Blog

Pacific Discovery is an organization offering gap semesters and summer programs targeted to students between high school and college. There are a bunch of places you can sign up for such as Hawaii, Thailand, South America and many more all over the world. The purpose of the program is to have hands-on learning experience and to immerse into a new culture by being involved in service work and wilderness exploration. These experiences create an environment to have personal… Read more

Just a few days ago marked the halfway point in our Hawaii Mini Semester adventure! We have been in Hawaii for a little over three weeks now, and I already have so many memories that I will cherish forever. Here are just a couple of my many highlights.  Camping on the beach under the stars at Ho’okena beach park in Kona was beautiful and definitely out of some people's stretch zone but a serene and humbling experience as well. During that week we got to attend surf camp… Read more

We’ve just surpassed the one-week milestone in our Hawaii Mini Semester trip, here’s how it went! We began our adventure in the beautiful town of Pahala staying at a Sugar Cane Plantation, full of rich history and scenic views. Natalie and Liz, our instructors, laid out the laws of the land, risk management, and the importance of communication during orientation over the next two days. In between orientation sessions we got the chance to really get to know each other an… Read more

Our First week in HawaiiTaught by the knowledgeable Rosa, this week we learned about Hawaiian plants and their connections to Hawaii’s rich culture and history. Underneath a traditional Pili grass roof Rosa spoke about the importance of taking care of the environment and the many ways in which Hawaii is being affected by tourism, deforestation, government abuse, COVID, and climate change. Outside, shaded by a Kukui tree amidst the Kohanaiki gardens, Rosa told stories ab… Read more