If you are interested in environmental
issues that face Hawaii’s natural resources there are many
ways and places for you to get involved. Not only are you actively
working to make a positive difference in Hawaii, there are many
other great benefits that come with environmental stewardship.
The people and areas you volunteer for have great resources:
volunteer coordinators with a wealth of knowledge, exiting hands
on projects, as well as the people that you meet while volunteering
who always interesting and usually share the same love of Hawaii
as you.
Island of Oahu
Department of Parks & Recreation,
Honolulu Botanical Gardens - Foster Botanical Gardens:
This botanical garden has many different
gardens that incorporate microclimates. Located in downtown
Honolulu, many of the plants are rare endemic Hawaiian plants
as well as plants from around the tropics. There are many different
activities for people at the garden including volunteer opportunities.
Open daily 9am- 4pm except Christmas and New Years.
Foster
Botanical Gardens contact number is
(808)
522-7060
Hanauma Bay Education Program /
Hawaii Sea Grant:
The Hanauma
Bay Education Program (HBEP) is a volunteer-based program
whose mission is to enhance appreciation and promote
understanding
and stewardship of the marine and coastal environment. HBEP
provides on-site orientation and field experience for groups
on an education permit to the bay. These experiences typically
cover Hanauma Bay’s human and natural history and emphasize
the necessity for the reef conservation. Outreach includes
speaker programs, class presentation, and community events.
100 Hanauma Rd, Honolulu HI 96822
Phone: (808) 397-5840, Fax: (808) 395-0468
Email hanauma@hawaii.edu
Ducks Unlimited:
Ducks Unlimited
(DU) is a membership/volunteer organization dedicated to
wetlands conservation. In Hawaii,
DU protects and restores many
wetland habitats will be necessary for the full recovery of Hawaii’s native
and endangered water birds and also provide wintering habitat for migratory waterfowl
and shorebirds. DU national program offers educational programs for all age groups.
DU is in the process of creating a wetlands educational program, called the WIN
(Wetlands Information Network) this will be an interactive website and a place
where information on Hawaii’s wetlands and water birds is shared.
Western Regional Office
1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 323
Honolulu HI 96813
Phone: (808) 522-8230 ext. 122
Fax: (808) 522-8236
Email sreilly@ducks.org
www.duck.org
Pae Pae o Heeia:
Volunteers will work to help remove mangrove that is eroding
the fishpond wall. Volunteers will help in establishing a healthy fishpond
including predator control (catching barracuda) and pulling invasive
seaweed from inside
and around the fishpond.
To volunteer with Pae Pae o Heeia you can
contact them at (808) 236-6178
Kawainui Marsh:
Volunteers
work in various parts of the largest wetland
in the Hawaiian Islands. Volunteer work will include pulling invasive
species, habitat
restoration for native water birds, planting native plants, or maintenance
for the heiau in the area of Kawainui.
To volunteer at Kawainui Marsh
contact Chuck
Burrows at (808) 595-3922
Waimea Valley Audubon Center:
Welcomes
individuals and groups to help care for, restore, and create
botanical, cultural, and educational
sites. Volunteering
opportunities include: Trail improvement and maintenance, vine
and weed removal, stream bed and stream bank clearing,
docents to interpret
plant
and cultural
tours, and to provide for general safety and information, also
volunteers are needed for community programs and outreach.
Experience is not
required, and
training
is provided!
Call Kelly Perry Volunteer Coordinator at
(808) 638-9199
or e-mail kperry@audubon.org
Heeia State Park- Friends of Heeia:
Friends of Heeia creates environmental education programs
for local school groups. They occasionally look
for interns who will
help facilitate these educational programs. Also you can volunteer
the second and fourth Saturday of every month by doing conservation
work at
the park.
This includes stream restoration, native out-planting, and alien
plant removal.
