Adventure Travel in the Hawaiian Islands

I first took this trip in the summer of 2023. It was my first teen tour and I didn't know what to expect. TFT was an amazing company to travel with and the counselors, especially Gabi, were so great at making us all comfortable. We snorkeled at Molokini Crater, helped sea turtles - my favorite part - hiked Diamondhead and did a sunrise hike of Haleakala. We visited Lanai 8 days before the fires and I'm so thankful to have seen the beautiful town. My second trip to Hawaii with TFT was summer of 2025. We visited Kihei this time and it was a nice change of scenery. Oahu was my favorite, especially the shopping and the authentic luau. I'd highly recommend this trip!

My Hawaii sea turtle trip was honestly one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. The program was the perfect length not too short but not too long and every day felt exciting. My counselors were super nice, helpful, and really made the whole trip feel comfortable and fun. I’ve always loved marine biology, so getting the chance to actually work with real professionals was amazing. We got to see live sea turtles up close and learn how they’re cared for when they’re injured, which was crazy cool. It’s one thing to read about it, but seeing it in person made me even more sure that this is what I want to do in the future. I also met so many awesome people on the trip. We still talk all the time, which makes me really happy because it feels like I made real friendships, not just “trip friends.” The hotel we stayed at was great too clean, comfortable, and honestly better than I expected. Overall, the whole experience was unforgettable, and I’m so glad I had the chance to go. If anyone loves marine biology or just wants a unique adventure, I’d totally recommend it.

I went on the sea turtle service trip in hawaii, and it was quite literally the best experience of my life. I got to meet people from all different walks of life, some of whom I never thought I would be friends with. It was amazing and I would take the same trip in a heart beat. There was an amazing balance of service and adventure, and the service was not only fun, but also hands on. I would recommend this trip to anyone who loves fun and also wants to make an impact!!

This was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever done in my entire life. I would say with confidence that I had learned more during this 10 week program than I have in the two years of college that I have already attended.

I went on the polynesian gap year journey not knowing exactly what to expect. I remember a day before it hit me that i would be spending 10 weeks with complete strangers. However, these were some of the best people I have met and best friends for life. There were many experiences that one would unlikely ever experience without doing a programme as such and i therefore highly recommend it. Many people were put out of their comfort zones and had to take risks which caused them to growth as an individual.

My Polynesian journey with Pacific Discovery has helped me get over a lot of my fears and anxiety around social interaction and relationships as well as my physical fears and it has really helped me to grow as a person

Literally the time of a lifetime, never experienced something like this ever, and even though I’m young this will be something I will 100% tell my kids about. So much happened in only 10 weeks it’s hard to even fathom.

This summer was my first time going on a teen tour. I had so many fun experiences like zip lining, seeing and helping sea turtles and making new friends throughout the entire trip. Everyday was so much fun learning about the culture and seeing things that you don’t have back at your home. We learned how to adapt to the culture that is all around us.The foods you try you will want to bring back to your family and friends to spread the experience. I liked that the tour allows you to have your phones but you really never want to be on your phone while away. The only times are to talk to your family and to take photos. The counselors are so outgoing, positive and fun to be with and talk to. They take such good care of you trying to make sure you have the best trip possible. There’s so many to choose from that your kids will have an amazing time making many memories.

I traveled with ARCC Programs on their Pacific Islands trip after graduating high school. Along with 8 other peers and two wonderful guides, I explored Bali, Fiji, and Sumatra through epic adventures, ranging from scuba diving to jungle trekking, as well as meaningful community service projects, such as teaching English in local schools, volunteering in rural hospitals, and helping with environmental conservation projects. ARCC’s primary focus is on five global themes: literacy and education, public health, urbanization and the movement of peoples, environment and conservation, and microfinance and economic growth. By engaging with these themes in country, I was able to learn and connect with locals and truly appreciate the diverse cultures I was so warmly welcomed into.

This was my first trip with TFT and I’m so glad it was. Hawaii is an absolutely beautiful state and throughout our trip we were able to visit tourist spots, stay active, immerse ourselves in Hawaiian culture, do meaningful community service, and even help set a turtle free! I couldn’t have asked for a better first experience, thank you so much!

My trip to Hawaii with Travel For Teens is an experience I will never forget. Since I was going by myself, I was nervous that I wasn’t going to find people I liked to be with. However, by the time we were in the airport getting ready to leave everyone was crying because it was over. Everything about the trip from zip lining over beautiful landscapes to scuba diving with spotted rays was way better than I could ever imagine. The lodging was perfect for our group; one place even provided space for us to hang out, and get to know the other travelers. My counselors, Gabi, Breisin, and Gina, were amazing beyond words. Any chance I get I make sure to recommend this program to people. It is truly one of the best decision I’ve ever made.

