Volunteer Week Hawaii 2022 (April 17 to 23, 2022) aims for unprecedented unity of kama‘aina and visitors alike as Hawaii emerges from the pandemic. More than 10,000 volunteers are anticipated to gather in support of hundreds of charities at more than 300 events held statewide.
There are nearly 30 events scheduled with many options to volunteer. Examples include:
- Native plant restoration at Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge
- Honolua Bay cleanup
- Na Ho Aloha needs volunteers for lawn care for seniors
- For online volunteering, Mālama Maui Nui is seeking volunteers who will help promote its April 22 Art of Trash exhibition and Trashion Show
- The island of Lanai will be hosting a native tree planting led by 5th-grade students at a Pulama conservation site and will also be conducting a Manele Bay clean-up.
Maui groups and organizations can register an event at VolunteerWeekHawaii.org or participate in an existing one. Businesses are needed to encourage employee participation, donate in-kind and financially. Opportunities during the week range from park and beach cleanups to food drives to lo‘i and loko i‘a restoration.
Hawaii has held the largest annual celebrations of National Volunteer Week since it joined the national movement in 2018. National Volunteer Week was instituted under President Richard Nixon in 1974. Called Volunteer Week Hawaii, service events are planned to support a broad spectrum of community needs including Friday, April 22 which is Earth Day.
“Volunteer Week Hawaii is all of our kuleana (responsibility),” says Governor of Hawaii David Ige. “It will offer one of the wisest investments we can make in our community, our people and our local values. We hope that all of Hawaii will get involved. Together, we can inspire youth with our actions to share community responsibility.”
Volunteer Week Hawaii will be celebrated from April 17 to 23 and features hundreds of in-person and virtual volunteer opportunities statewide including a pledge drive and E Ala Ē, a worldwide oli (Hawaiian chant) on Earth Day.
Earth Day E Ala Ē. Thousands will join hands around the world and raise awareness of environmental stewardship with a sunrise oli, or sacred chant, at 6:06 am emanating from Maui’s Haleakala in which worldwide participants can attend. To participate from your location and learn more, contact ealae@kanuhawaii.org or visit KanuHawaii.org/e-ala-e-2022/
Pledge to Our Keiki. Supporters are asked to sign the online “Pledge to Our Keiki” as their first act of service during Volunteer Week Hawaii. Pledge takers vow greater responsibility in environmental stewardship through personal actions. To sign the online pledge, the public can go here: PledgeToOurKeiki.org
