—On April 25, 2015, Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii hosts The Earth Day Cleanup 2015 at Kailua Beach on O‘ahu’s beautiful windward side. With the help of volunteers, local businesses, schools and partnering nonprofit organizations, Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii plans to clean all of Kailua Beach, along with sections of Flat Island (Popoi‘a), the Mokulua Islands, Lanikai Beach and the canal fed by Kaelepu’u Stream.
Sponsored by Parley for the Oceans, Manuheali’i, and Better Homes, the ambitious and collaborative beach cleanup will clean all seven public beach accesses from the boat ramp at Kailua Beach Park to Castles at the north end of Kailua Beach. My Kailua will be cleaning Kaelepu’u Stream and Hui o Ko‘olaupoko, a nonprofit watershed management group, will be working to maintain their canal bank project. 808 Cleanups will be responsible for Lanikai Beach and the popular hike the Pillboxes.
“This tremendous undertaking could not be accomplished without our partners and sponsors. To see such a huge outpouring of support and desire to be involved really humbles us. Our mission is to inspire coastal stewardship and the results from our past four years of work shows fruition through this event” says Kahi Pacarro, Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii’s Executive Director. “Making community service fun along with our “do something” attitude is spreading and we encourage you to join us.”
The beach cleanup check in begins at 9:30am at all seven public beach accesses in Kailua, where teams from Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii will be stationed to hand out supplies, water, snacks, educate about the area and collect data. Volunteers can also check in at Kailua Beach Park directly across from Buzz’s Steak House, where they will be shuttled to one of the six other public beach accesses or clean in the immediate vicinity. Volunteers are encouraged to bring a reusable water bottle, sunscreen and wear a hat. And don’t forget to bring your sand sifters! We are also encouraging local residents to go to their closest access and to walk, bike, skate, etc. as parking is always tight.
After the cleanup, from noon to 3pm, Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii hosts a free “Thank You” concert at Kailua Beach Park featuring Mike Love and friends. There will be free food and shirts (while supplies last), activities for adults and keiki, guest speakers on the environment and from the Polynesian Voyaging Society along with prize giveaways. This rare occasion for a concert in the park is through a partnership with the City and County of Honolulu to thank the community of Kailua for being stewards of the coastlines and helping to keep Kailua Beach one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii is urging volunteers to use alternative forms of transportation to get to the event. Volunteers that bike, walk, skateboard, carpool or take the bus will be given extra tickets for the prize giveaway. Limited parking is available at Kailua Beach Park, Kalama Beach Park and additional parking is available at Lanikai Elementary (140 Alala Rd.), about a 10- minute walk from Kailua Beach Park.