ʻĀina Hoʻōla Initiative

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ʻĀina Hoʻōla Initiative

Volunteer with Us

Help restore the wetlands of Lokowaka through hands-on community stewardship. Every effort supports wetland recovery and the wildlife that depends on this habitat. Huli ka lima i lalo—turn the hand downward, take action.

How to
Volunteer

Come join us at Lokowaka! Whether it’s your first time volunteering or you’ve joined us before, everyone is welcome to learn, lend a hand, and connect with ʻāina and one another.

Volunteer activities usually involve removing invasive vegetation and maintaining restored areas, with occasional native planting. Be ready for muddy, uneven, and wet conditions—rain or shine.

To join us, choose a date from Upcoming Opportunities below, review the Before You Sign Up information, then complete the Volunteer Registration Form for your selected date.

Upcoming Opportunities

Our volunteer workdays are generally held on Saturdays from 8:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Some dates include a light lunch afterward.

  • October 13 (Tue) • 8:45 am - 12:15 pm
  • October 17 (Sat) • 8:45 am - 12:15 pm / Light lunch to follow
  • October 26 (Mon) • 8:45 am - 12:15 pm
  • October 31 (Sat) • 8:45 am - 12:15 pm
  • November 14 (Sat) • 8:45 am - 12:15 pm
  • November 21 (Sat) • 8:45 am - 12:15 pm / Light lunch to follow
  • November 28 (Sat) • 8:45 am - 12:15 pm
  • December 5 (Sat) • 8:45 am - 12:15 pm
  • December 12 (Sat) • 8:45 am - 12:15 pm / Light lunch to follow
  • December 31 (Thu) • 8:45 am - 12:15 pm
  • January 9 (Sat) • 8:45 am - 12:15 pm
  • January 23 (Sat) • 8:45 am - 12:15 pm / Light lunch to follow

If you are interested in volunteering on a day not listed, please contact us. We’ll do our best to coordinate an opportunity.

Stay Updated

Volunteer plans may occasionally change due to severe weather or other unforeseen circumstances. Please check this page before your volunteer day for the latest information. Any cancellations or schedule changes will be posted here.

Before You
Sign up

  • Children must be at least 7 years old to participate.
  • Children ages 7–17 must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or chaperone.
  • High school students under 18 may volunteer without a parent, legal guardian, or chaperone only with prior approval from their legal guardian and ʻĀina Hoʻōla Initiative.

Volunteer activities at Lokowaka typically involve contact with freshwater, brackish water, mud, and wetland sediments. These environments may contain potentially harmful bacteria, including Leptospira, which can cause leptospirosis.

To reduce the risk of infection, avoid getting pond water or mud in your eyes, nose, or mouth, and do not swallow the water. Because bacteria can enter through cuts, scratches, or other broken skin, participants with open wounds—including small cuts, scratches, or shaving nicks—should not enter the water or participate in activities involving contact with water or wetland sediments.

Please wear appropriate protective footwear and clothing, wash thoroughly after working, and change out of wet or muddy clothing after the activity.

What to Wear:

  • Lightweight, quick-dry long-sleeved shirt and long pants made with stretch fabric (for sun, insect, and scratch protection; also shields against the irritating fine hairs of California grass while allowing flexibility and mobility). AVOID: tank tops, short-sleeve shirts, and shorts.
  • Closed-toe shoes, tabis, reef shoes, or diving boots that can get muddy (sharp objects possible). Mud can be deep. AVOID: slippers, Crocs, and sandals.
  • Hat (head protection), reef-safe sunscreen, and eye protection (sunglasses or anti-fog safety glasses) for debris, mud, and water splashes.
  • Rain jacket


What to Bring:

  • Water (reusable bottle encouraged)
  • Work gloves (rubber-coated recommended; we only have cotton gloves available to lend)
  • Optional: Insect repellent


Post-Work Essentials:

  • Change of clothes and footwear (Showers are available.)
  • Towel and bag for muddy gear
  • Swimwear (optional — the beach is steps away!)

Volunteer Registration

How to
Get to Lokowaka

Lokowaka Pond is located directly across Kalanianaʻole Street from Kealoha Beach Park (4-Mile), the small beach park immediately before Carlsmith Beach Park.

When driving from Hilo town on Kalanianaʻole Street, you will begin to see Lokowaka Pond—the largest pond in the area—on your right. Slow down and prepare to make a sharp left turn onto Keaukaha Road.  The Kealoha Beach Park parking area is located there.

Please park in the Kealoha Beach Park lot on Keaukaha Road. Please do not park in the Carlsmith Beach Park lot—those limited spaces are for beachgoers only.

Please note: Do not go to Carlsmith Beach Park. If you passed The Seaside Restaurant, you have already passed Kealoha Beach Park and Lokowaka Pond.

Please see the map below for the parking area and meeting location.

Directions from the parking area:

  • Please use the restroom before coming to the pond, as there are no restrooms on site.
  • Carefully step over the guardrail and cross Kalanianaʻole Street.
  • Facing the pond, look for the tree-covered peninsula on the right—that’s where we meet.


If you arrive late and we’ve moved to another area, please call (808) 895-2350, and we’ll guide you in.

The Hele-On Bus (Route #101 Intra-Hilo Keaukaha) stops right near our worksite.

  • Arrive: The Seaside Restaurant (Bus Stop ID #118)

  • Return: Carlsmith Beach Park (Bus Stop ID #121)

    See the map on “How to get there – Car” above to see where to meet.

