Hilo High Student Volunteers, and more – June 16

HER was rather ambitious this past week as it hosted 3 separate groups in a volunteer forest volunteer restoration day for Keau’ohana. Our team worked together to facilitate 10 Hilo High school students; their kumu; two Big Island Invasive Species (BIISC) community educators; two Stantec (SITC) representatives; and three traveling tourists. 

Hilo High students were central to the experience in their interest to learn about current natural resource management challenges and the skills required to enter and to succeed in the field of conservation management. They were outstanding young men who showed diligence in their work, and respect for others and the ‘aina!

The SITC volunteers were participants of a their company-wide volunteering initiative where Stantec staff across the globe volunteer at organizations like ours to as they state, “bring our hearts and hands together to make a difference in the communities we live and work in”. Since 2013, SITC Week has grown steadily. In 2024, they celebrated 11 years of SITC with over 7,000 employees volunteering alongside 440+ local organizations on five continents.

We were graced with the presence and support of several tourists as well, channeled from our alliance with the Kanu Hawaii Volunteer Program  helping to recruit volunteers in Keau’oahana over the past several years, inviting tourists seeking to give back and enjoy a meaningful experience while in Hawai’i.

Needless to say we accomplished a great deal together despite the complexity at hand, which was achieved in thanks to the Keau’ohana crew who each graciously supported a handful of volunteers, while project Director Jaya Dupuis meandered between them all to help guide challenging efforts and encourage striving students of the land.