Follow a Polynesian Journey - Hawaii, Fiji & New Zealand Semester

This experience was truly such an eye opener. Coming from a small town where I knew everyone, I gained social and communication skills that have already impacted my life since coming home. It gave me a new perspective of the world and its people. I loved learning about cultures I knew nothing about and I loved that I got to learn by experiencing. This was a great introduction to international travel because I felt very safe while also feeling independent. I feel more confident in my abilities from cooking to conflict. It truly taught me things I’d never thought I needed to learn.

The Polynesian Journey gap semester was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I learned so much about myself as a person, and I learned important life skills, all while going on amazing adventures. The volunteering was great I learned so much and got great value from it. The culture immersion was amazing and I loved being with locals and learning the customs and history. I met some of the coolest people on my program that I love so much! I couldn’t recommend this program any more, it’s the best thing I’ve ever done.

In this program you’ll explore the Pacific islands from the mountain tops to the sandy beaches. You’ll discover some of the most unique wildlife and ecosystems found in the world, while you absorb the colorful culture of the Native Hawaiians, Fijians, and Māori peoples. You will get the chance to go bungee jumping, white water rafting, and skydiving, all while gaining a greater appreciation and understanding of yourself, your emotions and how you fit into the world around you. This program was part of me becoming who I am now and I couldn’t be happier that I picked PD to do it with.

This trip taught me so much about the cultural practices and ways of life across the Polynesian Islands. Growing up near big cities, I rarely got the opportunity to visit a region where time was slower and daily practices were intentional. The Polynesian Journey program truly grounded me and taught me that absorbing the present moment is the greatest gift. This trip was full of intense outdoor activities, lots of thrilling adventures, and cultural exchange. Although there were many bright sides to this trip, the dynamic of the group of travelers sets the tone of the program. Over the course of the 10 weeks, I learned how to resolve conflict, settle disagreements, and have difficult conversations. The result is a much more mature and patient version of myself. Being away for two-and-a-half months is a long time to be out of your comfort zone, but it was such a unique journey that I’ll never forget.

It’s been 8 months since I came back from my Pacific Discovery trip, and the memories I have still feel fresh in my mind. Surfing in North Shore, white water rafting in New Zealand, camping, and spending time in a Fijian village were all new experiences for me and put me far out of my comfort zone, allowing me to grow as a person. In addition, being thrown into a group of 13 people and living with them for 10 weeks created such a tight community, and that experience also prepared me for my first semester of college. I’d like to give a special thanks to my instructors Henry, Erin, and Sabrina for being very down to earth and friendly and organizing our plans day to day. Highly recommend this trip.

The memories and growth I experienced on this trip was truly unmatched. For young adults, it is so important to take time off and learn who we are outside of academics and this program is the perfect way to do it. While Pacific Discovery targets and achieves cultural literacy, the personal learning you do alongside your travel group and leaders help create an unshakable sense of self to cement you through your future learning, goals, and struggles. However, you don’t only leave with increased knowledge of yourself and the world, but also with friends and memories that last a lifetime.

To say I loved Pacific Discovery’s Polynesian journey would be an understatement. This program was 10 weeks straight of excitement, learning, adventure, laughter and pure joy. This program provided me with some of my favorite memories like snorkeling with mantras, swimming in countless water falls in the picturesque country of New Zealand, playing hours of games with the most precious children in a Fijian village and numerous sunrise swims on the coast of Hawaii. It also taught me invaluable lessons through experiences that can not be replicated else where!

My child experienced explosive growth over the 12 weeks of this program, had loads of fun, deepened her appreciation for other cultures, and strengthened her connection to her own. Life-changing is the best description of the experience, and I don't use that phrase lightly. If your goal for a gap year is to have fun, learn, build resilience, self-reliance, broaden your world and challenge yourself, this is a great program. I think the fees for this program were the best money I've ever spent on my kid.

The trip leaders were experienced, well-trained, compassionate, set excellent examples, and kept control of the group (no small feat with 18-22yos). The kids sing their praises long after the trip is over. They are able to help the kids integrate their experiences and navigate their worries and challenges (both mental and physical) along the way.

PD offers an appropriate level of structure, and keeps the kids very, very busy with hikes, activities, cultural events and group-directed side trips. There are optional add-on experiences available in Hawaii and NZ, including night dives with manta rays, sky diving, and bungee jumping. My kid did all of them.

Lodging was a mix of camping, home stays, shared homes, small resorts, and hostels. I know the kids carp about some of the places they stay, particularly in Fiji, but if you've ever been a backpack traveler, you'll be familiar with what they are encountering, and none of it is dangerous or filthy. It's the tropics, after all. There are bugs. If your kid hasn't stayed in a tent, that will be a new experience.

There was a wide variety of kids on the trip, a mix of US and Europeans, some taking a pre-college gap year, some taking a semester off. The group seemed to get along well, and the leaders were on top of the social dynamics in a very helpful way.

There is a good mix of Type 1 and Type 2 fun. Type 2 are experiences that are outside of your comfort zone, but help you grow into a better person. Type 2 fun produces much better stories, the kind that you'll think back to as you navigate the twists and turns of life. Long, challenging hikes that you didn't think you could do, (or didn't think you'd enjoy as much as you did), river rafting over a 7 meter waterfall, getting caught an unexpected rainstorm, are all examples of Type 2 fun, and all real experiences on this trip. Balance that with Type 1 classics like surfing, snorkeling, shopping in Auckland, and exploring Waikiki and you have a truly great adventure.

I would wholeheartedly recommend this trip, and Pacific Discovery, to anyone looking for a life-changing adventure.