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Just beneath the waves off the Hawaiian coast, there are schools of tropical fish, flotillas of sea turtles, and squads of squid—all with fascinating lives and complex relationships often hidden from the human eye. Join us as we dive in to explore some of their secrets. Led by a marine biologist guide, our squidding excursion will take us on an amphibious tour of Oahu where we’ll get to learn about the region’s unique history and fragile island ecosystem.
After arriving at the airport, head to the Surfjack Hotel and check into your mid-century room with a Hawaiian retro-modern kind of charm. This evening, we'll get to know our hosts and fellow adventurers over a lively welcome dinner at Mahina & Suns featuring sustainably sourced seafood.
Surfjack Hotel, Honolulu
Dinner
Today, we're heading to the Bishop Museum, designated the Hawaiʻi State Museum of Natural and Cultural History, for a special behind-the-scenes look at its invertebrate collection. We’ll learn how specimens are collected and preserved from the museum’s research staff and get the chance to handle some of the treasures they typically keep tucked away in their archives. After a break for lunch, we’ll head off toward the rocky coastline of Oahu’s East Shore for a scenic hike along the Makapuʻu Lighthouse trail where, if we’re lucky, we’ll be able to observe whales calving their young. We’ll enjoy a sunset picnic dinner at the top before heading back to the hotel to put on our headlamps and dive booties for our first night of squidding!
The cephalopod of interest is the Hawaiian bobtail squid, a tiny, nocturnal marine mollusk ranging in size from a blueberry to a lime. With a mantle containing bioluminescent bacteria, it appears to glow in the moonlight. Though the bobtail squid is the main attraction, we’ll likely spot lots of other sea creatures, including shrimp, crabs, sea cucumbers, and brightly colored eels.
Surfjack Hotel, Honolulu
Picnic Dinner, Snacks
After a leisurely breakfast, we’ll hit the Kamehameha Highway, heading toward the North Shore of Oahu. Along the way we'll make a stop at the ancient Kukaniloko Birthing Site, where we’ll learn about the preservation of cultural traditions from a local cultural ambassador. From there, we’ll head to one of the many North Shore food trucks, where we’ll meet with a sea turtle expert to learn about the health of local sea turtle populations. This afternoon will be all about relaxing on the beach and observing turtles at Kahana Bay Beach Park. This evening is yours to enjoy at your leisure—feel free to admire the sunset on the beach, explore nearby dinner options, and luxuriate in the calm island breeze while reflecting on all the fascinating creatures we’ve observed.
Surfjack Hotel, Honolulu
Lunch, Snacks
We’ll start the day with a dinghy boat ride to Coconut Island, where we’ll enjoy a private lab tour of the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology led by their stellar education team. Following our tour, we’ll sit down for lunch with coral biologist Shayle Matsuda, who researches the health of coral reef ecosystems in today’s changing climate. Shayle will show us around his lab and discuss the ways in which HIMB is working to understand and restore coral ecosystems in Hawaiʻi and around the world. After lunch, we’ll head to a nearby beach for some relaxation before wading into the Hawaiian tides for another night of squid spotting. Over the course of the week, small groups will have the opportunity to accompany our guide back to her research facility.
Surfjack Hotel, Honolulu
Picnic Lunch, Cocktails at La Mariana
We’re kicking off the morning bright and early with a big cup of Kona coffee to fuel our ascent up the Manoa Falls Trail, where both Jurassic Park and Hawaii 5-0 were filmed. Though we don’t expect to spot any dinos, we’ll keep our eyes peeled for 21st-century wildlife as we travel through a variety of ecosystems. After our hike, we’ll grab a bowl of fresh, local poké and some spam musubi for a hilltop picnic at Pu’u ‘Ualaka’a State Park, overlooking the city and the sea beyond. After our scenic lunch, we’ll enjoy a long, leisurely afternoon of lounging on Waimanalo Beach, a secluded stretch of stunning coastline that boasts brilliantly blue water and sand as fine as sugar. After rinsing off the sand and the salt, we’ll gather this evening for our final dinner at a favorite local spot.
Surfjack Hotel, Honolulu
Lunch, Dinner
The cost of this trip is $3,535, based on double occupancy.
You’re in good company. Solo travelers typically make up about half of our small groups. With curiosity at the center of our experiences, there’s a natural camaraderie that develops over the course of a trip. We have two options for you:
Shared Room: You’ll be matched with another solo traveler of the same gender.
Private Room: Have your own room, subject to availability, for a supplemental cost of $500. After booking your trip, please request a single room when you fill out your traveler information form and we’ll send a separate invoice for the cost.
Travelers should be prepared to walk up to five miles over the course of each day through thick, muddy island terrain, often ascending steep hills or small mountains. There will be swimming opportunities open to all ability levels.
We recommend you arrive by 3 p.m. on Day 1 and depart anytime in the morning on Day 6. Hotel checkout is at noon, though we’re happy to help extend your stay if you would like to enjoy Oahu on your own.
By participating in this trip, we’re aiding an active researcher in her fieldwork. She will instruct all travelers in the correct spotting methods for Hawaiian bobtail squid. All travelers are expected to show respect for wildlife and their habitats, as well as the fragile ocean ecosystem surrounding Oahu, at all times. A $50 donation to coral research is included in your trip cost. If you would like to make an additional contribution to the lab, you can do so here.