Volunteer, Restoration Ecology Program, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park

Volunteers are needed to assist the Restoration Ecology Program within the Division of Natural 
Resources Management at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Primary duties include native plant 
propagation and out-planting, vegetation monitoring, seed collection and preparation, nursery 
duties, data entry, and other activities related to project support. The information generated from 
this work is pertinent to developing and implementing successful restoration strategies and 
understanding the dynamics of native Hawaiian ecosystems.
Current projects include:
1. Forest restoration in montane areas of the Kahuku Unit
2. Koa & Mamane forest restoration within the Mauna Loa Strip
3. Pasture re-forestation in the Kahuku Unit
4. Rare plant recovery
5. Native plant propagation
Volunteers typically work with a crew of 2-3 individuals conducting field work under the 
supervision of a crew leader. Work occurs in a wide variety of climate conditions and ecological 
communities. Field sites vary from wet and cold to hot and dry. The monitoring component of 
field work includes recording metrics such as species richness, percent cover, shrub density, tree 
density, and biomass. Volunteers will learn to identify anywhere from 60-90 species in the field 
for monitoring and seed collecting work. The program also plants several thousand seedlings 
each year for large scale restoration projects. Significant field time will also be spent seed 
collecting. Field work will often entail significant hiking, carrying heavy loads, and may require 
camping trips of 4-5 days in remote locations. 
In addition to field work, volunteers spend a significant amount of time assisting with nursery 
operations and to a lesser extent data entry. Nursery work includes watering, weeding, transplanting, seed processing, making large batches of soil mixtures, conducting seed/plant 
inventories, and washing pots. This nursery work can be tedious and repetitive.
Applicants should have a strong background in botany / biology / ecology, interest in native 
Hawaiian plants and vegetation communities, and experience with fieldwork in adverse and 
challenging conditions. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, possess a valid driver’s 
license, able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs all day for up to 5 miles, and be able to camp in 
backcountry conditions for up to one week. 
A food stipend of $10/working day and housing (4,000’ elevation) within Hawai‘i Volcanoes 
National Park are provided. The resident community within the park is small and located in a 
remote area. The climate is cool and rainy year round. Volcano Village, a small community with 
limited services, is located 5 miles away. The nearest large city of Hilo (population 40,000) is 
located 30 miles from the park. Limited public transportation is available, and government 
vehicles are not provided for transportation not related to work activities.
This area is subject to elevated levels of volcanic fumes, particularly sulfur dioxide (SO2). 
Such fumes can present an immediate and cumulative health hazard, particularly to 
persons with breathing and heart difficulties. While every effort is taken to avoid or reduce 
exposure, if you have a respiratory condition, such as asthma, or other medical conditions, 
you should seriously consider your ability to work and live in these conditions before 
applying.