Leak '22 Reflects on Service in Hawaii

We started the trip in Kona or “The Big Island.” While we were there, our service work included island conservation in the Waipi’o Valley and at a sugarcane plantation. During our time in Kona, we also spent a lot of time hiking in volcanic craters and rainforests. One of the group’s favorite things to do after our service work in the morning was to go to Hapuna Beach for a few hours where we could go cliff jumping and snorkeling. 

After about a week on Kona, we flew to Maui where we stayed for the last few days. In Maui, we stayed in tentalows on the beach and spent a lot of the time in the water. We went kayaking, snorkeling, surfing, and my favorite, swimming with manta rays. We also finished up our service work by planting and harvesting kava which is a plant native to the Pacific Islands. 

Overall, this one was one of my favorite trips because I got to try so many things for the first time, like cliff jumping and hiking across volcanoes. It was also an amazing experience because I got to learn about the history and culture of Hawaii through my service leaders who were from the island. Lastly, I made so many friends from all over the world who were also experiencing Hawaii for the first time with me.