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Hawaii Community Service 20 Days
As breathtaking as Hawaii’s paradise might be, it faces its own environmental and economic challenges. On this student community service program in Hawaii, teens have the opportunity to make a difference through volunteer work with organizations like The Boys and Girls Club, Malama na Honu, and Eco Maui. You’ll also learn about Hawaiian culture and gain an appreciation of the Hawaiian people and their way of life. This Hawaii student tour uses a service-learning framework where our staff provide guidance and reflection on the impact of the work we do throughout the program and promote the value of empathy and cultural sensitivity. Beautiful weather, beaches, and scenery along with some radical surfing are just a huge bonus on this community service program. By the time of your final banquet dinner, you will be a close-knit ohana and wishing you could prolong your stay to help even more!
The perfect balance of meaningful service projects and unforgettable adventures.
Participants must be age 14 or older by the start of this program.
A letter of completion detailing the program's service hours and projects will be issued after the program.
Your service hours are eligible toward the President's Volunteer Service Award.
Everybody participates together in each project. Specific projects are confirmed in late spring and are similar to those described.
Hotels.
Includes breakfast and dinner daily, plus 12 lunches.
Includes all recreation & activities listed.
Travel in passenger vans driven by our staff.
Up to 24 participants.
Spend a day learning about marine ecosystems and coral ecology. Have fun getting into the ocean to do your part to help the reefs heal and ensure a healthy marine ecosystem for the future. Then head inland to the Honokowai Valley to visit one of the richest archeological sites of the Hawaiian people. Here you will help maintain the sites to keep them clean of invasive species. You'll also learn about Hawaiian medicinal plants and applications, and assist with their primary goal to reforest the Honokowai Valley with native and endemic Hawaiian plant species.
About Maui Cultural Lands
Maui Cultural Lands is a non-profit grassroots land trust organization. Their mission is to stabilize, protect, and restore Hawaiian cultural resources, and is founded on the principles of traditional Hawaiian values.
Did you know that 90% of Hawaii’s plant and animal species aren’t found anywhere else on Earth? We learn from our expert guide about environmental stewardship – to lessen our impact on the delicate environment of Maui and other fragile ecosystems. Be part of local preservation projects allowing you to give back to your host island. Past groups have planted taro in the ‘Iao Valley, restored ruins of coastal lands dating back a thousand years, built barriers and boardwalks to protect vulnerable land from human devastation, and cleared invasive plants at environmental restoration sites.
About ECO Maui
ECO Maui’s mission seeks to foster awareness, appreciation, understanding, and stewardship of Hawaii’s environment by educating with an interactive and immersive approach.
You will have the opportunity to use your creativity to either plan and implement day camp activities for these children or help paint and beautify the clubhouse. Regardless of which volunteer project the club is in need of, you will serve as a role model for youth who come to the center for guidance and recreation.
About the Boys and Girls Club
Also known as “The Positive Place for Kids,” the Boys & Girls Club is dedicated to helping and inspiring Hawaii’s youth to become responsible citizens. They provide a safe environment for guidance-oriented programs in character development, education, technology, health and life skills, the arts, sports, fitness, and recreation. Each year, the Club provides service to over 10,000 children, many of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Participants will engage in an educational program focused on the anatomy, history, and the importance of the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles. Working alongside Malama na Honu staff, trip members will offer educational outreach and public awareness to residents and visitors. Trip members will also be engaged in hands-on work to maintain clean beaches and communicate the importance of wildlife conservation to the community.
About Malama na Honu
Malama na Honu is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting Hawaiian sea turtles through education, public awareness and conservation, all in the Spirit of Aloha. They are focused on protecting this threatened species and spreading the word to the public on the continuing need for preservation efforts.
Participants will have the opportunity to help care for animals by washing out food and water bowls, cutting banana leaves, brushing cats, weeding, raking, and cleaning out small animal enclosures. Through interactions with the animals, participants can learn leadership skills, trust, empathy, and kindness.
About Leilani Farm Sanctuary
Leilani Farm Sanctuary is a farm paradise for animals who have been orphaned or rescued from mistreatment. Their goal is to focus on humane education. Their programs provide volunteers with a one-of-a-kind, hands-on experience.
Master the waves on the beaches of Kihei, Maui. Professional instructors will have you up and surfing with confidence in no time! Soar through the island's lush tropical landscape on a zipline. Learn to make your own grass lei and dance your way through a traditional Hula lesson. Sail and snorkel among 250 species of tropical fish, most of which can only be found in the Hawaiian waters!