HIBIKE is available for both residents and visitors in Hilo, with a convenient station at Carlsmith Beach Park.

Our Volunteer ʻOhana Spans
the Globe

We’re grateful for every person who has joined us in caring for Lokowaka. Together, volunteers from Hawaiʻi and around the world are helping restore habitat, mālama ʻāina, and grow a community of stewardship.

Hawaiʻi

Maui · Oʻahu · Kauaʻi

United States

Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · California · Colorado · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Kansas · Maine · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New York · North Carolina · Ohio · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Texas · Tennessee · Utah · Virginia · Washington · Washington, DC · Wisconsin

International

Burundi · Canada · Germany · Hong Kong · India · Kenya · Japan · Mongolia · Peru · Poland · Saudi Arabia · South Korea · Switzerland · The Netherlands · United Kingdom · Vietnam · Wales

Thank you so much for organizing a wonderful volunteer day. From our first email connection, to our friendly welcome, to the opening chant, to your supportive and enthusiastic guidance, to our final farewell, you made us feel welcomed, appreciated and part of something special for the community and the ecology of Hilo. The three of us each learned a lot and had fun connecting with others and doing something so tangibly productive.

We understand how much work goes into coordinating these types of events – especially when participants are brand new to the area and the work – not to mention all the effort it takes to create, promote and fundraise for a new non-profit. If we lived on the island, we would most definitely be supporting on a regular basis.

It was such a privilege and a pleasure to be involved. Congratulations and thank you.

Mahalo nui,
Laura T., Matty G. and Finn T.

Before my trip I read a book about the Hawaiian culture. One of the things that stuck with me was ‘giving back to the place and people that you visit’.

As a tourist you can enjoy the islands, be in awe of the nature, the people, the food, the traditions and you are taking everything in.  How nice is it that you can give a small ‘thank you’ back in the form of volunteering?  It feels good and you are respecting the people, the land and the culture.

My way was was to join the ‘Ānia ho’ōla initiative’.  ʻĀina Hoʻōla’ means: ‘Land in the process of healing’.  How beautiful is that.  The very nice and dedicated couple Kumiko and Patrick are clearing the land surrounding the lake of all the weeds with help of volunteers, so that nature and animals can thrive in this area.  It was a great experience and I learned a lot.  I would definitely recommend it.

Mahalo,
Linda Oudendijk

I volunteered when I was visiting from Seattle after quitting my desk job. I was looking to do something that felt meaningful and bigger than myself and I found this opportunity by chance. I’m so happy to see how much progress there’s been and I’m lucky I was able to be part of it and meet the people that lead it. Truly lovely experience and would do it again in a heartbeat.

Geovana Garcia

I really want to come back and spend time with you and the volunteers and lovely birds whose home you are so lovingly renovating. I do appreciate all your hard work and it warms my heart to see the fruits of everyone’s labor whenever I am in Keaukaha!

R. West

I love the concept. I grew up in Hilo. Anything to encourage to get it back to its natural state, and seeing the wildlife come back. When I grew up, I never saw nēnē. Now I can see them cruising around the water. That means a lot to me.

Suzanne

For me, it’s a good opportunity to pull weeds and ponder. Lots of reflection time. It’s nice to see all the birds. You can see progress is being made, and seeing them use the space we made is very nice.

Raven

The word ‘Āina.’ I went to Kamehameha High School and we talked a lot about giving back to the land and this was a good opportunity for that. They are saying this had a lot of California grass and it is clear now and it shows how good this program can be.

Autumn

Volunteering with ʻĀina Ho’ōla is incredible. Highly recommended – for your mental, physical, and social well being! The ʻāina is in much need of all of our help.

Casey Plank

Love volunteering days with ʻĀina Hoʻōla Initiative! Itʻs a chance to work hard, learn, get gross, see our native and endemic water fowl, work with great folks, and get some quality time with ʻāina. Never hurt we get to cool off at Kealoha with the honu.

Catarina Zaragoza

ボランティアで汗を流すと、普段体を動かさないので、体に良い。 仕事で色々と面白くない事が多い時リフレッシュでき、精神的にも良い。

イチさん

わずかな時間のお手伝いしかできず恐縮でしたが、貴重な体験をさせていただき感謝しております。

久美子さんのchantを聴いて久美子さんのこの地を癒そうという心と強さがストレートに伝わってきて、厳かな気持ちになりました。

久美子さんとパトリックさんのご活動は、環境保護というだけではなく、大地に祈りを捧げる行動なのだと感じました。だから久美子さんのchantに感動したのだなと思いました。

本当にすばらしいところです。

絵本作家の工藤ノリコさん

貴重な体験をさせていただき、ありがとうございました。農作業には慣れているので、草刈り、苗植えは得意技です。そしてオオバンに会えたのが本当に嬉しかったです。

映像作家の工藤利幸さん

ハワイ島に行かれる事がありましたら是非、このボランティアにも参加してもらいたいと思います。森林や湿地が実は失われているという現実！1人1人の力は微力ですが続けることで変わる何かがあります。その一員になれたらハワイ島への愛や見方が変わります！

和文化のメンバーも参加させて頂きました。作業のあと、みんなでランチが美味し過ぎました。ボランティアでも色々な方と出会い、お話しをさせて頂きました。皆様素敵な方ばかりです！パトリック、久美子ご夫妻を心からリスペクトします。

和文化アンバサダー®広島・東京認定講師、詠月流書道「新やまと文字®」講師の藤本 由佳さん