Hawai'i Wildlife Center's Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer Opportunities with the Hawai‘i Wildlife Center

Preserving Paradise (Book)

Preserving Paradise Volunteering Book Cover

The HWC will depend a great deal on a large community of volunteers to fill positions to operate the programs. The HWC will benefit the local North Kohala community by creating a place for volunteerism in conservation education, and in cultural, mentoring and training programs. It will also provide educational resources for the entire island for both private and public groups and visitors to the island. Education will include programs to learn conservation science careers and to teach conservation of Hawai‘i’s natural resources and the preservation of Hawaiian cultural connections to the environment.

HWC was featured in a new book “Preserving Paradise”. A response to both our economic and environmental crises, the book features over 65 organizations in Hawai‘i that offer short-term volunteer opportunities with the islands’ land, ocean, and wildlife. Going beyond green, it’s a way to experience the islands that doesn’t just make less of an impact, but actually gives something back.

For more about the book, and to see a sneak preview inside, go to www.preservingparadisevolunteering.com -- the book can be purchased through the site, and at major bookstores such as Borders, Barnes and Noble, and Amazon; or directly from the publisher at www.islandheritage.com.

The Community Stewardship Directory

The Community Stewardship Directory (Directory) is an ongoing effort of the Hawai‘i Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Program to help community groups and organizations connect with each other to share their experiences and lessons learned in natural and cultural resources management. The Directory is one element to implement the Hawai‘i Ocean Resources Management Plan (ORMP). The ORMP, revised in 2006 and available through the CZM Program website (http://hawaii.gov/dbedt/czm/), promotes place-, culture-, and community-based approaches to natural and cultural resource management and charts a new course of action that advocates for the community and all levels of government to work together collaboratively. The Directory will be updated periodically.

The HWC is one of 90 organizations include in this 2009 directory. Organizations are listed in alphabetical order, and include contact information, mission statements, areas where they conduct stewardship activities, and notable projects. As this directory shows, community organizations are active across all of the main islands, dedicating their time, knowledge and inspiration to enhancing Hawaii’s precious resources.

Keep checking this section for future opportunities!