Recycling places and
donation alternatives - Hawaii

Jan. 4, 2012: Thanks everyone for the emails! I apologize that I have not been able to answer or acknowledge everyone's messages. I do have a bit more time to devote to this page now, so if I never responded, please do email again and I'll try to answer your questions.

Newly added:

- Recycle fresh flowers through Rebloom Hawaii
- Recycle #5 plastics through Preserve (national)
- Recycle LIVESTRONG brand wristbands through Nike's Reuse-A-Shoe (national)
- Donate formal dresses to teens in need through the Bella Project
- Some links updated and defunct events deleted

This is a list of various places in Hawaii (focusing mainly on Oahu because I live there) that you can go to get rid of your junk around the house, or websites or places you can check for more information, aside from the usual charities (Community Clearinghouse, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Salvation Army, Goodwill, etc.). This information is taken from various sources. I've started adding national organizations as well.

Please note that this is a PRIVATE site, created strictly for informational purposes. I am not affiliated with any of the organizations or groups mentioned here (well, OK, I am a freecycling group member) and I do not represent or endorse their views, opinions, etc. Also, because this page is updated infrequently, names and phone numbers and other contact information may be out of date.

Feel free to e-mail me at schala ~~at~~ schala(dot)info with suggestions, or if any links or events are outdated or no longer exist. PLEASE put the words "Hawaii recycling" somewhere in the subject line so I don't delete your message as spam. Thank you!

General recycling/disposal information

• Oahu. Check the city's website, www.opala.org, for information on recycling paper, plastics, cardboard, cans, and more, plus locations of recycling bins and centers.
  
  The City and County of Honolulu instituted islandwide curbside pickup of recyclables in 2010 -- the blue bins that most single-family homes were given. Please read the city's website for what can properly be disposed of in the blue bins. Acceptable items include (but are not limited to) corrugated cardboard, glass jars, and #1 or #2 plastics.
  
  The United Cerebral Palsy Association of Hawaii offers donation pickups. Call their office to see what their needs are.
  
  
• Big Island. Check the Recycle Hawaii website for information on where to go to recycle items.
  
  
• Maui. Check Maui County's website for more information.
  
  Also check the Maui Recycling Group's site for information on various programs they run that you can donate to. Among those programs is Aloha Shares, which accepts items ON MAUI ONLY. They haven't updated their site, but they no longer accept outer isles donations (I asked).
  
  
• Kauai. Check Kauai County's website for more information.
  
  
• Aloha Aina recycling days. These recycling events are held several times a year to benefit various schools and other organizations. A lot of different companies take part, so these events accept a lot of different types of items -- computers, certain electronics, tires, used vehicles, green waste, paper, athletic shoes, even used cooking oil -- which makes them a very handy way to get rid of a lot of junk all at once. You can even arrange for pickup of certain items such as cars if you call the event's organizer in advance. Keep an eye out for events announced in the newspaper or check the city's website for a rough calendar of Aloha Aina days.
  
  
• Check the Earth 911 website for other ways to recycle or donate unwanted items and links to other programs.
  
  
• Almost everything else. Real Simple magazine had an excellent article with a rundown of lots of items and how to recycle -- even crayons, Crocs, and fire extinguishers! Check out the article at this link. Of course, whether that areosol or deodorant container can actually be thrown in the recycling bin depends on your city; make sure to call the appropriate agency first.

Aluminum drink cans, glass beverage bottles, plastic beverage containers

Hawaii instituted a so-called "bottle bill" in January 2005 that charges a 5-cent refundable deposit and a 1-cent nonrefundable program fee for each beverage container sold. Containers that can be returned in this manner will have "HI 5¢" printed on the label or etched into the top or bottom -- it looks something like this or like this. The "HI" may be semi-hidden in the label's list of state names that have similar redemption programs, so look closely.

• To get your 5-cent deposit back, there are recycling centers across the state. Check the state Department of Health website for more information on the program and recycling center locations.
  
