Kupu Opens Applications for Paid Trail Steward Positions Statewide, Including Kauai

Kauaʻi residents looking for paid outdoor work have a new option: Kupu and the State Department of Land and Natural Resources opened applications for the Nā Manu ʻElele steward program in early March 2026, with positions available at three Kauaʻi sites: Hāʻena Community-Based Subsistence Fishing Area, Haleleʻa Forest Reserve, and Hono O Nā Pali Natural Area Reserve System.

The program, backed by a $3.85 million U.S. Economic Development Administration grant running through December 2026, will employ up to 24 individuals statewide in both part-time and full-time roles across Hawaiʻi, Maui, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, and Kauaʻi. Stewards earn $20 per hour, paid biweekly. Full-time participants receive 160 hours of paid time off; part-time participants receive 60 hours. Health coverage becomes available to those working 20 or more hours per week for four consecutive weeks.

Applicants must be at least 17 years old and legally authorized to work in the United States. They are responsible for arranging their own housing and transportation on-island. The application runs through the combined Kupu ʻĀina Corps platform, where candidates must indicate their interest in Nā Manu ʻElele specifically. The May 2026 cohort carries a priority application deadline of March 27, with a program start date of May 18 and an end date of December 26. Applications are also accepted year-round.

The name itself describes the job: in traditional Hawaiian culture, nā manu, birds, represent messengers, guardians, and beings tied to a specific place, while ʻelele refers to individuals who serve as ambassadors. Stewards assigned to sensitive sites will staff trailheads, explain local cultural and natural history to visitors, monitor trail conditions and user numbers, and work to mitigate unsafe or harmful behaviors.

The initiative grew from a 2021 pilot at Pololū on Hawaiʻi Island, developed in collaboration with the lineal descendant community of Pololū, DLNR's Nā Ala Hele Trail and Access Program, and Kupu. The program expanded statewide when Hawaiʻi Island deployed its first full cohort of Nā Manu ʻElele stewards in December 2023 across eight trails, including the Pololū, Puʻu Huluhulu, Puʻu ʻŌʻō, Kaulana Manu, Kaūmana, Onomea, Donkey, and Puna trails.

"Kupu is excited to partner with DLNR and embark on this journey to engage local communities, protect Hawaiʻi's natural and cultural treasures, and nurture a new generation of environmental stewards," said Kawika Riley, Kupu Vice President of External Affairs.

Kupu is Hawaiʻi's largest youth-focused conservation and sustainability nonprofit. Full program details, cohort timelines, and the application are available at kupuhawaii.org/na-manu-elele. Questions can be directed to info@kupuhawaii.org.