Post-trip: Deirdre Chan

As I return home from this once-in-a-lifetime experience, I can finally reflect on this past week. In just one week, I’ve gotten to know some of the most unique, caring, and fun people I will never forget. Spending so much time immersed in nature and learning has been refreshing. I feel that in such a short time, I’ve experienced so many things I never thought I would; for starters, I got lost and ended up on Maui, hiked a volcano (Kilauea), and planted coconut trees. Throughout the week, I also learned much about my personality, strengths, and weaknesses. Through the leadership color test, public speaking/presentation lesson, and many hikes, I learned that I am a yellow (meaning that I value relationships and trust), I get nervous when I have to present, and I actually like hiking! 

This trip has shown me the importance of conserving and restoring the land in Hawai’i. I’m so glad to have been able to help in the restoration process at both the Ka’ūpūlehu Dryland Forest and Kiholo Bay. One thing I loved about both was that we had moments of silence to appreciate our surroundings and take in everything. The “kilo” time really opened my eyes to how much we miss out on when we are stuck on our phones or filling the silence with other distractions. During these moments, I could listen to the chirping of the birds, the whistling of the wind, and the crashing of the waves. I felt a sense of serenity and also community by being in such a beautiful environment and working with everyone to conserve it. 

I’m so happy to have met everyone in our group. We did become one big ohana (family) by the end of the trip. I will miss everyone so much, but I’ll always remember the many memories we made. 

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