  
• Donate your empties to help charitable organizations. Various groups sometimes hold drives for people to drop off cans and bottles, which they will then turn in to recycling centers and claim the 5-cent refund to fund their projects. Check the newspaper or other neighborhood bulletin boards and flyers for information.
  
  
• Bring your containers to a school recycling bin, and the school will receive the proceeds from the recyclables. Just be warned of thieves stealing from school bins; if you see anyone suspicious, please PLEASE report it.
  
  
• Oahu residents. These can also be put in the blue bin for curbside pickup. Be warned that you will NOT receive your 5 cents back if you go this route.

Appliances, nonworking

This program may no longer be active. Please email if you can confirm this. Call Honolulu Community College's CENT program to see if it will accept your old appliances. The program may take them for students to put to work repair and electrical skills. The items are then distributed to nonprofit groups. (Taken from a Star-Bulletin story.)

Audio equipment, nonworking

This program may no longer be active. Please email if you can confirm this. Call Honolulu Community College's CENT program to see if it will accept your old appliances. The program may take them for students to put to work repair and electrical skills. The items are then distributed to nonprofit groups. (Taken from a Star-Bulletin story.)

Batteries, rechargable

A national program recycles these; drop off at special boxes at Home Depot or Radio Shack. Check the city's website for more information on what can be recycled.

Batteries, car

Many places that sell car batteries will also accept old ones, which will be recycled. Call your car-parts store to see if they accept batteries.

The city also has convenience centers where you can drop off old batteries. Check the city's website for locations, hours, rules, and other information. (Taken from the Star-Bulletin's Kokua Line)

Bicycles

• Drop off used and unwanted bikes on Saturdays between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Kalihi Valley Instructional Bike Exchange, 1638 Kamehameha IV Road. The bikes will be refurbished (or used for parts) and rented out to the community. The program is part of Kokua Kalihi Valley.
  
  
• This program may no longer be active. Please email if you can confirm this. Bring bikes to Waialua High and Intermediate. The students will repair the bikes and give them back to the community. Call the school for more information. (From an article in the Star-Bulletin's Kokua Line.)

Books, magazines

• Books can be donated to the Friends of the Library for them to sell at their huge annual book sale to benefit the state library system. Drop off items at their collection center on Pohukaina Street near Restaurant Row. Check the Friends' website for more information. Your donation may be tax-deductible.
  
  
• Call your local library or school to see if they accept donations of old books.
  
  
• Magazines can be brought to any state library either for use in their reading rooms or to give away free to the community; magazines are mainly used by students who need to cut pictures or text for projects. Just make sure your address label has been removed from the magazine. Your donation may be tax-deductible.
  
  
• Donate books to Reader to Reader, which sends books directly to needy schools and libraries. Institutions MUST apply to become book recipients. There are currently no Hawaii participants, but hopefully that will change. (Taken from a Family Circle article)
  
  
• Books To Prisoners sends books to inmates across the nation. Check their site for needed books.
  
  
• Books for Soldiers sends books to U.S. troops serving overseas. Before donation, you will have to register and fill out a notarized application for security purposes.

Cameras, camcorders, other video equipment

Most of the information below was taken from this blog and others were taken from this article. I know there are lots of recycling venues that support Hawaii charities, so if you know of any, please e-mail me!

• The manufacturer of your paticular piece might have a recycling program.
  
  
  • Canon offers a good mail-in program. I don't know if the local Canon office will accept items for recycling; you might want to call and ask.
    
    
  • Sony has a national recycling program in which you bring your items to a local center. I don't know if the local Sony repair center will accept items for recycling; you might want to call and ask.
  
  
• Recycle for charity. Check the Recycling for Charities site for information.
  
  
• Check the site of the National Center for Electronics Recycling to find a local electronics recycler.
  
  
• Check the Greener Gadgets site for a list of manufacturers to see what your recycling options are.

