Kelii Kotubetey, Assistant Executive Director

Paepae o Heeia

As part of their mountain-to-sea ahupuaa system, ancient Hawaiians built walled fishponds, an advanced form of aquaculture found only in Hawaii, that provided them with a steady supply of fish even when ocean and weather conditions were not favorable for fishing. After contact with the West in the late 18th century, these fishponds fell into decline. In 2001, a group of young Hawaiians decided to restore Heeia Fishpond, an 88-acre fishpond approximately 600-800 years old in Windward Oahu. Today, non-profit Paepae O Heeia is dedicated to restoring and caring for Heeia Fishpond. As Paepae O Heeia brings the fishpond back to life, the non-profit actively shares how the ingenuity and wisdom of their Hawaiian ancestors resonates today.

"Fishponds allowed Hawaiians to thrive in abundance on the islands for generations and we can do it again if we follow their lessons," explains Kelii Kotubetey, Assistant Executive Director of Paepae O Heeia. "Hawaii imports most of its food. We have a solution right here with the fishpond and are committed to using ancient strategies and technologies to help solve our modern food security issues and live more sustainably."

The revitalization of Heeia Fishpond underscores the vibrancy and power of Hawaiian history and culture in today's world where living sustainably is an important goal. "Fishponds are not historical museum pieces," states Kelii. "They are historical yet modern food producing marvels unique to Hawaii and the world."

Hawaiian fishponds can also provide a lesson for living more responsibly: "Our ancestors built this fishpond to last generations and hundreds of years. We need to behave, act, and make decisions that will have a positive impact hundreds of years from now," continues Kelii.

Paepae O Heeia welcomes volunteers to assist with the restoration and rehabilitation work at the fishpond. Saturday Community Workdays, the second and fourth Saturdays of each month 8:30 am-12 pm, involve moving rock and coral, filling buckets, hauling floating barges through the water, removing invasive mangroves and seaweed, trash pickup and wall reconstruction. On Friday Mornings 8 am-12 pm, volunteers are welcome to join the staff in the many of the same activities. Paepae O Heeia also offers one-hour guided Walking Tours to learn about the fishpond's history and the Hawaiian ahupuaa system, and three-hour Field Trips for groups that include a fishpond tour, service learning project, and related lessons.

Voluntourism Adventures

From the Mountains to the Sea

Non-profits dedicated to the responsible stewardship of Oahu's natural resources will welcome your volunteer efforts.

Kakoo Oiwi
On Oahu's Windward Coast, non-profits are engaged in restoring and preserving the ancient ahupuaa of Heeia. While Paepae O Heeia is busy bringing back Heeia Fishpond, Kakoo Oiwi is restoring agricultural and ecological productivity to a 405-acre area as part of their Mahuahua Ai o Hoi (Regrowing the Fruit of Hoi) community project. Heeia Wetlands, also known as the Hoi, was once a fertile area for growing taro, the staple crop for Hawaiians for hundreds of years. In the mid 1800s, taro was replaced by other crops that caused erosion, flooding, and damage to the coastline. Invasive mangrove choked the streams so vital for irrigating the wetlands. For the past seven years, this full time farming operation has been restoring this wetlands parcel through traditional Hawaiian agriculture. In addition to planting taro, ulu (breadfruit), turmeric, ginger, coconut, sweet potato, and awa, the staff is planting a variety of fruit bearing trees and plants plus native trees and plants in a reforestation effort. Invasive trees and plants such as mangrove are also being removed. Volunteers are welcome on Community Work Days 8:30 am–12 pm to plant, weed, help build irrigation ditches for new taro fields, and clear invasive vegetation. You'll also learn the history of the area and come away with an understanding of the ahupuaa system.

