Preserve Hawaiʻi » Hawaiʻi Island (Big Island) Volunteering

Fall Volunteering Update

preservehawaii — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 01:45:02 +0000

Here’s just a highlight of some exciting Fall volunteer happenings among the Preserve Hawaiʻi network partners throughout the islands …

Oʻahu
A monk seal pup was recently born on the North Shore! Volunteers are needed for “pup sitting” and ongoing monitoring—ideal for students and island residents. For more info, contact woolwahine@hawaiiantel.net at the Hawaiian Monk Seal Response Team Oʻahu, www.hmsrto.org

Maui
Turtles are hatching on Lahaina and Hoʻokipa beaches, and Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund is in need of volunteers to help watch over the nests—shifts are available both day and night; training is provided. For more info, contact mauihawksbills@gmail.com, www.wildhawaii.org

Hawaiʻi Island
The Hawaiʻi Island School Garden Network has opportunities for volunteers to help with elementary school garden classes every weekday. Click on the Hawaiʻi Island calendar here—www.preservehawaii.org/calendars—and look for HISGN postings in your area.

Kauaʻi
An easily accessible volunteer opportunity for both visitors and residents on Kauaʻi is at one of the National Tropical Botanical Garden’s beautiful sites—the volunteer program is described in detail here—ntbg.org/donate/volunteer.php—with workdays scheduled throughout each week.

Island-wide
Kupu Hawaiʻi and Americorps are giving educational awards of $1,000 to interns (age 17+) who volunteer for 300 hours in a conservation-related field. Awards can be used to pay off student loans or for further education. Learn more about the awards by clicking here, or contact acprograms@kupuhawaii.org

… and note that many other Fall opportunities, for both visitor and kamaʻaina, can be found on the calendar pages at www.preservehawaii.org/calendars

New Organizations Added

preservehawaii — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 09:22:09 +0000

We’ve just added new organizations to the Preserve Hawaiʻi network! Now over 80 environmental groups are sharing their volunteer projects here … click on the calendar pages for the most updated information.

Volunteer Calendars Online

preservehawaii — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 03:09:54 +0000

Volunteer calendars are now online at preservehawaii.org—one for each main Hawaiian Island, every month of the year! Click here to view the calendars. Then simply click on a project’s listing for more details … Projects will be added regularly, so check back often for updates.

Wildlife Volunteering in Kona

preservehawaii — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 21:30:17 +0000

Volunteering with Three Ring Ranch Exotic Animal Sanctuary takes many forms (and they’re all free!):

- Groups are invited to join in on day projects
- Kona-area residents can become “animal keepers” with a 2-month commitment
- Pre-vet and vet students are always welcome for internships

To maintain their standing as a sanctuary designed to protect the well-being of their animal residents, the ranch isn’t open to the public on a regular basis—but educational tours can be scheduled for intimate groups. A suggested donation goes directly toward the animals’ upkeep. Contact the ranch for details:

Phone: (808) 331-8778
Email: animals@threeringranch.org

Three Ring Ranch is a nonprofit, fully accredited, entirely volunteer-run wildlife sanctuary dedicated to animal care and education. Visit their website to learn more about their programs: www.threeringranch.org

Exotic Animal Amnesty Center

preservehawaii — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 21:30:36 +0000

Dogs and cats have been bred to be good companions. Living with a zebra isn’t quite so easy, nor a cheetah—once it grows past that cute, cuddly kitten stage … The exotic animal trade is rampant, even here in Hawaiʻi. And when pets become too large, or too unmanageable, their owners are often desperate to give them away.

If you know of an exotic animal living illegally in the islands, Three Ring Ranch in Kona (Big Island) is a no-questions-asked amnesty center—you can drop off the animal anonymously, and the ranch will find it a good home, or adopt it into their animal enrichment program.

Phone: (808) 331-8778
Email: animals@threeringranch.org

Wildlife Rescue and Rehab

preservehawaii — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 21:30:44 +0000

Birds with a broken leg or wing, sick pueo (Hawaiian owls) or ʻio (Hawaiian hawks) … if you’re on the Big Island and find an injured animal by the side of the road (or anywhere on island), call Three Ring Ranch. They’ll come and get it—or make sure that the nearest facility does—and work to rehabilitate it, then release it back to the wild whenever possible.