Cardboard, boxes

Only corrugated cardboard is recyclable. "Corrugated" cardboard has two thin layers with a wavy layer in the center. Most shipping boxes are corrugated; other everyday packaging such as cereal boxes are NOT.

Oahu residents. These can be put in the blue bin for curbside pickup. Otherwise, bring them to a city recycling bin, preferably one that is located at a school, because the school will then receive cash for all recyclable materials dropped in their bin. Check the city website for a list of bin locations. Just be warned of thieves stealing from school bins; if you see anyone suspicious, please PLEASE report it.

Cell phones

• Help the Hawaii Red Cross by signing up and sending phones to GRC Recycling. Register at GRC's site and make sure to name the Hawaii Chapter of the Red Cross. You'll be given prepaid shipping labels after you sign up. GRC says it pays at least 50 cents for every phone, no matter how old.
  
  
• A national program recycles these; drop off at special boxes at Home Depot or Radio Shack.
  
  
• The Wireless Foundation's "Call to Protect" program takes old cell phones and gives them to domestic-abuse victims for use in case of emergency. I'm not sure if this program is still being done here; contact the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence to ask.
  
  
• The national HopeLine program takes old phones and uses them to benefit victims of domestic abuse. Phones can be brought to any Verizon Wireless store nationwide. Visit the website for more information.
  
  
• Retailers, public agencies, and businesses can sign up with Call2Recycle to receive boxes that local consumers can drop their old phones and rechargable batteries in. The boxes are then sent back to Call2Recycle, which pays all shipping and recycling costs. (Taken from a Family Circle article)
  
  
• Check the site of the National Center for Electronics Recycling to find a local electronics recycler.
  
  
• Check the Greener Gadgets site for a list of manufacturers to see what your recycling options are.

Christmas and/or greeting cards

• Hawaii's famous Christmas Card Lady will take donations of cards and make them into scrapbooks to give to hospitalized children. The original woman, Helen Daniels, died some years ago; the position has been taken over by Merlinda Oania. Check the Star-Bulletin's Kokua Line for Ms. Oania's address and phone number.

Clothing

• General. The Kidney Foundation usually makes scheduled stops for unwanted clothing across the island; their trips are announced beforehand by a brightly colored postcard put in your mailbox (you can't miss it). You may also schedule a pickup by visiting their website. Your donation is tax-deductible.
  
  There are also dropoff places and bins throughout the island where you can, well, just drop off your items rather than waiting for the truck to come around. The bins are like postal mailboxes, so it's suggested that you put only nonbreakable items in these bins, and NO cans or bottles. Click here for a list of dropoff locations -- you can filter your search for bins only or other criteria by changing the dropdown menu near the top of the page.
  
  
• Baby clothing.
  
  
  • If you want to make some cash, try bringing your stuff to Caterpillar Kids and selling them. I was told they're very picky about what items they buy, however.
    
    
  • There's now a local affiliate of the Rhea Lana's Children's Consignment Event. Unsold items are usually donated to a charity. (taken from a Star-Bulletin article)
  
  
• Coats. Check out One Warm Coat, which collects coats and redistributes them within the community. Take note that OWC helps set up coat drives for organizations; they do NOT collect the coats themselves. Granted, we probably won't be holding a coat drive in Hawaii anytime soon, but the site does have a list of organizations around the nation that are looking for coats. You may be able to ship your coat to a needy group. (Taken from a Family Circle article)
  
  
• Fur clothing. Hey, never know, there are probably lots of newcomers to Hawaii who still have fur clothes. Anyway, send these off to the Humane Society of the United States for their Coats for Cubs program for comforting orphaned and injured animals. You might also want to try calling the Hawaiian Humane Society to see if could use fur clothes or old towels for their animals.
  
