Free Fun: 6 Volunteer Opportunities
Plant taro, pull invasive algae, restore an ancient fishpond or clean a beach at these free volunteer community days.
Photo: Tien Enga
Families helped clear a lo‘i at Ka Papa Lo‘i O Kanewai in Mānoa as part of the 2017 HONOLULU Family Volunteer Day.
Do you want your keiki to learn the value of volunteer work? Check out these six community work day opportunities that make volunteering fun. Get muddy in a lo‘i, plant new seedlings and cook and eat together. One even ends with treasure hunt. For more free fun, check out our blogs on free educational and cultural activities, outdoor adventures, museums, and restaurants where keiki eat free.
1. Ho‘oulu ‘Āina
Families with keiki of all ages can volunteer to pick weeds, till the earth, plant new seedlings, learn about Hawaiian plants and culture, and cook, eat and grow together.
Tips: It can be tricky to find, but the website has great directions. Arrive early to park, bring a refillable water bottle and a dish to share at the potluck.
Third Saturday of each month, 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., 3659 Kalihi Street, Kalihi, 841-7501, hoouluaina.com.
2. Mālama Maunalua
Get your feet wet and remove invasive alien algae. Younger children may lag behind on the 15-minute trek from the meeting point to Paiko Beach, but it’s a very pretty shoreline walk.
Monthly, meet at Kuli‘ou‘ou Beach Park, 100 Bay St., Hawai‘i Kai, malamamaunalua.org.
3. Ka Papa Lo‘i O Kånewai
Work in a taro patch and finish with free refreshments. Little kids may need help on the 10-minute walk to get to the lo‘i. Fill out a waiver online.
First Saturday of each month, 2645 Dole St., 956-0640, manoa.hawaii.edu/hshk/ka-papa-loi-o-kanewai.
Photo: David Croxford
Paepae O He‘eia
4. Paepae o He‘eia
Restore an ancient Hawaiian fishpond. Registration required. Usually the second and fourth Saturdays of each month.
46-077 ‘Ipuka St., Kāne‘ohe, 236-6178, paepaeoheeia.org.
5. Sustainable Coastlines
Treasure hunts, music, potato-sack races and a free meal make this nonprofit’s big cleanups fun family affairs.
See sustainablecoastlineshawaii.org for dates, times and locations.
6. Mālama Learning Center
Get your hands dirty replanting and propagating native Hawaiian plants at Kapolei High School. Fill out an online volunteer form for more information about sessions at the nursery as well as beach cleanups and other events across West O‘ahu.
Kapolei High School, 91-5007 Kapolei Parkway. 305-8287, malamalearningcenter.org.
Did we miss anything? Let us know about other free fun opportunities by commenting below.
