13 Hawaii Volunteer Programs for a Trip You Won’t Forget
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We get asked a lot by readers to share recommendations on Hawaii volunteer programs around the islands. Here are 12 Hawaii volunteer programs for a more purposeful and enriching trip to the Hawaiian Islands.
A Note on the Maui Wildfires: Due to the tragic wildfires on August 8th, 2023 on Maui, there are numerous opportunities to volunteer on Maui during your vacation. See the list of 8 Maui Volunteer on Vacation Signups. Mahalo nui loa for your support.
While 70% of surveyed Hawaii residents encourage visitors to volunteer and give back during their visits to Hawaii, Erica and I don’t believe volunteering is required.
You’re coming to Hawaii for a vacation (an expensive vacation) so a requirement to volunteer is a little unorthodox compared to visiting other locations in the world.
Voluntourism does provide a sense of purpose and even a legal off-the-beaten-path experience when visiting. The volunteer opportunities below will definitely take you to places local residents don’t go, can’t go, or rarely ever visit.
Hawaii Volunteer Program for Visitors
The Mālama Hawaiʻi Program is the easiest way to volunteer when you come to Hawaii. With opportunities on all the islands, you can restore a native Hawaiian fishpond, harvest taro, or restore the Battleship Missouri Memorial. You could also qualify for discounts or a free night at participating hotels when you volunteer.
Related article: 9 Ways to Have an Authentic Hawaiian Experience
What is the Malama Hawaii Program?
Mālama means to care for or give back in Hawaiian. You will hear it most often as mālama ‘aina, meaning to care for the land.
When you give back – to the land, the ocean, the creatures, the community – you’re part of something bigger than you are. By volunteering in the Malama Hawaii Program, you can enrich your experience as a visitor.
Several organizations offer opportunities for visitors to pay it forward, like beach clean-ups, native tree planting, and more. Check out their website to see if a program aligns with your vacation plans.
Hawaii Volunteer Days on Kauai, Maui, and Oahu
Hawaii Land Trust (HILT) is Hawaii’s islands-wide land trust that is both a Hawaiʻi 501(c)3 nonprofit, and a nationally accredited land trust. They raise money to purchase land that will be protected for future generations. They request volunteers to help maintain their reserves. They will take you to some gorgeous and protected areas on the islands.
Hawaii Land Trust has weekly or monthly volunteer events on each island. Clean up a beach or help restore a coastal dune and wetland, they will take you deep into protected, wild parts of Hawaii. Click the link above, to confirm the dates, sign the waiver, and meet up at the specified place and time!
- KĀHILI BEACH PRESERVE (ISLAND OF KAUAʻI) 1st Sunday of each month: December 4, 2022, 8:30 am to 10:30 am. Meet at Kāhili Beach near the big rocks in the parking area.
- WAIHEʻE COASTAL DUNES & WETLAND REFUGE (ISLAND OF MAUI) Most Fridays, 8:00 am to 12:00 pm, and 3rd Saturday of each month, 8:00 to 11:00 am
- NUʻU REFUGE (ISLAND OF MAUI) Four times a year, see HILT Volunteer for dates.
- MAUNAWILA HEIAU COMPLEX (ISLAND OF OʻAHU) 2nd Saturday of each month, 8:30 am to 10:30 am. Meet at Hauʻula Elementary at 8:30 am
Hawaiian Islands Volunteer Opportunities
If the Hawaii volunteer programs don’t align with your schedule, check out the programs below. We provide ways to volunteer in Hawaii on each island.
- Grow Some Good on Maui – February 11th is an island-wide School Garden Workday. See here for details.
- Maui Food Bank loves donations, they also love extra helping hands. Help in the warehouse or at a food drive here.
- Maui’s Annual Great Whale Count takes place on January 28th, February 25th, and March 25th at various locations around the island. Register here.
- Maui’s Kealia Pond National Refuge is the wetlands between Ma’alaea and Kihei in Central Maui. On Thursdays, volunteers can work alongside refuge staff to outplant and care for native plant species and remove invasive plants. Fill out a volunteer application here.
- Pu’ukohola Heiau National Historic Site on the Big Island: volunteer for an hour, a day, or a week at this historic treasure just north of the luxury resorts along the Kohala Coast.
- Keau’ohana Rainforest Restoration on the Big Island: Volunteer here to plant trees or rejuvenate the rainforest on Crew Days in Puna District (south of Hilo).
- Surfrider Foundation Kauai: participate in Wednesday Net Patrol cleanups at 3:30 PM. Learn more here.
- Surfrider Foundation Oahu: participate in a beach cleanup or many other active campaigns on Oahu. Register here.
- Ko’olau Mountains Watershed Partnership on Oahu: more volunteer opportunities are opening in 2023 to work the land in the Ko’olau Mountains. Sign up for their newsletter to stay informed.
A Hawaii Volunteer Program That is Actually a Tour
The local residents and businesses of Hawaii are opening more opportunities for visitors to learn the history and culture of Hawaii.
Kualoa Ranch on the windward coast of Oahu was established in 1850. The ranch is popularly known as the Jurassic Valley due to the Jurassic World movies being filmed there plus a long list of other movies. To us, the ranch is home to a rich and preserved Hawaiian history.
This Kualoa Ranch experience feels like a volunteer event but you have to pay! We found the Malama ‘Aina Experience at Kualoa Ranch to be a wonderful way to learn Hawaiian history and culture while working in a taro field, patching a thatched hut, or whatever your local Hawaiian guide needs help with around the ranch. This tour is available daily and gets you participating in Hawaiian culture without trying to coordinate with a Hawaii volunteer program.
Other Ways to Support Hawaii
Volunteering your time and energy on your Hawaii vacation requires finding the right program and the right timing. If the above Hawaii volunteer programs don’t align with your schedule, here are some other ways to pay it forward.
- Shop at local stores
- Hire a local guide to learn the history, culture, and hear great tips for your visit. We select local guides in our tours and activities list.
- Visit a local farm. Here, we share our favorite Maui farm tours and Big Island farm tours.
- Eat local! There is nothing more local than a food truck. Check out our favorite Maui food trucks and Kauai food trucks.
Whether you go to Hawaii or anywhere else, you want to make sure you’re traveling respectfully and responsibly. In Hawaii that looks like: never staying at illegal vacation rentals, not going off the trail or onto private land, and doing your best to support local small businesses that keep dollars on the island.
We include local restaurants and shops in our Hawaii itineraries as visiting local businesses is as much fun as going to popular destinations.