Kakoo Oiwi’s workday will be in the loi (taro patch) and consist of weeding/clearing the loi, clearing the auwai system (water channels) and hehihehi i ka loi (repeatedly stepping on leaves and vegetation within the loi to infuse nutrients back into it). Volunteers will learn about the restoration of the Heeia wetlands through Hawaiian agriculture & natural resource management. Volunteers should be comfortable with getting dirty and getting in the mud.

Paepae o Heeia relies heavily on a dedicated and enthusiastic volunteer base to get much of the restoration and rehabilitation work completed at Heeia Fishpond. The work is physically rigorous but very rewarding. Tasks may include moving rock and coral, filling buckets, hauling floating barges through the water, cutting/pulling out invasive mangrove, invasive limu (seaweed) removal, trash pickup, and reconstruction of the kuapa (fishpond wall). Volunteers should be able to lift at least a 20 lb. bag of rice!

At Papahana Kuaola, guests will have the opportunity to engage in a work project on the farm at Papahana Kuaola. The focus of the day will be working around kalo, or taro—prepping, weeding and/or harvesting kalo in the dryland and wetland gardens. Through this hands-on approach, volunteers are exposed to ideas of sustainability and Hawaiian practices of malama aina.

Malama Aina experiences are limited and are available only to ticket purchasers of this event. More information will be sent once tickets are purchased.