Hawaii Teen Trip Overview
Join us on a teen trip to Hawaii this summer and discover all four of the main Hawaiian Islands! Experience bustling and vibrant Oahu, enjoy meaningful service projects in beautiful Maui, relax and discover the dramatic landscape of lush Kauai, and explore active volcanoes on the Big Island on this once in a lifetime Hawaii teen tour!
Our time on the islands will involve plenty of exploration and adventure with a variety of service projects mixed in, including working with animals, children, and marine life.
In Maui, help with sea turtle conservation, one of the most important issues facing Hawaiian ecosystems. You’ll spend time up close and personal with turtle patients–cleaning and bandaging wounds, taking fluids, massaging their fins, and monitoring their way back to release.
On the Big Island, experience hands-on learning while working closely with marine biologists on important projects all focused on the ocean. Snorkel, survey reefs, collect ocean data and become educated about reef ecology.
Plenty of adventure will complement our service projects. Swim in secret waterfalls, sail alongside pods of dolphins, hike through lava tubes, snorkel with giant manta rays, take a surf lesson and much more on this incredible journey to discover the best of Hawaii!
Related: Top 10 Reasons to Visit Hawaii
During this program, you will…
- Earn up to 30 hours of community service
- Work up close with injured sea turtle patients
- Visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and hike through a lava tube
- Snorkel with manta rays at night
- Kayak and hike to a secret waterfall and reward yourself with a refreshing swim
- Enjoy a scenic ride as you cruise on a catamaran along the world-famous Napali Coast and watch hundreds of dolphins as they swim alongside you
- Learn about reef ecology and become a certified reef teacher
- Discover and explore Waimea Canyon, also known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific
- Scuba dive in the incredible waters around Oahu*
- Catch the sunrise from the top of Haleakala Volcano and take a nature tour down through the clouds*
- Learn to surf on the famous shores of Waikiki Beach
- Try your hand at sea kayaking
- Learn to hula and enjoy a traditional Hawaiian feast at an authentic Hawaiian luau
- Capture a once-in-a-lifetime sunset from the summit of sacred Mauna Kea*
- Learn about island sustainability on a local coffee and tea farm
- Take a step back in time and visit the Pearl Harbor Memorial
- Hike through lava tunnels to the top of Diamond Head Crater for stunning coastal views
*This is an optional add-on
Trip Itinerary
DAY 1: DEPART FROM LOS ANGELES (LAX)
DAYS 1-5: HONOLULU > PEARL HARBOR > WAIKIKI, OAHU
Oahu is the perfect island for a little bit of adventure! We will take a surf lesson on the famous shores of Waikiki with professional instructors who will have you riding waves in no time. Our hotel is just steps away from the beach, so we will have plenty of time to relax, swim, and enjoy some quality time in the summer sun! For a truly unique experience, we’ll hike through a lava tunnel to the top of Diamond Head Crater for breathtaking views of the island, as well as visit the breathtaking Manoa Falls.
No visit to Oahu would be complete without a journey to the past in order to pay respects at the USS Arizona Memorial and Pearl Harbor Memorials. Accessible only by boat, this memorial is one of several sites in Hawaii commemorating the attack on Pearl Harbor and honoring those who lost their lives as well as the few remaining survivors.
An optional activity of scuba diving gives you the chance to explore the bustling, vibrant underwater world!
DAYS 5-8: KAUAI
Kauai is often considered the most beautiful of the Hawaiian Islands. Known as the Garden Island for its lush vegetation, this island is home to thousands of waterfalls, pristine beaches, an abundance of marine life, and the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific,” Waimea Canyon. During our time here we will explore everything this island has to offer and discover why it is often compared to Jurassic Park!
We’ll enjoy sailing on a catamaran to swim and snorkel along the Napali Coast, one of the world’s most beautiful coastlines. The dramatic cliffs jutting out of the turquoise water, scattered with waterfalls and caves, is something you will never forget! Pods of dolphins are guaranteed to accompany you as you gaze across this stunning coast.