  
• Jeans. Give these to Habitat for Humanity to use as insulation in homes. I'm not certain if the local Habitat will take them; contact them and ask. (Taken from an Ideal Bite mailing)
  
  
• Men's work clothes. The national charity Career Gear MIGHT accept men's clothing; but so far, I haven't seen anything on their site that says so. They don't have a local affiliate, so you'd have to mail clothing donations to them (if they do indeed accept such items).
  
  
• Prom, cocktail, formal dresses.
  
  
  • The so-far only Hawaii chapter of Becca's Closet on Maui accepts donations of prom dresses and accessories. Check the chapter's website for contact information, or try calling King Kekaulike High School on Maui. Your donation is tax-deductible.
    
    
  • The Bella Project provides dresses to girls in need statewide. They also accept shoes, makeup and formal accessories. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like you can just drop off dresses at a centralized location; you must bring them to one of their dress drives that are held occasionally throughout the year. Sign up for their newsletter to learn of drives, or keep an eye out for announcements in the paper.
  
  
• Wedding dresses. Donate these to national charities. None of them have any local offices, so you will have to ship them at your own expense. Check each charity's website for more details.
  
  
  • Brides Against Breast Cancer Nationwide Tour of Gowns. Dresses provided by women and bridal shops are sold for a fraction of their cost.
  • I Do Foundation. Donated gowns are sold through a consignment shop. The bride selects a charity to receive 20 percent of the sale price; another percentage goes to support the foundation's work.
  • Mary Madeline Project. Volunteers use wedding dresses to sew outfits for stillborn babies and those who die soon after birth.
  • Mitzvah Messenger Project (the corresponding links are on the left side of the page). Donated dresses are given to needy brides in Israel.
  
  
• Women's work clothes. Bring these to the Honolulu Dress for Success program. Drop off clothes at the YWCA on Richards Street. They also accept other feminine items like unused cosmetics, unused undergarments, new nylons/pantyhose, bags, and dress shoes. Your donation is tax-deductible.
  
  
  • The Women's Alliance also accepts donations of women's work clothing and accessories. There's no local affiliate, however; if you'd like to donate your items to them, you'll have to mail them off.

Computers and computer-related items, nonworking

• Island Recycling (845-1188, 1811 Dillingham Blvd.) accepts nonfunctioning computers.
  
  
• Big Island residents. Recycle Hawaii has started a "CompuCycle" event to which you can bring computers and computer-related equipment (NO stereo equipment, appliances or TVs accepted). Computers are refurbished and then made available to schools and nonprofit groups. Check your local newspapers for ads on when the next dropoff will be held, or check Recycle Hawaii's website. Your donation is tax-deductible.
  
  
• Check the site of the National Center for Electronics Recycling to find a local electronics recycler.
  
  
• Check the Greener Gadgets site for a list of manufacturers to see what your recycling options are.

Computers and computer-related items, working

• According to the Star-Bulletin's Kokua Line: The city Office of Economic Development is in the process of setting up a one-stop Web site, Kidsdotcom, where people can get information about where and how to donate computers. I haven't heard any more about this effort since then; if you have more information, please let me know.
  
  In the meantime, Hawaii Computer For Kids works to put computers in public school classrooms. Call Helping Hands Hawaii (843-8473); Computer-Aided Technologies International (521-2259 or e-mail cfk@catii.com); or contact any member of the Rotary Club of Metropolitan Honolulu.
  
  
• Try to call any school in your area to see if they take computer donations.
  
  
• Big Island residents. Recycle Hawaii has started a "CompuCycle" event to which you can bring computers and computer-related equipment (NO stereo equipment, appliances or TVs accepted). Computers are refurbished and then made available to schools and nonprofit groups. Check your local newspapers for ads on when the next dropoff will be held, or check Recycle Hawaii's website. Your donation is tax-deductible.
  
  
• Find a local organization in need at the National Cristina Foundation. You'll need to fill out a form describing what you're donating, and NCF will try to match your request with a local group. You can also donate monitors, printers, and many other computer-related items.
  
