365 Ways to Mālama Hawai'i     Find out how you can mālama Hawai‘i with a daily tip. Earth Day Fair Conservancy staff at an Earth Day fair in Waikīkī.  An Earth Day Message Read a personal message by Suzanne Case. Our Hawai'i executive director reflects on what Earth Day means to her.

Momona ka papa ke e’ehu ka 'āina
The reef thrives when the land is healthy

Moloka'i Earth Day Celebration

Friday, April 18, 5 to 9pm
Mitchell Pauole Center
Kaunakakai, Moloka'i

The theme of this year's Moloka'i Earth Day Celebration appropriately honors the 2008 statewide declaration of 2008 as the Year of the Reef. There will be ‘ono food, great entertainment, lots of prizes and educational displays.Learn how to take action to preserve, conserve and care for our precious island of Moloka’i.

Since 1995, The Nature Conservancy of Hawai‛i has sponsored this annual Earth Day Celebration. Each year, this major community event attracts more than 1,000 of Molokai’s 7,000 residents. The purpose of the fun, festive and family-oriented event is to educate residents and visitors about the part they can play in preserving our natural and cultural resources.

Join in the fun and help us celebrate 2008 Earth Day – and make Moloka‘i an even better place to live! For more information, contact Kathy Tachibana at The Nature Conservancy Moloka‘i office (808) 553-5236.

Other Earth Day Events Statewide:

O'ahu:

Earth Day Beach Clean-up at Kamilo

Saturday, April 12, 7:45am to 3:15pm
Beach Environmental Awareness Campaign Hawai’i (B.E.A.C.H.) is organizing a clean-up of marine debris at Kamilo Beach on the island of Hawai`i, in celebration of Earth Day. Bags, gloves and water will be provided. Please bring a picnic lunch and for cleaning up the beach: a bucket, sand sifter and rake (if you have them). Wear a hat, sunscreen and covered shoes. All volunteers will be entered into a drawing of prizes. To volunteer, please register by Mon. 7th April by phone: 393 2168 or 554 2902.

Mauka to Makai Expo & Clean-ups 

Saturday, April 12, 8:30am to 2pm
Jump on the trolley from Kaimukī High School to the Waikiki Aquarium; its free, for the 2008 Earth Day 1st Annual Mauka to Makai Environmental Expo from 9-2pm, sponsored by the City and County of Honolulu, State of Hawai'i Department of Health Clean Water Branch and the Waikīkī Aquarium. You are welcome to observe the moi release next to the Waikīkī Natatorium sponsored by the State of Hawai'i Department of Land and Natural Resource Division of Aquatic Resources, 11-11:30 am. Various agencies and organizations and hands-on activities will be announced in the coming weeks.

Kai Makana TNC Work Day on Mokauea Island

Saturday, April 19, 8:30 am to 1 pm
Sand Island Park Area
In celebration of Earth Day, TNC Hawai‘i staff will participate in a service project organized by Kai Makana to restore the last ancient Hawaiian fishing village island into an educational center. Mokauea Island is a three-acre islet 1/4 mile off of Sand Island, and is residence to five fishing families. It was once self-sustaining, but today its fishpond is overgrown with mangrove, and its shores are cluttered with Oahu's debris.Kai Makana has committed to helping Mokauea Fishing Village Association and those families directly involved with this island from 2005 until 2010. The goal of the Mālama I Ke Kai Project is to create and educational center where students, teachers, community members and the public can come to learn the traditional methods used to be self sustaining.  

Volunteers should bring sun protection, old covered shoes (crocs work well), and water. Please do not bring anything that cannot get wet or large backpacks. The island is accessible by outrigger canoes, and volunteers will be instructed on paddling. Those interested in volunteering to assist Mokauea restoration activities should contact Jan Yoshioka at jyoshioka@tnc.org or (808) 780-8379 to receive waiver and directions.

3rd Semi-Annual Hawaiian Monk Seal Count

Saturday, April 19, 10am to 1pm
NOAA is looking for interested groups or individuals to participate in a Hawaiian Monk Seal Count. The goal is to have volunters and community members counting monk seals on the same date and time on each of the main Hawaiian Islands. Volunteers will be assigned to a beach location and asked to fill out a sightings form. Digital images of seals will also be important to send to NOAA. Contact Nicole Davis at 292-2372 or nicole.davis@noaa.gov

3rd Annual Kōkua Festival, Waikīkī Shell

Saturday, April 19 and Sunday, April 20
Hosted by musician Jack Johnson, the Kōkua Festival brings together environmental organizations, eco-friendly businesses, musicians, artists, teachers, and community leaders to promote environmental awareness in Hawai'i. In addition to an eclectic mix of live music, the festival offers tasty treats from local organic food and beverage vendors, earth-friendly products and services green companies, alternative energy demonstrations, interactive games and crafts for the kids, and countless environmentally active groups from around the islands. All festival proceeds go to the Kōkua Hawai'i Foundation, a non-profit organization supporting environmental education programs in Hawai'i. For information email info@kokuafestival.com.

