HAWAII WILDLIFE FUND
#keephawaiiwild
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Hawksbill Sea Turtle Recovery Project
HWF has been conducting research and monitoring the nesting activities of hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) since 1996. There are fewer than 100 adult female hawksbills known to nest in all of Hawai‘i. The species is listed as endangered in Hawai‘i and worldwide and needs our protection. Through conservation efforts, public awareness, beachfront lighting reductions, fence repairs, dune restoration, beach cleanups, radio and satellite telemetry, coordination of a Turtle Watch program, and determining in-water distribution and abundance, HWF is helping to save hawksbills and their nesting habitats.
Honu Watch Project
Through its Honu Watch program, Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund monitors basking honu (green sea turtles) to educate visitors about the phenomenon called "basking," a rare behavior where turtles crawl ashore for reasons other than nesting. No other species of sea turtles are known to bask. Basking turtles are common in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands but seen on a more limited basis around the main islands, which is where HWF volunteers help protect turtles.
Turtles are especially vulnerable while basking on shore. Possible reasons for the behavior are that basking allows turtles to rest, raise their body temperature and/or to avoid predators (sharks). There may be other health-related benefits that are currently not understood, so it's important that the basking turtles are never disturbed. Show turtles aloha. Please do not approach closer than 15 ft (5 m). Flash photography disturbs them, so please take photos without a flash. Dogs can also injure turtles, so please keep them leashed.
Marine Debris Removal Project
Since 1996, HWF and volunteers have removed over 720,000 lbs (360 tons) of marine debris from the shores of Hawaiʻi Island, Maui, Midway and Lalo. HWF continues to host regular community cleanups on Hawaiʻi and Maui. Since 2020, we have collectively removed 50,140 lbs during 105 cleanups (98 on Hawaiʻi, 7 on Maui).
In addition to picking up debris, we are committed to preventing it in the first place. All our cleanup activities include a briefing about reducing use of single-use plastics, and encouraging a behavioral shift away from this primarily plastic-pollution problem. Additionally, our mentors visit GK-12 classrooms to share our "Marine Debris Keiki Education & Outreach" program lessons with island youth (see https://www.wildhawaii.org/our-work/education/keiki-education).
We also partner with other local businesses, nonprofits and agencies to build the capacity for marine debris removal statewide and support collaboration and a #teamupcleanup mentality whenever possible.
Hawaiian Coastal Ecosystems Outreach
Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund educators are excited to share our newest environmental education unit, Hawaiian Coastal Ecosystems (, designed for middle school teachers and their students. We are currently targeting 5th-7th grade classrooms statewide to share our newly developed unit that focuses on estuaries, tidepools, anchialine pools and fishponds.
To develop this program, we piloted lessons at several Hawaiʻi Island schools in 2016 and reworked the program over the summer. Since then, we have brought these lessons to another 40+ classrooms, reaching more than 850 students to date.
Students get hands-on experience with scientific equipment, perform data collection and analysis, conduct hypotheses testing and direct observation of living organisms, and learn through role-playing. Culminating service-learning fieldtrips can also be arranged as logistics allow for students on Maui and Hawaiʻi islands. HWF will bring the whole show to your school or it can be shared virtually, as requested.
Hawaii Wildlife Discovery Center
The Hawaii Wildlife Discovery Center (HWDC) opened in October 2021 within Whalers Village as a place for visitors and resident families to learn and discover more about Hawaii's marine wildlife. In August 2023, the community of Maui was devastated by fires that swept across Lhain and Kula and is still recovering from this tragedy. The Center is located one mile north of the burn zone, but remains intact. Because HWDC is a learning center in a zone that remains open, and in response to thousands of displaced families, HWF staff and consultants joined together to collaborate on a revisioning of the mission of the Center to more directly support our young haumna (students), many of whom have no classroom.
Together with many local organizations, including ROOTS Maui School, HWF has offered the Center with this new mission to provide a safe space, centered around our connection to nature, where keiki can learn, feel listened to, and be nurtured with Aloha." to our island community.
Where we work
External reviews
Photos
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, It is difficult to find the ongoing funding to support feedback collection, Staff find it hard to prioritize feedback collection and review due to lack of time, It is difficult to get honest feedback from the people we serve
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
HAWAII WILDLIFE FUND
Board of directorsas of 02/22/2024
Ms. Megan R. Lamson Leatherman
Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund
Term: 2022 - 2024
Maura Naughton
Retired USFWS
Nadine Kehaulani Robertson
Volunteer
Donna "Kahi" Kahakui
Retired USEPA
Jean Campbell
County of Hawaiʻi
Melita Nasiah Charan
Roots PCS
Maria Taylor
Kai Kanani Sailing
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.
Equity strategies
Last updated: 11/14/2021GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
- We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.