Hookuaaina
In Windward Oahu, Michele and Dean Wilhelm of non-profit Hookuaaina are committed to helping at risk youth ages 12-18 find new meaning and purpose in their lives by learning about the cultivation of taro and traditional Hawaiian cultural values. Their nine-month mentoring program Kukuluhou, which means "to rebuild," is inspired by the motto of Hookuaaina, "Rebuilding lives from the ground up." The mentoring program promotes personal growth and development in these young people by strengthening their cultural identity, decision making, and the ability contribute to one's self, one's family, and one's community. The youth come once a week for nine months to work on the taro farm, learn Hawaiian cultural values, and life skills. The work is hard but the rewards can be plentiful. Over the nine-month program, the teens absorb the lessons learned and begin to think and act differently. The Wilhelms welcome volunteers to sign up on the website for monthly Community Service Days on Saturdays 8 am-12 pm. You may also schedule a team building group visit. You'll be welcomed with a traditional Hawaiian oli (chant), a lesson in Hawaiian cultural values, and then work in the loi (taro patch). By volunteering, you're helping the Wilhelms make a difference in the lives of the young people they serve.

Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii
Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii, a small, grassroots non-profit run by a dedicated team and supported by passionate volunteers, is dedicated to caring for Hawaii's coastlines through fun, hands-on beach clean-ups. The non-profit also sponsors educational programs, team building corporate cleanups, waste diversion services, public awareness campaigns, and an ocean plastic recycling program. Visitors to Oahu are always welcome to join the beach clean ups which are immense community get togethers with hundreds of volunteers where you'll also find live music, food, education, kids' games, and other like-minded non-profits. Volunteering with Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii on vacation provides a real opportunity to experience and show aloha. It's a great and free way to give back and make a positive impact on your vacation. Best of all, volunteers really see the impact of their efforts between starting and finishing a beach clean-up. Check the website for upcoming Oahu clean ups in 2018.

808 Cleanups
With the motto "Keeping Hawaii Clean from Mauka to Makai" (Mountain to Sea), non-profit 808 Cleanups is committed to restoring Hawaii's natural beauty by empowering volunteers to conduct group clean ups of beaches, hiking trails, and natural spaces. Activities include beach clean ups, clearing litter and invasive species from hiking trails, and graffiti removal from sacred Hawaiian spaces such as heiau (temples). Snorkelers and scuba divers even helped to remove fishing lines and hooks stuck in the reef at Makai Research Pier which can strangle the coral and hurt the turtles, monk seals, octopus, eels, and fish that swim around the reef. 808 Cleanups provides plenty of opportunities for visitors to join locals involved in the organization's many clean ups. Simply visit the calendar page on the website and choose a clean up you'd like to join. If you're interested in organizing a custom clean up during your trip to Oahu, join the 808 Cleanups Group on Facebook or email 808 Cleanups through the website.

Travel2Change
Give back and have fun on Oahu by volunteering with non-profit travel2change which offers unique opportunities most travelers would never find on their own. Travel2Change connects with other local non-profits to create meaningful events that give back to Hawaii's nature and culture. Activities can include guided hikes to waterfalls with native tree planting, yoga with food drives, and cultural walking tours that address social issues. Consider Kaha Gardens & Help It Thrive which helps to improve the local environment through the use of native vegetation. Volunteers make an impact on a local garden by planting and removing invasive species. Kayak, Snorkel & Restore the Ecosystem begins with removing invasive species in Heeia State Park and continues with kayaking and snorkeling in beautiful Kaneohe Bay. While most activities are free, some require a fee which are often donations to the non-profits involved in the activity. If you're traveling with a group of friends, your family, or even a business group, you can customize activities at a special travel2change online link.

Ecotourism Adventures

On Land and in the Sea

Eco-tour operators provide adventures that reveal Oahu's natural and cultural treasures on the land and in the ocean.

