With all the fuss these days about the need to change our wasteful and destructive habits, it’s probably a good idea to take a look at some of the organizations that have been working to solve this problem long before it became the global issue that it is today. All of these hard-working groups could use more volunteers, donations and members to make their goals become a reality and you’ll also find that their websites offer an abundance of information on a variety of environmental issues and successes.
Sierra Club-Hawaii Chapter
With an estimated 5,500 members island-wide, this grassroots group of volunteer’s aim is to educate the people of Hawaii on issues of sustainability and to help invent and defend laws that benefit the environment.
Throughout the year they recruit hundreds of volunteers to perform beach cleanups, trail building, removal of invasive species and more.
Kokua Hawaii Foundation
This organization is working to plant the seed in our youth, which in turn means a brighter future for Hawaii. Their various programs, currently offered within several public schools on Oahu, bring children in touch with the environment and teach them about nutrition, recycling, agriculture and how to respect and care for Earth.
B-E-A-C-H
Beach Environmental Awareness Campaign Hawaii’s goal is to educate the community on how to protect Hawaii’s beaches, marine life and coastline. They hope to reduce the occurrence of marine debris by organizing beach clean-up events, litter prevention campaigns and school presentations that educate our youth on how to respect our waters and more.
The Nature Conservancy in Hawaii
The mission of the Nature Conservancy is to “preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive.“
In Hawaii, the members and conservation partners of the Nature Conservancy have protected more than 200,000 acres of natural lands. Most recently they completed the construction of a fence around the Kaneala Bog on Kauai. Kaneala, the last remaining low-elevation bog in the Hawaiian Islands, is located 2,100 feet above sea level and is home to many rare and endangered plant species. With the fence in place threats, such as the wild pig, will be kept out so this unique and delicate life is given a chance to recover.
Re-use Hawaii
A considerable amount of the waste that is generated in Hawaii comes from construction and demolition projects and most of this waste is recyclable.
Re-use Hawaii is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to take materials from buildings or homes that are being renovated or torn-down and reuse or recycle those same materials for future use in Hawaii’s communities.
They offer “deconstruction” and consulting services, as well as provide a selection of recycled building materials available at the Re-Use Hawaii Lumberyard in Kaka‘ako.
For a list of similar-minded organizations, visit Malama Hawaii, a local group composed of more than 70 organizations and hundreds of individuals — all collaborating their efforts to protect Hawaii’s land, ocean and communities.