Hawaii Local Connections
Donation protected
Hi, my name is Allie Gesek and I am a high school student at Morris County Votech in the Environmental Science Academy. The money that is raised will go toward funding me so that I will be able to attend an environmental conservation retreat in Lihue Hawaii.
Work hand-in-hand with community leaders and local non-profit organizations to build a more sustainable Kauai. Together with locals students, we build community gardens, aid farm-to-school programs, battle invasive species, and learn about the cultural importance of native Hawaiian plants while becoming a force of positive change in Hawaii’s future. Link hands with Hawaiian natives and see the positive impact you can have as you work to preserve the splendor of the sea and the majesty of the lush rainforest. Share a laugh with local children at the Boys and Girls Club, and allow the island to return your generosity by sharing the “aloha spirit”. Master your surfing skills on Kauai’s South Shore and take to the ocean like ancient Polynesian explorers in an outrigger canoe. Hike the magnificent Na Pali Coast and snorkel beneath the waves in search of dolphins, colorful fish and sea turtles!We spend the duration of the program sleeping under the stars in our private beachfront paradise watching the sun rise and set across the bay.Our work on the island puts us on the front line with local nonprofits striving to make Hawaii a happier and healthier place. Even though Kauai has some of the most fertile soil and highest amounts of rainfall in the world, every year the island imports nearly 90% of all it’s food, and if shipments were to stop, there would only be enough to feed the island’s population for 5 days! Partnering with organizations focused on increasing Kauai’s food independence allows us to build strong local connections and make an impact much larger than ourselves. Through farm-to-school projects and sustainable gardening, we have an opportunity to give back to the land and provide food security for future generations.We spend a day at the Limahuli Garden and Preserve learning about the “canoe plants” brought by early explorers and the invasive plants that threaten them. At this pristine botanical garden, we take time to help with the preservation of native species and discover how ancient Polynesians first developed the land to provide sustainable agriculture for future generations.The Boys and Girls Club of Kauai is divided into three different clubhouses around the island where we mentor and inspire local school-children through games and activities. Through field days, tri-club events and service projects we help foster positive relationships between islanders and our students from mainland.
https://youtu.be/CDVQjgllqxo
Work hand-in-hand with community leaders and local non-profit organizations to build a more sustainable Kauai. Together with locals students, we build community gardens, aid farm-to-school programs, battle invasive species, and learn about the cultural importance of native Hawaiian plants while becoming a force of positive change in Hawaii’s future. Link hands with Hawaiian natives and see the positive impact you can have as you work to preserve the splendor of the sea and the majesty of the lush rainforest. Share a laugh with local children at the Boys and Girls Club, and allow the island to return your generosity by sharing the “aloha spirit”. Master your surfing skills on Kauai’s South Shore and take to the ocean like ancient Polynesian explorers in an outrigger canoe. Hike the magnificent Na Pali Coast and snorkel beneath the waves in search of dolphins, colorful fish and sea turtles!We spend the duration of the program sleeping under the stars in our private beachfront paradise watching the sun rise and set across the bay.Our work on the island puts us on the front line with local nonprofits striving to make Hawaii a happier and healthier place. Even though Kauai has some of the most fertile soil and highest amounts of rainfall in the world, every year the island imports nearly 90% of all it’s food, and if shipments were to stop, there would only be enough to feed the island’s population for 5 days! Partnering with organizations focused on increasing Kauai’s food independence allows us to build strong local connections and make an impact much larger than ourselves. Through farm-to-school projects and sustainable gardening, we have an opportunity to give back to the land and provide food security for future generations.We spend a day at the Limahuli Garden and Preserve learning about the “canoe plants” brought by early explorers and the invasive plants that threaten them. At this pristine botanical garden, we take time to help with the preservation of native species and discover how ancient Polynesians first developed the land to provide sustainable agriculture for future generations.The Boys and Girls Club of Kauai is divided into three different clubhouses around the island where we mentor and inspire local school-children through games and activities. Through field days, tri-club events and service projects we help foster positive relationships between islanders and our students from mainland.
https://youtu.be/CDVQjgllqxo
Organizer and beneficiary
Allie Gesek
Organizer
Jefferson Township, NJ
Albert Gesek
Beneficiary