This cosmopolitan city is an adventurer’s dream! Hike Diamond Head, one of the most famous volcanic craters in the world; 99 steps and a 225-foot tunnel will bring you to breathtaking views of the entire west side of Oahu. Take a thrilling ride on the original Hawaiian rollercoaster with outrigger canoeing. Spend an afternoon at Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve snorkeling the pristine ecosystem. At the Pearl Harbor Visitors Center, pay tribute to those lives lost at the Remembrance Circle and learn about an important time in US history through the interpretive exhibitions and displays.
Maui, Hawaii
Situated on the shores of picturesque Kahului Bay, the Maui Seaside Hotel is just minutes from Kahului the beach. Enjoy the ‘island style’ room decorations and chill at the pool with new friends in your free time.
O'ahu, Hawaii
The Holiday Inn Express is located just three blocks to Waikiki beach and a short distance to our community service partners, restaurants and activities. Amenities include a hot breakfast buffet, free Wi-Fi, and an outdoor pool as well as a fitness center.
Flight to Maui, Hawaii
For participants on this program, we help you coordinate your flight times and greet you upon arrival in Maui.
Internal Flight
Separate from the airfare to and from this program, there is an additional $165 USD fee for an internal flight from Maui to O’ahu.
Return Flight Home from O’ahu, Hawaii
For your return flight from O’ahu, our leaders help you to check-in and remain at the airport until flights at designated times have departed. Depending on the number of students from the New York area we may offer a chaperoned flight home.
Where We Stay
We carefully select clean and comfortable accommodations with the needs of our students in mind. While our volunteer programs do not stay at luxury resorts, we do know that a good night’s rest, in your own bed, is key to performing your service hours well and having enough energy to enjoy the day’s activities. For this reason, and also to maintain the close group bond and to uphold the quality of this program, we do not offer any homestays.
Meals
We are proud of the fact that year after year we are complimented for our quality and quantity of food and variety of options. On this program in Hawaii, breakfasts are at restaurants (either the hotel’s or out) and lunches and dinners are out at restaurants.
We have satisfied the choosiest of eaters and gladly accommodate most special dietary requests including vegetarian, anaphylactic food allergies, lactose intolerance, celiac disease, and kosher style. We welcome discussing your individual requirements with you and have extensive experience in this area.
Laundry
You will only need to bring one week’s worth of clothing as outlined in the packing list that will be sent to you prior to departure. We visit local laundromats weekly and we will supply the detergent and dryer sheets. Don’t worry if you’ve never done laundry before, we’ll show you the ropes. Parents, we know the thought of your children doing laundry is making you smile!
What’s Included
Included in your program tuition is all lodging, breakfast and dinner daily, 12 lunches, recreation & entertainment listed, airport transfers in designated times, gratuities & taxes.
Not included is transportation to and from the program, internal flights, and personal spending money for snacks, souvenirs, and laundry. We also make available optional travel insurance that is not included, but highly recommended.
Please contact us with any questions. We are happy to hear from you!
What if I need to contact my teen during the program?
Participants may bring their cell phones so parents may call and message their kids directly. You may also contact our Communication Centers which serve as the official link between programs on the road and parents. We are staffed every day during the summer and have somebody on call for after hours emergencies ready to assist you 24/7.
Who are the staff and what are their qualifications?
Our staff are educators, guidance counselors, coaches, college and university students, former camp counselors, residence life coordinators, community volunteers, world travelers, and other leaders with diverse backgrounds. Many are former participants themselves who couldn’t get enough of the Westcoast experience! Learn more about our summer leaders.
How are roommates assigned?
Giving everyone a chance to make new friends creates a cohesive group and the warmest and most welcoming social environments in our industry!
On our Active Teen Tours, Global Adventures and Community Service programs, rooming rotation is as follows:
To promote this we’ve found the best system is for the Program Director to assign the rooms for the first and second stops. For the first stop, independent travelers room with other independent travelers and any friends who enrolled can room together. All participants will be assigned a different roommate for the second stop. After the first two stops, choice of roommates is always up to you!
On our Pre-College Enrichment programs & Career Experiences, rooming is as follows:
We assign independent travelers with another independent traveler for the duration of your stay. Any friends who enrolled together can room together.
Important notes:
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