Hawaii Service

Awakened by the warm Hawaiian sun, your first full day will begin with a hearty breakfast. You’ll then board authentic outrigger canoes and grow closer as a team as you learn to paddle and communicate while navigating this traditional craft. Once you are on the water, you will paddle to a remote location and get some hands-on cultural experience learning about native crafts of Hawaii. These will make great souvenirs to bring back to the family! Your first full day together will be an eye-opening experience as you begin to familiarize yourself with your amazing group and the incredible islands of Hawaii.

The next day, your group will have the rare opportunity to snorkel alongside Manta Rays. The Kona Coast is a well known Manta Ray Feeding ground, where the Manta Rays flock after sundown to gather nutrients. The group will take a boat out to the feeding ground location, suit up in wetsuits to stay warm, and head out on the snorkel of their life. Manta Rays can have up to a 12 foot wingspan, and will be swimming and playing right below you!

Before kicking off your first service project, you will spend a day to explore Volcanoes National Park. While there, from a safe distance, of course, you’ll see a volcano erupt in person—a sight few are fortunate enough to witness. While in the park, you’ll pay a visit to Kilauea to see this natural phenomenon in action, and afterwards, you’ll have the extremely rare opportunity to tread on ground that’s actually younger than you are! Following your visit to the volcanoes, you and your group will take a hike to the esteemed Green Sand Beach, or Papakolea Beach.

The next three days will be about giving back to this beautiful place. Your group will work with the Kahalu’u Bay Education Center. Here, you will work with a local project to learn all about how the tourism industry is damaging the coral reefs of Hawaii. This project will empower each student to become an educated tourist and help to educate others on the beach about the risks to the reef, as well as ways they can help prevent damage. The students will work at Kahalu’u Bay, which is a heavily used as a recreation area due to its ease of access and high coral and fish diversity.

After a week of exploring the best of Hawaii’s Big Island, you and your group will say your goodbyes and fly together to the island of Oahu. Here, you will spend the rest of your adventure!

You will roll up your sleeves once again, this time giving back to the local Oahu communities for the next two days. First, you will explore the North Shore, famous for it’s surfing and snorkeling spots, and also the Lanikai Pill Box! Also known as the Kaiwa Ridge Trail, this hike is one of the most picturesque hikes of Oahu. It has incredible views of Lanikai beach along Oahu’s windward coast.

The next day, you will have the opportunity to volunteer with the Paepae o He’eia organization. Paepae o He’eia is a private non-profit organization dedicated to caring for He’eia Fishpond – an ancient Hawaiian fishpond located in The’eia Uli, Ko’olaupoko, O’ahu. Established in 2001 by a group of young Hawaiians, Paepae o He’eia works in partnership with landowner, Kamehameha Schools, to manage and maintain He’eia Fishpond for the community.

Your next day will be a mix of service work and surfing! The day’s project will have you working with locals in Malaekahana State park to help maintain and improve the diverse ecosystem of this area. You will help remove invasive species from the watershed area where the freshwater meets the saltwater. Seeing your immediate impact first-hand while having the opportunity to interact and work alongside local community members is an unforgettable experience. In the afternoon, you’ll hit the waves once more, practicing your skills for a fun-filled day along the Oahu coast!

The next day, you will work with one last incredible project – the Na Mea Kupono Taro Farm. The farm is a local, community-run sustainable agriculture project where you will help remove invasive species such as mangrove, hale koa, and other non-native plants. The Taro Patches are extremely important because they are able to provide a habitat for endangered species like the alae ula bird. In addition, kalo (taro) was once the main food staple of Native Hawaiians, and was grown all over the islands in hundreds of varieties. You will undoubtedly gain a new insight into Hawaiian history and culture through this experience!

Your final day on the island will be spend on the water, explore the area of Coconut Island. You will get the chance to sea kayak and snorkel, taking in the last full day of salty fresh Hawaiian air before heading home. For your group’s final night together, you will celebrate Hawaiian-style with a Luau! For your last day, you will wake up and fly back to Honolulu together. From there, you will say your goodbyes and reminisce about the accomplishments, memories, and lifelong friends made over this incredible adventure before heading home.