Give a great holiday gift to Hawaii

In this season of giving — and end-of-year tax deductions — Hawai'i visitors may want to give back to a place that brings them joy. One way is to donate to some of the established nonprofits that are preserving and restoring the unique environment that draws many of us to the islands in the first place. But if you're trying to be thrifty to save for your next trip, not to worry: Many organizations also offer volunteer opportunities that can add meaning as well as memories to a vacation. For those who can spare the cash or time, here are a few suggestions:

FOR HIKERS:

Gift idea: Thanks largely to donations and bequests, the Hawai'i chapter of the Nature Conservancy has protected nearly 200,000 acres of wildlife habitat and fragile ecosystems across the major islands and on Palmyra Atoll (in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands.)

Thrift idea: The Nature Conservancy works with community groups to clean up beaches and combat invasive plant and animal species, with the help of many volunteers. Its current big push: removing the mudweed that's choking Maunalua Bay in East Honolulu, in partnership with Mālama Maunalua. E-mail the volunteer coordinator for information on how to pitch in.

Reap the benefits: The Conservancy's free monthly guided hikes on Moloka'i explore the pristine rain forest of Kamakou Preserve, the mountain home of rare birds and 219 endemic plants, and the coastal dunes of Mo'omomi Preserve, which also boasts many native plants and attracts nesting green sea turtles (honu) and the Hawaiian owl (pueo).

FOR BEACHGOERS:

Gift idea: Beach access and preservation, clean water and conservation of "special places," such as marine reefs and surf breaks, are the main missions of the Surfrider Foundation. Founded in Malibu in 1984, the largely volunteer organization has spread worldwide, including chapters on Hawai'i's four largest islands, which hold beach cleanups, monitor water for pollutants and support public access to the state's more than 400 beaches. On O'ahu, educational campaigns include reducing use of plastics, which too often end up as marine debris, and eliminating cigarette butt litter, while the Maui chapter is trying to prevent paving of a canoe-launching beach in Ma'alaea Harbor.

Thrift idea: Join a scheduled beach cleanup — like the one Surfrider volunteers recently conducted at Paumalū (Sunset Beach) on O'ahu's North Shore, and earlier in the year at Kaua'is Māhā'ulepū and Keoneloa (Shipwreck) beaches — by contacting the volunteer coordinator listed on each chapter's Web site. Or just head out to your favorite strand with rubber gloves and a bag, and go beachcombing for trash. Most of the coastline favored by visitors is relatively debris-free, but making an effort to keep it that way is always appreciated.

Reap the benefits: In winter, watch the big waves (from a safe distance) at Paumalū, or hike from Keoneloa to Māhā'ulepū beaches, and keep an eye out for monk seals on the sand and whales in the water. It'll be clear why Surfrider and so many community groups consider these "special places."

FOR PLANT LOVERS:

Gift idea: Despite its name, and its noteworthy mission of preserving biodiversity, the National Tropical Botanical Garden is primarily funded by private donations. Its beautiful gardens on Kaua'i and Maui (as well as one in Florida) are not only visitor-friendly showcases of endemic, indigenous and exotic plants from the tropics — source of 90 percent of the world's species — but also havens for propagation, research and education.