To kickstart Plastic Free July in our community, we hosted a Plastic Free Hawaiʻi Beach Cleanup July 6, 2024 at Kaiaka Bay Beach Park in Haleʻiwa. With the help of over 60 volunteers, we successfully collected 173 lbs of debris along our shorelines. Of that debris, we collected and donated 32 lbs were redeemable HI-5 recyclables to support our 3Rs School Recycling Drives Program.
We extend a special shoutout to Patagonia, Bureo, and Costa for generously raffling off merchandise and supplies to our hardworking participants, Surfrider, Sustainable Coastlines Hawaiʻi and Kupu for providing invaluable support by educating event-goers on environmental issues, and to the City and County of Honolulu Parks & Recreation for their essential role in making this event possible. Mahalo to our Haleʻiwa partner restaurants, Wicked HI Cafe, Jax Wood Fired Pizza, The Cosmic Kitchen, Nalu Health Bar, and Farm to Barn for providing discounted lunches to all volunteers!
Interested in volunteering with the Plastic Free Hawaiʻi team? Fill out our interest form here.
Mahalo to everyone who joined us at our events this Plastic Free July at the Kōkua General Store! We kicked off the month with a microplastic masquerade activity led by Sustainable Coastlines Hawaiʻi, then partnered with Hawaiʻi Pacific University Center of Marine Debris Research for another awesome craft day, where participants decorated ocean-themed greeting cards using plastic waste. Parley joined us for a fun, upcycled art mosaic activity, adding on ways we can help combat plastic pollution! We finished off the month of July strong with members of our KHF team who held a bag stamping activity & storytelling.
We loved seeing all of our Kōkua General Store customers find their favorite sustainable swaps and go plastic free this month through our Plastic Free July social media challenge! It was inspiring to see our community and customers share the next step they took for reducing plastic – whether it was making a sustainable swap or joining a beach cleanup. In case you missed it, take a look at our team’s Plastic Free July commitments and eco-friendly favorites for continued motivation on your low-waste journey! Stay tuned for more next year’s Plastic Free July social media challenge, store events, and more!