To
volunteer contact (808) 247-3156
Division of Forestry and Wildlife
(Wildlife): Volunteers
would work with the states wildlife division removing vegetation
from wetland and hunting areas. Volunteers will help control
the spread of mangrove and other noxious plant species. Other
projects include Wedgetail Shearwater monitoring (once a
year), and possible native out-planting on coastal islets.
Call Ethan at (808) 295-5896
Moanalua Gardens Foundation:
The Moanalua Gardens Foundation is a non-profit organization
which specializes in educational programs on the culture
and
environment of Hawaii. They accomplish this through television
and school programs. In addition to this, they give occasional
educational walks on the weekend which incorporate cultural
history into the hikes.
If interested either in participating
in one of their programs or volunteering your services, call
(808) 839-5334 or visit them at www.mgf-hawaii.com
The Nature
Center:
The purpose of the Hawaii Nature Center is to
educate people of all ages concerning the environment
surrounding us here in Hawaii and to encourage an appreciation
for the unique land in which we live. The HNC runs a variety
of programs to accomplish this, including many hands on
programs and hikes for people of all ages. If interested
in volunteering
call (808) 955-0100.
Na Ala Hele Trail and Access system: Work with the states
trail staff on some of the most beautiful trails in Hawaii.
Volunteer
work includes: clearing trail, grubbing trails, building
steps, building bridges, and other types of trails upkeep.
Contact
Ryan at (808) 286-9101 or go to www.hawaiitrails.com
Island of Kauai
Limahuli Gardens:
Volunteers will help the staff of Limahuli
Gardens complete conservation projects within the
park. This includes cutting back and applying herbicide
on
invasive plants. Volunteers also out-plant natives
in areas where
the invasive
have been cut back.
To volunteer contact Matt Notch
by email
topnotchmail@yahoo.com
Koke’e Resource Conservation
Program (KRCP):
Help
protect one of the jewels of Kauai. Koke’e has one
some of the most beautiful native forest, but is also one
of the most endangered
forest as well. The encroachment of many different
invasive species has made Koke’e a battleground. Volunteer
here and you are in the frontlines. Working with
KRCP includes invasive species eradication, and
performing transects
in
search invasive
species.
To contact KRCP call (808) 335-9975
Waipa
Foundation:
Work in one of the only complete ahupuaa left
in the Hawaiian Islands. Learn cultural
practices
and belief while working in a lo’i. Learn
all you ever wanted to know about taro. Help
clear out ancient auwai and restore
ancient lo’i.
Contact Stacy Sproat at stacy_sproat@hotmail.com
Na Pali Coast Ohana:
The Na Pali
Coast Ohana lead volunteer service trips into the remote
Na Pali
Coast. Volunteers
help the group restore and preserve archeological
feature. The
Na Pali Coast Ohana also provides educational
opportunities for
people to learn about the Na Pali Coast.
If
you
are interested in joining the Na Pali Coast
Ohana, or going on a service
project you can call 241-PALI (7254), email
at info@napali.org
Island of Maui
Kanaha Pond:
Kanaha Pond is a habitat for several
endangered birds including the Ae’o
Hawaiian Stilt. Volunteers work with
the Division of
Forestry and Wildlife staff
and members
of the Native Hawaiian Plant Society.
Volunteers work to control alien species
at the pond,
as well as out-plant
native plants.
If you would like to volunteer call
Dr. Fern Duvall at
873-3502
TNC Maui Program:
The Maui Program
conducts bimonthly guided hikes into
two Maui preserves,
and special-request
school
and community hikes preceded by a classroom
visit and slide show.
Volunteer Opportunities to assist staff
with conservation efforts and available.
Volunteer
trips occur once
a month.
P.O Box 1716, Makawao, Hawaii96768
Phone: (808) 572-7849, Fax: (808)572-1375
Email inaeole@tnc.org
Maui Land and Pineapple
- Pu’u Kukui:
Pu’u Kukui is one of the exquisite
bogs remaining in the Hawaii. Pu’u Kukui was featured in the much acclaimed
book Remains of the Rainbow. Staff of Pu’u Kukui take volunteers once
usually the third of fourth Saturday of every month. Volunteers pull invasive
weeds that are threatening this unique bog.
