WOW, it’s with immense sorrow that I give to you our final program blog! Aloha, families, and Aloha. The theme for this week was undeniably full circle, this began with the name of our final accommodation: Full Circle Farm!
Our first day we spent in Honolulu, mostly in Waikiki, while some foraged for deals in several thrift shops. We went to sleep early to get ready for our next adventure, lead by our host, Travis. He took us to a gorgeous botanical garden filled with many endemic and native plants, as well as having a section for several exotic plants INSIDE Koko Crater ( a 1.6-mile out-and-back trail), a dip in a coastal bay, a hike to a lighthouse, and we ended the day by swimming at a secluded beach.
We then went to another pillbox hike and it was grueling but immensely rewarding when we reached the gorgeous summit! Afterword, we took a swim at Sunset Beach then had a scrumptious meal at some of the food trucks, and watched the sunset at the ethereal Sharks Cove dipping and diving in gorgeous tide pools. We were disappointed that no sharks joined us.
The next day was a half day and some went to the Battleship Missouri Memorial while the rest went to the beach. We then returned to Full Circle for a half day of work involving hopes, dreams, flowers, and chickens. The following day we braved Koko Crater, climbing the roughly 1,200 steps to the top! It was all downhill from there as we were told about the soon to be dire lack of topsoil. We were pleased to learn about all the measures Full Circle Farm is taking to help. We also enjoyed ample quality time at the campsite, playing cards, talking, reading, and just savoring the time we have left.
Finally our last day, we went surfing and spent time in Waikiki, and we then enjoyed an epic final feast at Sky Waikiki looking out over O’ahu and reminiscing on a truly unforgettable gap semester. We are all sad that such a amazing and impactful program is over! We are all happy to return to you all, our families. And we are all excited to see each other again in the future!