Travel for Teens gave me experiences that will last me a lifetime and new friendships. This past summer, I visited Hawaii’s Big Island with TFT, and I genuinely feel like my life has changed for the better. Whether surfing at Kahalu’u Beach Park, experiencing a native luau, watching the sunset from 14,000 feet altitude at Mauna Kea, or even hanging out by the pool with my friends, I enjoyed every moment of it. We got to partake in a perfect blend of service in the community, learning about the natives and the fantastic island they live on, and thrilling experiences. Everyone on my trip, including the counselors, came from different backgrounds and areas of the world, giving many perspectives on the activities we did each day. My fantastic trip leader Maria helped all of us become comfortable with each other so that none of us had to experience any anxiety that we worried about being so far from home. By the end of the trip, I had many new friends. I talked to them regularly and learned so much about the Big Island that I was not ready to leave. Honestly, this was the most amazing trip I have ever been on, and I am so excited to go on another one this upcoming summer.

Traveling to Hawaii Ultimate Service and adventure has been one of the most memorable experiences of my life. Like many others, I was nervous because I didn't know anyone or if anyone would like me for who I truly am. Once I arrived and met the rest of the group that fear was immediately gone. I formed some of the closest friendships I have ever had. The counselors were unbelievable. Whatever you needed they would accommodate you. They would listen to all your ideas and all your thoughts. The activities and service that we did were unbelievable. I was able to help out the Sea turtles in Hawaii. The sea turtles were injured and I was able to help them heal so they could get back out to sea. I had the best experiences going snorkeling, relaxing at the beach, shopping, surfing lessons and so much more. 15 days have never gone by so fast. Although the group is no longer in Hawaii, friendships and memories remain.

Choosing to go to Hawaii with Pacific Discovery was one of the best decisions I could have made. After over a year of navigating COVID at college, I knew that I wanted to travel while learning something new and also being COVID cautious. There was never a moment on the trip where I felt unsafe in regards to COVID and I am so appreciative that Pacific Discovery found ways to make sure we could travel safely and connect us with local partners. One of my favorite things about Pacific Discovery is how much they emphasize the importance of education. All of the partners we worked with were amazing and eager to teach us about themselves and what they do in Hawaii. Not only do your instructors encourage you to learn about where you are, but they also encourage you to learn about yourself. While in Hawaii, I was able to think a lot about what I want to do after college. In fact, if you looked in the notes app on my phone right now, there would be a list I wrote while in Hawaii that incorporates what I learned and loved on the program and what I am studying in college. This has been something I have always been curious about one day figuring out, but having these first hand experiences with my peers encouraged me to put my thoughts into action. There is something about having these experiences with such an intimate group that is so impactful. I would highly recommend anyone to participate in a Pacific Discovery trip, you won’t regret it.

I came on this program for my gap semester and it was a great eye opening experience. I got to immerse myself in the culture and do fun activities! I became more in tune with myself and was able to enjoy everything offered.

I loved my experience on this trip! I learned so much about myself and the world around me and grew so much as a person. In this program i had to push myself beyond what i thought i was capable which was both challenging and extremely rewarding

I learned a lot about Hawaii but more so about myself. I made many friends and had a lot of great experiences. I learned a lot about Hawaiian culture and history. The people I met along the way made the trip amazing.

I had an amazing experience and learned so much about myself, as well as skills and life experience. I also learned so much about Hawaiian culture and gained many new insights and passion about the Hawaiian culture.

I had the most amazing experience taking a gap semester and traveling in Hawaii with pacific discovery. I learned so much about the history and culture of Hawaii while creating life long friendships, seeing amazing sights and hikes as well as surfing, agricultural work, and marine conservation.

Many of the places we went were beautiful, and the cultural education was very informative. There were many very cool experiences as well. Be prepared for a lot of cooking and a lot of weeding on the farms. I expected educational opportunities at the farms, but experienced difficult and repetitive labor instead on farms like Wood Valley. The workers at Wood Valley also didn’t seem to want us there and just wanted our labor. Big Island Farms was the dream farm to learn on, without doing excessive labor, and Jordan was great. Our leaders were very cool, but the administration behind them were often times lacking logic and ability to make decisions. Use logic when packing because the list provided is very inaccurate. It gets cold in Hawaii at night.