To volunteer at Pu’u
Kukui call Hank Oppenheimer at (808) 669-1687.
The Island of Hawaii - "Big Island"
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawksbill
Turtle monitoring:
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is
seeking volunteers to
monitor and protect
endangered hawksbill
sea turtles from June to December 2004. The program
entails nightly watches at remote beaches to observe
nesting hawksbill
and basking
green sea turtles.
Volunteers will monitor nesting activities, handle
and tag turtles, rescue stranded hatchlings, excavate
nest,
record field data, and
trap and euthanize
introduced predators (mongooses, rats, feral cats)
to protect turtle eggs and hatchlings. Volunteers
must possess
an upbeat
positive attitude,
a love of
the outdoors, be willing to camp in the field 4-6
nights a week, and be capable of working late into
the night.
Some sites are reached
by
hiking 7-12 miles
in hot weather conditions with a 30+ pound backpack,
others by 4wd vehicle. You must possess a valid U.S.
driver’s
license. Dorm style housing and a food stipend will
be provided. If you are interested, please contact
them for an application:
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park-Resources
Management, Hawksbill Turtle Monitoring Program
P.O.
Box 52, Hawaii National Park, Hi 96718
Phone: (808) 985-6090, Fax (808) 985-6029
e-mail: HAVO_turtle_project@nps.gov.
TREE Center- Tropical Reforestation
and Ecosystems Education Center:
TREE Center programs are
hands-on
and skill-building,
based on the
art of mentoring. Community
members volunteer as mentors, providing expertise
from the field of geography, ethnobotany, wildlife
biology,
forestry, cultural knowledge,
and art. Programs
consist of an ethnobotanical greenhouse on a
high school campus, Camp
Papaloa, O’oma forest stewardship, Sherwood
Forest living laboratory, and one-day field study
in the forest.
Their focus is on forest stewardship,
conservation,
and education, for a healthy rainforest for future
generations. To contact TREE Center:
PO Box 3045, Kailua-Kona HI 96745
Phone: (808) 937-8183
Email: reforest@treecenter.org
www.treecenter.org
Sierra
Club, Hawaii Chapter
The Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter conducts educational
field trips; leads fun, challenging hikes;
host service many
projects including
stream
restoration,
trail work and noxious plant control, and fencing;
Sierra Club also lobbies for environmental
protection in all areas
of Hawaii’s
eco-system. If you are interested in joining
the Sierra Club in one of their field trips,
or hikes you can contact them at:
PO Box 2577,
Honolulu HI 96803
Phone at (808) 538 6616
Emai: Hawaii.chapter@sierraclub.org
www.hi.sierraclub.org
Big Island Educational Opportunities
UH, Hawaiian Internship Program (HIP)
UH-HIP is a collaborative effort of U.S Geological Survey,
Biological Resources Division, US forest service, The Nature
Conservancy, and the many agencies who host interns. During
the Summer, UH-HIP conducts an environmental internship program
that connects Native Hawaiian undergraduates with career experience
in environmental research, education and management efforts
in Hawaii. Related efforts include a similar program for Native
Pacific Islanders, and developing opportunities for local Hawaii
undergraduates. Contact Info:
200 W. Kawili St., Hilo, HI 96720
Phone: (808) 933-0706, Fax (808) 933-0704
Email: Ziegler@hawaii.edu
www.uhh.hawaii.edu/uhintern
Environment Hawaii
Environment Hawaii has links to other
volunteer groups and opportunities on all the islands, as
well as
updates on ongoing projects that need community
help. You can also receive a free issue of the magazine Environment Hawaii
when you’re in the website.
www.environment-hawaii.org
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