Al took his Mom out to Hana, Maui today and did a quick beach cleanup on the strikingly gorgeous black sand beach at Waianapanapa.
An amazing journey but so sad and frustrating to see plastic washing up on one of the most remote and beautiful beaches on Earth. We can, and must, do better.
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How do you give back and show gratitude for living in this amazing place?
Do you clean the beach? Volunteer in your community? Do you stay up to speed with the issues facing Hawaii today? Offer testimony in support of bills that you are passionate about? How do you feel about the State Legislature's latest failure to pass the polystyrene foam container ban? Do you know how your Reps voted on the issue? At my startup firm - VoterEngage - we are making it easier than ever to be engaged and have the necessary info you need to advocate for the issues and representatives that matter to you. Check out the app at www.voterengage.com and see who you might match with out of the early candidates for President in 2020, or search for your State Reps in the Candidates tab here: www.voterengage.com/candidates . You can also learn more about our project at www.voterengage.info. You can also follow us on FB at: www.facebook.com/voterengagehawaii and on IG at: www.instagram.com/voterengage_hawaii Great quick beach cleanup in Waiamanalo with my friends, 'Cheese' the Dog and Kalei! The water clarity today was nothing short of amazing and Cheese was swimming around on the hunt for marine debris pulling in mostly coconuts but also some rope! Plenty of plastic washing up along with chunks of net and rope. We also found a rusted out bicycle frame. Just as a reminder, the beach is NOT the city dump! The beach could use a second or third pass today...grab some buddies and some buckets and get moving folks!!! Mahalo!! Quick beach cleanup in Waimanalo, Oahu, Hawaii with three Towson High School graduates - Evan Hunt, Al Smith, and Zack Merrick this afternoon!
From Baltimore to Hawaii and all points in between and still doing good! A great underwater reef cleanup today with the 808Cleanups Crew (www.808cleanups.org) crew at the Makai Research Pier in Waimanalo!
Found fishing line, lead weights, and even swam back to shore a cinder block, taking turns with Zack and Ken to keep from having to set it down on the fragile reef. At the end Michael from 808cleanups hooked us up with new dive and ghost net knives using an ingenious system and a ring to cut away fishing line. Great effort and what a great organization. Can't wait to join them for another reef clean up soon! Took Wrigley the Golden Good Boy down to Waimanalo today and did a beach cleanup.
Wrigley was fascinated by these efforts and helped out by picking up a few pieces of plastic in his mouth and proudly carrying them over to us! ...Such a good boy! Wrigley says, 'Be like me, and get it done!' Another great day out on Oahu's northern most beach collecting plastic that has washed in from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Amazing to think that some of this debris has been floating for 7 years across the Pacific.
Let's keep pushing for alternatives to plastic and supporting eco-friendly companies. Wrigley the Surf Dog says, 'Do what you can with what you've got and make a difference already. Seeesh!' Another great beach cleanup today in Waimanalo with the world's best trash picking crew!
And special thanks to Doug from San Diego and Kalei for joining us today! The beaches were less dirty than they have been in recent weeks but we got all we could and filled two trash cans full of plastic and rope. Grab a bucket and some buddies and get after it folks!! Windward side net patrol near Hau'ula. Another one down as we make our way to Oahu's dirtiest beach at Kahuku!
Getting after it today! STATE OF HAWAII CONSIDERING BAN ON PLASTIC STRAWS, FOOD CONTAINERS, PLASTIC BAGS, ETC!!!
Can't stand knowing that the plastic straws, polystyrene food containers, and other single use items we use are winding up in the ocean and killing marine life and the fragile coral reef?? Want to make a difference but not sure how?? In addition to getting out and cleaning the beaches and limiting your plastic use, you can now submit testimony in support of SB367 SD1 which would prohibits food service businesses and stores from the sale, use, or distribution of polystyrene foam containers, expanded polystyrene food service products, plastic straws, and plastic bags - to take effect 7/1/2021. Simply click the link below to Submit Testimony supporting the bill all from your home laptop or on your cell phone. This can be as simple as typing 'I support this Bill and encourage the State to do what is right and ban these unnecessary single-use items.' https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx… You can also take it one step further and directly call and email your Representatives. Not sure who they are? Check out www.voterengage.comand enter your address to find your reps, their contact information, and their stances on these and other very important issues. Let's submit a record amount of public comment and get this done folks! It takes less than 5 minutes to make a difference!!! UPDATE: The Bill passed Third Reading and has crossed over from the Senate to the House!!! Contact your State House Reps in the House NOW telling them you support the Bill. When a new testimony opportunity arises for the House version(s) I will repost with a new link. Mahalo to everyone for stepping up!! [[Senate Vote: Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Kim, Taniguchi. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Harimoto). Transmitted to House.]] |
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