OUR MISSION
To support the National Park Service in the protection, preservation, and interpretation of the natural and cultural resources at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park for the enjoyment of current and future generations.
In 2018, Friends of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park launched our Guardians of the Trails Program.
This program is designed to rehab all front country and back country trails in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park over a five year period – Approximately 150 miles of trails. Our goal is to hire a permanent Volunteer Trail Coordinator and enlist 10 regular volunteers. At the same time we continue to seek grant funding for various trails, and funding for youth service corp work (Guardians of the Trails Youth Internship Program).
We are pleased to announce we received a 150k grant in early 2020 from the National Park Foundation for our Guardians of the Trails Youth Intern Program. Friends has hired 6 youth that will be working in the Kahuku and Kilauea areas, as well as the trails of the endangered Hawksbill turtle in Ka’u. We intially delayed the program due to COVID19, and spent time setting up social distancing, ppe and all other safeguards for our island’s youth to work. Work will begin the third week of June.
2018:
- We were unable to do any trail work in 2018 due to the eruption
2019:
- Restoration completed of the Kilauea Iki Trail
- 2 miles of trails at Kipukapuaulu
2020:
- 3 miles at Kahuku
- Summit area of Kilauea
- Mauna Loa strip area
- Hawksbill turtle habitat trails
2022:
2023:
2024:
