TIME CAPSULE LETTER
Written by Shelby, Jayme, Liv, and Sergio
All right GLAAAAAA!
Howdy besties!
We’re hoping you’re all living, laughing, and loving so hard right now, and that you’ve all had a fantastic year since we last saw each other. For us, it’s only been a few hours since the last of you stepped on a plane and said goodbye to the beautiful beaches, mountains, and honu of Maui, but we already miss you lots and lots! Hopefully you’ve continued to work on your group goal: self-love and positivity. Since it’s been so long, let us refresh your memories on some of the highlights of your Hawaiian service adventure.
Our first outing was to Haleakala, where we drove high up the mountain and hiked through the clouds to a volcanic crater! At the crater, we took two minutes (and thirty seconds) to embrace the sound of silence in the second quietest place on the planet. Fortunately for us, the fog lifted right as we finished, and we were treated to a near-panoramic view of breathtaking mountains and a deep valley full of rust-colored peaks. That night, we had our guest speaker (and surfing instructor!), Abner, talk to us about Hawaiian culture and his experience with the Hawaiian Homelands Act.
The next day, we went to Kipuka Olowalu, a beautiful site full of endemic and endangered species, where we laid cardboard, moved rocks, and mulched pathways in an effort to fight weeds that might threaten such critical flora. We learned how to dance the hula in the afternoon, and fell in love with the cutest dogs ever, Kona and Joy. After this, it was our first beach day– where we swim tested with Jayme and Liv, picked up trash with Shelby and
Sergio, and hung out on the sand… some of us got a little more toasted than others. Back at Camp Olowalu, Liv facilitated the first leadership activity, “Live your Values: the Great Debate,” where we all talked about whether or not to build a resort on an untouched tropical island. Then we had our very first mentor meetings (awww!)!
The following day, half of us measured water quality, siphoned tanks, and gavage-fed Hawaiian green sea turtles at the Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute, while the other half did a beach cleanup– then we switched. We all picked up over 400 pounds of trash, found more than 137 cigarette butts, and amassed a substantial collection of broken furniture. After we all washed the suspicious garbage liquids off of our hands, we explored the Maui Ocean Center, where Shelby gave us a guided tour (and facilitated a rad coral rave). That night, we did Sergio’s leadership activity, “Uncovering Solutions: Community Organizing,” where we made elevator pitches for problem-solving.
Then it was an early wakeup for Sail Maui! From intense sunburns to deep-tissue massages and snorkeling with the turtles, we had a blast sailing with Chef Jake, Dan (his dad), and the rest of the Sail Maui crew. Back at camp, we did Jayme’s leadership activity, “Connect and Influence: Point of View,” and discussed what the world would be like if everyone was just like us.
On the Road to Hana the next day, we learned all about Maui’s rich history and plant life, swam in clear waterfall pools, stopped at a black sand beach (with a sick lava tube!), and had the world’s best banana bread and coconut ice cream— thanks, Coconut Glen! That night, Chef Jake made some bomb short ribs that were insanely tender. Then we made s’mores with Liv and Sergio and rocked to the Official Song of the Trip™, “Riptide” by Vance Joy.
The next day, it was back to MOCMI, where we hung out with more turtles and had an out-of-body experience while shedding tears at an IMAX film about humpback whales. After that, we did more roadside cleanup. Then Shelby led her activity, “Be Courageous: Leadership Styles,” where we organized ourselves into groups that described how we each lead best.
The following morning, we did some work weeding around the ancestral taro plants at Kipuka Olowalu to finish up our service hours. Then we learned how to make tiny leis and hung out in the river (where some of us caught frogs and gave them lei hats). After this, we shopped in Lahaina and got to try some baller shaved ice and Dole whip. We also checked out a massive banyan tree! We had our final mentor meetings that night, then watched Moana in the mess hall.
Finally, on the last day, we had our surf lesson and caught some awesome waves. Sure, there were a few wipeouts, a few crashes, and a few more sunburns, but we all had a great time. When we arrived back at camp, we packed and made friendship bracelets! Then it was time to get ready for the Old Lahaina luau, where we had an excellent dinner of authentic Hawaiian cuisine and enjoyed some wildly colorful beverages while watching traditional Polynesian dancers recreate the legends and history of the Hawaiian islands. That night, it was a tear feast, not gonna lie. We did an appreciation circle and anonymously acknowledged the deep impacts we’d all left on each other. There were a lot of hugs exchanged that evening. In the morning, it was goodbyes all around, and everyone vowed to remember each other forever (and keep the group chat alive).
