The Navy gave the island back to Hawaii seven years ago after spending $400 million cleaning up the munitions, exploded and unexploded, to a depth of four (4) feet. The state could then begin the work of reforestation with native plants to halt the loss of topsoil and begin the return of the island to its original condition. The Sierra Club has guides in place that set up the Service Project for volunteers. The accommodations are basic and the work is hard but Bob says “It’s amazing how much impact a dozen people can have working together to make a difference. It is measurable and visible. That is the reward of replanting, removing invasive species of plants and enhancing the terrain.”

Bob then traveled to the Island of Maui to work for a non-profit to restore a site in the mountains occupied by the original Polynesian settlers 1,200 years ago as a social, cultural, religious and agricultural site. The times when Bob didn’t have a pickaxe in his hands, he explored the islands, whale watched and kayaked and hiked on the Haleakala National Park volcano.

He is no stranger to this kind of commitment. Previously, Bob reports that “I worked for the Nature Conservancy building hiking trails on the Island of Dominica for the Interior Park and Recreation department, which last year I got to enjoy on a return visit. In Colorado I worked on a Nature Conservancy ranch mending fences and restoring ranch buildings from the 1800’s”.

The future holds more active volunteering for Bob, he has applied for a project on Midway Island for the US Fish and Wildlife Service to work on the a National Wildlife Refuge for 3 months. “If I’m accepted, I’ll have to give up my Docent Naturalist volunteer job at the California Ano Nuevo State Park while I’m away.”

With all of this travel to benefit the world, you may wonder how Bob finds the time to work. “I plan to retire from the adjusting business at the end of this year.” Bob answers. It sounds as though he won’t be idle.