Traditional Hawaiian Botanical Garden

  United States

• Other Cities in United States: 
Hilo

Term: Throughout the year 

Description: Volunteers will work in the garden nursery propagating native plants and Polynesian crops. They will get hands on experience in all types of cultivation: cuttings, air layering, division, grafting, seed cleaning, pretreatment, and planting. They will also learn other aspects of nursery care: transplanting, repotting, irrigation, fertilization, weed control, pest control, labeling, and record keeping. In the process of learning these basic nursery practices, they will become familiar with a number of native and Polynesian introduced plants and their uses.

Horticultural Aid. The volunteers will assist in maintenance of the garden grounds. They will get hands on experience in all aspects of care of a landscape planted with native and Polynesian introduced plants: planting, pruning, pest control, weed control, fertilization, irrigation, and general garden maintenance. Special attention is given traditional crops, and the intern will help care, harvest, and replant taro, sweet potato, and wauke.

These positions may be combined to suit the interests of the volunteer and needs of the garden. In both cases, the volunteers may become involved in other projects as well, including helping with tours and assisting visitors, mapping and record keeping, equipment maintenance, helping with workshops and presentations, construction of garden paths, maintaining and updating signage, etc.

Highlights: see above

Qualifications: good health, adventurous spirit

Experience Required: no

Participants Travel to United States Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Phone Interview
• Resume

Institute for Cultural Ecology's Mission Statement: The Institute for Cultural Ecology was founded on the conviction that visits to exotic destinations imply a commitment to cultural sensitivity and environmental stewardship. Our programs match the interests, academic goals, and passions of the participant to select host organizations and researchers. Once you connect with a place and its people, they become a part of you. Forever.

Year Founded: 1999