Biology Without Borders

HBS Abroad

Highlands Biological Station Abroad offers immersive experiences that connect students and lifelong learners with some of the world’s most biologically rich regions—from the cloud forests of the Andes to the iconic landscapes of the Galápagos and Patagonia. These travel-based programs combine hands-on research with cultural exploration, expanding our understanding of ecology, evolution, and conservation across borders.

Upcoming Excursions

Ready to explore Hawaiʻi with HBS?

Registration for Splendid Isolation: The Natural Wonders of Hawaiʻi is now open! Join us November 28–December 5, 2026, for an unforgettable journey into island ecology, volcanoes, stargazing, and culture.

Learn more & reserve your spot today!

Splendid Isolation: The Natural Wonders of Hawaiʻi

November 28 – December 5, 2026

Highlands Biological Station is pleased to announce its next HBS Abroad travel adventure—Splendid Isolation: The Natural Wonders of Hawaiʻi—offered in partnership with our friends at the Highlands-Cashiers Center for Life Enrichment (CLE).

Repeatedly suggested by our community, Hawaiʻi is a destination of superlatives. The Hawaiian archipelago is the most remote chain of islands on Earth—more than 2,000 miles from land in every direction—and home to the planet’s most massive mountains. Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea rise more than 33,000 feet from the ocean floor to summits above 12,000 feet, creating extraordinary geological and ecological gradients.

That isolation has fueled spectacular biodiversity, with over 90% endemism among native plants and animals. Hawaiʻi also hosts the world’s largest bird radiation—the Hawaiian honeycreepers—surpassing even Darwin’s finches in diversity. Volcanic processes shape nearly every aspect of these islands; in fact, many foundational terms in volcanology originate in the Hawaiian language. The high elevations also offer some of the world’s best astronomical conditions, and participants will have opportunities to visit observatory sites and enjoy guided stargazing.

Our program will be based on the two youngest and largest islands—Maui and the Big Island of Hawaiʻi—with an optional extension to the oldest island, Kauaʻi, the rainforest-clad “Garden Isle.” Along the way, we’ll explore island natural history and geology, Polynesian oceanic navigation, and the rich cultural history of the Hawaiian people, as well as the islands’ role in scientific discovery—from Captain Cook to modern ecology, evolution, and geology.

Led by Dr. Jim Costa, who has taught field courses in Hawaiian ecology, evolution, and conservation for many years, this HBS–CLE journey promises a deeply informed and immersive experience.

Learn more and register: Full program details, itinerary, and registration information are available in the brochure. We hope you’ll join us for this unforgettable exploration.
Aloha!