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Leis, Swells, & Mauna Kea: Notes from Hawai’i

Middle school Service Hawaiʻi leaders share highlights from a day of cultural discovery, sea turtle sightings, and a sunset atop Mauna Kea as students prepare for the next chapter of their adventure.

Today we ate breakfast at Ken’s House of Pancakes. Some of our students tried the loco moco. We also had a morning lei-making class where students not only made their own leis but also learned about the history of the lei and the ti leaves.

We then checked out a local beach and saw a bunch of sea turtles. Students were able to swim in the lagoon near the beach while Tropical Storm Fausto was sending some swell into the area.

We gave the students a little free time to explore and shop in Hilo before taking them for the drive up to the Visitors Information Station at Mauna Kea (at 9200 feet) to have dinner with the sunset and then check out the beautiful night’s sky.

Now our wonderful group of students are enjoying their last night in Hilo before our departure tomorrow for Volcanoes National Park. It’s been remarkable seeing these students grow, work together, and build meaningful friendships. We’re so excited to see how they embrace the experiences and service ahead during the rest of our program.

Onward!

—Graham & Annabelle

To learn more about our middle school Service Hawai’i program, click here!

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Leis, Swells, & Mauna Kea: Notes from Hawai’i
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