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On Saturday, Sept. 26, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park celebrates National Public Lands Day with free admission and volunteer opportunities for park visitors.
“I’m happy to invite our friends and neighbors to the park for a fee free day,†Superintendent Cindy Orlando said.  “Being outdoors is a stimulating experience, and in these tough economic times, memories made enjoying the park with friends and family are precious.â€
“National Public Lands Day also presents an opportunity to make a difference and you’re invited to join rangers on one of six work projects taking place that day,†Orlando said.
Located throughout the park, these projects widely vary in their physical requirements:
Easy
Recycle with Maintenance Work Leader Danny Ortiz by sorting plastic, glass, and aluminum from 9 a.m. to noon.
Moderate
Chop down kahili ginger with Park Ranger Jason Zimmer from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Remove Morella faya (fire tree) with Chief of Natural Resources Management Rhonda Loh and VIP Mark Johnson from 9:00 am to noon.
Plant ‘ala‘ala wai nui and palapalai with Botanist Sierra McDaniel from 9:00 am to 3 p.m.
Repair a horse corral with Animal Caretaker John Machado and VIP Annabelle Lewis from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Strenuous
Hike through Kipukaakihi in Kahuku and chop down kahili ginger with park rangers Dean Gallagher and John Stallman from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
To sign up for the project that fits your physical capability, time, and interest, call the park’s volunteer coordinator, Laura Williams, at 985-6304.
Volunteers should wear sturdy shoes; bring gloves, a snack or lunch, and water; and dress for sun and be prepared for rain.
At 5 p.m, everyone is invited to the Kilauea Visitor Center for a sneak preview of The National Parks: America’s Best Idea by director Ken Burns. The 45-minute film will get you ready to watch the six-part series about the creation and evolution of the National Park System set to debut Sunday, Sept. 27 on PBS.
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