8 Ways To Volunteer In Hawaii And Give Back To The Community

In the aftermath of Hawaii’s scarring volcanic activities of late, there is more room than ever before to volunteer and give back within the Hawaiian community.

Whether volunteering for just a day or making it an ongoing commitment, there are many ways to give back while learning something new and meeting a few friends too. Volunteer opportunities in Hawaii are as diverse as the islands themselves—find one that you’re passionate about. Here are just a few ways that you can help make a difference in the Aloha State.

Observe endangered bird populations

International and local ornithologists will enjoy viewing native birds and lending a hand to the Hawaii Audubon Society. They organize habitat restoration outings for wedge-tailed shearwaters at the Freeman Seabird Preserve during January, February, and March, and further projects at Kawainui Marsh, home to four species of endangered birds. They also survey, count, monitor, and photograph birds throughout the islands.

Count humpback whales

Organize or join a beach cleanup

The nonprofit community group West Maui Kumuwai organizes beach cleanups, maintenance and planting of native plants, and informative lectures about environmental conservation. Other organizations such as the Waikiki Aquarium, 808 Cleanups, and Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii offer similar events.

Restore an ancient Hawaiian fishpond

Aquaculture was an important source of subsistence for the Hawaiians who perfected an extremely innovative, unique, and efficient technique not used by any other culture in the world. The over 800-year-old loko iʻa (fishponds), such as Paepae o Heʻeia and Waikalua on Oʻahu and Koʻieʻie on Maui, rely on school groups and volunteers who learn about the methods of old, help rebuild rock walls, remove invasive species, and more.

Preserve a unique volcanic environment

The natural ecosystem of the Big Island’s Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and Haleakalā National Park on Maui are extremely fragile and home to plants and animals that can’t live in any other environment. The parks always have work for volunteers to kōkua (help) pull out invasive plants, maintain facilities, and restore the native forests.

Reforest and clear a hidden valley not open to the public

Maui volunteers get an exclusive look inside Honokowai Valley, once the location of a self-sufficient ancient Hawaiian village of over 600 families. Help is needed to clear the archaeological sites, which include hale (homes), heiau (temples), and loʻi (taro patches), in addition to reforesting the area with native plants.

Help put a stop to Hawaii’s homelessness crisis

Just a few years ago, Hawaii had the highest rate of homelessness per capita in the U.S. due to a compilation of various factors, including the extremely high cost of living; housing costs are currently the highest in the nation and continue to rise. You can help organize a fundraiser, prepare and serve meals, provide childcare, and more with organizations like the Institute for Human Services, Help the Homeless Keiki, and Hope Services.

Monitor Hawaiian monk seals or green sea turtles

Helpers on all the islands work to protect and educate the public about the native Hawaiian monk seals and Hawaiian green sea turtles, who pop up to rest on the beach. Because of loss of habitat, they come in close proximity to humans, and that’s where volunteers step in to set up buffer zones to safely view the animals, monitor them and make sure legal distances are being observed, respond to emergencies and injuries, and provide educational outreach.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.