Increasingly companies and their employees want to make a positive, meaningful impact in their local communities and places they travel around the world. With Hawai‘i’s corporate social responsibility program they can do just that. Meeting attendees can help take care of the‘āina (land), kai (ocean) , through volunteer projects that give back while providing an experience that deepens their connection to what makes Hawai‘i, its people and culture so special. There are numerous ways to Mālama Hawai‘i.
Hawai‘i Convention Center Carbon Offset Program
With fewer than 10 percent of Hawai‘i’s old-growth native and endemic forests remaining, Hawai‘i Convention Center groups can help offset the environmental impact of their events by reforesting native trees in Hawai‘i. Attendees can sponsor and dedicate an individual koa Legacy Tree – or a group of trees – and track its development with TreeTracker technology. The tree will grow to more than 50 feet and offset the carbon footprint of a typical vacation for a family of four to the islands. In addition, the tree provides a home for many rare and endangered species.
Sustainable Coastlines Hawai‘i
Surfrider focuses on conservation, activism, and education. Meeting attendees can accompany a Surfrider team leader to help remove harmful plastics and other marine debris that is detrimental to marine wildlife.
Surfrider focuses on conservation, activism, and education. Meeting attendees can accompany a Surfrider team leader to help remove harmful plastics and other marine debris that is detrimental to marine wildlife.
If your meeting is on Maui, make a lasting impact at Kipuka Olowalu, a 72-acre cultural reserve that stretches mauka (mountain side) to makai (ocean side). Gather a group to restore the property with removal of invasive species and native plantings. There’s an educational session as well.
This national historic site is one of the last ancient fishponds in the area on O‘ahu. Formerly, it was the home of Kalanimanuia, the queen who once governed the island of O‘ahu some 500 years ago. Attendees will help preserve the heritage by clearing invasive mangroves and moving stones in fishpond cleanup and restoration.
Waikōloa Dry Forest Initiative
Groups can spend the morning learning about the history and ecology of the dryland forest of Waikōloa and help with the restoration efforts in the preserve that is on the island of Hawai‘i.
For more information, contact us at meethawaii.com and hawaiimeetingguide.hvcb.org.