ICC Beach Cleanups

Posted On: Oct 03, 11


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On Saturday September 17, hundreds of thousands of volunteers around the world participated in the 26th Annual International Coastal Clean-Up Day, hosted by the Ocean Conservancy. Over the past 25 years, this event has become the world’s largest volunteer events for ocean health. KHF co-founder Jack Johnson, along with hundreds of volunteers here in Hawaii, joined together to help clean their local beaches as part of Kokua Hawaii Foundation’s Plastic Free Hawaii beach cleanups. The goal was not just to remove trash, but to identify the sources of marine debris, and change the behaviors that allow it to reach the ocean in the first place. In 2009, results show that 60% of the debris collected consisted of single use, disposable items including 1.1 million plastic bags.

Later that evening,  Patagonia and the Kokua Hawaii Foundation hosted a standing room only screening of the movie Bag It. An award winning documentary based on one man’s educational and sometimes humorous look into plastics and their effect on our oceans, waterways and health. Here are some highlights from Plastic Free Hawaii cleanups by location:

  • Haleiwa Ali’i Beach Park: 324 lbs of trash collected with help from Mililiani High School, Waialua High School’s Surf Club, Waialua Hawaiian Civic Club, Hands In Helping Out (HIHO), Hoala School, Institute for Human Services Civic Engagement Program, and Plastic Free Haleiwa
  • Kailua Beach Park: 150 lbs collected. Mahalo Plastic Free Kailua, St. Anthony School Green Club, Hawaii ZTA Alumnae Chapter, and Hawaiian Island Twisters
  • Malaekahana Beach Park: 247 lbs collected. Thanks to students from Laie Elementary, Kahuku High & Intermediate School, BYU Hawaii Sustainability Club

Plastic from the Malaekahana Beach cleanup was also sent to Method to be upcycled and made into packaging. Check out this article to learn more about their efforts.

There are many simple things we can all do to reduce plastic waste: