Volunteers are welcome!!! Our work is completely supported by volunteers. You can join us any or every Sunday at 9:00 AM. We meet at the Round Top Drive parking area where the Mānoa Cliff Trail intersects Round Top Drive. Click here or see below for a map. Due to the recent (Dec 2021) landslide, we meet at the Kalawahine trailhead. Please plan ahead – there is extremely limited cell-phone reception at the meeting place. If you arrive more than 10 minutes late, it is likely that the group will have begun to hike into the site (which takes about 45 minutes). It is best to arrive by 9.00 AM.
If you would like written directions for driving to the meeting place (there is no public transportation!) and useful information about volunteering at the site, you can download them here or see below.
It takes about 45 minutes to hike into the site, and once there, we usually work on weeding or planting, until 12 pm. At 12, we break for lunch and all volunteers are welcome to join in – we each bring our own lunch. Volunteers should be prepared – bring your own water, snacks, and appropriate clothing – long pants and long-sleeve shirts (for working off-trail), rain gear, warm clothing and work gloves if you have them. You may also want to bring insect repellent. Note: there are no facilities at the site – it is in the middle of the forest.
You are welcome to stay as long as you like — every effort is appreciated. Also, we cannot be responsible for minors, so those under the age of 18 should be accompanied by an adult.
If you have a larger group of volunteers (over 10) that you would like to have participate on any of our Sunday volunteer days, please contact us to arrange and confirm details. We can accommodate almost every level of participation, but we do ask groups to be prepared and this includes: providing your own transportation (car-pooling is highly recommended as there is limited parking); assigning at least 1 group leader (over the age of 18) to be responsible for the group; ensuring that participants understand they are fully responsible for their own safety.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at manoacliffnatives@gmail.com.
Directions and useful information about volunteering at the site:
MEETING: Every Sunday at 9:00 AM at the well-marked Manoa Cliff Trailhead where it intersects Roundtop Drive. Directions below.
WHAT TO BRING: Volunteers should be prepared – bring your own water, snacks and, if staying for lunch, bring your own lunch. Also be sure you have appropriate clothing – rain gear, warm clothing and work gloves if you have them. We supply some tools. If you want to stay for lunch, we break at 12:00. You are welcome to stay for as long as you like.
TRAILHEAD LOCATION:
The well-marked/signed Manoa Cliff Trailhead is located on the mauka (uphill) side of the road/parking area, about 4.2-miles up Round Top Drive from Makiki Street. The trail shares the same parking lot with the Moleka Trailhead (which heads makai, downhill).
DRIVING TO THE TRAIL:
The shorter way: To reach the trailhead go mauka on Makiki Street. Mauka of Nehoa St, pass to the right of the long, triangular Board of Water Supply park and continue up as Makiki becomes Round Top Drive. Continue winding up and up until your reach the small parking area on your left, just after 4005 Round Top Drive. The Manoa Cliff Trail (which heads mauka, uphill) shares the same parking lot with the Moleka Trail (which heads makai, downhill).
A longer alternative: To reach the trailhead from Piikoi St heading mauka from central Honolulu, avoid both H-1 on-ramps and continue straight under the H-1 overpass on Piikoi. Shortly thereafter, cross Wilder Ave; Piikoi swings to the left. Almost immediately, turn right on to Mott-Smith Dr., continuing until you turn left on Makiki Heights Dr. Continue until you turn right on Tantalus, and continue winding all the way to the top of Tantalus, which becomes Round Top Dr. Continue on Round Top Dr. until you reach the small parking area on the right-hand side of the road, just before 4005 Round Top Drive. The Manoa Cliff Trail (which heads mauka, uphill) shares the same parking lot with the Moleka Trail (which heads makai, downhill).
Manoa Cliff 