When students were asked what they would recommend as a realistic food budget (based on no meals being included in the trip), students said:
“$180-$200”
“Around $200-250”
“$300”
“$150”
“$200”
“$250”
“$250”
“$250”
“$300 to be safe”
“350.00”
“Between $200-$300.”
“at least $200; Highly recommend eating a heavy breakfast and snack until supper.”
“$400-$500 if you eat out a lot.”
“$200 plus”
When asked what they liked most on the trip or what did they learn, they responded:
“I learned several local phrases and a few traditions of Kona. I liked everything.”
“Mauna Kea Summit Trip; A lot about constellations and Pearl Harbor.”
“Pearl Harbor. Saw the different types of lava rock.”
“Snorkeling and the atmosphere in Kona. I enjoyed the Mauna Kea tour and enjoyed the facts that were shared about the mountain and the scientific ventures that take place at the summit.”
“Pearl Harbor/Missouri Tour. Interesting facts about WWII.”
“I loved the trip to Mauna Kea! I learned about the stars in the sky!”
“Pearl Harbor. A lot of information about why the bombing occurred and what happened as a result.”
“Pearl Harbor. That you don’t mess with America.”
“Pearl Harbor. The leaking oil thing.”
“Pearl Harbor/Missouri Tour. I learned a lot about stars and volcanoes.”
“Hanging out with people I wouldn’t normally hang out with. So if you are worried about not knowing anyone, trust me, you’ll be fine.”
“Pearl Harbor, Mauna Kea & the free time. Learned a lot at each main attraction we stopped at.”
“Mauna Kea – Cattle Ranch, Pearl Harbor”
“Pearl Harbor”
If students could go on the trip again, what would they do?
“Paddle board, fish more.”
“Diamond Head on Oahu”
“Surf lessons”
“I would go a little more out of the way to try more authentic Hawaiian food.”
‘Deep Sea Fishing”
“Of course! I would want to go up diamondhead (sic) and also go to an Hawaiian based restaurant or just a night of their food.”
“Climb Diamond Head.”
“Climb Diamond Head.”
“Diamond Head and the Zoo (and) North Shore.”
“Surf and go see waterfalls … etc.”
“Not the Circle Island Tour on the Big Island. Maybe spend more time in Honolulu.”
“Stay at the beach more in Waikiki: not enough time to really explore it while we were there.”
“Hike, zipline, waterfalls” (waterfalls emphasized)
“Get a pic at Hawaii 5.0.”
When asked what packing advice they would give, students offered:
“Pack underclothes, a lot.”
“Don’t pack as much as you think you need. Didn’t wear all the clothes I brought.”
“Shirts and underwear.”
“Plan to take at least 3 extra outfits.”
“Fold clothes tightly to fit more in.”
“Pack only what you need so you can buy as much on the trip. Trust me, you will buy a lot!”
“Pack plenty of underwear. Other clothes can be packed lightly.”
“You don’t have to pack many clothes.”
“Keep it light.”
“t-shirts/BBall shorts, like a couple of dress fits for night life, good walking shoes.”
“Bring T-shirts and cute clothes. Bring more than one bikini (It was nice not having to wear cold/wet bikinis over). Dresses come in handy. Also, tennis shoes, chacos, flipflops, & sandals.”
“Make sure a lot of underwear and socks; A lot of Hawaiian theme shirts; Definitely good walking shoes.”
“Leave carry on as empty as possible before trip so souvenirs can be brought back.”
“Get Hawaiian shirts.”
When students were asked what they would keep for future trips from the spring 2015 planned itinerary, they said:
“Pearl Harbor, Mana(sic) Kea Summit. Both were educational.”
“Mauna Kea & Pearl Harbor”
“Mauna Kea & Pearl Harbor”
“Pearl Harbor – everyone should see it. Mauna Kea tour – unique and one of a kind tour.”
“Pearl Harbor/Missouri Tour”
“Mauna Kea b/c you learn a whole lot of information and plus you get to see the world’s largest telescopes. The night view of the sky is just amazing.”
“The hotel in the big island was nice.”
“The hotel at the big island was nice.”
“Mauna Kai (sic)”
“Volcano tour (great information). Some of the language (heavy use).”
“Pearl Harbor, Church, Mauna Kea/Star Gazing Show.”
“Pearl Harbor & Mauna Kea: Really learned the most from these.”
“Lava Tube, Pearl Harbor, Missouri”
“Pearl Harbor. Everyone needs to do that.”
What souvenir-purchasing advice would students give?
“ABC Stores!”
“ABC Stores or Walmart on Big Island.”
“Shirts”
“Buy things that you can’t buy at home.”
“Buy something for your mama.”
“Buy @ the ABC Stores!!! Go to the Mktplace for handmade items.”
“The ABC stores are great for buying souvenirs.”
“Buy little things.”
“Buy at the last minute don’t want to keep up all day.”
“t-shirts; sarongs from the “market” – Kona”
“Candy … something easy and not heavy.”
“Can’t take fruit back so don’t try; check out the market place for authentic gifts.”
“They can get expensive.”
“Didn’t buy anything.”
Of the activities that students planned on their own, which would they recommend to future student travelers?
“Deep Sea Fishing”
“Snorkel & paddle boarding”
“Snorkeling alone”
“Deep sea fishing”
“Snorkeling”
“Go to the Beach!”
“Snorkeling”
“Deep Sea fishing”
“They fishing, they had fun.”
“Paddle Board was 25 at Waikiki. Snorkel”
“Snorkeling, Beach Time, Exploring the town, Ask locals where to go!”
“Snorkeling at each beach site.”
“Beach, Laverne’s, Sunsets”
“Go to Laverne’s”
What would students recommend keeping on the planned itinerary but with some modifications?
“Circle Island tour, more time at each destination.”
“Pearl Harbor; less time on Missouri and more on museums.”
“None”
“Observatory Tour, make sure I was hydrated so I didn’t get elevation sickness.”
“I really enjoyed the other trips we went on besides the long trip around Kona.”
“Watch more sunsets. Take more photos.”
“All but the tour, just hit the volcano.”
“The Big Island less places more time exploring.” (referring to the Big Island Circle Tour)
“Pearl Harbor, find a nicer tour guide. Volcano National Park, actually explore a volcano.”
“The island tour in Kona was long: if there is a way make it shorter.” (referring to the Big Island Circle Tour)
“Mauna Kea without star gazing.”
“Shorten the Missouri.”
“Great trip, only downside was short time on Oahu and Big Island Tour.”
“Great trip. Enjoyed most everything.”
“Turnt”
“We had the two best teachers for this class! They helped us and was just as excited to learn as we are!! They also knew a lot b/c they had been there b4!”
“It was a fantastic trip! I’m glad we didn’t die while landing in ATL.”
“It was great.”
“trip was good, get rest and go, see as much as possible.”
“I loved this trip. The best experience of my life. And I miss Hawaii.”
“TURNT!”
“Take extra $ to Pearl Harbor for the other sites that aren’t part of the tour.”