Earth Day Celebration at the Honolulu Zoo

Saturday, April 26, 9am to 3pm
The Honolulu Zoo Society’s Education Department will be offering educational information and activities on amphibians to celebrate the Year of the Frog, and information on reef life to celebrate the Hawai'i International Year of the Coral Reef. 

Kaua'i:

2nd Annual Kaua'i Conservation Conference

Friday, April 11 to Saturday, April 12
The conference will be held at the Kaua‘i Community College Performing Arts Center on Friday, followed by community events on Saturday. The theme for 2008 is "Community-Based Conservation." Friday's conference will feature keynote speakers Pauline Sato, Public Awareness and Action Coordinator for The Nature Conservancy of Hawai‘i, and Chipper Wichman, Director of the National Tropical Botanical Gardens, followed by breakout sessions addressing a diverse set of theme-related topics with a panel discussion format. Topics include environmental education, engaging volunteers, restoration, marine protection, cultural connection, sustainability, and agriculture. Community events on Saturday include field trips (10am-2pm) and an evening community conservation gala (5-9pm). For more information, contact Jacqueline Kozak at (808) 346-5390.

Hawai'i Island:

TNC Volunteer Work Day at Kona Hema Preserve

Saturday, April 12, 8:30am to 3pm
Please help us kick off the spring season and celebrate Earth month by joining us in planting native trees in Kona Hema Preserve. On this work day, we will be doing mildly strenuous work planting a variety of understory native trees to increase the diversity of the native forest and prepare for the future reintroduction of the endangered ‘alala. If you are fit and up to the task of hiking off-trail over rough terrain and into steep gulches, using hand picks to plant native plants, please join us! Sign up is required, as space is limited! Call (808) 885-1786 to sign up and get information and directions or email dcenteio@tnc.org.

HawCC's Earth Day Fair

Friday, April 18, 9am to 4pm
This family-friendly environmental education fair sponsored by Hawai’i Community College features more than 70 exhibitors who will bring free information, model cars, bikes and giveaways and entertainment to educate and amaze fairgoers. Admission is free. For more information visit the Earth Day website http://hawaii.hawaii.edu/eday/ or contact Noelie Rodriguez at noelie@hawaii.edu or (808) 974-7421.

8th Annual Coral Reef Awareness and Earth Day Fair

Saturday, April 19,  10am to 2pm
Outrigger Keauhou Resort and adjacent Kahalu'u Beach Park
Celebrate our island home with an exciting day of family-oriented fun, entertainment, educational activities, crafts and displays. Many booths and exhibits will be featured by environmental organizations and agencies that showcase Hawaiii Island's fragile ecosystems. A short trip around the Big Island through the activities and displays will showcase why conservationists consider Hawaii to be at the forefront of the global extinction crisis and help to educate the public about some of the rarest plants and animals on earth. For more information, go to www.konaearthfestival.org/events/Coral-Reef-Awareness.htm

Ocean Day Hawai'i

Saturday, April 26, 10am to 3pm
The University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resources Center and the Marine Science Department, in partnership with the University of Hawai`i Sea Grant, co-host this community outreach event to raise awareness of current issues concerning ocean resources, safety, and conservation in community members and school-age children. Join us at this family-friendly event. Admission and parking at PACRC (located on Kalanianaole Avenue in Keaukaka) are free. For information call (808) 933-0706 or email pacrc@hawaii.edu
 

Earth Day in Waimea

Saturday, April 26
This community outreach event is sponsored by Hawaii Montessori School in Waimea. For more information email hawaiimontessori@aol.com or call (808) 885-7683.

Maui:

2008 Earth Day Celebration & Plant Sale

Saturday, April 19, 8:30am to 3pm
Maui Nui Botanical Gardens in Kahului
Admission and parking are free to the public. For more information on Earth Day Maui 2008, to volunteer, or to donate to the Maui Nui Botanical Gardens, contact Lisa or Kea at 808-249-2798.

16th Annual East Maui Taro Festival

Saturday, April 26 to Sunday, April 27 (all day)  
Hana Ballpark
This popular community event focuses on kalo (taro), the staple food of Hawaii; featuring Cultural Demonstrations like poi-pounding, arts and crafts, food booths and continuous entertainment, music and hula, by local favorite performers. On Sunday morning, don’t miss the annual Taro Pancake Breakfast (7-10:30 am) at Hana Ballpark, and “Talk Story" Presentation about kalo. Cultural excursions will take place in early afternoon. For more information call (808) 264-1553 or go to www.tarofestival.org/

CHECK OUT MORE EARTH DAY EVENTS and volunteer opportunities online at Mālama Hawai'i and International Year of the Reef - Hawai'i.  

Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Photos © Catherine Toth/TNC (community beach cleanup, Maunalua Bay, O'ahu); Photo © Phil Spalding III (Conservancy staff at Earth Day fair in Waikīkī).