Expedition Itinerary (Price includes round-trip airfare – Call us to discuss pricing details)
Day 1 - Day 2
Staff will greet new students upon arrival to the islands. From the airport we will head to our beach side campsite and enjoy our first meal as group. As students settle in to their new environment, we will check every ones gear and have students call home to confirm their safe arrival. The first evening will be spent getting to know each other, going over trip rules and expectations, becoming familiar with camp equipment and watching the stars by the campfire. On the second morning we will be taking our First Aid Certification course and continue learning camp systems. We will also have our students pick their team responsibilities for the expedition and take time for each group to get familiar with the camp system they will be caring for.
Day 3 - Day 5
From our campsite in Kona, we will head south and explore the coffee fields of south Kona, snorkel the bays of Kealakekua & Honaunau, learn about the history of the land and archaeological sites from native practitioners, hike ancient trails, and summit Mauna Kea. As we establish base camps along the way, our students are learning the skills necessary to ensure out team's safety in the wilderness and forging the bond necessary for a proper wilderness adventure.
Day 6 - Day 15
Now we take what we have learned on our journey and embark on our wilderness component. One of our favorite expeditions takes us into Waimanu Valley, on the eastern side of the Big Island. Support staff will meet us at the end of the road and transport us to our base camp in Waipio Valley. We will spend the day learning the history of the valleys, exploring Waipio and making sure every ones equipment is ready for our hike to Waimanu. The valley is only accessible by hiking the Muliwai Trail which starts in Waipio Valley and zigzags along the coast for nine miles. We leave at sunrise on the seventh morning and take our time appreciating the natural beauty the trail offers. Safety is our priority and we take our time while we hike, our target for the first day is to cover 4.5 miles, taking into account each student's comfort and ability. On the eighth morning we complete our hike into Waimanu valley, establish base camp and the team breaks into groups with specific camp responsibilities. Our days in the valley are spent mapping the terrain, exploring the waterfalls, gathering wild fruits, fishing, and learning a variety of wilderness survival skills. On the fifteenth morning we will begin our hike out of the valley and again gauge the distance we cover by the speed of our slowest student. Our aim is to cover 4.5 miles and set up camp, just as we did when we hiked in. However, if the group is really moving and everyone is feeling good, we will spend the day hiking to Waipio Valley and rest there for the evening. Every expedition is unique to each group's comfort & ability, with margins worked into our itinerary to accommodate the needs of all participants.
Day 16 - Departure
Here is where we take the community we have forged in the valleys & mountains to communities island wide. Depending on the needs of communities we work with during each expedition, we will participate in beach clean-ups, reforestation efforts, garden projects, and assist in the delivery of meals to our elders. Our evenings will be spent at campgrounds in the area we are working or at one of our base camps. We will gather with local community members and share the story of our adventures while working together to care for the land that has taught us so much in our time together. Our final evening will consist of a graduation ceremony, celebratory luau, and serve as a rite of passage for our students.
Flights are arranged for morning departures on the day following the new moon and have been coordinated with parents/guardians during the application process to ensure proper scheduling. We set up a day camp at the site we first shared together and bring our experience full circle by working on a collage that will be saved digitally and shared with the group in the coming weeks.
There are several landing sites along the Muliwai Trail for emergency evacuation and local authorities are notified each time we venture into the valleys. Our staff is well versed in wilderness expeditions and each trip is accompanied by at least one wilderness EMT. Safety is our first priority and we take our time while we hike and the group moves as fast as the slowest member.