  
• Check the site of the National Center for Electronics Recycling to find a local electronics recycler.
  
  
• Check the Greener Gadgets site for a list of manufacturers to see what your recycling options are.

Electronics

• Check the site of the National Center for Electronics Recycling to find a local electronics recycler.
  
  
• Check the Greener Gadgets site for a list of manufacturers to see what your recycling options are.

Eyeglasses

• Lenscrafters accepts old glasses, whose lenses will be used to make eyeglasses for children in poor countries. I believe you can drop them off at any Lenscrafters store; call and ask.
  
  
• I believe Lions Clubs also accept glasses; I know there's a drop-off box at my local Bank of Hawaii for such a purpose. Check with your local Lions Club.

Flowers, fresh

Rebloom Hawaii takes donations of leftover and gently used fresh flowers from events such as weddings, birthdays and the like and creates new arrangements for patients in hospitals and nursing homes. Check their website for more information. (discovered through Lei Chic)

Foam, styrofoam (polystyrene foam)

Polystyrene foam is usually those big pieces of foam used to pad big boxes for appliances, TVs, computers, computer monitors, and other large items. A Kapolei business -- Pacific Allied Products -- is named by the Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers as a foam recycler. Be sure to call first to see if they still accept it and what exactly they take back.

If not, the alliance does offer a mailback program. Check the above link for details.

Glass jars, containers (non-beverage)

Oahu residents. These can be put in the blue bin for curbside pickup. Glass beverage containers (soda bottles, beer bottles, etc.) with the "HI-5" designation can also be put in the blue bin, or you can redeem them at a recycling center to get back your 5-cent deposit.

Gold, jewelry

Aside from selling to a pawn shop or other business that will melt the gold for reuse, you can send it in to websites that will reuse the gold to make new jewelry for you. These sites are listed ONLY for your convenience. I have NOT utilized any of these sites and I cannot give any guarantee as to their quality. In alphabetical order:

• Brilliant Earth - brilliantearth.com
• Celtic Jewelry - celticjewelry.com
• Green Karat - greenkarat.com
• Green Oro - greenoro.com

Ink cartridges (for printers), laser toner cartridges

• Recycle your empty inkjet and laser toner carts to benefit the Three Ring Ranch Exotic Animal Sanctuary on the Big Island. They recycle through a program called Empties4Cash. You'll need to email Three Ring Ranch and they'll put you in contact with Empties 4 Cash, which will send you either prepaid boxes or prepaid labels for you to send in your carts. They request at least 10 to 15 carts at a time, so start collecting from friends and coworkers too!
  
  
• Go to Office Depot and turn in ink carts, and you will receive a free ream of printer paper. I'm actually not sure if this is an ongoing offer; I saw it advertised a long time ago in the Sunday paper, but I don't know if it was only for a limited time. Call your nearest Office Depot and ask. Only certain brands and types of cartridges are accepted.

Linens, towels

Contact the Humane Society of the United States to see if they can use old towels and linens to help comfort orphaned and injured animals. You might also want to try calling the Hawaiian Humane Society to see if they could use such items as well.

LIVESTRONG brand wristbands

Nike's Reuse-A-Shoe program takes these. ONLY the LIVESTRONG brand is accepted.

• Ship them at your own expense directly to Nike's recycling facility. Go here to download and print a mailing label. (If that link doesn't work, click here.)
  
  
• The Converse outlet store in Waikele Shopping Center is a dropoff point for Nike's program.
  
  
• Runners HI MIGHT take the wristbands also, as the store is also a collection point for Reuse-A-Shoe. Call and ask first. It's located at 98-390A Kamehameha Highway in Aiea, in the Go Bananas store near Dixie Grill.

Musical instruments

Contact Hungry For Music, which refurbishes instruments and distributes them to needy children. Particularly valuable instruments are resold and the money used to purchase new instruments to give to kids. It has no local chapter, so you will have to ship your items to them. (Taken from a Family Circle article)

Packing peanuts

• UPS Stores may take them for recycling. Call the one nearest to you for more details.
  
  
• Call the Plastic Loose Fill Council’s Peanut Hotline at 800-828-2214 for where to recycle. Check their website for more information.

Paper, newspaper

Oahu residents. These can be put in the blue bin for curbside pickup. Otherwise, bring them to a city recycling bin, preferably one that is located at a school, because the school will then receive cash for all recyclable materials dropped in their bin. Check the city website for a list of bin locations. Glossy magazines and ad inserts CANNOT be recycled; such paper has a coating on it that makes it glossy but unfortunately also makes it ineligible for general recycling.

Just be warned of thieves stealing from school bins; if you see anyone suspicious, please PLEASE report it.

Phone books, phone directories

Rather than simply bringing these to a city recycling bin, you can also help local schools by waiting for Verizon Hawaii's yearly phone-directories recycling drive. All phone directories are accepted, not just Verizon's. This drive is in the form of a school contest -- the schools who turn in the most books win cash awards. This contest usually occurs around September; check your newspapers for announcements.

Plastic grocery bags

• Bring them to any Safeway store. I'm not sure exactly what you have to do with them; call your local Safeway and ask. The Kapolei Safeway does have a recycling bin right by the front door that you can shove plastic bags into. Just please make sure the bags don't fly out of the bin and become litter.
  
  
• Do you shop at Down to Earth? The store will give you a 5-cent credit for each bag that you bring in to use for bagging your groceries.
  
  
• I've heard that Longs Drugs recycles bags somehow. If someone knows more details of this, please e-mail me.

Plastics

• A company called Preserve will take your #5 plastics through their "Gimme 5" program and turn them into practical products such as toothbrushes, colanders and cutting boards. It MUST have the number "5" in the three-arrow recycling icon that you can find on most items. You pay shipping to the company. Certain Whole Foods locations are also Gimme 5 redemption locations, but so far the Kahala Mall store is not. Perhaps we can request that they join in?
  
  If you're interested in buying Preserve's products, you can do so online through the Daily Grommet.
  
  
• Oahu residents. Plastics with #1 or #2 can be put in the blue bin for curbside pickup.

Scanners, computer

The manufacturer may have a recycling program.

• Dell offers free recycling if you order equipment from them. Click here for a form.
  
  
• Epson has a recycling program if you have any of their equipment, whether you make a purchase or not. Contact them for a prepaid label to use to send in your items. Click here for information. Caveats: You have to create an online account with Epson before you can send in items. Also, I tried using their online form and it kept giving me an error, even after I had signed up and logged in. I contacted their customer service, and they said to email them my mailing address, and a few days later I received my prepaid label.

Shoes, athletic

Please be sure to CLEAN any shoes before donating!

Nike's Reuse-A-Shoe program accepts shoes. Take note they accept ONLY athletic shoes and not sandals, dress shoes, etc. Also, shoes with metal in their soles, such as cleats or spikes, are NOT acceptable. (Thanks to Megan for that information!)

• The Converse outlet store in Waikele Shopping Center is a dropoff point for Nike's program.
  
  
• Runners HI, at 98-390A Kamehameha Highway in Aiea (located in the Go Bananas store near Dixie Grill), accepts shoes. The guy there told me that shoes in better condition will be given to needy people. Otherwise, I believe they will send the shoes in to Reuse-A-Shoe. Call to ask if they have a limit on how many pairs of shoes they can accept at one time.
  
  
• You may also mail any number of athletic shoes at your own expense directly to Nike's recycling facility. Go here to download and print a mailing label. (If that link doesn't work, click here.)
  
  Nike's recycling program also accepts LIVESTRONG brand wristbands. You can send them in along with shoes to the address above.
  
  
• Shoe drives are sometimes held by the city, although such drives are rarer now. These events are usually in conjunction with the Nike program. Keep an eye out for announcements in the newspaper.
  
  
• Shoes are sometimes accepted at Aloha Aina recycling days. Check the newspaper or the city's website for a rough calendar of events. There's usually a PDF posted online for each event with a list of items they'll be accepting.

Vehicles (cars, trucks, vans, etc.)

• Contact Catholic Charities. Vehicles do not have to be in working condition.
  
  
• Contact the Hawaii chapter of the Kidney Foundation. Vehicles do not have to be in working order, but there are some older models they will not accept if they are not working. Check their website for more information.
  
  
• Donate to benefit the Three Ring Ranch Exotic Animal Sanctuary on the Big Island. They take donations via Cars 4 Causes; please check that site for information on what vehicles they accept.

Miscellaneous

• You might want to check out the Freecycle Honolulu Yahoo group. You can offer practically anything you've got, working or nonworking condition, like-new or beat-up. There's no guarantee that someone will take you up on your offer, but it's worth a shot, and it's a way to keep large items out of our fast-filling landfills for at least a little while longer. The main stipulation is that items must be FREE -- hence the word "freecycle."
  
  Those not in the Honolulu/Oahu area can check out these other freecycling groups on Yahoo Groups:
  • FreecycleHawaii (statewide)
  • FreecycleCentralOahu (covering central Oahu, generally from Wheeler to Aiea; other towns may be included)
  • FreecyclingBigIsland
  • MauiHIFreecycle
  • KauaiFreecycle
  
  
• Check the City and County of Honolulu's recycling site for items such as car oil, large appliances, and other stuff that you simply want to trash rather than recycle.
  
  
• Almost everything else. Real Simple magazine had an excellent article with a rundown of lots of items and how to recycle -- even crayons, Crocs, and fire extinguishers! Check out the article at this link. Of course, whether that areosol or deodorant container can actually be thrown in the recycling bin depends on your city; make sure to call the appropriate agency first.

The usual charities

• Aloha Aina recycling days. These recycling events are held several times a year to benefit various schools and other organizations. A lot of different companies take part, so these events accept a lot of different types of items -- computers, certain electronics, tires, used vehicles, green waste, paper, athletic shoes, even used cooking oil -- which makes them a very handy way to get rid of a lot of junk all at once. You can even arrange for pickup of certain items such as cars if you call the event's organizer in advance. Keep an eye out for events announced in the newspaper or check the city's website for a rough calendar of Aloha Aina days.
  
  
• Community Clearinghouse. They accept items like clothes, toys, and furniture and distribute directly to needy families, which makes this my No. 1 charity to go to when I have stuff to donate. Their warehouse is located along Nimitz Highway near Sand Island Access Road. They work under the auspices of Helping Hands Hawaii and usually put out special calls for donations during the holidays. Check the Helping Hands Hawaii website for details.
  
  
• The Kidney Foundation. The Hawaii (Oahu) chapter of the National Kidney Foundation mails out brightly colored flyers every so often saying that their truck will be on your street on a certain date to pick up donations of clothing and HI-5 recyclables. Great if you don't have the time to drive down to a particular charity and drop off items; however, what they do is take your stuff and resell them (to Savers, so I've been told). Personally, I'd rather donate to a place that gives items directly to families, but the Kidney Foundation is a worthy cause nonetheless. Keep an eye out for the flyer in your mailbox.
  
  
• Salvation Army. Accepts large items such as furniture, but must be in good condition because they will be resold (We once tried to donate a couch, but they wouldn't accept it because the ends of the arm cushions were torn.) Call you nearest store for pickup and more info.
  
  
• Big Brothers Big Sisters. Check the Honolulu chapter's website for information.

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Feel free to e-mail me at schala ~~at~~ schala(dot)info with additions, corrections, or other suggestions for this page. PLEASE put the words "Hawaii recycling" somewhere in the subject line so I don't delete your message as spam. Thank you!

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