Over the past 10 months, visitors to our Hawaiʻi and American Samoa national park stores have been incredibly generous. At checkout, they have consistently chosen to add a donation to their purchases, and those small gifts have added up to an extraordinary $356,000.
That is a powerful number. But more importantly, it is a powerful demonstration of how much people care about their national parks.
Every dollar donated at a park store stays in the park where it was given, helping support native wildlife, Hawaiian cultural programs, local visiting students, youth ranger programs, and other important work. Behind every dollar donated is a person who made a simple choice from a big heart.
Over the course of the year, some months brought an especially strong outpouring of generosity; other months were quieter. But month after month, visitors continued to step up at the register. That is the real power of giving as a community: many small acts of generosity become a meaningful investment in our national parks.
That $356,000 represents people who value the opportunity to stand at the edge of a volcanic landscape, walk along a quiet beach, or make their way through a native forest listening for the calls of endemic birds. It represents people who want to learn more about Hawaiian history and culture, people who understand the feeling that comes from standing in a special place and knowing that, for one moment, you are part of history ... and part of the future, too.
It also represents a belief that these national park sites and the experiences they offer should be vibrant and protected for generations to come, and it demonstrates a commitment to the people who care for these places every day and help make those experiences possible.
At Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association, we are deeply grateful to every visitor who has chosen to make a donation at checkout. Whether it was a simple round-up, a dollar, five dollars, or more, you helped make this remarkable total possible and that makes so much possible in the parks we all love to support.
Thank you for being part of this success story. To learn more about our work, click the Our Work tab in the menu bar.
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