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SPECOPS:
The Radical Sabbatical - Hawaii
New: Basic
Survival Training with Mykel Hawke
Note: This
adventure is temporarily unavailable. Instructors are on
active military duty. For schedule updates call 800-644-7382.
The Radical
Sabbatical - Hawaii Day 1 (Sat) - Arrival
Welcome to Maui! Your first day in paradise is reserved for pure
rest and relaxation - enjoy it while you can. After a personal pick-up
at the airport, you and the SPECOPS guide will bond through an intellectually
stimulating conversation on your way to a comfortable resort where the
remainder of the day is spent lounging pool side and walking the beautiful
beaches of Maui.
Day 2 (Sun)
- SCUBA, Surfing/Boogie Boarding and Sea Survival
If you are a certified diver and carrying your logbook, we take you
diving first  thing
in the morning. If you are not certified, then you will attend a resort
course followed by an exciting dive in the blue Pacific waters led by
an experienced SCUBA instructor. After a succulent lunch it's time for
boogie boarding and surfing. You'll have an opportunity to learn the
basic skills and then try your hand at it during unscheduled activities
time every day throughout the remainder of the trip. The SPECOPS instructor
will be available to provide information to those interested in Sea
Survival.
Day 3 (Mon)
- Downhill Volcano Biking, Haleakala Crater Hike, Celestial Navigation
 Don't
stay up too late admiring the heavenly bodies, because at the crack
of dawn we're heading to the top of the volcano. From the hotel it's
approximately a 90-minute ride up to the peak at 10,034 feet. The speedy
trip back down takes place on a specially outfitted mountain bike with
disk brakes. Don't be tempted to take-off like the professional racers
as this is their home turf and they know every corner and blind spot;
this is definitely not a place where you want to lose control. A professional
bike guide provides all  necessary
instruction and will escort you down the steep volcano.
If you're like
75 year old Mrs. X who at the starting line saw a group of pros zip
by her and asked the guide "Oh my! Mark.are we going to be going
that fast?" and whose answer was "Yes ma'am.we are;"
then there's no shame in hopping back into the van. By the way, Mark
was just kidding; the speed is very controlled. The Haleakala bike guides
just have a twisted sense of humor! But hey, it's your vacation, so
the SPECOPS guide will be sure to have his aid bag near by just in case.
After successfully
completing the Haleakala bike blast challenge we'll break  for
lunch at Sunrise Market & Protea Farm. They've got great food, but
don't go crazy because you are going to head right back up to the top
for a really intense and slightly bizarre crater hike. The inside of
Haleakala crater is over 19 square miles of dormant cinder cones and
cliff-sides. This is as close as one can get to being on Mars without
leaving the planet. Definitely bring your cameras, a jacket, long-sleeved
shirt and long pants for this one.
In the evening
as the sun is setting, a sky that offers some of the best celestial
viewing on the planet will unfold before your very eyes; due to the
clarity governments from across the world have based some of their best
telescopes on Haleakala. It's the perfect time for your instructor to
introduce you to the age-old tradition of celestial navigation.
Day 4 (Tue)
- Chopper Flight, Powered Hang Gliding, Intro to Jungle Survival
Bright and early the group is driven to the heliport, which is the exfiltration
 point
for an exhilarating flight/airborne tour to Hana - a sleepy little community
nestled between pristine, tropical landscapes and the rugged Pacific
Ocean.
Upon arrival,
a local guide meets the Group and breaks us into two groups. One heads
to the ocean to learn and enjoy sea kayaking while the other starts
one of the more exciting parts of out tour... Powered Hang Gliding!
While these activities are going on, the SPECOPS guide arrives in The
Radical Sabbatical van with your luggage and checks us into a local
resort.
After a scrumptious dinner, the remainder of the evening is reserved
for rest and relaxation, walking the beach and getting to know your
fellow adventurers and SPECOPS guides. In the evening, you will get
your introduction to Jungle Survival.
 Day
5 (Wed) - Survival Trekking
After breakfast the Group musters for a Survival Trek which takes us
through the beautiful and untamed jungles of Hana. During the trek he'll
instruct you on food procurement and preparation, water procurement
and purification, field-expedient shelter and fire building and signaling
techniques. In the evening, if you are not drop-dead tired, you can
join your instructor for some evening surfing or simply choose to relax
on the beach and enjoy the sunset; after all, it is a vacation.
Day 6 (Thu)
- Transfer to Kahului and Flight to Oahu
The morning is free for surfing, boogie-boarding, well deserved relaxation
or walking around Hana. In the late morning, we head back to Kahului
with sight seeing and lunch en route. Upon arrival, we head straight
to the airport for the flight to Oahu. The evening consists of souvenir
shopping and a night-on-the-town.
Day 7 (Fri)
- Skydiving/Tandem Jumping 
Early morning we head to the north side of Oahu where we'll step in
thin air from a beautiful, twin turboprop airplane from over 10,000
feet! Of course, you'll be strapped to one of the best tandem skydiving
instructors in the world. But knowing you're safe doesn't take the incredible
thrill out of that first step, or the unbelievable rush of plummeting
toward earth. After the chute opens and you reassure yourself that you
will indeed live, take some time to look around and enjoy the incredible
view of the ocean and the mountains from underneath the safety of your
canopy. If you just can't muster the courage to get on the airplane
we'll have options available, but skydiving is one ride you don't want
to miss!
The afternoon
is left for enjoying the beach, last minute shopping or just savoring
the events of The Radical Sabbatical! In the evening, we meet for one
final supper and a night-on-the-town.
Day 8 (Sat)
- Departure for home
It's time for bittersweet good-byes and promises of reunions as you
head to Honolulu Airport for the return home. Don't be too sad; the
islands of Hawaii and our SPECOPS instructors will welcome you back
with aloha when you're hit with the overwhelming urge to get wild once
again on another SPECOPS Adventure. Hey, maybe we'll see each other
again on The Big Adrenaline Rush!
in Costa Rica!
Note: Biplane
rides and other optional add-ons are available for customized adventures.
Call for info.
Photos
copyright Jay Dickman.
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Rush!
