Surf, Snorkel, and Service in Hawaii

Arrive at Kona International Airport (KOA), where you’ll be greeted by your Rustic Pathways Program Leaders. Head to the ranch and settle in, relaxing after your long flight. Your new home on the slopes of Hualalai above Kailua-Kona is our base for the week. Join the group for an orientation discussion about the week ahead, expectations for your adventure, and an introduction to the local culture.

Kick off your first island morning by getting hands-on in the garden and learning about food and farming on the islands. Then we head down to the rugged Kona coast to enjoy the crystal clear water and warm sand. We have snorkel gear you can try out to explore the underwater scenery. In the evening, we talk with our hosts about their work on the farm and learn more about how our service work in the coming days will deepen our connection with our food.

Bright and early we’ll hit the trails to hike on an ancient cinder cone above the Kona Coast. The sun, breeze, and epic views make it all worth the work. When we return to the ranch in the afternoon, get a quick intro to lei-making and then we meet a local historian who will share stories of the rich history of the Hawaiian people. Enjoy a sunset down at the beach to close out a magical day!

Today is a big day! We spend the morning working in the garden at the ranch and getting our hands dirty. In the afternoon, we relax over tea with our ranch hosts to learn about their island life. Later in the day, we’ll head up the slopes of Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano with a peak above 13,000 feet. We bring dinner with us and watch the sunset and the stars come up.

Today is our chance to connect with the rhythm of the ocean. You’ll spend half the day in the waves with an expert instructor. Then enjoy a picnic lunch on the beach with all your new friends. The other half of the day is spent playing on the beach and in the waves. In the evening we’ll come together to reflect on the experience so far and face the coming days with intentionality.

We’re back on the water this morning. We’ll board a catamaran for a snorkel adventure along the Kona coast. We’ll stop off in some of the best places to explore undersea life. We’ll stop off in the busy town of Kailua-Kona on our way home to enjoy the funky atmosphere of this coastal town.

We take off to the furthest northern point of the Big Island, the town of Hawi. We’ll get our hands dirty at a larger organic farm. In the afternoon, we make our final visit to the beach. Soak up the warm water and sunlight while you prepare for your final night as a group of travelers. We end the day with a bonfire and building our own pizzas. During their closing discussion, groups participate in Rustic Ties, a unique and powerful activity that allows students to capture the memories and learning moments of their program to process and share with their communities back home.

It will feel like only yesterday that you arrived, but today we close out an action-packed week of island life with goodbyes.

Pack your bags and say one final Aloha to your group and program leaders before leaving Hawaii.