Kanu Hawaii started in 2006 as a movement of everyday people, working to protect and promote the things that make Hawaii special – a connection to the ‘āina, a culture of aloha, and local self-reliance. The founders created this organization to strive toward change rooted in kuleana (responsibility) and a commitment to be the change. Kanu’s core of forty people, who collectively worried about Hawaii’s future and deeply believed in its potential, transformed this worry into action with campaigns centered on environmentally sustainable, compassionate, and economically resilient communities.

Kanu Hawaii has two major programs - Volunteer Month Hawaii and Pledge to Our Keiki.

After 5 years of hosting Volunteer Week Hawaii, this April we have evolved. Beginning in 2023 we are launching Volunteer Month Hawaii with the entire month of April being a month of service across the islands. In 2022, we engaged with over 10,000 volunteers in over 400 events across Hawaii. We are looking to double those numbers this April. The second program that overlaps with Volunteer Month is the “Pledge to our Keiki”. 

The Pledge, written by students across the islands, asks signers to make a commitment to safeguarding their future and the beauty of Hawaii. For the next 5 years, we will be working with the Hawaii DOE to help support 170,000 students across Hawaii in environmental sustainability and service learning. This includes engaging the visitor industry to sign the pledge and volunteer.

Kanu Hawai'i

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