Hawaii June 6 - 13, 2020 PRICE a Journey with the Nature Conservancy Is Travel with a Purpose

DATES Destination: Hawaii June 6 - 13, 2020 PRICE A journey with The Nature Conservancy is travel with a purpose. You will have $5,900 per person behind -the-scenes access to TNC’s work and scientists and will gain the unique double occupancy opportunity to see local conservation in action, and to understand how local $6,700 per person conservation aligns with The Nature Conservancy’s global initiatives. single occupancy

Come explore TNC’s work in Hawaii.

Isolated in the Pacific Ocean and shaped by millennia of Hawaii has recognized the urgent need to protect and geologic activity, Hawaii is one of the most biodiverse restore the natural wealth of the islands and is making places in the world. Over 25,000 unique species call great strides with the help of partners like The Nature Hawaii home, many of which are not found anywhere Conservancy and an approach that blends conservation else on the planet. For centuries, this incredible wealth science and an emphasis on traditional knowledge. of life existed in a delicate balance with the indigenous population of the islands. A growing population, Thank you for your interest in exploring the impacts of tourism, overfishing, sediments, land-based pollution, The Nature Conservancy’s work to safeguard a future for and invasive species are now threatening this delicate the impressive biodiversity and depth of culture that this balance. country has to offer. T N C TRAVEL VALUES

AC C ESS: Travel with renowned Conservancy experts and local partners for an exclusive, behind-the-scenes experience. You won’t just see amazing places, © Ryan DeSeixas you’ll see how you are helping save them. Program Highlights IMPAC T: Leading with Science to Inform Management See how your commitment to our planet and your passion for conservation are Increased understanding of our dynamic oceans, coastlines, and inland habitat is vital making a difference. You will see the to restoring Hawaii’s once thriving reefs, fisheries, and forests. TNC scientists are wild places and the communities you are building that understanding and helping design effective management actions to impacting. address local threats. Working in partnership with academic researchers, resource managers, community groups, and fishers, we undertake research and monitoring so KNO W LEDG E: that State agencies and community groups understand changes in habitat health over Learn how we are applying the latest time. TNC’s fish surveys, for example, expand the statewide fish database allowing cutting-edge science to affect global community, university, and government partners to compare the health of nearshore change and drive conservation. fisheries at more than 50 sites across the state, and helped assess how overfishing is jeopardizing Hawaii’s reefs. TNC scientists also train community volunteers in the use INSPIRATION: of scientific monitoring protocols so they can act as citizen scientists and help State Immerse yourself in local cultures and agencies fill critical data gaps. awe-inspiring landscapes to foster your own connection to our world. Restoring Habitat

GLO BALLY MINDED: Hawaii’s once fertile and well-managed reefs and fisheries helped sustain a self- sufficient Hawaiian population for a thousand years. But the pressures of an increasing Elevate your understanding of our work population—expected to double in the next 50 years—and nearly ten million visitors a by seeing first-hand how TNC and our year are straining reefs and fisheries. TNC works with government agencies, partners act locally and how we turn community groups, and other organizations to restore essential habitat. These efforts local results in to global impact by scaling solutions that work. blend science and traditional practice to demonstrate effective management and illustrate how healthy reefs, fishponds, and wetlands enhance coastal protection. FOR BOOKING INFORMATION OR Conservation Management and Community-Based Leadership FOR JOURNEY QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT: Community groups across the islands are pursuing co-management of marine [email protected] resources in partnership with the State of Hawaii. TNC helps these communities www.nature.org/insiderexperiences leverage the best available science and critical local knowledge to develop robust conservation plans to guide community work, design and implement effective management strategies, and monitor change over time to assess management effectiveness. Through regional peer learning networks, community leaders share management tools, expertise, and lessons learned with dozens of other community groups working along Hawaii Island’s west coast. The networks provide a forum for communities to build strong ties with each other and with the government agencies responsible for managing Hawaii’s marine life. Through support of these networks, TNC is helping to increase the effectiveness of community-based co-management and harness the power of collective citizen action.

Schedule

DAY 1 – June 6

Arrive at Hilo. This evening gather together for program orientation and our welcome dinner.

OVERNIGHT AT KILAUEA LODGE

DAY 2 – June 7 After breakfast, depart for the Hawaii Volcanoes National © Robert Shallenberge Park, home to the Kilauea and Mauna Loa active volcanoes. An expert volcanologist will join the group as they tour the park. This afternoon, spend time in nearby Volcano Village, a rustic village tucked into the Niaualani rainforest adjacent to the National Park. After lunch, visit the Keauhou Bird Conservation Center (KBCC) for a chance to see critically endangered birds like the Kiwikiu, ‘Akeke’e and ‘Akikiki or the Volcano Arts Center, where art, culture and environment come together in the form of galleries, arts eduction and environmental stewardship. Then, take a guided nature walk to see the Niaulani’s tropical plants. Dinner this eveining is in Volcano.