Phone: (808) 331-8778
Email: animals@threeringranch.org

Spotlight: Three Ring Ranch

preservehawaii — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 21:30:21 +0000

Wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, amnesty drop-off for exotic animals, education and volunteering—Three Ring Ranch offers all this and more. Started over 10 years ago by Drs. Ann and Norm Goody, the ranch began with a zebra named Oreo, former resident of the now-defunct Molokaʻi Ranch Safari Park. Now a sanctuary for multitudes of exotic species (flamingoes, oryx, parrots, to name a few), the ranch also accepts and rehabilitates injured native species, like nene (Hawaiian goose) and pueo (Hawaiian owl), then releases them back to the wild.

The good doctors share their expertise in animal rescue and care, along with the skills of animal “whispering” to interns and volunteers, and on intimate group tours. Check back here throughout September—or visit their website: www.threeringranch.org—to learn more.

Students As ReefTeachers, Kahaluʻu Bay

preservehawaii — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 21:30:47 +0000

Student ReefTeachers

School is out for the summer, but students of all ages are learning how to protect the reef at Kahaluʻu Bay, Hawaiʻi Island (Big Island), and to share that sense of stewardship with all who enjoy it.

Student ReefTeachers educate visitors about reef etiquette—such as avoiding touching and standing on coral, taking anything from the reef, feeding fish, or coming within 10 feet of turtles. They also share what they’ve learned about the many fish and invertebrates living at the bay, practice water quality monitoring, and do data collection and coral reef surveys. The students’ knowledge of the reef and its inhabitants always draws a crowd.

Students draw from the Queen Liliʻuokalani Children’s Center, Junior Lifeguards, Wilderness Ventures, Na Kahumoku, and University of Hawaiʻi … If you know students interested in becoming ReefTeachers, please contact Cindi Punihaole at cpunihaole@kohalacenter.org, (808) 895-1010, http://www.kohalacenter.org/kahaluubay/about.html.

Be a ReefTeach Volunteer This Summer

preservehawaii — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 21:30:02 +0000

“Volunteering for ReefTeach has changed me; it has taught me compassion for others who don’t spend as much time on the ocean as I do …”

“You can’t beat the office location! We do it because it’s fun. And it’s rewarding to see visitors light up as we try to enrich their experience. They often go into orbit when we show them a turtle.”

ReefTeach Volunteers

Everyday ReefTeach volunteers don their bright blue shirts and arrive at the Kahaluʻu pavilion carrying books, storyboards and signs. They take special care assembling an information tent for beachgoers to enjoy. Their message is clear—help protect the reef!

Volunteers of all ages teach snorkelers and swimmers to identify and avoid touching live coral. They explain to visitors about the different fish and invertebrates, as well as the ecology of the reef. Most importantly, they have fun!

For more about becoming a ReefTeach volunteer at Kahaluʻu Bay, Hawaiʻi Island (Big Island), go to the Kohala Center website, or contact Cindi Punihaole at cpunihaole@kohalacenter.org, (808) 895-1010.

Meet Rocky, the Honu (Turtle)

preservehawaii — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 21:30:35 +0000

Rocky, the Honu

Kahaluʻu Bay on the Island of Hawaiʻi is well known for its clear, shallow water and abundant tropical reef fishes. There are also many green sea turtles (honu) that live in the calm protected waters of the bay. Most commonly seen is Rocky, affectionately named after the area he climbs onto each day to bask. Rocky has been known to lay out for hours on end while countless visitors gather round to take photos.

ReefTeach volunteers play an important role in protecting Rocky and other honu encountered at Kahaluʻu. Everyday ReefTeachers encourage visitors to keep at least ten feet from turtles, not to feed the fish, and to make sure not to step on the coral while snorkeling—all the while enjoying the beautiful surroundings of the bay.

Become a ReefTeacher and help keep Rocky and the other reef creatures safe. For more information, go to the Kohala Center website, or contact Cindi Punihaole at cpunihaole@kohalacenter.org, (808) 895-1010.