Currently in its second year, Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park’s “Guardians of the Trails Youth Program” received  a total of $60,000 in funds from The National Park Foundation and Ms. Helen Wright.  The funds provide a four month paid salary to Hawai’i island youth to work in the park maintaining and rehabbing trails, as well as back country camp sites for 2021.  This yearʻs program runs through November 2021.

In 2020, the Friends started the program with a grant from the National Park Foundation of $150k.  These funds employed 6 youth, the purchase of a brand new 11 passenger van and equipment. The program was successful and operated during COVID.

“We are grateful to the National Park Foundation and Ms. Helen Wright for their support of Hawai’i island youth, which in turn benefits the park and our local community,” said CEO Elizabeth Fien in a press release.

Photo credit: Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park