The National Tropical Botanical Garden is committed to building and nurturing its valuable volunteer team. We believe having a passionate, responsive and dynamic volunteer community at the Garden is one of the best strategic tools to achieving our mission. By becoming a volunteer you will be making a substantial contribution to preservation and knowledge of tropical plants and ecosystems. Why not use your time and talent to grow with us?

• Fun and rewarding
• Variety of opportunities available - put your current skills and experience to work or learn something new that interests you.
• Opportunities available year-round, weekdays and/or weekends.
• Flexible hours - some volunteers come in a few times a week, some once a month, and others on a seasonal basis. Some of our locations also offer opportunities under a "Vacation and Volunteer" basis.
• Ages range from 14 to 80+
• Supportive workplace environment
• Orientation and on-the-job training specific to your position.
• Great benefits such as invitations to special events, special newsletters, behind-the-scenes access, opportunities to learn more about the fascinating world of tropical plants, and a chance to make new friends.

On Kaua`i

Volunteer Opportunities available now:

An Introduction to Volunteering - by appointment

Want to know more about the NTBG and how to volunteer at the southshore locations?

The Garden offers a short presentation and information session on volunteer opportunities by appointment most weekdays.

Place: NTBG Headquarters, 3530 Papalina Road, Kalāheo

Contact: Volunteer Coordinator - 332-7324, ext. 228 or volunteer@ntbg.org

Become A Docent - Southshore Gardens

Docents are volunteers who lead garden tours. They are professionally trained using a cooperative learning approach with both in-classroom and in-garden instruction.

One-on-one training is available continuously, or through special sessions held periodically throughout the year (watch this page for session announcements).

Download the application at the link immediately below or stop by to pick one up at NTBG Headquarters-Reception, 3530 Papalina Road, Kalāheo, or at the Visitors Center across from Spouting Horn.

  Download Adobe PDF

Visiting Volunteer Opportunities - "Vacation and Volunteer"

For those visiting the island of Kaua`i:

Coming on vacation? Interested in spending some of that time at the Garden helping out as a volunteer?

Simply email volunteer@ntbg.org to learn more about how to become a Visiting Volunteer.

Limahuli Garden Docent - Public Tours

Share the beauty, abundant botanical resources, and rich cultural history of Limahuli Garden. After undertaking a comprehensive training, you will be able to share the Garden with others by leading guided tours of this incredible site.

Docents must be able to attend training classes, commit to leading tours on a regular basis, enjoy interacting with the public, be physically able to walk up steep hills, and want to work in a breathtaking setting.

Contact Phyllis Somers, Public Outreach Specialist, at 826-1668.

Volunteer Program Support Assistant - Headquarters

Are you a people person? As a Volunteer Program Support Assistant you will wear many hats: helping recruit new volunteers, assisting with coordinating volunteer schedules, ensuring that all necessary data is recorded for evaluation and reporting, and program and event planning. You truly want to connect the mission of the Garden with the community.

Your skills should include typing, and experience with MS Office and the Internet. You should have a friendly personality, creative streak, and the willingness work independently and as a team. Time commitment: Flexible.

Nursery Assistant - McBryde Garden

We are looking for plant enthusiasts to help the Garden grow in our busy nursery facilities. Duties include: repotting plants, weeding, pot-washing, watering, inventory, and light maintenance. This is your chance to gain expert knowledge in plant care through hands-on training and supervision.

No experience or green thumb necessary, but enthusiasm is a must. Time commitment: Wednesday mornings.

Bulk Mail Volunteers - On-Call - Headquarters

Throughout the year, newsletters, invitations, and information are sent to donors and members of the National Tropical Botanical Garden. We need volunteers to help with this mailing process by collating and folding papers, stuffing envelopes, applying postage, and creating and applying mailing labels. Volunteers normally work in a team, so this is also a good opportunity to socialize and meet other people who support the Garden’s mission. Time commitment: On-call.

Special Events Volunteers - On-Call - Kaua`i

Interested in being involved with the implementation of exciting events and interacting with visitors in an upbeat and fun environment? We are actively looking for volunteers to join our special events roster.

You will assist at Garden and community events by staffing information tables, working behind the scenes, greeting visitors, handing out programs and support materials, and filling in wherever is most needed. Events include: Kaua`i County Farm Fair, Taro Festival, Kōloa Plantation Days, Holiday Craft Fair at our Southshore Visitors Center, Arbor Day, Mother’s Day Open House, and more. Time Commitment: On-call.

Makauwahi Reclamation Support Assistants. Affiliated Project - Southshore Kaua`i

Want to be part of an innovative restoration project? Learn more about coastal and dry forest native plants? Contribute to an organic reconstruction of Kaua‘i’s vegetative landscape that is benefiting NTBG’s restoration projects? You will work in a coastal environment, performing tasks which include: hand-weeding, outplanting, digging, and watering.

This opportunity will suit individuals who enjoy physical work in a sunny environment. Time commitment: Mondays-Sundays, flexible hours.

Please note that this is an affiliated project.