You all left indelible marks on us mentors, and we saw you do the same for each other. On this trip, we watched each and every one of you grow and make real progress towards your personal and group goals. You built connections, learned about yourselves and the world around you, problem-solved, and found courage and confidence. We couldn’t be prouder. The group goal, to work on your self-love, is a beautiful one, and we hope you’re still traveling down a path toward an understanding of your intrinsic value and worthiness. All of you are wonderful humans, and you deserve to know it.
It was a wild ten days full of lost luggage, “big waves (big waves, break it up, break it up),” throwing things at ceiling fans, chickens in cabins, impersonations of mentors, loving you all big, jamming out on aux, early morning sunrises, fawning over Chef Jake’s cooking, and falling head over heels for the history, service, and culture of Hawai’i.
Thanks for the checking out the blog for this Global Leadership Adventures program!
PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM
Here are a few things you can expect:
- We typically receive 2-3 blog posts per week here at GLA Headquarters from our program staff and students, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post daily – that’s totally normal.
- Blog updates sent on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
- Due to many factors, including but not limited to internet accessibility, photos may not always be available to post onto the blog. Sometimes onsite program staff are only able to send text back to Headquarters, where our team updates the blog.
Thank you for your patience and understanding, and we hope you enjoy following along on these unforgettable adventures.
Cell Phone Policy: The GLA cell phone policy is currently in place this summer to help foster meaningful connections between students. This means your student’s phone will be collected every day and returned to them after activities are completed to have with them through the night. Actual tech times and regularity will vary greatly by program location and time zones. During designated ‘tech time’, your student may use their phones as they wish. Please note that your student may not always choose to use this time to get a hold of their parents. If you are not hearing directly from your student each day, you can assume that no news is good news! We strongly recommend you follow the blog to follow your students’ experience without talking to them every day. If you are a parent and would like to get in touch with your student directly, you can call us at +1-619-758-3031 and we can set up a formal time for you to connect with your student.
For frequently asked questions about the blogs, please visit our Program Blog FAQ page.
-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team
Click here to jump down to the most recent posts!
BLOG POST FOR JULY 4
Hello All!
Much like you, your Hawaii crew has been preparing for the next 10 days of travel, community service, activities, and of course, adventure! We were incredibly fortunate in having the last four days here in Hawaii to work and bond as a team to prepare for your program.
Already, our experiences have been unforgettable and we cannot wait to make even more memories with our incredible group of 26!
Our first student arrives at 8:50am, and students will be arriving until 8:30pm. Each student will be calling home once they have met up with a mentor at the airport so parents/guardians please make sure your phones are on!
We can’t wait to see you tomorrow!
BLOG POST FOR JULY 5
Hello!
It was an eventful day of airport pickups and group bonding at home base. All students have arrived safely, becoming fast friends, and are having a wonderful time!
While waiting nine hours to pick up our unaccompanied minors at the airport, I was able to turn today’s events into an incredible version of the 12 Days of Christmas which I have renamed “The 12 Hours of Arrivals”
Please enjoy the following summary of arrival day!
12 different flights
11 name games
10 million questions
9 parent phone calls
8 unaccompanied minors
7 delayed flights
6 van shuttles
5 cabin assignments
4 early arrivals
3 excited mentors
2 Chef Jake meals
1 happy GLA family!
As you can tell it was an exciting day here on Maui and we cannot wait to start camp tomorrow morning with a trip to Haleakala National Park!
*Due to late arrival times Campbell, Chase, Cooper, Liam, and Vivenne are not in the home base group photo below. A complete group photo will be uploaded with tomorrow’s blog post
BLOG POST FOR JULY 6
Hello!
It was another wonderful day on Maui! Our leaders of the day today were Collin, Ryleigh, and Sarah. Below are their self written thoughts on the day!
