have loved all of the activities we have done so far.Keep taking care of the dogs for me. Also I lost my camera but dont worry i am taking plenty of photos onmy friends cameras. I miss you so much and can’t wait to see you soon, and hopefully I will be tan. Loveyall so much!!
Vivi: Hi mom, dad, amelia, max and winnie!! I love Maui so much and have made the best friends. We arehaving the best time but miss yall a bunch! Love yall and see yall soon!!
Turner: hey mom and dad! I am having the best time! We have done so many cool activities and I can’t wait to tell you all about it! Love you!
Abigail: Hey family, having the best time in Maui is a blast. My group is very good, made lots of new friends and it’s soo pretty here. Love yall
Safe Arrival!
June 24, 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 post trip updates throughout the trip! 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