Wild Side Specialty Tours
Head to sea with Tori Cullins and her team at Wild Side Specialty Tours for one-of-a-kind marine wildlife experiences. You can opt for the Best of the West or the Deluxe Wildlife Charter. Each are intimate, small group charters off Oahu's West Coast during which you'll enjoy whale watching, wild dolphins swimming and playing around your vessel, the opportunity to swim with dolphins, and snorkeling with turtles and marine life over the reefs. Tori and her professional crew discuss Oahu's diverse and fascinating marine life habitats and the dangers facing local marine life while promoting environmental awareness and stewardship of these natural resources. Research plays a role in every charter and passengers are welcome to volunteer in any of the activities the team may be engaged in. Wild Side Specialty Tours donates a portion of all fees to the Wild Dolphin Foundation and works collaboratively with Cascadia Research Collective, donating marine life photos for abundance and distribution analysis.     

Hawaiian Legacy Tours at Gunstock Ranch
Now you can be part of a major reforestation effort on Oahu as you enjoy some of the North Shore's most spectacular scenery. Come plant a tree at the Hawaiian Legacy Forest at historic Gunstock Ranch while enjoying wonderful outdoor adventures. A tree planting is a deeply meaningful way to honor a family member or loved one while making an impact on Oahu. The nonprofit Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative (HLRI) announced the Oahu Legacy Forest at Gunstock Ranch early in 2018. This initial area will span more than 500 acres, feature over 600,000 newly planted Legacy Trees, and be home to numerous rare and endangered species. All Hawaiian Legacy Tours at Gunstock Ranch can include time for planting your legacy tree. You will personally select your own Legacy Tree to plant and dedicate. Each planted tree is monitored with RFID technology that will enable you to track the growth of your Legacy Tree. The Horseback Planter's Experience is a trail ride with stunning views of the ocean, coastline, hills, and valleys. The Private Off-Road Planter's Tour in utility vehicles explores hidden caves, WWII sites, and stunning vistas. And the Private Off-Road Mauka Grand Tour includes a farm to table lunch at an exclusive mountain lookout.

North Shore Eco Tours
Keola Ryan and his team at North Shore Eco Tours take you off the beaten path to explore the breathtaking mountains, forests, and valleys of this famous coastline through the lens of Hawaiian cultural perspectives and values. Since North Shore Eco Tours has exclusive access to privately owned conservation lands, you enjoy pristine scenery, rare native species found nowhere else in Hawaii or the world, and a secluded experience. As North Shore Eco Tour guides are expert cultural practitioners, you also receive unparalleled insights about Hawaii's cultural, natural, and historical treasures. On Huakai Nui (Big Adventure) or Huaki Iki (Little Adventure), hike into the mountains, rainforests, and valleys; criss-cross streams; swim in fresh water pools; and take in breathtaking panoramas. The Puaa Maiki (The Piglet) is an exhilarating off road adventure aboard a Swiss Military Pinzgauer ATV through Waimea Valley's back country, dense jungles, and unique terrain that also includes admission to this valley's botanical gardens and waterfall swimming.

Holokino Hawaii
Thousands of years ago Polynesian voyagers traveled across the Pacific in outrigger canoes navigating by the stars, the wind, and the waves to settle in Hawaii. Recently, Pacific Voyaging Society sponsored Malama Honua, the three-year, round the trip voyage of the Hokulea, a traditional Polynesian voyaging canoe. One of the Hokulea's apprentice navigators, Austin Kino, a young Oahu native, recently launched, Holokino Hawaii, a sailing canoe adventure. Enjoy a one-hour adventure with a two-man crew aboard the Uluwehi (gentle breeze in Hawaiian), a 30-foot traditional sailing canoe. While sailing, listen to the stories of the ahupuaa (traditional land divisions) of the South Shore of Oahu and learn the basic principles of celestial navigation as practiced by ancient Polynesians and Hawaiians. This experiential sailing excursion also provides an opportunity to paddle the canoe and assist the crew with sailing. Enjoy beautiful on shore views of Oahu and sightings of green sea turtles as you develop an understanding of how integral outrigger canoes were to ancient Hawaiians. Holokino Hawaii is certified as a Sustainable Tour Operator by the Hawaii Ecotourism Association, quite an accomplishment for a business in its first year of operation, and a testament to its community educational and environmental programs for children.