All events are free unless otherwise indicated.

COMING UP

POUHALA MARSH RESTORATION, removing invasive species and creating habitat for endangered Hawaiian stilts; 8:30-11:30 a.m. Feb. 21; Hawai'i Nature Center, Waipahu; bring work gloves, drinking water, hat, sunscreen and covered-toe shoes; Pauline Kawamata, 955-0100, ext. 18, or volunteer@hawaiinaturecenter.org.

"FLAVORS OF LATIN AMERICA," cooking class using fresh, locally grown garden ingredients, with chef Raul Bernal, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Feb. 21, The Green House, 224 Pakohana St., Pauoa Valley; $25; limited class size; registration, 524-8427, www.thegreenhousehawaii.com.

"INTRODUCTION TO HOME COMPOSTING," UH Outreach College's "Growing Green" noncredit workshops on green practices at home and garden; 3-4:30 p.m. Feb. 22, Olomana Gardens, Waimanalo; $20; registration, 956-8400, www.outreach.hawaii.edu/noncredit.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for annual Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, 2009 Whale Ocean Count, 8:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Feb. 28 and March 28 at selected sites on O'ahu, Kaua'i and Big Island; no advance training required (except a free training session for Kaua'i site leaders); registration required: 397-2651, ext. 253 O'ahu, 888-55-WHALE (94253), ext. 253 Big Island, and 808-246-2860 Kaua'i.

2009 HUMPBACK WHALE MONTH OCEAN CONTEST, an art, poetry and short story contest for students K-8 by Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary; entries due noon March 4, Ocean Contest, 6600 Kalaniana'ole Highway, Suite 301, Honolulu, HI 96825; 888-559-4253, www.hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov.

NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR 2009 KAUA'I GREEN GIANT AWARDS, offered by Rotary Club of Kapa'a, Kaua'i, for eco-friendly residents in a number of areas — including solar, energy efficiency, recycling, travel, eco-activism and more; nomination essay deadline, April 1; Rodney Pascua, 808-482-0980, www.kapaarotary.org.

BE A GREENIE

FREE GARDEN MULCH, available 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays, Halawa Xeriscape Garden; bring containers and shovel; 748-5041, www.boardofwatersupply.com.

GREEN DRINKS, an informal networking for people in the environmental field, 5-9 p.m. first Tuesday of each month; E&O Trading Co., Ward Centre; 351-2891.

WAIMEA VALLEY GREETER, volunteers needed one day a week for 2 1/2 hours; 638-7733.

WEED AND POT CLUB, Maui Nui Botanical Garden's Weed & Pot Club meets 8:30-10:30 a.m. Wednesdays, 150 Kanaloa Ave., Kahului, Maui, to do beautification and maintenance work; tools, gloves, drinking water provided; wear shoes; 249-2798.

NATIONAL GARDEN HELP, volunteers needed to protect rare plants and ecosystems at National Tropical Botanical Garden, Kaua'i; help needed in administration, conservation, education, development, etc.; 808-332-7324, ext. 228, or volunteer@ntbg.org.

Niaulani nature walk, guided tour through an old-growth forest; 9:30 a.m. Mondays; from Volcano Art Center, Niaulani campus, Volcano Village, Big Island; 808-967-8222, www.volcanoartcenter.org.

Niaulani Forest WorkDay, volunteers needed to preserve the rainforest; 9 a.m.-noon third Sunday of each month; Volcano Art Center, Niaulani campus, Volcano Village, Big Island; 808-967-8222.

TUESDAYS AT KANAHA, weekly beach cleanup and plant maintenance, coordinated by Community Pride at Kanaha Beach Park, Maui, 8-10 a.m. Tuesdays, at the park; Valerie Vines Magee, 808-264-1454.

CHUN'S REEF BEACH/COASTCLEANUP by Adopt-A-Beach Hawaii and Save The Sea Turtles International; noon last Saturday monthly, from 61-529 Kamehameha Highway, Hale'iwa; (trash bag, gloves and purified water provided; bring hat, sunscreen and beach shoes); 637-2211.

MAKIKI FOREST RESTORATION PROJECT, volunteers needed to weed; pick up branches; and plant, water and fertilize native plants as part of Makiki Watershed Awareness Initiative forest restoration project. 9 a.m.-2 p.m., fourth Saturday of each month; 973-9782.

Send announcements, with contact name and phone number, to: For the Environment, Island Life, The Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802; or islandlife@honoluluadvertiser.com, with "For the Environment" in the subject line. Deadline is 10 days before the event.