Education

Lessons From the Field

Ben joined the Pacific Quest team in November of 2011.  His experience, skill, and genuine enthusiasm for working with young adults made him a trusted leader when Pacific Quest opened our new young adult program at Reeds Bay. Ben is currently earning his Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute, and will be

10 Things I Wish Every American Knew About Health

“Time spent in nature is not a luxury, it’s a medical necessity”…this is just one of the many insightful tips found in the article “10 Things I Wish Every American Knew About Health” by Dr. Lawrence Rosen, which was recently posted on the MindBodyGreen Newsletter.  Take a moment to read this interesting article and see

Mālama Honua World Wide Voyage

Pacific Quest outdoor therapy program, recently celebrated the launching of the “Hōkūleʻa” and “Hikianalia” voyaging canoes on their Mālama Honua World Wide Voyage (WWV). Pacific Quest’s very own Kalani Kahalioumi will be one of the voyaging crew for the Capetown to Panama leg of the worldwide voyage. The mission of the WWV is to “navigate

Exploring Pu’uhonua o Hōnaunau

By Taylor Schultz, Ka’u Program Supervisor Students recently had the opportunity to visit Pu’uhonua o Hōnaunau, a National Historical Park that preserves parts of traditional Hawaiian life. The park sits in Hōnaunau Bay which is a popular snorkeling destination today. This bay once provided a sheltered canoe landing and fresh drinking water for the ali’i

Pacific Quest to Present at Annual Wilderness Therapy Symposium

By Yvette Slagle, Outreach Assistant On Saturday, September 7, 2013 from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., Pacific Quest’s Clinical Director, Hilary Moses, LCSW and Horticultural Therapy Director, Travis Slagle will present “Horticultural Therapy: A Growing Edge In Outdoor Treatment” at the annual Wilderness Therapy Symposium in Boulder, Colorado. As a world renowned therapeutic program for struggling adolescents

Huaka’i Ola at Reeds Bay

By Todd Ransdell, Young Adult Program Director Polynesian people throughout the Pacific Ocean have long used the many types of Wa’a (pronounced vah-ah) to travel, explore, and fish. It is an integral part of Hawaiian history – Polynesian sailors and navigators crossed immense distances to find and colonize the islands of Hawaii without the use of

Behind the Mind of the Bullied and Bully

Has your child, someone you know or yourself ever been bullied? Do you ever wonder why bullies do what they do?  Do you see a pattern of perpetual bullying in our society or in your own personal life? These are questions many children, adolescents, young adults, parents and professionals are faced with everyday. Bullying has

Growing Food In Ka’u

By Yvette Slagle, Outreach Assistant I stand quietly and look at the garden…the jalapenos and basil, cilantro and parsley, a gourmet salad mix that boasts an array of greens, purples and reds.  There are marigolds, sunflowers, calendula– and of course, nasturtiums.   We decided this time around we should do a succession of Provider Beans, a

The Importance of Nutrition in Mental Health

By Dr. Britta Zimmer, Medical Director It is time to face a simple fact and reclaim health: Nutritious Food is Medicine It’s easy to get caught up in the complexity of science, research, and the physiology of the human body, therefore I am constantly reminding myself, my patients, and my patients’ parents to get back

Tree Growth: A Metaphor For Our Lives

By Bridger Jensen, Therapist Each morning, our newly-arrived Nalu and Kuleana adolescent students and staff travel from our sleeping quarters up the mountainside of the great volcano Mauna Kea. The short trip to our day camp is performed in silence to aid in self-reflection. From these historic, rolling hills through which we travel, sugar cane