Our first full day in Hawaii was jam-packed. We spent the morning at Greenwell Farm, a local coffee farm over 130 years old, and were shown around by an amazing tour guide, Chai, who gave us the full history of the coffee farm. In the afternoon we spent time at the Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park learning about the rich spiritual history of the island. 

Day 2 - April 17th

Our second day in Hawaii was a personal favorite. We started early in the morning with a trip to Punalu'u Beach, also known as Black Sands Beach. I'd never seen nor even imagined a beach with all black sand, so this was something very interesting to experience. After that, we drove over to Volcanoes National Park where we hiked to the crater of Kilauea Iki, an active volcano, and got to see the steam and even some lava from the volcano. From there we stopped in Hilo for lunch and got a chance to browse the farmer's markets and local shops. Before we returned home for the night, we stopped and had tacos for dinner while marveling at the beautiful sunset. 

Day 3 - April 18th

We spent all our time by the water on day 3 starting at Makalawena Beach where we spent about half of the day. This was one of the best weather days and that only enhanced the beauty of our time there. The water was a perfect temperature and unlike anything, I've experienced on the east coast. Following Makalawena Beach we boarded a catamaran and set sail on a 40-minute boat ride to Kealekekua Bay for deep-sea snorkeling. This was without a doubt one of the coolest (and scariest) things I've ever done. Getting to see all different kinds of creatures in their natural habitat was something I'll never forget. To cap the day off we ate dinner at Sammy Choys, a family-style restaurant, and got to watch another amazing sunset. 

Day 4+5 - April 19-20

Both day 4 and day 5 comprised our service project. Our task was to help strengthen the agricultural life at Hue Hue Ranch, a local farm in Kona. We did this by planting a mini forest with native trees and other plants to add to the plant at Hue Hue. On day 4 we spent most of our time getting acclimated with the ranch, playing some fun games, and tackling the beginning stages of the service project. For day 5 we spent all our time working on the service project. During one of our breaks, we got to hear from Michaela, an oral historian, who shared many stories about the history of Hawaii. Even though this day was physically tiring, I still had so much fun doing the project and knowing that our work would be extremely impactful. 

Day 6 - April 21

For our sixth and final day, we spent our time at Hapuna Beach enjoying the beautiful blue sky and clear water. After that we ventured around the Kona shopping village, buying all types of souvenirs and sweet treats. To cap it off, we all sat by the water to reflect on the amazing week and what we had learned throughout. I'm forever thankful to all the people who made this trip what it was. It was truly a life changing experience that I will never forget.