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Protected Resources Volunteer Opportunities
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Everyone in a community shares in the responsibility of managing and protecting our resources for future generations. The Protected Resources Division encourages public involvement by offering the following volunteer opportunities. |
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Malama Na Honu Foundation |
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Laniakea Beach, located a few miles north of Haleiwa on Oahu's North Shore, is well known for its pristine sandy cove and  premium surf break. Within the past ten years, Hawaiian green sea turtles (honu) have appeared close to shore, actively feeding on the abundant green algae that grows there. In 1999, the honu began hauling out onto the beach in the sandy cove to bask ashore. Word traveled quickly and soon tour buses, local residents and island visitors were stopping at Laniakea to see the turtles sleeping on the beach and calmly swimming and feeding inches from the shoreline.
 Unfortunately, some of the beachgoers were not respectful to the honu, choosing instead to sit, ride and even feed the turtles. During the summer of 2005, the increasing interaction between the honu and humans prompted George Balazs, leader of the Marine Turtle Research Program for the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, to create a campaign called Show Turtles Aloha. Local community members stepped up to help and began volunteering their time to educate and inform residents and visitors about respectful turtle viewing at Laniakea. It is now over a year later and the volunteer program is still strong and growing.
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To learn more about the Malama Na Honu Foundation, please visit:
www.malamanahonu.org
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If you are interested in volunteering as a Honu
Guardian, please send an email to:
info@malamanahonu.org
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Oahu Monk Seal Response Team |
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Currently a team of approximately 50 volunteers routinely assist NOAA's Pacific Island Regional Office (PIRO) and Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) in monk seal response issues. Volunteers assist with the following: |
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- Responding to seals to haul out to rest and providing "seal protection zone" to protect them from disturbance.
- Providing public passersby with information about the Hawaiian monk seal and its endangered status.
- Monitoring monk seal pupping events.
- Reporting animals in distress (due to hooking, entanglement or otherwise) and standing by until help arrives.
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If you are interested in volunteering with the Oahu Monk Seal Response Team or would like more information please contact: |
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Dave Schofield
Marine Mammal Response Coordinator
david.schofield@noaa.gov |
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Kauai Monk Seal Conservation Hui |
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The Kauai Monk Seal Conservation Hui is a volunteer based project with assistance from state, federal and private organizations. Volunteers are trained to assist with the following: |
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- Reporting, monitoring and protection of Kauai's Hawaiian monk seals.
- Kauai monk seal pupping events.
- Providing outreach and education to stakeholders, visitors and the general public.
- Developing a website to catagorize and track Kauai's seals; and inform and educate volunteers and the community.
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| If you are interested in volunteering with the Hui or would like more information, please contact: |
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Dr. Mimi Olry
Marine Conservation Coordinator DAR/DLNR3960
Eiwa St. Rm. 306
Lihue, HI 96766
808-651-7668
Hawaiianmonkseal@msn.com |
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Other Volunteer Opportunities |
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Hawksbill Sea Turtle Recovery Project |
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Since 1989, volunteers have assisted biologists at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in monitoring, protecting, and collecting baseline data on nesting hawksbill turtles. The endangered hawksbill turtle is very rare in Hawaii and throughout the world. Volunteers are needed on the Island of Hawaii to monitor sea turtle nests, assist with research activities on adult sea turtles, record field data, as well as provide outreach to the local community. |
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If you are interested in volunteering with the Hawksbill Turtle Project or would like more information, please contact: |
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Will Seitz
Wildlife Research Supervisor
Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit - Hawksbill Turtle Project
Resources Management Division
P.O. Box 52
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, HI 96718
808-985-6090
fax:808-985-6029 |
