74 HAWAII PARENT May/June 2024 ters. Further inland, chip in and clean mountain streams to prevent debris from flowing into bays and beaches, or plant rainwater-retaining gardens to impede ocean runoff. As Sierra Club of Hawaii (SierraClubHawaii.org/outings) projects lead group hikes and outings into Hawaii’s scenic wilds, mindful processes roll out along the way. The club’s Malama Tree Crew celebrates the great outdoors while fighting the impact of climate change and sharing best practices for native tree maintenance. Know that reforestation, carbon sequestration and native plant restoration projects require more than simply planting. Volunteers are desperately needed for ongoing maintenance. MALAMA AINA Kakoo Oiwi (KakooOiwi.org) and Hooku Aina (HookuaAina.org) fuel minds while tracing early Hawaiian methods of sustainable farming and natural resource conservancy. Through kalo (taro) cultivating and Hawaiian values-based coaching, Kakoo Oiwi empowers youth via development of life strategies and skills to help build healthy communities. In its flagship Hokulani mentoring program, ages 12-15 connect with land, culture and populace via one-onone guidance from experienced life coaches. Gatherings zero in on taro patches (Monday, Thursday, Friday), Wetland Restoration (Tuesday) and Community Workdays on the first Saturday of each month. In the same realm, Papahana Kualoa (PapahanaKualoa.org) takes taro management and upkeep to a mountain valley stream and dry-land gardens at Windward Oahu’s 4,400-acre Kualoa Ranch. Beyond ridding our habitat of litter, participants learn about plastic pollution from products used on a daily basis and how to turn off the tap by changing consumption habits. Adding a splash of “spook-tacular” fun, the SCH Halloween Cleanup Festival immerses keiki to kupuna into the spirit of the holiday while donning costumes during a friendly cleanup. Hawaii’s four chapters of the National Surfrider Foundation (Hawaii.Surfrider.org) network of coastal defenders also target protection of marine life via volunteer cleanups of plastic pollution and debris from shorelines and nearshore waters. Bump up the service level by recording data on trash retrieved during the event. Those details are logged into the National Surfrider database to track the efforts of each of its local Surfrider chapAs part of Malama Maunalua’s ongoing sustainability efforts, keiki gain firsthand experience in environmental conservation-based work. “Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii inspires via largescale beach cleanups exposing ohana to the potential mistakes made in day-to-day life.” Photo Credit: Alex Awo, Malama Maunalua
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