Maui Nui Botanical Gardens: 150 Kanaloa Ave. Kahului, HI 96732
Maui Nui Botanical Gardens offers three Paid Volunteer opportunities through the MEO AmeriCorps Program:
The mission of the Maui Nui Botanical Gardens is to foster appreciation and understanding of Maui Nui’s plants and their role in Hawaiian cultural expression by providing a gathering place for discovery, education, and conservation.
MNBG/Americorps volunteers work independently on seed storage projects including germination testing and data collection, assist Nursery staff in propagating and maintaining native plants, assist Garden staff in the operations of the landscape display including working alongside volunteers, and assist with hosted educational activities and events at the Garden. Familiarity with Excel, current driver’s license and own transportation, good attention to detail, and ability to work independently required.
While performing the duties of this term of service, the Americorps member is regularly required to stand and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. S/he is frequently required to reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear. S/he is occasionally required to walk; sit and climb or balance and must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a member to successfully perform the essential functions of this term of service. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
About AmeriCorps Program:
Hawaii’s diverse ecosystems are home to thousands of rare plants and animals found nowhere else in the world. However, they need our help. Hawaii’s native species are facing threats from invasive plants and animals such as feral ungulates, forest disease, coqui frogs, little fire ants, miconia and so much more.
AmeriCorps members contribute their time and energy to the destruction of these pests, and to impede their spread, as they learn how to care for the fragile ecosystems on Maui. AmeriCorps partners with multiple conservation agencies around Maui to remove invasive plants, plant native plants, repair/build ungulate-proof fences and maintain trails.
AmeriCorps members receive a living allowance every two weeks ($606 or $699 before taxes). Living allowance pay is not based on hours worked; every living allowance check will be the same amount.
- In 2 months, you must complete 300 hours ($3,030 = $606 gross x 5 pay periods)
- In 6 months, you must complete 900 hours ($9,090 = $699 gross x 13 pay periods)
Please keep in mind, we do not pay for travel or provide housing assistance. Please do research on the cost of living in Hawaii, especially on Maui, along with research on public transportation to determine if this program will work for you. There are a lot of resources you can find out in regard to housing and transportation options. It is a requirement that you have adequate and responsible transportation to and from work sites.
At the end of the program, if you have completed the program successfully you will receive an education award (based on the term of service) that you can use towards approved student loans and/or secondary school tuition.
Application Steps:
Go to my.americorps.gov, click on the small, red words in the middle of the page that say "Apply to Serve" and create an account (steps 1-4). Remember to write down your username and password as a reference.
After that, a link will be sent to your email. Click on it and then click on the "Applications" tab on the left-hand side and create an application (steps 1-8). You will need 2 references in order to complete the application. For each reference, you need a phone #, email address, work or home address, place of employment and job title. They should not be related to you. After you have entered your references, make sure you check the little checkbox on the right side of each reference before clicking the button labeled: Finish Application.
Once your application is finished and the status says Complete, click on the "Search Listings" tab on the left-hand side, select Hawaii for the state and look for our program which is called MEO Environmental Program – it might not be on the first page of listings. Click the big Apply Now button near the bottom of the page and that will bring you to the final page! If you are under 18, you will need to print page and have a parent or guardian sign.
Questions should be directed to Cliff Caesar, MEO AmeriCorps Environmental Program Coordinator at 808-243-4324.
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