Mālama Pono

Kaʻehu

Kaʻehu is a non-profit organization located in Waiehu, Maui, dedicated to preserving and revitalizing Hawaiian culture and natural resources. Through community engagement, Kaʻehu focuses on restoring native ecosystems, perpetuating traditional Hawaiian practices, and fostering a deeper connection between people and the ʻāina (land). The organization offers various educational programs and volunteer opportunities that promote environmental stewardship and cultural awareness. By empowering the community to mālama ʻāina (care for the land), Kaʻehu plays a vital role in sustaining the cultural heritage and environmental health of Waiehu and beyond.

Kīpuka Olowalu:

Kīpuka Olowalu is an organization seeking to preserve the Native Hawaiian cultural site, Olowalu valley. Participant tasks vary depending on the Hawaiian moon calendar. Different tasks can include removing weeds and invasive plants on the property and learning about different native and endemic plants. Beyond protecting the Cultural Reserve, Kīpuka Olowalu also works to preserve the biodiversity and beauty of Olowalu Reef, a 1,000-acre reef habitat that provides food and shelter to a variety of marine species and unique coral habitat. Through proper planting and sediment mitigation techniques, Kīpuka Olowalu reduces reef stressors and helps maintain the integrity of the nearshore marine ecosystem.

Hawaiʻi Land Trust (HILT):

HILT works in three programmatic areas: ʻĀina Protection, Stewardship, and Connection. They prioritize the protection of coastlines, wahi kupuna (ancestral spaces), and lands that grow healthy food for Hawaiʻi’s people, and partner to conserve mauka forests and ranches. Participants will help with restoring habitat by removing invasive plants, planting native species, working in loʻi (taro) patches and more.

Grow Some Good:

Grow Some Good is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating hands-on, outdoor learning experiences that cultivate curiosity about natural life cycles, connect students to their food sources, and inspire better nutrition choices. Their mission is to cultivate a healthy community by strengthening local agriculture and improving access to nutritious, affordable food. As they expand their community agroforest at the YMCA on Maui, we will join them in growing a greener Maui! This will include maintaining a healthy garden through necessary weeding, planting, and other small improvement projects. Occasionally there are opportunities to help with their Farm to School program where participants would assist with local school garden workdays or plant kit assembly for students.

Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge:

Keālia Pond is a sanctuary for many native and endemic species to the Hawaiian Islands. The wetlands at Keālia pond is home endangered ae‘o (Hawaiian stilt) and ‘alae ke‘oke‘o (Hawaiian coot), providing nesting, feeding and resting habitat. Feathered visitors from faraway places also make appearances. Participants will be contributing to habitat restoration work, protecting and enhancing the refuge’s native plant community. Volunteers will usually work alongside refuge staff to outplant and care for native plant species and remove invasive plants.

Maui Nui Seabird Recovery Project:

Maui Nui Marine Seabird Recovery Project focuses on seabird recovery, management and restoration within habitat areas around Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi. Their project protects the seabirds by removing predators and habitat-altering plants taking over the breeding colony. Participation could include restoring ʻuaʻu kani (wedge-tailed shearwaters) burrow areas at Hāwea point, Hoʻokipa and south Maui, or recording data during banding efforts.

Maui Nui Botanical Gardens:

Maui Nui Botanical Gardens (MNBG) is committed to preserving the rich native flora and cultural heritage of Maui Nui. By collecting, cultivating, and distributing native and Polynesian-introduced plants, MNBG offers a vibrant gathering place where visitors can explore and appreciate the essential role these plants play in our economic, social, and cultural lives.

Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DLNR-DOFAW)

PWF and the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DLNR-DOFAW) are partnering to support ridge to reef restoration efforts on Maui. DOFAWʻs mission is to protect, manage, and restore natural and cultural resources in collaboration with the people of Hawaiʻi. They envision a future with thriving native ecosystems and opportunities for the people of Hawaiʻi to engage with nature.

Volunteer efforts on state owned properties, which span the area from Māʻalaea to Olowalu, include land restoration which will reduce recurrent wildfire risks, enhance public access to hiking trails, protect cultural and scenic resources, and reduce stormwater runoff and erosion. Participants will engage with various stages of restoration include removing invasive weeds and brush, cleaning up trash, out planting native species and more.

Pacific Whale Foundation’s Community Beach Cleanups:

Plastic pollution is one of the five major threats to whales and dolphins, leading to contamination of marine eco-systems, habitat degradation and wildlife entanglement. Community beach cleanups exist to remove marine debris from ocean environments. Most of this debris originates from land-based sources, such as someone thoughtlessly discarding a cigarette butt or soda can. Participants collect and report marine debris while helping to keep Maui’s beaches and parks trash- and tobacco-free.