Join our Mālama Tree Crew to enjoy the outdoors, increase your impact in the fight against climate change, and learn best practices for native tree maintenance!

There are many reforestation, carbon sequestration, and native plant restoration projects happening throughout the islands, maybe you have even participated in one. But what is critical to these projects is not just the planting—it’s the maintenance. While some projects have programs set up to ensure that these new plantings are taken care of, some do not, that’s where you come in.

The Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi is seeking dedicated volunteers to help care for recently planted trees around Oʻahu. Mālama Tree Crew volunteers, with guidance from project leaders Randy Ching and Sherry Cassetta, will be watering, weeding, and clearing debris around trees in Moanalua, Pālehua, and possibly other locations, about once a month for 3-4 hours/day.

Dates of service:

Ala Mahamoe - First Sunday of the month

Recognizing the crucial role of protecting Hawaii's watershed in preserving its unique ecosystems and providing fresh water resources, we continue to care for the area where the Sierra Club Oʻahu Group and its partners planted over 1,000 trees. Our efforts will involve watering, weeding, and clearing debris to ensure these young trees thrive. Meet us at 8am by the gate located between 1800 and 1812 Ala Mahamoe St. To ensure you're prepared, please wear long pants, a long-sleeve shirt, water, a hat, sunscreen, gloves, and covered shoes. Bringing your favorite tool is optional as others will be available. We anticipate finishing our work between 10:30am and 11am. Reservations required at least 1 day prior via email here with your full name and phone number.
Leader: Sherry Cassetta

Pālehua - Second Sunday of the month 

Join us to clear debris, weed, and water around 75 newly planted native trees in the Akupu Enclosure in the Gill Ewa Lands (GEL). GEL encompasses 1,600 acres in the southern tip of the Wai‘anae mountains dedicated to preserving the land's important biological, cultural, economic and historical resources. The Akupu Enclosure provides habitat for endangered ʻelepaio to nest. Meet at 7:45am at Makakilo Community Park, near the top of Makakilo Drive. We will work from 8am-11pm. To help you prepare, we suggest wearing long sleeves, pants, and closed toe shoes. Although we provide tools, you might prefer to bring your favorite tool and gloves. Remember to pack water, a snack, and insect repellent. RSVP to leader Sherry Cassetta via email here with your full name and phone number.

FAQ:

How does this help in the fight against climate change?
One way to mitigate the effects of climate change is to sequester the carbon already in the atmosphere. Plants, especially trees, are great at removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Through photosynthesis, plants pull carbon out of the air and process it into sugar that it uses for food and growth. Trees take it one step further. They are able to store large amounts of carbon in their wood, sequestering more as they grow.

The more carbon we sequester, the less global warming. In order to keep Earth livable, we need to keep the warming less than 2 degrees celsius. Planting massive amounts of trees will enable us to do so. Hawaiʻi can easily plant a million trees in the next decade with everyone’s help.

But what’s my lasting impact?
A lot of energy goes into growing and planting new trees and we all want to see them grow for decades to come. Well-developed trees are able to sequester more carbon. While some tree planting projects have the capacity to maintain their trees, some do not. Watering and weeding trees may be less sexy than planting, but it is just as, if not more, important. You are able to help ensure these trees live a long carbon-full life.

Pacific Islands are amongst the first to see hard-hitting impacts of climate change—and Hawaiʻi is no exception. We are already seeing the impacts of climate change: eroding beaches and coastal roads, rain bombs and detrimental flooding, and rising sea levels and temperatures. These impacts can no longer be ignored and we are now at a critical time where we must not only massively reduce fossil fuel emissions but also do everything that we can to sequester the carbon that is already in the atmosphere.

Do I need prior experience or have participated in a Sierra Club event in the past?
No! The project leader, Randy Ching, will provide instructions for the day’s work and safety protocols. Randy is a former Sierra Club Oʻahu Group Outings leader with over 25 years of experience leading hikes and service projects.

What should I bring?
Be sure to check each event’s description for details. However, tools for the day’s work will generally be provided but please bring your own gloves if you can. Always bring water and sun protection (sunscreen, hat, etc). Closed toe shoes are also required.