Volunteer while on Vacation in Hawaii
Volunteer vacations, or voluntoursim, is the new eco-tourism, where you put even more than your money toward a good cause; you donate your time, energy, and sweat. Even less than active folks can get out there and lend a hand while they’re on vacation.
My friend Cherie and I have created a new site for Volunteering on Vacation in Hawaii. We’ve listed several vacationing volunteer opportunities already, and more will be coming soon. Plus, Cherie is putting her money where her mouth is when it comes to encouraging vacationers to volunteer while they’re in Hawaii: she’s offering a 5% discount on stays at her upcountry Maui bed and breakfast to guests who volunteer! And, she’ll donate an additional 5% of the total of your stay at the Hale Hookipa to the cause for which you volunteer!
If you have, or know of, other volunteer opportunities in Hawaii, be sure to let us know! Even you folks traveling with young children can find a “voluntourism” opportunity to fit your needs! Cherie is a long-time resident of Maui, knows a lot about the island, and writes a regular Maui blog: Hookipa Aikane (home sharing friend). Her volunteer vacation efforts were recently recognized by O Magazine!
Most of the volunteer opportunities listed so far are environmental in nature: cleaning up garbage, eradicating invasive species, and planting native ones. Habitat restoration and protection takes a lot of work and is extremely important in a fragile environment like Hawaii’s. We hope to add more cultural, historical, and community projects in the future. All of these projects are educational and take place in scenic areas that you might not otherwise see.
So, take advantage of this new source for volunteer tourism in Hawaii. Let us know if you know of any other organizations in Hawaii in need of volunteers. And, of course, we’re always looking for sponsors!
Your blog looks wonderful. It was nice going through your blog. Hawaii island became my dream destination.
Comment by Flowers — September 12, 2009 @ 6:30 am