We traveled to Haleakala to hike down into the crater through the clouds and took a couple minutes to appreciate and listen to the silence in one of the quietest places on Earth! After that, we took a lot of group photos on our cameras, and started on our way back. We drove up to the Haleakala Summit and enjoyed an amazing view, and then ate some lunch! The car rides were so much fun, especially in the party van.. Where we did in fact have water spill all over the back, and Colin took initiative to hold it the rest of the way to prevent it from spilling more, good leadership skills Colin! Bonds were formed as we stepped out of our comfort zone and experienced amazing things together. (Ryleigh)
Today at home base we learned about about how the native Hawaiians and the Hawaiian Homes Act from our Surf instructor Abner. We got assigned mentor groups and talked about are goals this trip. During our down time between activities and meals we were able to talk with friends, put our feet in the water and play games. (Sarah)
Today chef jake cooked up some delicious meals. First we had a continental breakfast including eggs, cinnamon rolls, and some fresh fruit. Lunch today was on the go in haleakala national park. Some tasty ham and cheese sandwiches on the summit of haleakala hit the spot. Dinner was great! Lasagna and 5 cheese tortellini with chocolate chip cookies for dessert. Chef Jake continues to over perform. (Collin)
Overall it was a great day filled with once in a lifetime views during our cloud walk on Haleakala, great food from Chef Jake and Dan, and our wonderful guest speaker Abner!
Enjoy the photos of some of today’s highlights!
BLOG POST FOR JULY 7
Hello!
Another great day here on Maui! Our leaders of the day were Emerson, Gia, and Lauren E. Below are their thoughts on the day!
For our service today we visited the lovely site of Kipuka Olowalu to help with a recently started endemic planting project. After the amazing staff there educated us on the various different plants grown there, their uses, and the relationships between the people and the land, we began our work. We split into four groups, moving rocks, cardboard, mulch, and pulling weeds to build a hardening nursery. Despite the work being tiring it was extremely rewarding, and we could instantly see our progress. Once we finished, we received a very fun hula lesson from a staff member at Kipuka Olowalu, Ua, where we all got to show off our amazing moves. (Emerson)
For today’s activities after service at Kipuka Olowalu, we headed to the beach to clean up around the area. Everyone worked together to keep micro plastics out of the water, and then got to jump in! Once we got back to base camp, mentor Liv ran a group leadership activity called The Great Debate for our leadership pillar “Live Your Values” where we were spilt into four groups to decide what would be the right solution. We all took away key values such as understanding everyone’s needs and opinions to make an informed decision. (Lauren)
We’ve experienced wonderful food on this trip. We have 3 meals and snacks throughout the day. Chef Jake is super nice, understanding to those with diatery needs, and is awesome with spicing. today we woke up and had bagels with a contential breakfast, for lunch we had turkey cheese and humas wraps, and lastly for dinner we had pizza and ice cream of course because it is friday. I’m looking forward to the future food on this trip! (Gia)
As you can tell it was an eventful day, and we can’t wait to see what tomorrow has in store!
BLOG POST FOR JULY 8
Hello!
Another 95° and sunny day on Maui! We got to go to our second service partner the Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute (MOCMI). Our leaders of the day Campbell, Lauren N, Pierce, and Vivenne share their thoughts below!
Throughout this trip we have partaken in many eye-opening activities. However, arguably today was the most awaking when we came together for a trash cleanup. In groups, we travelled along the roads and picked up mounds of trash. After picking up nearly 130 cigarette buds and over 12 trash bags, our hearts were feeling full by the end of the day. Though we knew littering was an issue, the trash cleanup today helped us all understand how much of an impact we hold on the environment. (Lauren N)
Today we had a great experience feeding a sick turtle and it really showed me this is what I want to do when I am older. Helping these hurt turtles get back out in the wild is a beautiful thing and MOCMI is doing many great programs for our oceans. The aquarium had a diverse group of animals that were in great hands and I loved the Tiger shark! (Campbell)
For the leadership activity today we did community organizing which consisted of observing the issues that are happening in each of our hometowns, as a group, and coming up with solutions and “businesses” to solve the issues. Each group came up with different topics that we all presented. There was a big variety of ideas that each group came up with for example; finding a way to help the homeless while saving the planet in the same time, cultural respect and awareness, etc. (Vivenne)
Today Chef Jake made some incredible food. We started off the day with eggs, toast, fresh fruit and smoothies. We then took our lunch on the go and ate at the aquarium. We enjoyed croissant sandwiches along with Pringles and oranges. Finally for dinner the group ate pulled pork, beans, rice and an excellent artichoke dip. The food today was very enjoyable and tasty. (Pierce Ankrum)
Tomorrow is sail boat day, and I’ve never heard less complaints about a 6:30am leave time! To say the students are excited would be an understatement
*due to the type of permit the Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute has for its sea turtle rescue and rehabilitation program, photos are not allowed to be taken in the quarantine facilities so there are no photos from our work with the sea turtles today
Please enjoy the video of our students doing the “Shelby Interpretive Coral Dance” showing how coral eat!
