All events are free unless otherwise indicated.

COMING UP

"HAWAI'I'S LARGEST MARINE INHABITANTS," discussion and film series sponsored by UH Sea Grant, Hanauma Bay Education Program, this week with "Ocean Voyager," a discussion of the Hawaiian Island Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, with Chris Brammer; 6:30 p.m. Feb. 26; Hanauma Bay Education Center theater; free (free parking after 5:30 p.m.); 397-5840.

RECYCLING COMMUNITY CLEAN-UP and Campbell High School fundraiser, for recyclable waste, including athletic shoes, tires, cooking oil (no paint, hazardous fluids, microwave ovens, televisions or gas tanks), green waste, batteries, plastic, and telephone books and magazines, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 28, school's North Road parking lot; information/for curb-side pickup/unwanted car towing, Rene Mansho, 306-1876.

FIFTH ANNUAL GROW HAWAIIAN FESTIVAL, talk to Hawaiian arts practitioners, biologists, conservationists and horticulturists, hands-on activities for keiki and adults, cultural demonstrations, booths, lei contest and entertainment, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Feb. 28, Amy Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden, Captain Cook, Big Island; free; 808-323-3318.

ORGANIC PEST CONTROL WORKSHOP, sponsored by city Board of Water Supply and Friends of Halawa Xeriscape Garden, workshop on homemade pesticides, composting, vermicomposting (using worms) and compost tea-brewing, 10-11:30 a.m. Feb. 28, Halawa Xeriscape Garden; $5 family (bring spray container); registration required: 748-5363.

"GARBAGE INTO GOLD ... BACKYARD COMPOSTING," workshop; 10 a.m.-noon Feb. 28; The Green House, 224 Pakohana St., Pauoa Valley; $15; to register: 524-8427, www.thegreenhousehawaii.com.

"Growing an Herbal Pharmacy Garden," 1:30-3 p.m. Feb. 28; The Green House, 224 Pakohana St., Pauoa Valley; $15; registration required, 524-8427, www.thegreenhousehawaii.com.

"GRAYWATER HARVESTING," workshop on creating a catchment system for re-using water from baths, showers, washing machines and sinks for irrigation; 1:30-3:30 p.m. Feb. 28; The Green House, 224 Pakohana St., Pauoa Valley; $15; registration, 524-8427, www.thegreenhousehawaii.com.

HE'EIA PIER COMMUNITY CLEANUP AND CANOE PADDLING REGISTRATION, by Kane'ohe Canoe Club, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. March 1, He'eia Pier (wear covered shoes; long pants, long-sleeve shirt) (registration requires birth certificate/picture I.D.); Sandra Kalahiki, 429-9333.

NATURE SEEDLINGS, a mini-forest nature hike for ages 3-5, storytime, arts and crafts, 10-11:30 a.m. March 1, Hawai'i Nature Center; $20 parent-and-child team; 955-0100.

BE A GREENIE

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 — solar, energy efficiency, recycling, travel, eco-activism and more; nomination essay deadline, April 1; Rodney Pascua, 808-482-0980, http://www.kapaarotary.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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.