Programs in Kona, Hawaiʻi Island
World Leadership School’s immersive, partnership-based travel program near Kona on Hawaiʻi Island introduces students to the inspiring work of local leaders and purpose-driven organizations. Students begin their experience at a retreat center in North Kohala, on the island’s northern coast, where they stay in bunkrooms, meet and learn from community-based organizations, and explore Hawaiʻi’s natural environment. Students explore some of Hawaiʻi’s most significant natural and cultural sites, such as hiking in the Pololū Valley, snorkeling in Kealakekua Bay, and seeing the sunset at Mauna Kea, while engaging in meaningful conversations with local leaders driving change in their communities. The range of experiences allows students to explore sustainable development in the context of Hawaiʻi’s Island’s unique culture and environment.
Kona offers a firsthand look at how one community is successfully navigating the tension between growth and preservation. Like many island communities around the world, tourism is Kona’s number one economic driver and places significant pressure on housing, infrastructure, and the preservation of both the environment and cultural landmarks. Students see this tension in action by meeting educators, scientists, conservationists, and Native Hawaiian community leaders building a more reciprocal model of tourism and sustainability. Kona is a living case study for how purpose-driven leadership can create sustainable economic growth.
The safety of our programs rests on the experience and skills of our Staff, Country Coordinators and Instructors, who convene at our annual training in Colorado’s Arkansas Valley.
- The Staff of World Leadership School have decades of experience working in different educational environments. Their focus is logistics, risk management, program design, professional development, and consulting.
- Our Country Coordinators live and work year round in our overseas countries. They screen our homestay families, evaluate our transport and other service providers, and provide ground support for our groups.
- Our Instructors are veteran educators with extensive international experience. They have wilderness first responder training and often have past affiliations with Peace Corps, Outward Bound, NOLS, and/or independent schools.
We strive to responsibly manage risks. Our itineraries minimize highway travel and maximize immersion in rural communities that we know well. We update our risk management protocols, integrate feedback into program design, and invest in safety and communication equipment. Despite these efforts, World Leadership School cannot guarantee safety nor can it eliminate the inherent and other risks of international student travel. For information regarding program activities and associated risks, risk management, and student and parent responsibilities, please contact our office.
“Definitely! I learned a lot about myself, like asking for help when I need it and thoroughly communicating my needs. I learned how to build relationships without words and how similar the world is to each other despite the distance.”
— Student, Menlo School/Tanzania
“It inspired me to see more of the world and to make more of an effort to empower myself and others. It made me want to learn more about different perspectives and find new ways to connect with people.”
— Student, Colorado Academy/Chilamate
“This program made me realize that being myself is enough because different countries have their own lifestyles.”
— Student, La Jolla Country Day School/Peru
“She said it had a profound impact on her. She hasn’t stopped talking about it since she returned, and she has shared a lot of helpful information with us, her parents.”
— Parent, Colorado Academy/Borderland
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