BLOG POST FOR JULY 9
Hello!
Today was boat day, and what a day it was! Our leaders of the day were Georgia M, Liam, and Olivia. Please enjoy their rundown of the day! (Liam will be assisting with tomorrow’s blog)
We woke up at 5:45 to prepare for the day ahead. At 6:30 we left camp for the marine. Chef Jake drove the catamaran up to the dock where we got on. It was absolutely beautiful to see the scenery as we went farther from the shore. We ate breakfast on the boat which consisted of blueberry bread, breakfast sandwiches, and an assortment of fruits. The waves were huge! It was so fun to take photos with friends and enjoy the breeze. At about 9:00 we stopped at slaughterhouse beach to snorkel. (Olivia part 1)
We made our adventure to a destination known by many as slaughter house beach (solely because there used to be a slaughter house on top of the cliff surrounding us). The lovely boat staff offered all of us snorkels and flippers, gave us a quick snorkeling safety talk, and then we were let loose in the designated area to explore the beautiful creatures beneath the surface. We got very lucky that two sea turtles were seen swimming around the area our group was in. The colorful coral beneath us, clear blue water, and sun shining in the sky made snorkeling an absolute 11/10 experience. On our way back we were surprised to see multiple groups of dolphins splashing around right next to the boat (don’t worry there’s plenty of pictures). Captain jake (who is also our chef) got us all back to the marina safely with smiling tanned faces. (he really is the Jake of all trades…am i right?). (Georgia M)
After we got off the boat, we took a quick trip to the bathroom before going to get coffee! Students at GLA (especially me) are a HUGE fan of the iced coffee. It was so fun to get a nice treat before heading back to camp. Once at camp, we had free time to read, relax, and pick mangos from the trees. At about 4 we met at the mess hall to have a leadership lesson. Todays lesson was mainly about perspectives and the power of being open minded. Jayme, the speaker, was great at explaining and giving examples for a student that shows respect for others opinions. Then, after the lesson, we played a few fun games before eating dinner! It was absolutely delicious (per usual). We ate salad, chicken, beef, rice and pork rolls. Finally, we had our routine mentor groups before bed. (Olivia part 2)
It was a wonderful day and we can’t wait for our beautiful drive on the Road to Hana tomorrow!
BLOG POST FOR JULY 10
Hello!
Another beautiful 95° and sunny day on Maui! We spent the whole day on the road to Hana exploring waterfalls, black sand beaches, and eating delicious banana bread. Our leaders of the day were Corinna, Ainsley, and Charisse, here is the rundown of the day in their words! Liam also helped write today’s blog.
