Big Island, Hawaii

Rainforest, Lava Fields, Marine Life, & Hawaiian Culture

Itinerary Summary

Arrival Day: Fly from your departing city to Kona, Hawaii (Orientation, settle into the resort and watch the sunset)

Welcome to Hawaii! With your guides you travel from the airport to your accommodation and receive an orientation on what to expect while living on the Big Island of Hawaii for the week. Your lodging is located in Kona (on the western side of the Big Island) where you will be able to watch the sunsets over the Pacific Ocean every night. Students will be in shared single gender rooms. Lodging is also located near beaches, restaurants, and shops for ease of exploration.

King’s Trail Day: Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park (Ancient fish ponds, petroglyphs and sea turtles) and Makalawena Beach

One of King Kamehamehaʻs favorite fishponds became the beginning of a National Park. "Wahi pana" (a special, celebrated legendary place) was saved and protected due to the numerous natural and cultural resources by the dedicated cultural practitioners and local community members. This park tells the story of how the Hawaiian people "touched the spirit and felt its mana." The park is a cultural "kipuka" for Hawaiians, a place of cultural and spiritual significance. Exploring this park you will walk through lava fields with ancient petroglyphs, visit the natural fish ponds and learn about their historic use and enjoy watching green sea turtles eating and resting in the lava pools along the shoreline.

Spend the afternoon hiking on the King’s Trail through black lava fields to gain access to the oasis of Makalawena beach where remote palm tree lined shores and the most extensive sand dunes give way to the beautiful waters of the Pacific. Swimming at Makalawena Beach is great with typically calm waters with excellent snorkeling along the lava rock outcroppings running along the multiple coves. Makalawena Beach is part of Pu’u Ali’i Bay. This entire area is famous for its rich marine life. Here you will participate in beach and ocean safety workshops as well as learn how to snorkel.

Place of Refuge and Snorkeling Adventure Day: Pu'uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park and snorkeling Two-Step in Honaunau Bay

Imagine you had just broken the sacred laws, the kapu, and the only punishment was death. Your only chance of survival is to elude your pursuers and reach the Puʻuhonua, a place of refuge. The Puʻuhonua protected the kapu breaker, defeated warriors, as well as civilians during the time of battle. No physical harm could come to those who reached the boundaries of the Puʻuhonua.

Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau is an important Hawaiian ceremonial site bound on its southern and eastern sides by a massive L-shaped wall, known as the Pā Puʻuhonua (Great Wall), and on its northern and western sides by the ocean. In addition to the Great Wall, within the Puʻuhonua are several important ceremonial structures including the Hale o Keawe, ʻĀleʻaleʻa Heiau, and the Ancient Heiau.

After exploring the Place of Refuge, you will enjoy the chance to snorkel at one of the Big Island’s best snorkeling bays. Two Step Beach is a snorkeler’s paradise with clear waters, green sea turtles, colorful fish and some of the island’s healthiest live coral. Two Step Beach is a Big Island snorkeling paradise.

Volcanoes National Park Adventure Day: Volcanoes National Park exploration, Punalu’u Bake Shop and coffee farm

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park protects some of the most unique geological, biological and cherished cultural landscapes in the world. Extending from sea level to 13,677 feet, the park encompasses the summits of two of the world's most active volcanoes - Kīlauea and Mauna Loa - and is a designated International Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Today you will start by visiting the infamous Punalu’u Bake shop where you’ll have an opportunity to purchase their delicious sweetbread and other Hawaiian flavor-infused bakery items. Next you will explore Volcanoes National Park hiking across a dormant volcanic crater and through a lava tube. You can fill your water bottle with rain water filtered through volcanic rock before learning about some of Hawaii’s cultural plants and legends. The day will be wrapped up with a stop at a coffee farm where you can sample Hawaiian coffee and choose to purchase locally grown macadamia nuts and flavored chocolates.

Hilo Exploration Day: Hilo, Waterfalls, Farmer’s Market, and Japanese gardens

Today you will venture over to the east (wet) side of the island and explore the village of Hilo. You will have the opportunity to walk though the largest farmer’s market on the island to shop for souvenirs and talk to the locals. Treat yourself to some local Hawaiian fruits and vegetables as well as their acai smoothie bowls. We will also stop at several gorgeous waterfalls in the area before wrapping up the day with a pizza party picnic in the Japanese gardens along the beaches of this east coast of the island.

Mauna Kea Myths and Legends Day: Petroglyph hike and Mauna Kea

The morning will be spent hiking through a lava field to access Hawaii’s largest site of ancient petroglyphs containing hundreds of carvings in one spot. The afternoon will be spent walking the streets of downtown Kona to buy any last minute souvenirs and then choose to participate in a Hu’uponopono meditation ceremony along the shores or watch a local school put on a hula dance. The evening will be spent star gazing into the milky way at 9,000 feet of elevation on Mauna Kea, Hawaii’s tallest volcano, while learning about the many myths and legends of Hawaiian culture.

Departure Day: Fly back home

After packing up you will spend your last day exploring Kona and relaxing at one of the many local gorgeous beaches before hopping on a plane back home. The flight is an overnight flight so while you take off on Thursday, you will arrive back home on Friday.

Program travel Costs: $2,500

What's Included: Program fee covers the following travel costs: lodging, supplies, food, local transportation, educational programs, and guides.

What is not included: airfare, souvenirs, extra personal snacks/beverages and travel insurance.

Teachers: One teacher goes free for every 10 students. Alternatively, that discount can be applied to the group total or offered as a scholarship to an underrepresented student.