Na Kalai Waʻa, which means ‘canoe builder’, is the organization that runs Makaliʻi, Hawaii Island’s own voyaging canoe. Built under the vision of Clay and Shorty Bertelmann, and led by two of the five initial ‘pwo’ captains, Na Kalai Waʻa helps to preserve Hawaiian culture by engaging the community, youth and school groups in maintaining and developing the knowledge of voyaging and Wayfinding, the ancient art of celestial navigation. Join Na Kalai Waʻa as they prepare for the 2026 voyage of Makaliʻi.

The Hawaii Island Food Basket works to provide food assistance to those in need on the island through donations and collaborative efforts islandwide.

Hawaii Island Humane Society is a non-profit animal welfare organization that offers lifesaving programs and community outreach services. Among other efforts, and a recently completed and beautifully done animal shelter, the organization offers low cost spay and neuter programs to island residents. Advocats is another organization, dedicated to assisting residents in catching feral cats to ensure they are spayed or neutered.