 |
"Connecting People with the Park" |
| OUR MISSION |
| To support the National Park Service in the protection, preservation and interpretation of
the natural and cultural resources at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park for the enjoyment of current and future generations. |
The Friends of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park strives
to connect people with the park through education, through volunteerism, and through
philanthropy. Your unrestricted donation to the Friends allows us to continue our
mission to understand, appreciate, protect, and restore Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.
A 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, the Friends has raised funds for wayside signs
and interpretive exhibits; an annual cultural festival; Junior Ranger programs, booklets,
and badges; and more. Please join us in our philanthropic efforts. Help the
Friends help the park.
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park (HVNP) is one of the only places on earth you can experience
the rare beauty of the koa-'ohi'a forest. Native birds and insects found nowhere else forage
in these majestic trees. The park provides a refuge for many native plant and animal species
on a comeback from the brink of extinction. Nearly one-third of all the endangered plant species
listed in Hawai'i occur in koa forests. The protection and perpetuation of Hawai'i's unique
biological heritage depends on removing non-native species and planting natives. Be a part
of the recovery. Help rebuild the forest. 
Looking for a rare goose? Look no further than the skies over Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.
The nene, or endangered Hawaiian goose (Branta sandvicensis), is the rarest goose in the world.
By 1950, nene were nearly extinct. A mere 30 birds remained in the wild. In response to the crisis,
captive breeding programs were started in Hawai'i and in Slimbridge, England. Since being reintroduced
to HVNP in 1974, the park's nene population has grown from a handful of captive breeding pairs to over
200 wild individuals. Please support the essential Nene Recovery Project and ensure a future for
Hawai'i's state bird.
The hawksbill turtle, or honu 'ea, is a critically endangered species. In the U.S. Pacific,
hawksbill turtles nest only on the beaches of the main Hawaiian Islands, primarily along the
southern coast of the Island of Hawai'i. Without human help, the honu 'ea will likely disappear
forever this century. But there is hope. Since 1989, the Hawai'i Island Hawksbill Turtle Recovery
Project based at HVNP has been tirelessly working to help honu 'ea recover. More than 500
volunteers have located and protected 700 nests and helped 80,000 hatchlings reach the sea.
Your donation would provide critical assistance to this project.