All events are free unless otherwise indicated.

COMING UP

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; information, Rodney Pascua, 808-482-0980, www.kapaarotary.org.

"CHEMICAL WEAPONS IN HISTORY," including discussion of current weapons of mass destruction, Windward Community College Spring 2009 Community Forum in Chemistry, by Nelson Rebert, former Japanese Self-Defense Force liaison and WCC chemistry teacher, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Feb. 11, WCC campus, Hale 'Imiloa, room 111; free; no reservations needed; 236-9120.

"WATER QUALITY AND HEALTH OF HAWAI'I'S COSTAL RECREATIONAL WATERS," speech by Grieg Steward, University of Hawai'i oceanography assistant professor, 6 p.m. Feb. 11, Outrigger Waikiki, Kalakaua Room; free; Marcie Grabowski, 956-6556 or mworkman@hawaii.edu.

"FOCUS GREEN" THIRD ANNUAL DOWLING DISCUSSION SERIES, this week featuring Ray Anderson, founder/chairman of Interface Inc. world's largest manufacturer of the usually petroleum-intensive modular carpet industry, 6 p.m. Feb. 12, Maui Arts and Cultural Center, sponsored by Dowling Co. Inc.; $5 (students free), proceeds to Hawai'i Nature Center, Maui; 808-270-0567.

"HAWAI'I'S LARGEST MARINE INHABITANTS," discussion and film series sponsored by UH Sea Grant, Hanauma Bay Education Program, this week with "Sharks at Risk: Ocean Adventures with Jean-Michel Cousteau," 6:30 p.m. Feb. 12; Hanauma Bay Education Center theater; free (free parking after 5:30 p.m.); 397-5840.

KALIHI STREAM CLEANUP, an effort to eradicate invasive plants, plant native ones, create pathways and remove graffiti toward creating a native Hawaiian garden, 8:30-11 a.m. Feb. 14, behind Kalihi Waena Elementary School, 1240 Gulick Ave. (wear covered shoes); 381-3643, kaupa4kalihi@hawaii.rr.com.

O'AHU INVASIVE SPECIES COMMITTEE service project, an hour (often muddy) hike of moderate difficulty, to remove invasive plants along Manoa Cliffs Trail; 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 14, from Church of the Crossroads parking lot (bring rain jacket, gloves, long pants, walking shoes, lunch/snacks/water; 286-4616.

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: O'ahu, 397-2651, (ext. 253) 888-55-WHALE, (ext. 253) Big Island, and 808-246-2860, Kaua'i.

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.