To those scholars who keep telling me they don't know where to go to volunteer in their communities to earn service hours ... no more excuses!  Here are two upcoming opportunities you can take part in, just by sending an email.

He'eia Stream Restoration Project - Saturday, January 16, 2010 (8:00 am - 12:00 pm)

Recent water quality monitoring of He'eia Strem in Kaneohe has shown elevated levels of nitrates and nitrites from excessive fertilizer and pesticide use and high turbidity due to stream bank erosion and a dominance of non-native vegetation.  The He'eia Stream Restoration Project will address these issues by restoring the stream banks and nearby forest with native vegetation, installing erosion control material and conducting workshops to educate area residents about proper fertilizer and pesticide use and education about useful nataive plants.

Volunteers play a vital role in this huge restoration project.  In the early stages, workdays will focus on native Hawaiian plant identification and propogation and clearing the stream banks of invasive plants.  Volunteers will help to grow all of the native plants that will be outplanted into these cleared areas.  Upon completion of the project, the area will be restored with native vegetabion and used by school groups for environmental education.  Contact: Moani Hibbard, Program Coordinator, via email.

Serve on Martin Luther King Day!  January 18, 2010 (8:00 am - 12:00 pm)

The staff of the Hawai'i Youth Conservation Corps would like to invite you to a day of service for Martin Luther King Day.  Email Desiree at deseree.vea@kupuhawaii.org if you are interested so that they can provide you with waiver forms.  They also need your contact info and t-shirt size.