Mahalo to all the volunteers and partners who attended the annual Whale Season Celebration co-sponsored by Hawaii Boat Clubs on November 16, 2024. Over 50 volunteers cleaned the coastline and picked up 123 pounds of trash. Way to go!
On November 6, 2024 the Waimea Country School kids, staff and parents came out to Puako Boat Ramp and cleaned up 95 pounds of trash. Those kids rock!
We had a productive beach cleanup on May 19, 2024 at Spencer Beach with visitors from Telluride Mountain School. We picked up over 1,500 pieces of trash weighing a total of 67 pounds!
Thanks to the 25 volunteers who showed up on Sunday, April 21, 2024 to celebrate Earth Month with a Kawaihae Harbor, Surf Park and State Harbor Coastal Cleanup and picked up more than 142 pounds of trash!
Thanks to Hawaii Boat Clubs for sponsoring the Kick-off Celebration of the Whale Season on December 10, 2023 at Kawaihae. 72 volunteers cleaned up the area beaches and picked up 4,712 pieces of trash weighing 260 pounds!
Wow, we had 75 awesome volunteers at Spencer Beach Park on October 29, 2023 for the International Coastal Cleanup! We picked up 148 pounds of trash that included 5,681 items, and an amazing 1,378 cigarette butts! Also thanks to our great educators and sponsors who made the day special for those who attended.
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A big mahalo to the 25 volunteers including the Boys Scouts who helped pick up over 115 pounds of trash from the Puako Boat Ramp and trails on November 18, 2023.
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Thanks to the wonderful volunteers who joined us on Sept 9, 2023 to pick up over 19 pounds of trash along the coast from Puako Beach Drive to Holoholokai.
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Thanks to all the great volunteers at the Kawaihae Small Boat Harbor South on July 8, 2023 who picked up 187 pounds of trash including 740 cigarette butts, WOW! Everyone got a free t-shirt and other great gifts donated by our local businesses including Starbucks, Waimea Coffee Company, Island Naturals health food store in Waimea, and many more. Check back soon for information on another beach cleanup we are planning.
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A big mahalo to all the volunteers at theWest Hawaii Community Beach Cleanup on March 4, 2023 at Spencer Beach Park. Together we picked up 196 pounds of trash, learned a lot about caring for our land and ocean, and had a great time.
Download the January 1, 2023 newsletter here for more information on what we’ve accomplished and what we plan to do soon. January 2023 Newsletter
Mahalo to all the partners, educators, donors and volunteers at the June 4, 2022 event to celebrate National Trails Day, World Ocean & Reef Day at the Pua Ka”ilima Surf Park and the Coral Flats. We had a land and ocean cleanup and picked up 2,571 pieces of trash, weighing 82.5 pounds! This included 768 cigarette butts. Below are some photos of the event.
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Thank you to the 64 volunteers and educators at the April 23, 2022 Earth Day Cleanup at Puako Boat Ramp. A total of 2,044 pieces of trash from the road, parking lot, trail, beach and ocean was picked up, weighing 264 pounds! Thank you to the wonderful sponsors and educators who helped make this event a huge success. These include Ocean Sports, Hawaii Surf & Kayak, Big Island Brew Haus, Waimea Coffee Co., Starbucks, Blue Wilderness Dive Adventures, Hulakai, HPA turtle program, HPA bus volunteers, NOAA, Alex & Duke DeRego Foundation, and DAR/DLNR Fishing education.
HIGHLIGHTS OF 2021
KPB hosted World Ocean and Reef Day and National Trails Day at The Pua Ka’ilima Surf Park at the Kawaihae. We opened with Kahu Range and Niace Ohana’s blessing and song. Community event partners hosted activity booths that included citizen science data collection, HI5 and cigarette recycling, a recycled marine debris art booth, door prizes, samples & giveaways. The Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail NPS maps, history and culture. Educate to save our oceans: Coral Reef Education Institute, UXO Safety & Waikoloa FUDS, DLNR & DOCARE. Public safety and educational specialist; COH Community Relations Police, Hawaii Institute of Public Health/Kokua Harvest, DAR sustainable fishing practices, educator /Barbless Circle Fishing hook, Sierra Club protecting fish populations, Hawaii Preparatory Academy’s Turtle Research team.
Coordination with Pua Ka’ilima Surf Park, DOBOR, Hawaii State Harbors credited the success of our community cleanups.
Mahalo Hawaii Ocean Stewards for your great work in 2021
Even though covid restrictions limited the size of our groups, we still made a huge impact with small weekend beach cleanups. Over 900 ocean stewards were committed to protect Hawaii’s natural resources, coral reefs and and Hawaii wildlife last year by taking positive action, having cleaned up 31,624 lbs. or 66,875 pieces of litter and marine debris. KPB is partnered with Hawaii’s community, Hawaii State Parks, DOBOR Small Boat Harbor, COH and the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail Corridor Volunteer in Park programs and more.
The Ocean Environment and Education program, Aloha Box, Hi5 recycling, UXO Awareness to protect Hawaii’s coral reefs and wildlife are ongoing in the South Kohala community, State & County Parks and Harbors.
2021 Collection Totals
Distance Cleaned: 555 miles
Total Collected: 31,624 lbs / 66,875 pieces
Cigarette Butts: 7,322
Plastics: 37,805
HI5: 14,128
Recycle HI5: 35,649 lbs / 56,099 pieces (separate collection process)
Metal: 11,578
Glass: 4,810
Rubber: 637
Processed lumber: 5,419
Other: 7,032
Volunteers: 761 Adults & 148 Children Hours = $59,758 value
Staff Education: 12 Volunteers / 45 Hours = $11,300 value
Donations/Giveaways/Time/Travel = $78,246 value