We will also take a trip through Waimea Canyon, where we will stop at the best lookout spots for photo opportunities and to admire the breathtaking views.
Kauai is a perfect island for adventures, so we will paddle kayaks down a peaceful river to enjoy the views before hiking through the jungle to a secret waterfall where we can enjoy a refreshing swim. We will glide through the lush jungle and wide valleys on an endorphin-fueling ziplining tour!
DAYS 8-16: MAUI
Maui is truly a Hawaiian paradise with pristine white sand beaches, colorful coral reefs, lush vegetation, and turquoise ocean. Our hotel is right across the street from some of the best beaches on the island! We can hop over any time we like for beach volleyball, relaxation, and a refreshing swim.
While on Maui, we’ll work with a local ecology organization to learn about sea turtle conservation! We partner with a local organization dedicated to protecting and researching this endangered species. At the Center, we will work first-hand with injured turtle patients–tending to wounds, taking fluids, and whatever else these gentle friends need on their road to recovery. We will also address the global trash crisis that is polluting our oceans. Throughout our years of volunteering in Hawaii, TFT groups alone have cleared over 2,000 pounds of garbage from Maui’s delicate shores!
Our service work will be complemented with plenty of fun activities, including snorkeling, ziplining through the jungle, and hiking.
There will also be an optional excursion to catch the sunrise from the top of Haleakala Volcano and take a nature tour down through the clouds. For those who don’t feel comfortable biking, don’t worry, there is the option to ride down in a vehicle too.
DAYS 16-21: KONA
Our last stop on our Hawaiian journey is the Big Island! This island has an abundance of healthy coral, exotic marine life, and plenty of sea turtles! We will participate in a hands-on service project working closely with marine biologists for three days and at the end of our project, we will be certified reef instructors! We’ll snorkel, collect ocean data, survey reefs, and educate others about Hawaii’s marine life.
We’ll have plenty of adventures on the Big Island! Take a day trip to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to wander through lava tubes and hike the rim of an active volcano. We’ll spend an early morning and afternoon cruising on a boat and spotting dolphin pods and even snorkel at night with giant manta rays. We’ll spend a morning on the beautiful slopes of the active Hualālai volcano on the sacred land of a local Hawaiian family for a truly unique cultural experience.
We will have the option to take a journey to the top of 13,000-foot Mauna Kea to watch the sunset and experience incredible stargazing in some of the clearest night skies on earth! You’ll also go horseback riding in the lush Waipio Valley, visit a monk seal hospital and an octopus farm that researches and cares for these intelligent creatures.
Our time in Hawaii will be topped off with an authentic Hawaiian luau, complete with amazing performances and delicious food! We’ll celebrate the past three weeks and reminisce about our incredible adventures under the Hawaiian sun.
DAYS 21: RETURN FLIGHT TO LOS ANGELES (LAX)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where do we stay?
Students stay in centrally located, safe, and well-supervised accommodations in each city.
They are well suited to facilitating group supervision and usually within walking distance of the main attractions. We do not use large, impersonal chain hotels on the outskirts of cities; we prefer to select smaller, family-run hotels where we establish personal relationships with the owners.
In Oahu, we stay at a great hotel right in the center of vibrant Waikiki that is walking distance to all of the shops, restaurants, and best of all, just a few blocks from Waikiki Beach! In Maui, we stay at a centralized hotel next to the beach. In Kauai, our hotel is in the charming local town Kapaa, also right on the beach. There is a boardwalk we can bike along as well as plenty of boutique shops and restaurants to explore. On the Big Island, we stay at an amenity-packed hotel in Kona. The location is right next to a small bay, perfect for swimming, stand-up paddleboarding, and right in the heart of Kona’s many shops. There are swimming pools at all four of our hotels, perfect for cooling off after a fun day spent under the sun!
For safety reasons, we do not publish the names of the accommodations we use. We do not feel it is safe to publish the name of a hotel where a group of teenagers is staying abroad. After registering, participants and parents are given access to our secure parent website where you will be able to see the names of all of the accommodations for the program.
