We Can Be Plastic Free!

Posted On: Nov 01, 11

Over 100 educators gathered last week for the Punahou School Service Learning Teacher Institute presented by Luke Center for Public Service and Kokua Hawaii Foundation. “Can You Be Plastic Free? Schools Reducing Single-use Plastic for Hawai’i's Health,” featured classroom teachers from elementary, middle and high schools sharing classroom curriculum and real-life stories of the impact learning about plastic is having on their students. Attendees participated in a hands-on marine debris sorting activity and sent plastic waste to be upcycled by Method into new packaging products. Lianne Morita shared 1st grade student letters to parents. One student wrote, “Please use less plastic utensils. None would be better.” In keeping with the theme of the evening, dinner was served on ti leaves instead of plates and finger foods made utensils obsolete.

Key-note speakers included Joel Paschal, from Sea of Change who in 2009 sailed a boat made of plastic bottles from California to Hawaii, and Aulani Wilhelm, Superintendent of Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, who shared in-depth the effects of plastic and marine debris on the animals who live on and around the Northwest Hawaiian Islands. Closing out the evening was high school senior Kylie Courtney who shared how “plastic water bottles have become a ridiculous pandemic” on her school campus and that we are all responsible to make the change.  Civil Beat was also in the house and wrote a very nice recap of the evening. All who attended walked away with an packet of information, lesson plans and resources that can be used to incorporate plastic free education into their teaching immediately.

A special thanks to Susan Scott, whose one-of-a-kind, marine debris art added a special touch to the event.

In case you missed this wonderful workshop, check out Kokua Hawaii Foundation’s Plastic Free Schools program for resources, tips and action plans.

FREE “Bag It” film screenings happening this month:

• November 17, 5:30PM at Sunset Beach Elementary School
• November 29, 6:00PM at Farrington High School Auditorium

If your school is interested in hosting a screening, reach out to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to set it up!

Also of note is the new book by Captain Charles Moore, “Plastic Ocean”.  Captain Moore, founder of Algalita Marine Research Foundation, is the first scientist to document what has became known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a vast area of marine debris and plastic pollution located in the Pacific Ocean northeast of Hawaii.