After volunteers are dropped off at Paepae o He‘eia, they’ll descend a steep driveway that they’ll also need to ascend at the end of the day. There’ll also be a 10- to 15-minute walk to the worksite. The walk will be quite muddy, depending on the day’s conditions.
Mangrove and invasive plant removal, weeding, planting, fish nursery construction: All volunteers will be divided into groups and may rotate through the activities below. As a safety precaution to minimize possible exposure to the germ that causes leptospirosis, please protect your skin from cuts and scrapes and do not immerse any open wounds or rashes underwater. Please see the FAQ for more information about leptospirosis.
Mangrove and invasive plant removal
Volunteers will use plant loppers/clippers to cut and clear invasive mangrove and pass the cut mangrove, possibly in an assembly line, to staff who will be operating a chipper nearby. The chipper will be loud, so earplugs will be provided to volunteers who are closest to the machine. Please be aware that sea life, such as crabs, will be present. Volunteers may also burn cut mangrove (same process of assembly line and passing to staff). (Difficulty level: medium.)
Weeding
Volunteers will help to remove weedy grass, mangrove seedlings, and marine debris in restoration areas. (Difficulty level: light.)
Lo‘i
Volunteers will weed lo‘i (taro patch) in fresh water that is calf- to knee-deep and extremely muddy. Participants will likely encounter spiders and frogs in this environment. (Difficulty level: light-medium.)
Planting
Volunteers will participate in planting native shrubs, grasses, and plants along the fishpond shoreline to help in restoration. (Difficulty level: light.)
Fish nursery construction
Volunteers will help to build a baby fish habitat using shovels and buckets to remove mud and create earthen walls in fresh water that's calf- to knee-deep and extremely muddy. Participants will likely encounter spiders and frogs in this environment. (Difficulty level: medium.)
Volunteers for this activity must be at least 10 years old.
Limit: 150 volunteers.
Difficulty levels: light, light-medium, & medium.