Photos by Maile McLaughlin and Shelby Ho ’01
It’s been a summer filled with on-campus and off-campus adventures, but the highlight of the “Girls In the Wilderness” course for middle schoolers was an excursion to Moloka’i.
Punahou parents Maile McLaughlin and Kevin Comcowich hosted the students and their chaperones at Kualapu’u Ranch. The girls packed a lot of adventure into their two-night, three-day stay, including hiking the cliffs overlooking the ranch, horse feeding, waterfall swimming, star gazing and meal prepping. They also visited a farm in Ho’olehua and shopped for souvenirs in Kaunakakai.
The course, taught by Outdoor Education instructor Shelby Ho ’01, is designed to give girls opportunities to explore their island home, while creating positive memories, new friendships and growing confidence in themselves and their physical capabilities, as well as a deeper understanding of their role in protecting the natural environment. The class included three overnight trips – including Moloka’i.