During our enjoyable road trip to Hana, we traveled winding roads with over 600 curves. Along the way, we saw beautiful views that took our breath away, including the surreal rainbow eucalyptus, which appeared as though it was painted. Besides this, we also learned the profound knowledge of this place. the Holo Holo drivers shared interesting history, culture, and facts of the place. The car ride was an amazing experience. (Charisse)
When we arrived to the waterfall, everybody was very excited. As soon as we got in the water it was very cold compared to the beaches. Everybody was freezing, but as soon as we ducked our heads into the water we warmed up. Everybody started swimming towards the waterfall. Under the falls, it was almost surreal. (Liam)
At at our last stop on our Road to Hana drive, we stopped at a beautiful spot called Waiʻānapanapa State Park with a Black Sand beach. We ate lunch here at a little grass patch, soaking up the sun and watching the ocean! Then we made our way down to the beach, which was by far the coolest one I’ve seen. The sand was completely black, made by black lava stones that had deteriorated, and the beach was lined with the smooth black stones. The water was so blue and clear! Also, there was a small cave from a lava tube flow that you could walk through which was so cool. The beach was sick!!! (Corrina)
Chef Jake started our morning with delicious muffins! We also had an array of fresh fruit, including native pineapple that can only be found here on Maui. We even got local fresh made banana bread on our drive. For dinner, Chef Jake prepared slow cooked braised ribs. We ended the night with a surprise bonfire and s’mores! (Ainsley)
As you can tell it was an eventful day with some of the most beautiful views Hawaii has to offer. Our Leaders did forget to mention we stopped at the world famous Coconut Glen’s coconut ice cream. We bought amazing coconut ice cream and whole coconuts to drink the water and eat the meat. To say the students enjoyed themselves with their coconuts is an understatement! Tomorrow we’re back at the Marine Institute for another day of service and learning!
BLOG POST FOR JULY 11
Hello!
Another HOT day here on Maui! Today’s leaders were Alix, Cooper, Penelope, and Sabrina. We had an exciting day of service, leadership, and shopping. Enjoy our mentors recap of the day!
Today, we returned to the Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute (MOCMI) to help the turtle coordinator, Julia, and her cohorts in the husbandry and feedings of their rehabilitating sea turtles. We engaged in the documentation of the water quality of the tanks to ensure they were healthy, cleaned up all of the tanks, and even fed some of the ones who needed a little extra care. We were given intricate insight into the process of revitalizing this wonderful species and how institutions like these work to ensure the proliferation and success of endangered animals. After completing our shift assignments with the turtles, we divided into groups and went around the streets and harbor by the MOCMI and collected as much trash littered around as possible. We all worked in a collaborative effort to find and collect any and all litter spotted in full efficacy in our continued attempts to promote environmental conservation and protection. (Penelope)
We had a very special afternoon as we explored Lahaina’s front street from 2:30-5:30pm. We were given the freedom to walk around in groups of 3 or more to shop and get some great souvenirs and other items. Many members stopped to get Hawaiis popular shaved ice, as well as other local food stops. Many members also engaged in getting matching things such as bracelets, clothing and spider man masks. Luckily all the students arrived on time at the meeting spot, which was very appreciated by both mentors and other group members. By 5:30 everyone left front street with new items and a smile on their face. (Sabrina)
Shelby had us do quite an interesting leadership activity where we moved from side to side and forward and backwards depending on what we agreed on for our personality. After we moved around and found our final position, we were separated into groups that most represented our determined personalities and leadership styles. It was cool to see which group we fell into, but also interesting to see what their defense was for not agreeing about the type of leadership category they got placed in. Overall, the leadership activity had a very fun dynamic to it that let us discover a good estimate on what type of leader we potentially are while we actively were choosing where we’d end up. (Cooper)
For breakfast we had fruit, pancakes with whipped cream and syrup, bacon, eggs, and some delicious iced coffee. For lunch we had a chicken salad sandwich. The chicken salad had curry and mangos and also in the sandwich with a choice of any chips and some fruit and cheese sticks. For dinner we had an amazing cookout style dinner. We had a choice of burgers or hot dogs. On the side we had baked mac and cheese, pasta salad, potato salad, green salad, chicken drum sticks, chips with dip, strawberry guava nectar, and an amazing mixed berry pie for desert. Shout out to Chef Jake and Chef Dan for the amazing food!!! (Alix)
As you can tell it was an amazing day filled with great opportunities and many memories were created! Tomorrow we go back to Kipuka Olowalu for our last day of service!
BLOG POST FOR JULY 12
Another hot one here on Maui! Our leaders of the day were Chase, Georgia S, and Taryn. Enjoy their commentary on the day!
Today we continued our service learning activities at Kipuka Olowalu where we helped garden by picking out the weeds in the taro (Hawaiian sweet potato) patches. Following that we were introduced to the new group of volunteers and discussed how we want to impact the world with our decisions. During these activities there were many amazing discussions that make our group become closer. Finally we learned how to make leis! It was so much fun collaborating with others learning how to make them and now we can teach our family and friends. These opportunities and these people shape who we are and how we can affect our communities. (Georgia S.)
