Teaching Kids to Give Back with a Hawai’ian Vacation

A Hawai’ian vacation is something dreams are made of — sandy beaches, beautiful sunsets and lush landscapes ripe with adventure are the things that draw millions of visitors, especially family travelers, year after year. But when it comes to a meaningful vacation that can teach valuable lessons while also entertaining, the Hawai’ian Islands offer a chance to do something more meaningful: the chance to give back. Mālama, meaning “give back” in Hawai’ian, is a way to take a fun-filled vacation of a lifetime and turn it into a learning experience for the whole family.

The Mālama Hawai’i program aims to help visitors learn about the deep relationship the islands have between people and place and how the islands and their peoples helped shape each other’s unique histories. By taking some time to give back during your stay, you can be a direct part of the circle of life on the Hawai’ian Islands.

The program partners with hotels around the state to offer many ways to volunteer your time during your stay. By booking a stay at a partner hotel and participating in the volunteer program, you can receive a variety of rewards in exchange for a brief donation of your time.

Dedicating a day to clean up local beaches; plant native trees; or work on a farm planting native, sustainable plants can earn you anything from free breakfasts to bonus reward points or even a free night stay. Not only will you enjoy these great perks, but you will also be able to turn your family vacation into a rewarding memory for the family to last a lifetime.