Stewardship

A Giving Fund to Support Conservation, Culture & Nature Connection

Connect. Collaborate. Conserve. Foraging connections that nurture our ohana, island communities, and natural resources.

Since 1993 Hawaii Forest & Trail’s vision to share the splendor of Hawaii Nei and inspire a deeper connection with nature has guided our success and growth. Supporting our local communities and resources is an integral part of our company mission. As we’ve grown, our ability to support and partner with organizations, communities, and schools in Hawaii has grown accordingly. We’ve established a giving fund in partnership with Hawaii Community Foundation. The Iiwi Fund, named after Hawaii’s iconic Scarlet Honeycreeper and the featured bird in our logo, represents our continued kuleana to support, care, and advocate for the conservation of Hawaii’s native ecosystems, culture, and natural wonders.

The Ho‘omalama Initiative reflects Hawaii Forest & Trail’s commitment to nurturing our staff through development opportunities, conserving natural resources with sustainable management practices, and engaging with community stakeholders. This growing initiative began in 2008 with the launch of E Ho‘omaluo, a program dedicated to promoting the responsible management and conservation of Hawaii’s natural resources. Over time, its scope has expanded to include initiatives that invest in our staff and community. We believe that by sharing our love for Hawaii’s natural world, we can inspire a deep connection between people and place—fostering a lasting commitment to conservation. We invite you to learn more about our programs and join us in shaping the future of Hawaii.

The ʻIʻiwi Fund

For every guest who joins us on an adventure, $1 is donated to the fund. Since its inception, Hawaii Forest & Trail has donated $105,000 to various local non-profit organizations (as of Jan. 2025).

Since 1993, Hawaii Forest & Trail’s vision to share the splendor of Hawaii Nei and inspire a deeper connection with nature has guided our success and growth. In 2018, Rob and Cindy Pacheco established the ‘I’iwi Fund with $10,000 of seed money to support local nonprofit conservation efforts and advocate for the conservation of Hawaii’s native ecosystems, culture, and natural wonders.

If you would like to help support our vision for Hawaii Island, click the below “Donate” button and then search for “Hawaii Forest & Trail Iiwi Fund”.

Donate

Support the Cause

Proceeds from our activities and guest contributions support local Non-Profit conservation efforts. We invite each guest to give to support the local conservation organizations (one of our first guest’s donations was $25,000!) Our industry partners and business vendors also donate money to the fund. Initial seed money for the fund of $10,000 came from a personal donation by our founders Rob & Cindy Pacheco. As the fund grows, we will periodically solicit requests for grants from qualifying organizations but will also entertain requests at any time.

How The Fund Works

For each guest on tour, Hawaii Forest & Trail donates $1. We encourage each of our guests to match that dollar if they’d like, or give any amount you choose.

Qualifying organizations must be a 501(c)3 entity and whose mission and work aligns with at least one of the following criteria:

Benefits the conservation of Hawaii’s native ecosystems, species and landscapes.
Shares the understanding and practice of Hawaiian culture and the dissemination and understanding of Hawaii’s natural and cultural history.
Promotes and facilitates an appreciation and interaction with nature especially within youth-oriented programs.

The ʻIʻiwi Fund intends to give preference to entities that are based or whose work is performed in the communities where we operate tours. If you’d like to help with this fund, donations in all amounts are accepted. Mahalo for your kokua.

Donate

Community Outreach

Philanthropy

We contribute to the community through in-kind and outreach programs focused on conservation, including the Grow Hawai’i Festival, Hakalau Forest NWR Open House, Waikoloa Dryland Forest Initiative, the Hawaii Conservation Conference, and more.

Community Support

Hawaii Forest & Trail and Kohala Zipline donates over $28,000 in services annually to local community organizations that are aligned with the company's values and mission.

Strategic Partnerships

Hawaii Forest & Trail and Kohala Zipline are proud to partner with several local, national, and international organizations devoted to conservation and sustainable tourism. Some of those organizations include the Nature Conservancy, Division of Forest & Wildlife, Hawaii Ecotourism Association, Friends of Hakalau Forest, Kohala Project Venture, and the World Heritage Alliance for Sustainable Tourism.

Ho’omalama Programs

e ho’omaluō,: Conserve our natural resources

Environmental Protection

Hawaii Forest & Trail and Kohala Zipline favor reusable, returnable, and recycled/recyclable goods. Meals and snacks served on tour are served in reusable containers, and all beverage containers are recycled.

Sustainable Management

In addition to natural history interpretation, guests also receive information regarding local culture, ecosystems, and local economy. Appropriate codes of behavior are in place to ensure accurate and appropriate information is shared with guests regarding local communities, resources, and ecosystems.

Stewardship Projects

Ongoing Stewardship Projects at our tour locations include bird count surveys at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge, the restoration of a Hawaiian Lo’i in Kohala, and seed collection at the Waikoloa Dry Forest.