OVERNIGHT AT KILAUEA LODGE

DAY 3 – June 8

After breakfast and check out, the group drives to The Nature Conservancy office and Ka’ū Preserve, on the southwest flank of Mauna Loa. Here, switch to 4WD vehicles for a tour of part of the largest and most intact native forest in the state. The Nature Conservancy strategic purchase of four parcels of private forestlands adjoining the Ka’ū Preserve in 2002 greatly improved management access to these important state forest reserve lands. Keep a look out for rare and endangered forest birds like the Hawaiia n hawk (‘io) ‘apapane, i’iwi, ‘elepaio, ‘amakihi and ‘ākepa as you pass through closed-canopy koa and ‘ōhi’a forest.

This afternoon, the group heads northeast to the Kona Coast where we settle into our accommodations and home base for the next five nights. Dinner this evening is at the hotel.

OVERNIGHT AT SHERATON KONA RESORT & SPA AT © Adriel Heisey KEAUHOU BAY

Schedule cont.

DAY 4 – June 9

Depart the hotel early this morning for an authentic Hawaiian breakfast at the iconic Hana Hou Restaurant before continuing on to the 8,000-acre Kona Hema Preserve. Walk through part of an ancient koa-ˋōhiˋa forest home to the Hawaiian hawk, the Hawaiian hoary bat and several globally unique songbird species. Over a picnic lunch, learn about TNC’s efforts to develop a model of sustainable koa forestry that will balance economic land uses with environmental protection along the Kona Coast.

This afternoon, return to the hotel for free time to enjoy the resort. Enjoy dinner this evening at Fosters, a “scratch kitchen” that partners with local farmers and producers to dish up fresh and innovative cuisine

OVERNIGHT AT SHERATON KONA RESORT & SPA AT KEAUHOU BAY

DAY 5 – June 10

Today the group heads out on the water for a half-day snorkel cruise to historic Kealakekua Bay. The cruise begins with a fresh and hot tropical breakfast. Along the way, hear stories about King Kamehameha III, Hawaii’s longest reigning monarch, take in historical sites like the Kuamoʹo Battlefield and the Royal Holua Slide and learn about Circumnavigator © Wayne Levin Captain James Cook, who died at Kealekekua Bay. There, take to the water to experience one of the best snorkeling destinations in Hawaii. Designated as an underwater state park and marine sanctuary, Kealakekua Bay boasts technicolor coral reefs and an array of tropical fish, including rare species like flame angelfish, butterfly fish and lizard fish. The onboard snorkeling instructor will ensure the group’s comfort throughout. After snorkeling, get back on the boat for a traditional barbeque lunch before the return trip to Keauhou Bay. Enjoy some downtime at the hotel this afternoon before departing for the Royal Kona Resort, where we will take part in one of Hawaii’s most iconic traditions, a luau.

Schedule cont.

DAY 6 – June 11

Enjoy breakfast at your leisure this morning and time to relax at the hotel before a full afternoon and evening exploring Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano and Hawaii’s highest point. Departing before lunch, the group will travel to the base of this 13,796-foot peak and then begin the breathtaking drive to the top. Along the way, stop for birdwatching opportunities and hiking through ’i’iwi and ‘io territory for most of the afternoon with a picnic lunch. In the evening you will have dinner with your observatory guide and begin acclimating to the altitude. Visit the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station (9,300 feet) to learn how Mauna Kea was formed, its sacred place in Hawaiian culture and importance for astronomers. The drive from here to the summit is steep, but worth it. Weather permitting, enjoy sunset from one of the best viewpoints in all of Hawaii and watch the stars make their appearance in a way you’ve never seen them before.

OVERNIGHT AT SHERATON KONA RESORT & SPA AT KEAUHOU BAY

After breakfast this morning, depart for the Kīholo Preserve on the North Kona Coast. Here, explore a royal fishpond that stands as a testament to Native Hawaiian ingenuity—a highly refined aquaculture system that provided a sustainable supply of fish to the surrounding community for centuries. Today, TNC works closely with community partners to restore productivity to Kīholo Preserve and share lessons learned with a peer learning network representing sites from along the Kona-Kohala coast. Jump in and take a look for yourself; if you choose to snorkel you may see endemic mollusks and shrimp as well as two dozen native fish species. Over a picnic lunch, keep your eyes out for the kioea (Bristle-thighed Curlew), a threatened migratory seabird that frequents this area. © Christine Shepard

After lunch, depart for the Hawaii Ocean Science & Technology Park (HOST Park), a unique open-air demonstration site administered by the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA). Here, learn about Hawaii’s emerging renewable and ocean based technologies. Schedule cont.

Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner and toast your fellow travelers over a final meal at the hotel.

OVERNIGHT HOTEL SHERATON KONA RESORT & SPA AT KEAUHOU BAY

DAY 8 – June 13 © LookIntoHawaii.com Enjoy a final morning at the hotel with breakfast at your leisure before departures home. Check out is at 12:00 p.m.

Aloha & Hui Hou!