Makauwahi Docents - On-Call. Affiliated Project - Southshore Kaua`i

Do you enjoying sharing nature with others? Spending time outdoors? Want to learn more about botany and restoration ecology? We are looking for docents (tour guides) to lead tours at the Makauwahi Sinkhole and restoration areas. This is a great chance to gain exposure to ongoing research on Kauai’s endangered species, paleoenvironmental studies, and causes of extinction. Comprehensive training will be provided on the sinkhole’s history and local ecology of Māhā`ulepū.

This opportunity will suit individuals with a good level of fitness, ability to walk on uneven terrain, and with strong interpersonal skills. Time commitment: On-call Sundays 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Please note that this is an affiliated project.

Gardener's Assistant - McBryde Garden

McBryde Garden is a botanical treasurehouse of tropical flora, containing collections of native Hawaiian species and many other plants that have been wild-collected from the tropical regions of the world. We are seeking a Gardener’s Assistant to help us care for these plants by planting, weeding, watering, trimming, and raking.

This role would suit someone who is interested in learning more about plants and gaining skills in gardening. You will be working under the supervision of a lead gardener. No previous experience is necessary. This role will require bending and some light lifting. Time commitment: Mondays-Fridays, any time between 7:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Arts and Crafts Volunteers - Headquarters

"Oshibana," our arts and crafts volunteers, make products from plant materials or with a botanical theme. These creations are sold to benefit the NTBG, either at the southshore gift shop or at craft fairs on Kaua`i.

This is a group activity for which we are seeking additional volunteers. No prior skills necessary. Time commitment: Any Friday, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Nursery Handyperson - Conservation and Horticulture Center, McBryde Garden

Do you have some skills as a handyperson? The NTBG Living Collections and Horticulture Department is looking for a few people to help maintain and construct infrastructure in our nursery (building tables for potting, basic assistance with irrigation systems, helping with general facility upkeep).

Some basic handyperson skills are preferred. You’ll need the ability to work with volunteers and other employees. The physical component varies; some work can be done while sitting down and other work is very strenuous (i.e., construction). Time commitment: Flexible, prefer help on Mondays or Wednesdays.

Propagator - Conservation and Horticulture Center, McBryde Garden

The NTBG Living Collections and Horticulture Department is actively seeking a propagator to assist in the nursery. You can put your green thumb to use by propagating plants for NTBG gardens and restoration projects. Tasks include hand pollinating plants, seed collection and planting seeds/cuttings.

This role would suit someone with some prior gardening experience. Desired traits: ability to perform very light physical work, working cooperatively with others and an interest in conserving rare plants. Time commitment: Flexible, prefer Mondays or Wednesdays.

Restoration Assistant - McBryde Garden and Allerton Garden

Interested in working with and learning more about native plant species? As a Restoration Assistant you will be working with Conservation Department staff at one of our restoration sites in the beautiful Lāwa ‘i Valley. Project sites include a native forest, along a streambank, and the coastline. You will be involved in watering, planting, weeding and propagation while learning about native plant community restoration in theory and practice.

This role requires the ability to perform basic gardening tasks while working on uneven terrain and enthusiasm to learn more about Hawaii’s native plants and ecosystems. Time commitment: Weekly or on-call.

Horticulture Volunteer - Limahuli Garden

Limahuli Garden and Preserve is dedicated to the conservation of native Hawaiian species, striving to perpetuate modern Hawaiian culture by encouraging community involvement and education. We welcome our volunteers to be involved in our preservation and propagation efforts through hand-weeding, outplanting, watering and general maintenance of rare and endangered species.

This role would suit someone with physical stamina looking to work outdoors in the sun. No expertise is required. Some knowledge of native Hawaiian plants is desirable, but a willingness and passion to learn about Hawaiian culture is most important. Time commitment: Minimum 4 hours a week.

Forest Restoration Volunteer - Limahuli Preserve

You will be working in the heart of Limahuli Valley at our restoration project site, a 20-minute hike from Limahuli Garden helping to preserve the `aina of Kaua`i. You will be involved in hand-weeding and weed-eating, outplanting natives, cutting down and poisoning invasive species and clearing trails.

This role requires working out in the sun and a good level of physical fitness for hiking and carrying tools/equipment to and from the restoration project site. Some knowledge of Hawaii’s native plants would be advantageous, but passion and enthusiasm to learn more about Hawaiian culture is most important. Time commitment: Minimum 4 hours a week.

Herbarium Volunteer - Headquarters

The NTBG Herbarium houses approximately tens of thousands preserved plant specimens which serve as a reference collection of tropical plant life, with an emphasis on Polynesian, Micronesian and Melanesian. We are looking for individuals interested in learning more about collection and plant conservation to prepare and mount specimens for future study.

This role would suit someone with steady hands, good vision for close-up work and ability to sit for long periods of time. Desired traits include: communication skills, enthusiasm for learning, capacity to work independently and as part of a team, willingness to follow specific guidelines and ability to be detail-oriented. Time commitment: Minimum 3 hours per week (opportunity exists for more hours).