HAWAI'I WILDLIFE FUND (HWF) organizes public awareness campaigns, trains naturalists and provides interpretation for thousands of island residents and visitors each year. Interested? Please email us at wild@aloha.net. Mahalo!

HWF strengthens conservation ties in Japan

HWF President Hannah Bernard, center, dines on bentos during her visit to Japan Toy Culture Foundation in Tokyo with Misao and Hisashi Yamada.

Bernard, right,  presents a carving to Sato, as mahalo for his $10,000 donation. Japan Toy Culture Foundation's doll helps spread HWF's mission. Cheryl King coordinates HWF's turtle project.

June 2010 - With the assistance of a matching grant from Earth Friends Foundation, HWF expanded its support base by making new friends across the Pacific starting with HWF President Hannah Bernard's trip to Tokyo, Japan, this spring to meet with Toyohiko Sato, Chairman of the Japan Toy Culture Foundation. Last year, sales from 1,000 of Mr. Sato's best-selling doll, the Longboarder Licca, were used to help support HWF's Hawksbill Recovery Project on Maui.
   Bernard flew to Japan on May 15 and delivered T-shirts with the Hawksbill Recovery Project and Earth Friends' "Conservation Deserves More Than 2%" message on them to her friends and to business associates of Mr. Sato.
   Acting as local guides for Bernard in Tokyo were Misao (Eriko) and Hisashi Yamada, who accompanied her during visits with Japan Toy Culture Foundation and three other companies that are also interested in HWF and its mission. > Read Eriko's story (pdf)
   Bernard claims, "I could not have done this trip without my dear friends, Eriko and Hisashi, who acted as translators, facilitators and generous hosts. Also the support of Earth Friends was crucial - they have been coaching me for years in how to strengthen HWF's business partnerships, and now it's exciting to see them start to flourish." Bernard is excited about HWF's new connection with these responsible and environmentally conscious business leaders of Japan.
   The $10,000 grant from Japan Toy Culture Foundation enabled HWF's Cheryl King and Angelika Hofmann to work during 2009 to track and protect nesting females and hatchling hawksbills. King, HWF's Maui Hawksbill Recovery Project Coordinator, also assisted in a hawksbill foraging study, and Hofmann is the project’s Volunteer Coordinator. Volunteers protected two nesting females and helped ensure that nearly 800 hatchlings made it to the water. Especially since hawksbill sea turtles are critically endangered, it was encouraging that one of the females turned out to be a new nester to Maui's population and the other had nested before in 2002.
   In addition to providing financial support, Japan Toy Culture Foundation also provides educational information about HWF and its project on its website for "Longboarder Lica," their surfing doll who loves the ocean.
> Photos from Hannah's Japan Trip
> Activities of Japan Toy Culture Foundation
> Longboarder Licca's HWF education webpage
> Buy a "Conservation deserves more than 2%" T-shirt
> Donate to HWF

Ways To Help:
  > Become a HWF Volunteer
  > Donate to HWF
  > Adopt an Endangered Animal
  > Be a Steward of the Earth
  > Shop with Jeweler Who Donates to HWF
  > Work with HWF

> Become a HWF Volunteer
Are you dedicated to preserving our natural habitat? Put that energy into action by volunteering with Hawai'i Wildlife Fund's research or conservation projects. HWF volunteers work side-by-side in the field with trained staff members, helping to protect animals and their habitat.
Through your help, HWF works to ensure that sea turtle hatchlings emerge from their nest. They help monitor nesting beaches, educate the public and track our sea turtle mothers after they return to sea. HWF's Monk Seal Watch helps ensure that these critically endangered animals that are resting onshore receive the privacy they need.
   MORE > HWF VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS

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> Donate to HWF
Help support the ongoing efforts of Hawai'i Wildlife Fund and our specific research and conservation efforts by making a tax-deductible contribution. Your donation helps support the efforts of a dedicated team of conservationists working to preserve Hawai'i's marine life. Your donation will help fund:
    ·  HWF's Hawksbill Sea Turtle Recovery Project
    ·  HWF's Hawaiian Monk Seal Recovery Project
    ·  HWF's education program
    ·  Humpback whale research and education
    ·  Wild dolphin preservation
    ·  Coral reef preservation
   MORE > HWF DONATION FORM

 > Be a Steward of the Earth
Adopt and follow HWF's Reef Use Guidelines when you snorkel or dive the islands' coral reefs, whether on your own or with a commercial charter boat. Contact us to learn about tour companies that have adopted the ethical and sustainable whale watch, snorkeling and diving practices HWF produced.
Visit Hawai'i during the winter months to experience humpback whales on their breeding grounds. Choose a vessel that employs a HWF-trained marine naturalist.
   MORE > HWF SUSTAINABLE GUIDELINES

 > Shop with Jeweler Who Donates to HWF

Danielle Johnson, owner of Elixir Boutique, donates a percentage of the proceeds from the earrings she creates to HWF. She hand crafts each piece in her Maui studio with care, quality materials and aloha. View and purchase her jewelry online. > ELIXIR BOUTIQUE

> Work with HWF
Interested in working with us? HWF accepts applications for internships, co-ops and/or grant-funded positions on our ongoing projects. Please send a cover letter describing your interests, experience and availability with your resume to wild@aloha.net.

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