KILAUEA — Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge is seeking new volunteers to keep the cultural and natural history of Kilauea Point alive. New volunteers will serve as ambassadors for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Volunteer opportunities include: Interpreting the
KILAUEA — Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge is seeking new volunteers to keep the cultural and natural history of Kilauea Point alive. New volunteers will serve as ambassadors for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Volunteer opportunities include: Interpreting the natural history of Kaua‘i’s seabirds, native coastal plants, and marine mammals; sharing the rich cultural history of Kilauea Point and the historic Kilauea Lighthouse Station; and restoring native plant communities.
The refuge is looking for people who enjoy sharing their knowledge and passion for this special place with others. According to refuge staff, the visitor experience is greatly enhanced and often defined by the interpersonal connections that take place with volunteers at the refuge where seabirds, marine life and coastal views are plentiful.
“The volunteers at Kilauea Point are today’s lighthouse keepers. These folks keep the light shining by sharing the stories of Kilauea Point and illuminate a sense of place for refuge visitors,” Refuge Manager Mike Hawkes said in a news release.
The volunteer program is seeking long-term or even part-year commitments from Kaua’i residents. Prospective volunteers interested in participating in the 2008 New Volunteer Training should contact Sheri Saari at 635-6367.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 548 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resources offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands and helps foreign and Native American Tribal governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
