Program Start and Orientation

After arriving in O’ahu, our semester kicks off with an orientation to ARCC customs and Hawaiian culture. Dive headfirst into history, language, and all the pineapple you can eat. The Hawaiian archipelago consists of 137 islands spread over 1,500 miles. Each island’s unique climate and topography makes this island-state an ecologist’s dream come true. We get a glimpse of the incredible diversity on three islands – O’ahu, Kauai, and the Big Island of Hawaii. In our first days on O’ahu, we begin our study of the Hawaiian language and learn about the important role of its Polynesian beginnings. We also map out our itinerary and set individual and group goals for the program. We introduce our curriculum and brainstorm ideas for our individual Capstone Passion Projects while coming together as a traveling community.

Watershed Preservation Project and O’ahu Exploration

Our first project is with a local NGO that has brought together public and private landowners who want to preserve and maintain the beautiful native forests that protect watersheds in the Ko’olau Mountains. Years of misuse have changed the landscape and the watershed, so we work to restore the native forest, removing invasive plant species, and building barriers to keep out domesticated animals that threaten the delicate ecosystem. We meet and speak with staff members to see the inner workings of an organization like this, and learn about the importance of watershed conservation.

It isn’t all work on O’ahu. We spend our free days and warm evenings hiking through lush tropical forests and exploring beaches, mountains, and barbecue stands. Learning to surf on the North Shore, we start to get a sense for island time, and we’ll be hanging ten, Hawaii style, before we know it. We visit the Pearl Harbor National Memorial to learn more about the pivotal moment that brought the United States into WWII, and get a sense for Hawaii’s identity as one of the newest, and only island of the United States.

Travel to Kauai and SCUBA Certification

We say goodbye to O’ahu and catch a quick flight north to Kauai. We spend a few days in Lihue becoming oriented to this new island and continuing our study of the Hawaiian culture and it’s volcanic history. Before moving to the island’s north shore, we spend a week getting PADI SCUBA certified in the turquoise waters off Poipu Beach. For those already Open Water Certified, there are options to get your Advanced Certification or do free dives! We really live the beach life here and spend most of our time underwater, where we see that biodiversity is as rich in the Hawaiian waters as it is on land.

Food Security on The North Shore

With our SCUBA certification complete, we drive along the east coast to the north shore of Kauai and settle into our beachfront campground. Located between Hanalei Bay and Tunnels Beach, our new home is centrally located: just minutes from some of the island’s best snorkeling spots and one of the most popular hikes in Kauai – the Kalalau Trail along the Na’pali Coast!

This beautiful location is also our home base for our next few projects, which give us a deeper look at both abundance and shortage on an island. Hawaii is one of the most isolated island chains in the world and if supplies were to stop, the islands would only have about 5 days’ worth of food to feed its population. Partnering with a community-based nonprofit organization that focuses on advocating, educating, and driving action towards a sustainable Kauai, we work to complete a number of food-related outreach projects designed to stimulate the community towards agricultural self-reliance. Utilizing their community food forest, we support local food banks and work together to complete farm-to-school projects.

Preserving Paradise in Limahuli Valley

Kauai’s yearly record rainfalls make it a lush, garden paradise and its ancient volcanic geology places soaring mountain ranges right against the coast. Within a few square miles, we can explore three distinct zones – from the Mauka (“towards the mountains”) in the uplands, down through the Kula (“plain” or “pasture”), out to the fishponds of the Makai (“towards the sea”) just feet from the beach. We join staff and volunteers at a local foundation in all three zones to replant Mauka forest cleared for sandalwood and livestock, rotate crops on the Kula in an effort to bring food sustainability to the community, and care for and catch fish in the Halulu fishpond of the Makai.

For our final project on Kauai we are engulfed in the biodiversity of the Limahuli Valley. Just a few minutes from our homebase on the beach, this botanical garden is using a process called biocultural conservation to restore native plants to the valley. This progressive approach to conservation honors the cultural heritage of the islands and recognizes the relationship between nature and humanity. With our many hands, we support the gardens by planting and caring for native plants, then we venture deeper into the valley to restore the native forests and maintain trails.

Student Planned Module

With our new skills honed, we travel to our final island destination – the Island of Hawai’i – and begin our Student Planned Module. This module is completely planned by the students, with basic parameters put in place and a budget with which to work. We can’t wait to hear what the group will do!

Volcano Ecology and Service

The Big Island is all about volcanoes, which are still working to shape this geologically new island. Partnering with a local non-profit whose mission is to support the National Park Service in the protection, preservation, and interpretation of the natural and cultural resources, we work alongside park rangers and get a behind the scenes look into the incredible forces that built these unique islands. In the park, we restore trails, remove invasive species, and protect this young and unique ecosystem.

After spending the week in the park, we take a drive up the winding roads of Mauna Kea – a dormant volcano and the highest point on the island. When measured from the seafloor, Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain in the world at 33,500ft! This vantage point has one of the best sunsets on the island and world-class stargazing! Once the sun sets into a sea of clouds, we take turns gazing through telescopes and learning from the observatory staff about the millions of stars and planets surrounding us.

Coral and Intertidal Study in Kahalu’u Bay

For the next week, we have the incredible opportunity to take action for the ocean through a series of programs that deepen our understanding of Hawaii’s sensitive marine ecosystem. By overviewing the importance of coral reefs and the intertidal zone, the relationship between fish, corals, and other marine animals, we learn how to take care of the reef and behave responsibly while navigating it. Using our newly-acquired SCUBA certification, we jump into Kahalu’u Bay to collect data on species abundance and diversity while exploring the reef. The information we gather will help inform local scientists about the reefs current state of health and help advance conservation efforts in the area.

Surfing, Beach Time and Saying Goodbye

Our time in Hawaii comes to an end with a few final days of surfing, beach time, and picturesque hikes. We finalize and present our Capstone Passion Projects and debrief what we have learned, achieved, and experienced over the course of our semester. Our time together has indelibly shaped us and will continue to impact our life choices as we take our pictures and our memories back to our families and friends.

*Please note: Itinerary and order of islands is subject to change.

Below you will find several Group Journal excerpts, written by ARCC students during their Gap Year with ARCC: