Great program. Excellent leader. Good companions. Lots of fun and much good learning. Aloha!

An exceptional team, Rob and Susan McGovern, led our trip. They shared their vast knowledge with warmth and enthusiasm. We saw the real islands of Hawaii, not just the palm trees and beaches, while learning about the history, culture, language, ecology, geology, and current way of life from an outstanding group of educators. Rob and Susan are warm, friendly, and very knowledgeable in many areas, very organized, problem solvers, and both have a great sense of humor. If you take this trip you will be exposed to a variety of people, ideas and opinions, and will see, learn, and do so much. Highlights for me: Kilauea volcano glowing at night with the milky way ablaze overhead, sea turtles sunning on the beach beside ancient temples, eating traditional meals at the home of native Hawaiians, standing at the top of Mt. Haleakala while prayers are offered to the gods, flying down to Kaleapapa and seeing some of the most beautiful scenery in Hawaii while hearing the painful story of Father Damian and the exiled lepers. If coming from the East Coast or Midwest advise you come a day or two early to recover from jet lag. It is a very active trip, and you will go to bed exhausted more than once, but it is so worth it.

This is a great tour for anyone interested in the history, flora, and fauna of the islands. Seeing five islands in 15 days means there's a lot of packing and unpacking--and not much beach time, though a few members of our group managed to do a little snorkeling. The guest experts were excellent, especially volcanologist Cheryl Gansecki on the Big Island and the speakers at Kilauea Point Wildlife Refuge.
Group leader Rob McGovern was extraordinary, both in his knowledge and his people skills. His unflagging humor and positive outlook overcame all the glitches to be expected in a trip this complex with a group this large (36). His wife Sue joined us for the first part of the trip, and she was very helpful and interesting, especially in regard to Hawaiian language and history.(Note: Rob is retiring soon.)
The hotels on Kauai and Maui were fine; the KMC on the Big Island is a military R&R camp with dismal food, but the location made it possible to see an active volcano at night--well worth any minor discomfort. Definitely a great trip.

I enjoyed this program because it covered all of the Hawaiian islands and I discovered their differences. There were several highlights for me including the evening glow of the Kilauea Caldera, the flight down to Kalaupapa pennisula where Father Damien ministered to the lepers, the hundreds of sea birds at Kilauea Point Wildlife Refuge, and the luau with authentic Hawaiian food and hula dancing. Poi, anyone? The trip had a good blend of volcanic and historic information, scenic vistas, and doses of flora and fauna. To see these features, we spent a fair amount of time on the bus and had to walk on uneven and/or hilly trails so your legs should be in good shape. Seeing the 5 islands means changing hotels every 2 to 3 days so be aware of that although in general things went pretty smooth. I highly recommend this trip because it shows that Hawaii is more than high-rise hotels and sandy beaches.

Overall, this was an excellent program with especially wonderful trip leaders who are informed, sensitive, and enthusiastic teachers. Also they are well organized.
I felt we tried to see too much by going to 5 islands. I would have preferred 4 with more time to explore and relax on our own (given our ages). Jet lag is a problem as well and I think there was a good attempt to accommodate for that.
The flights from the East Coast add additional strain which is simply a factor for those of us coming from this region.

One of the best programs I have ever attended. The leaders, Rob and Susan McGovern were outstanding. We learned about the real Hawaii and not the stereotypical "tourist" Hawaii.