Well, you finally made it. Hawaii! Airport novel in one hand, Mai Tai in the other, yet you still cannot shake that familiar feeling of…restlessness? If so, you are not alone. Humans need to recharge, but we also crave purpose.
Consider volunteering with one of Hawaii’s many grassroots organizations while you’re here. They provide a fantastic opportunity to teach your family about this rich culture while adding meaning to your stay.
Many volunteer opportunities don’t take much time out of your day and still allow you to enjoy the sun, sand, and sea. Participating in a beach cleanup or planting native trees might even score you a free night at a hotel with the Malama Hawaii Program!
The following is a kid-friendly list of volunteer opportunities in Hawaii. Feel free to contact any organization to confirm that the chosen activity suits your family.
Maui
Surfrider Foundation (Maui Chapter)
Surfrider Foundation is a grassroots nonprofit on the frontlines of ocean and coastal advocacy. They offer beach cleanups on multiple islands and all around the world!
Hawaii Land Trust (Maui Chapter)
Welcoming thousands of visitors each year, HILT collaborates with land owners, farmers, and descendants. They bring together people from all walks of life to protect and restore Hawaii’s ‘aina (land).
Malama Maui Nui
Malama Maui Nui cares deeply about the island and community of Maui, organizing multiple beach cleanups a month. We love MMN!
Maui Ocean Center
More than just an aquarium, Maui Ocean Center‘s Honu Hero Beach Cleanup Program allows your family to organize your own cleanup on your schedule.
Pacific Whale Foundation
PWF is the leader in the development of responsible whale watching and conducts ongoing research, education, and conservation programs. Check out their annual Great Whale Count and participate by counting whales from shore to contribute to an ongoing study of humpback whales in Hawaii.
You can also participate in their Coastal Marine Debris Monitoring Program on your family’s timeline. They offer pick-up points for large grain bags and data sheets to record your findings for their database.
Kipuka Olowalu
Join this dedicated group working to preserve Olowalu Valley, a Native Hawaiian cultural site. Kipuka Olowalu provides a unique opportunity to learn from and connect with this sacred land. This is a terrific way to volunteer in Hawaii!
Visiting Maui? Check out Maui With Kids: The Ultimate Guide.
Kauai
Surfrider Foundation (Kauai Chapter)
Surfrider Foundation is a grassroots nonprofit on the frontlines of ocean and coastal advocacy. They offer beach cleanups on multiple islands and all around the world!
Hawaii Land Trust (Kauai Chapter)
Welcoming thousands of visitors each year, HILT collaborates with land owners, farmers, and descendants. They bring together people from all walks of life to protect and restore Hawaii’s ‘aina (land).
Sanctuary Ocean Count Project (Kauai Chapter)
Help record the humpback population by counting whales you can see from shore! Sanctuary Ocean Count Project also works to raise public awareness about these magical creatures.
Friends of Kamalani and Lydgate Park
Volunteers have been meeting for years to clean the beach at Morgan Pond. The rock-enclosed ponds make this an excellent location for little ones to play in the water without waves. There is also a 2.5-mile paved path, playground, and full facilities.
Oahu
Surfrider Foundation (Oahu Chapter)
Surfrider Foundation is a grassroots nonprofit on the frontlines of ocean and coastal advocacy. They offer beach cleanups on multiple islands and all around the world!
Hawaii Land Trust (Oahu Chapter)
Welcoming thousands of visitors each year, HILT collaborates with land owners, farmers, and descendants. They bring together people from all walks of life to protect and restore Hawaii’s ‘aina (land).
Sanctuary Ocean Count Project (Oahu Chapter)
Help record the humpback population by counting whales you can see from shore! Give your kids something to talk about. Sanctuary Ocean Count Project loves to educate and raise public awareness about these magical creatures.
808 Cleanups
Beach cleanups are a great way to volunteer in Hawaii! This Honolulu-based nonprofit encourages visitors to “meet like-minded travelers committed to making the world a better place and get a great workout with some killer views.”
The “Malama Experience” at Kualoa Ranch
We love Kualoa Ranch! Learn about sustainability and Hawaiian culture by attending this two-hour-guided eco-adventure! Children must be five and up.
Visiting Oahu? Check out Oahu with Kids: The Ultimate Guide.
Big Island
Surfrider Foundation (Hawaii Island Chapter)
Surfrider Foundation is a grassroots nonprofit on the frontlines of ocean and coastal advocacy. They offer beach cleanups on multiple islands and all around the world!
Sanctuary Ocean Count Project (Hawaii Island Chapter)
Help record the humpback population by counting whales you can see from shore! Sanctuary Ocean Count Project also works to raise public awareness about these magical creatures.
Hawaii Wildlife Fund
This local nonprofit is dedicated to protecting Hawaii’s diverse wildlife. It offers monthly beach cleanups on Big Island and many opportunities to work closely with native species across the islands.
Waikoloa Forest Initiative
This remarkable nonprofit offers a great way to volunteer in Hawaii. They have free guided sunset hikes and work with volunteers to plant thousands of native trees. Waikoloa Forest Initiative rehabs and conserves 275 acres of one of Hawaii’s last native dryland forests.
Visiting the Big Island with your family? Check out Big Island with Kids: The Ultimate Guide.
Lanai
Lanai’s Cat Sanctuary
If you have a cat lover in your family, consider dedicating a few hours to volunteering at Lanai’s Cat Sanctuary! The sanctuary ethically cares for hundreds of stray cats and helps protect native and endangered birds on the island. Support and funding come from visitors.
Molokai
Molokai Land Trust
Molokai Land Trust welcomes visitors to get dirty, meet the community, and help care for this beautiful land. This is an excellent opportunity to see some remote and sacred places under stewardship.
Malama Your Mama
Most of us come to Hawaii in search of something. We don’t always realize that we crave the unseen: a stronger connection to community, culture, and mother nature. They are all intertwined, and we can’t help but feel a part of it when we’re here.
In Hawaiian, “Malama” means “to care for” or “protect.”
You would not be the first to visit the Hawaiian Islands in search of sunshine, luaus, and poolside Pina Coladas. But if you’re down to meet some locals and get your hands dirty, there’s a good chance you’ll feel it, too.
Call it magic. Call it aloha. Hawaii has a way of caring for people who take care of her.
aloha, I’M FLO
Hawaii travel blogger + itinerary planning extraordinaire
I’m an island-hopping Maui mama of two, here to bring your Hawaii vacation dreams to life.
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