idealist.org

The Kokee Resource Conservation Program is dedicated towards the preservation of the native forests on the island of Kauai, Hawaii. Because of it's extreme isolation a unique ecosystem evolved in Hawaii. In the low lying areas that environment is already altered beyond recovery but in the montane areas of Hawaii over 850 endemic species of plants are still found here, and nowhere else in the world; 57 of those species are rare and endangered in Kokee State Park and Waimea Canyon State Park on the island of Kauai. Our mission is to remove the invasive weeds that threaten the continued survival of the native flora in the forested areas of Kauai. We are grant funded by the US Fish & Wildlife Service, the Hawaii Community Foundation, the US Forest Service, the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation as well as private donors but the work can only be accomplished with the help of volunteers. Since our inception in 1997 we have received over 55,000 hours of volunteer labor and removed over 5 million weeds! We offer accomodations and transportation in exchange for volunteer help and appreciate all inquiries.