Today for our leadership activities we competed in Leadership Olympics. We had 3 groups and 4 activities. One of the activities, Helium Hoop was a game about communicating and listening while trying to bring a hula hoop to the ground without tilting it and only using 2 finger per person.
Another activity was the Human Knot, we went in a circle and had to grab someone’s hand that wasn’t next to us which made us into a knot and we had to work under and over people to get us into a perfect circle. Toxic River was an activity that required strategizing and communication to get everyone on your team from one side of the “river” to the other while using only 6 rags (acting as stepping stones) with 7 people. If any part of your body touched the ground then everyone had to restart. Pirates Booty was an activity that had 2 captains, 2 first mates, 2 explorers, and 2 assistant captain. Everyone had an important job. The explorers were blind folded and had to find the treasure, the first mates had to tell them where to go with the help of the captains hand gestures because the first mates couldn’t see the explores but the captains could. By using all our leadership pilar’s that we learned throughout our trip it helped us get through each activity successfully. At the end of the leadership olympics we learned that it’s always important to listen what everyone has to say and use it to help move forward toward your goal. (Taryn)
Per usual chef Jake never disappoints with his amazing cuisines. For breakfast today he made French toast topped with whipped cream, freshly cut fruit, and for the beverages he made us iced coffee and orange juice. For lunch we ate delicious ham sandwiches with sides of clementines, cheese sticks, and lots of chip options. We finished the night off with chef Jake and Dan handmade sushi, rice, many types of dumplings, spring rolls, and amazing guava juice. (Chase)
As you can tell it was another successful day! We got to finish the night with a screening of Moana, such a great day!
Tomorrow we will do our surf lesson in the morning and then celebrate all of our hard work and personal growth with a luau!
BLOG POST FOR JULY 13
Another hot and sunny day here on Maui! Our leaders of the day were Angelina, Delilah, and Lincoln! Enjoy their thoughts on our last day on Maui!
For the final day of our trip, we decided to start it off with one of the most well know water sports… surfing. The waves were in perfect condition and with the vibrant sun and cool wind, we were eager to get into the water. Most of us were nervous, as it was our first time ever surfing. The feeling of getting on the board right before the instructor told us to paddle as fast as we could was when all of the nerves kicked in. We put all of our strength into the first paddle, and then we stood as though we were taking our first steps. The wind in our hair and the feeling of accomplishment was unlike any other. We owe it to “Hang Loose” for giving GLA this opportunity to surf and have the time of our lives. To sum it up, we had a blast! (Delilah)
To celebrate the last night of our amazing GLA adventure, we all went to a Luau to eat great food and see magnificent dancing. Throughout our three hour experience there, we were served lots of traditional Hawaiian dishes, including many with Taro, a plant we worked with at service the day before. While we were enjoying our food, up on stage were a variety of talented Hula dancers. At first, there were a few smaller acts and solos, but at the end was a grand performance. During this final performance, we were told a story about the history and religion of Hawaii through speakers, Hula dancers, and music. I, and everyone else, absolutely loved this experience and are very glad that this Luau was how our life-changing GLA adventure ended. (Lincoln)
We began our amazing day with Chef Jake’s delicious pancakes and tasty fruits, followed by exhilarating surf lessons at Hang Loose. For lunch, we savored turkey and ham burritos, chips, and fruits. Our evening took us to the Old Lahaina Luau, where we immersed ourselves in traditional hula performances and savored Hawaiian delights like tuna poke, laulau, and roasted pork. The main course treated us to mouthwatering grilled beef, chicken, and fish, and we ended the night with the delightful pineapple delight dessert. It was a day filled with incredible experiences and unforgettable flavors. (Angelina)
To close of the day, we had an appreciation circle. The mentors would pick six people from the circle and ask them a question such as “someone who made you laugh” and we would tap on all of the people turned around in the circle who had made us laugh. It was one of the most heartwarming activities we had done yet, because we got learn just how many people we impacted and just how many people we made laugh. Thank you GLA for giving us the joy of the journey and more so the love of people. (Delilah)
As you can tell we had an exciting, and emotional day. Lots of memories were made and many tears were shed. Tomorrow is departure day and while everyone is looking forward to going home, they’re also saddened to day goodbye.