Students stay in centrally located, safe, and well-supervised accommodations in each city.
They are well suited to facilitating group supervision and usually within walking distance of the main attractions. We do not use large, impersonal chain hotels on the outskirts of cities; we prefer to select smaller, family-run hotels where we establish personal relationships with the owners.
In Oahu, we stay at a great hotel right in the center of vibrant Waikiki that is walking distance to all of the shops, restaurants, and best of all, just a few blocks from Waikiki Beach! In Maui, we stay at a centralized hotel next to the beach. In Kauai, our hotel is in the charming local town Kapaa, also right on the beach. There is a boardwalk we can bike along as well as plenty of boutique shops and restaurants to explore. On the Big Island, we stay at an amenity-packed hotel in Kona. The location is right next to a small bay, perfect for swimming, stand-up paddleboarding, and right in the heart of Kona’s many shops. There are swimming pools at all four of our hotels, perfect for cooling off after a fun day spent under the sun!
For safety reasons, we do not publish the names of the accommodations we use. We do not feel it is safe to publish the name of a hotel where a group of teenagers is staying abroad. After registering, participants and parents are given access to our secure parent website where you will be able to see the names of all of the accommodations for the program.
What is unique about the Hawaii Island Hopping Adventure & Service?
Hawaii Island Hopping Adventure & Service provides a variety of meaningful service projects and thrilling adventures across four incredible Hawaiian islands.
Having a wide variety of service projects allows students to explore different types of service and gain a deeper connection with Hawaiian culture. Working with animals, children, marine life, and coral reef is the perfect way for students to discover the many ways they can give back to the beautiful state of Hawaii.
Hawaii Island Hopping Adventure & Service provides a variety of meaningful service projects and thrilling adventures across four incredible Hawaiian islands.
Having a wide variety of service projects allows students to explore different types of service and gain a deeper connection with Hawaiian culture. Working with animals, children, marine life, and coral reef is the perfect way for students to discover the many ways they can give back to the beautiful state of Hawaii.
What is included on the Hawaii Island Hopping Adventure & Service
Tuition cost includes: ground transportation; accommodation; chaperones and guides; program-related activities and admissions; taxes and tips; all breakfasts and dinners.
Not included in cost (this is not intended to be an exhaustive list): airfare; lunches; visas and visa application fees; personal and medical expenses; activities and admissions that are not program-related or referenced in the itinerary; optional excursions, beverages other than filtered water at meals; participant expenses that are outside of the program description, such as excess baggage fees and damage to hotels; expenses related to unforeseen circumstances, such as transportation strikes and natural disasters.
Tuition cost includes: ground transportation; accommodation; chaperones and guides; program-related activities and admissions; taxes and tips; all breakfasts and dinners.
Not included in cost (this is not intended to be an exhaustive list): airfare; lunches; visas and visa application fees; personal and medical expenses; activities and admissions that are not program-related or referenced in the itinerary; optional excursions, beverages other than filtered water at meals; participant expenses that are outside of the program description, such as excess baggage fees and damage to hotels; expenses related to unforeseen circumstances, such as transportation strikes and natural disasters.
What is the food like on this program?
The food on this program is authentic, delicious, and a central part of the cultural travel experience.
We prioritize eating at local, authentic establishments rather than Americanized chains, encouraging students to sample the local specialties wherever we go. We fully accommodate all dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten allergies, and other restrictions.
The food in Hawaii involves plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, and of course, seafood! Some typical foods we will have the chance to try are poke bowls, acai bowls, poi, and breadfruit.
The food on this program is authentic, delicious, and a central part of the cultural travel experience.
We prioritize eating at local, authentic establishments rather than Americanized chains, encouraging students to sample the local specialties wherever we go. We fully accommodate all dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten allergies, and other restrictions.
The food in Hawaii involves plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, and of course, seafood! Some typical foods we will have the chance to try are poke bowls, acai bowls, poi, and breadfruit.