"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.
Volunteer


The Friends of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park could not exist without its loyal cadre of volunteers, members, and all-volunteer board. In fact, up until fairly recently, the organization was entirely volunteer run. From active outdoor projects to sit-down office tasks, volunteer opportunities abound!

VOLUNTEERS CAN HELP:
  • restore the native forest
  • assist at field seminars
  • lend a hand at public events
  • assist in the office and with mailings
  • do computer work
  • write grants
  • fundraise

If you'd like to volunteer, please Email us with your skills and areas of interests - we'll gladly find you a role with us!

SELECTED VOLUNTEER PROJECTS INCLUDE:

Forest Restoration

Forest restoration is an ongoing volunteer program that focuses on eradicating invasive plants and planting native species. With over 330,000 acres of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park lands, there is plenty to do! Our goal is to support the Park as much as possible in their efforts to restore and maintain precious native forest ecosystems. We work in different areas of the Park as needed, and have done projects along Crater Rim Trail, on Mauna Loa strip, and in Kahuku. The Park's native plant nursery lets us know what species are ready to go in the ground, and we assist with planting. We invite you to join us for a wonderful opportunity to enjoy our National Park while participating in native forest recovery!

View forest restoration photos

Next Date: Saturday, August 7, 2010 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon
View Program Details (PDF)

Future Dates: Saturday, September 25, 2010
(as part of National Public Lands Day - see below)

Contact:

(808) 985-7373 or Email us

Fourth of July Silent Auction

The Volcano community holds a fun-filled Fourth of July Celebration every year at the Cooper Center, kicked off with a parade down Old Volcano Highway. This family event includes an exciting silent auction of goods and services, which is a major annual fundraiser for the Friends of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. (A portion of the funds also benefits the Volcano Community Association and the Cooper Center.) We need help at every stage: from soliciting donations and preparing bid sheets to set up on July 3rd and assisting with the event on July 4th. Tasks include selling t-shirts, monitoring auction tables, processing auction items at the close of the auction, and final clean-up. Let us know how we can include you!

Next Date: Sunday, July 4, 2011, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Contact: (808) 985-7373 or Email us

Annual Cultural Festival

Every summer Hawai 'i Volcanoes National Park hosts the Annual Cultural Festival to perpetuate Hawaiian culture and promote appreciation of traditional values. Throughout the day, the sweet sounds of Hawaiian music fill the air and hula dancers, bedecked in flower lei and colorful mu'umu'u, bring meaning to the songs through the movement of their eyes, hands, and hips. Cultural practitioners lead demonstrations and provide hands-on learning opportunities for a wide variety of Hawaiian crafts, games, and foods. A huge team of volunteers is essential to putting on this event, plus the Friends also needs volunteers to help staff our informational booth. We welcome your involvement!

Next Date: Saturday, July 9, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Contact: (808) 985-7373 or Email us

National Public Land's Day

National Public Land's Day (NPLD) is the nation's largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance the public lands Americans enjoy. In 2008, 120,000 volunteers built trails and bridges, removed trash and invasive plants, and planted over 1.6 million trees. In honor of NPLD, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park holds "Free Fee" days annually on the last weekend of September. The Friends stations volunteers at the Park entrance to solicit donations from visitors to help raise funds for our many projects that support the Park. We also provide opportunities for volunteers to participate in service projects such as invasive species removal and native species planting. Please assist us on this important day!

Next Date: Saturday, September 25, 2010
Contact: (808) 985-7373 or Email us

Visit the National Public Land's Day website