Archive for the 'HS' Category

Hello HS 2 families!

Lisa called in to check and give an update on how their second week in Hawaii has been going – it sounds like they’ve had some amazing experiences and have worked really hard with their volunteer projects in the last week!

At the end of last week, they wrapped up their first week in Honolulu by volunteering at the Hawaii Nature Center.  Pauline, the volunteer coordinator there, is amazing and was so appreciative of the help our group offered.  They spent the morning removing invasive vines from the grounds and clearing out a beautiful stream.  They followed up volunteering at the Nature Center with a trip to Hanauma Bay, one of the best places to snorkel in Oahu, where they saw many humuhumunukunukuapua’a fish – also known as the Picasso trigger fish, the state fish of Hawaii!

The group shifted gears later this week and headed up to the North Shore.  They spent a few mornings volunteering with Adopt a Beach Hawaii and helping with beach cleanups as well as clearing trails and doing some gardening at the Waimea Valley Nature Preserve.    The  group has been really into wiffle ball and playing Lisa’s ukulele – so much so that several students bought mini ukuleles themselves and have been learning how to play songs!  They also learned how to make their own leis with beautiful white, pink and peach-colored Plumeria flowers.

Sea kayaking was awesome!  They kayaked out to Popoia Island and then over to Lanikai Beach where they pulled their kayaks ashore and went for a swim.   It was the perfect activity after a hard week of volunteering!  They’ll return back to Honolulu next week and finish up with a week of volunteering at the Lyon Arboretum and in the Honolulu Botanical Gardens.

Check back after the trip is over and see pictures from Dylan and Lisa’s trip!  We’ll post them on our SmugMug photo website.

-Liz

Aloha from beautiful Hawaii!

Lisa and Dylan checked in earlier this week to give an update on how our HS 2 group is doing.  The group has had an awesome first few days on Oahu!   They arrived in Honolulu to warm sunny weather and on the drive to the hostel they saw a full rainbow!

They’ve started their work with Honolulu’s urban botanical gardens, helping clear brush and maintain the garden.   They also got an incredible tour of the largest orchid garden in Hawaii.   In the afternoons they’ve been  getting outside and exploring the greater Honoulu area – they group went swimming and boogie boarding at Waikiki beach one afternoon before exploring the stores in town on Kalakaua Avenue.  They also hiked Diamond Head and got a bird’s eye view of the island where they’ll spend the next three weeks.   A favorite meal from the cook crew this week was tortellini with pesto and salad and they’ve had some great dessert circles where the group reflected on the beauty of Hawaii’s natural environment and culture.  Overall, it has been a great first few days!  Check back next Saturday to get an update on how their second week on the North Shore is going!

-Liz

Hello HS 1 families!

Dylan and Lisa checked in yesterday with an awesome update on their group!  I’ve been so impressed to hear how invested the students are in their volunteer projects and how much of Oahu they’ve explored.  It’s exciting to see a group take full advantage of the opportunities they have.

This week was highlighted by four different volunteer projects:  first, the group volunteered with Project Hawaii, an organization that raises money for homeless children in Hawaii.  In just two days our students raised $2,500 that will purchase school supplies for homeless children in Oahu!   Next the group jumped into a few different environmental projects – they spent a day at the Hawaii Nature Center digging out an overgrown stream covered in large weeds and as a result of their efforts, school groups who visit the center will be able to learn about Hawaii’s eco-systems and monitor the various fish that frequent the stream.  Next they did a beach clean up on the North Shore of Oahu, where they collected trash off of some of the world’s most spectacular beaches.  Finally, they spent four days working at the Lyon Arboretum, where the group has removed invasive species and helping to maintain the beautiful arboretum – located in the middle of a stunning rainforest outside of Honolulu!

After finishing up their volunteer projects, the group’s highlights from the week included snorkeling at Hanauma Bay, which Lisa described as “crystal clear and captivating”.  They swam amongst beautiful tropical fish, including the Picasso trigger fish, Hawaii’s state fish, and saw two rare sea turtles, roaming in their natural habitat!   The group explored Chinatown one afternoon and Dylan and Lisa treated the group to a special meal cooked by the leaders, with only ingredients purchased that day in Chinatown and spent another afternoon making leis from beautiful pink, yellow, and white plumeria flowers.  On the 4th of July, the group did a cookout on a beach and then jumped into the ocean at sunset together to watch the fireworks as a group.

Lisa says the students are all getting along “SO well”.   She and Dylan are really enjoying hearing each student’s individual perspective on the trip and the volunteer work – she says they’re just a fantastic crew!   The group is “super excited” to do their sea kayaking trip at Kailua Bay and then spend the final week of the program on the North Shore of Oahu, before they head home next Friday.  They’ll fill you in on the rest of the trip when they come home!

-Liz

Hello HS 1 families!

Dylan and Lisa called in this week with an update for our group in Oahu and so far is sounds like the group is loving their time in Hawaii!  The group wrote their blog post, so here’s what they had to say:

“HS 1 has had an exciting first week!  The scenery and weather in Hawaii has exceeded our expectations and even when brief rain showers come in during the afternoons, they’re always followed by bright sunshine and rainbows (we’ve already seen three!).  For the group’s first service project, we’ve been working in Honolulu’s urban botanical gardens.  These isolated patches of nature provide important green space and respite for Honolulu’s people and animals.  At Queen Lili’uokalani Botanical Garden, we spent time clearing out the stream where the former queen of Hawaii once swam.  Everyone was shocked when we found everything from candy wrappers to rusty hub cabs to an entire sofa in the stream.  The group has been doing an awesome job cleaning up!  Earlier this week, the group visited the Pearl Harbor Memorial where the students were able to see history come to life.  Though it was a sombering experience, it was amazing to watch what they’ve learned in textbooks come to life.   Last night, the cook crew made breakfast for dinner – eggs, pancakes, bacon and fruit, topped off with chocolate cake for dessert!  The group can’t wait to raise money later this week for Project Hawaii, an organization dedicated to helping the homeless children of Hawaii.  We’re also looking forward to our sea kayaking trip in Kailua Bay next weekend!”

When I spoke with Dylan and Lisa they also relayed highlights from the group’s afternoon experiences:  a visit to the famous Waikiki Beach and a trip to Hanauma Bay where they snorkeled in close proximity to sea turtles were standout moments from the week!   The group seems to be gelling nicely after a week together and both Dylan and Lisa were pleased to report that everyone  is getting along and enjoying one another’s company.  Check back next Saturday, July 9 for another update from the HS 1 group.

-Liz