Holo Holo Blog

As a company that prides themselves on doing things pono, we make every effort to invest in our community as well as our valued team.

With the ocean as our office, our team members are committed to preserving and protecting the Pacific ecosystem. We know better than most that conserving our natural resources is imperative living on an island. However, cost of living is also a difficult hurdle for many residents that have chosen Kauaʻi as home. As a result, the management team at Holo Holo has created opportunities to support sustainability, while also supporting our crew. 

Each month, our HR Manager Shannon and Assistant Operations Manager Jess curate a list of vetted events that focus on ecosystem cleanup, invasive species removal, native plant cultivation, cultural preservation, and public and or keiki conservation education. 

“The program is pretty straightforward; I curate the list each month with any updates and additions and share,” Jess explained, “They must also make their own arrangements to join, and we provide them with a form to get the organizer to sign that provides the time range of their participation.” 

Once crew members select and coordinate which events to attend, they simply provide HR with their participation timesheets to be credited for their time. Team members can be paid up to 16 hours per calendar year for volunteering in approved programs, and credited at their hourly rate for time spent. The crew is also encouraged to seek out other community-based opportunities to lend a hand to include on future lists. 

Here are some of the initiatives the Holo Holo team has been proud to support:

Net Patrol with Surfrider Foundation

Net Patrol is a great way to hike with a purpose. Because many of our coastlines requiring clean-up are rocky and elevated, this volunteer job doubles as a work out!  The goal is to remove marine debris washed ashore. Surfrider hosts other regular clean-ups as well.

Park cleanup at Lydgate Beach Park

Led by Friends of Kamalani, with a focus on strengthening community bonds, this clean-up has been a weekly tradition for years. Most often, the mission is to clear driftwood off the beach, as the windward side tends to collect a ton of it.

National Tropical Botanical Garden

 NTBG–National Tropical Botanical Garden is a nonprofit dedicated to combating the extinction rate of plant and animal species here on the islands. Saving plants facing extinction is a tall order, and there is so much work to be done. With more than 1,300 acres here on Kauaʻi, NTBG has plenty of tasks for volunteers ranging from planting, mulching, weeding, harvesting, propagating, and so much more.

Hale Puna

Hale Puna is a historic home in Waimea on Kauaʻi’s rural westside. The home dates back to 1828 and in recent years has been restored to provide not only a community gathering place, but a working farm to help with food insecurity on island. It is now home to 75 fruit trees and dozens of other crops such as papaya, breadfruit, avocado, ginger, kabocha squash, and more. They partner with the Kokee Lodge to provide fresh locally sourced ingredients, and with a school CSA program to ensure our keiki are receiving proper nutrition. Volunteers will get down and dirty in the greenhouse, planting, watering, weeding, harvesting and helping to create more food stability for the community.

Waipā Community Workday

Looking for an opportunity to help on the north shore? Located just north of Hanalei, is Waipā’s living-learning center. With a focus on Hawaiian cultural preservation and serving the ʻāina, Waipā Foundation always has something to do. Whether it be helping to preserve native plant species, or lending a hand in tending the land while learning about cultural values, Waipā Community Workday has been a fulfilling experience for our eager volunteers.

Eyes of the Reef

Eyes of the Reef is an organization that uses volunteer snorkelers to complete reef surveys as part of monitoring projects and in response to invasive species outbreaks, natural disasters, and pollution events. Although the volunteer opportunities vary, they do offer training to become certified and educated on diseased and degrading coral reefs, a huge issue in Hawaiʻi due to a number of outside factors affecting the water quality.

Mālama Hulē’ia at Alakoko Fish Pond

This monthly community workday is focused on conservation work and learning more about the culture of the land. “At Mālama Hulē’ia, we educate and lead community efforts to remove invasive mangrove along the Hulē‘ia river, re-establish native wetland ecosystems, manage Alakoko fishpond, and engage the community through environmental stewardship programs that honor Hawaiian culture and values.”

Lawai International Center Caring Day

Once a month, the Lawai International Center welcomes volunteers to tend to the grounds often by planting beautiful orchids. As one of the oldest Buddhist temples in the country, the land is very special as a place to preserve the culture of Japanese immigrants that came to Kauaʻi in the early 1900s. This monthly gathering gives insight to the melting pot of cultures on Kauaʻi, while giving back to the ʻāina…and don’t forget a homemade lunch from the local aunties!

Stay tuned for more from our team and be sure to check back to the blog for more volunteer opportunities. Have a suggestion on where we can help? Let us know!

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