Hawaii has more endangered species of flora and fauna than any other state. Natural and recreational areas are threatened by development and poor land management. Such dire conditions seem to spell a bleak outlook for the state of Hawaii and its plants and animals, but dedicated environmental and conservation organizations, such as the Windward Ahupua’a Alliance (WAA), are working to save Hawaii’s endangered species and restore its natural spaces. And they need your kokua, or help.

Ted Rodgers, a retired University of Hawaii professor, has participated in the Windward Ahupua’a Alliance–sponsored Quick-n-Dirty Cleanup since its inception. The event, held once a month, invites community members to help clean up the Hamakua Marsh and Canal in Kailua, on the windward coast of O’ahu.

The ’alae’ula, or Hawaiian moorhen, is on the endangered list.

“During our first cleanup,” says Rodgers, “we found tire casings, batteries, bicycles, shopping carts and even two wallets. This is part of a continuing effort to clean up the canal and contribute to the life of Kailua.”

Most travelers are familiar with the idea of a volunteer vacation, but many don’t realize that you don’t have to commit a huge amount of time and money to give back to the place you visit. A multitude of opportunities exist on O’ahu for travelers to use their time and energy to get involved.

Groups like the Sierra Club, the O’ahu Invasive Species Committee and The Nature Conservancy have regular programs dedicated to reducing the threats and changing the dismal statistics. Groups encourage visitors to get involved, and none charge fees for a day spent on the trail or in the marsh.

The Hamakua Marsh was used for recreation before it became overgrown and polluted. It’s habitat for native Hawaiian bird species, including the ae’o, the Hawaiian stilt and the ‘alae’ula, a Hawaiian moorhen. WAA is committed to preserving the habitat of these endangered birds and restoring the waterway to a place the community can use for recreation.

“We’ve done a cleanup at least once a month somewhere in this area since we started in 2003,” says Jim Wood, of WAA. The group usually sponsors the Quick-n-Dirty Cleanup on the second Sunday of each month. Volunteers work hard for a couple of hours in the afternoon and then head to a local restaurant for appetizers and drinks. Details can be found at www.waa-hawaii.org.

Volunteering on O’ahu can often show visitors the more adventurous side of the island. Many projects require volunteers to hike to the worksites, and projects are often located in areas that are difficult to enter or off-limits for public recreation.

The O’ahu Invasive Species Committee (OISC) is dedicated to reducing and eradicating the spread of non-native and invasive species on the island of O’ahu. The OISC usually holds service trips on the second Saturday of every month to pull invasive species and re-establish native species. Participants usually need to be prepared to hike to get to the worksite.

Check www.oahuisc.org for the latest information on the current trip and trail conditions. Projects are usually posted two weeks before the date of the event; to get information before that, or for more details, e-mail Rachel Neville at rneville@hawaii.edu.