With this new platform, our goal is to produce content on a more regular basis that is beneficial to our readers. We hope this will be a welcome addition to your inbox. We also view this newsletter as a great opportunity to experiment and it will be exciting to evaluate how our supporters are engaging with our content as we go along. Thus, we will welcome any feedback and will seek to continually improve with each issue. 

...who took the Pono Pledge and volunteered at our community cleanups. 909 ocean stewards were committed to protect Hawaii’s natural resources, coral reefs and Hawaii wildlife this year by taking positive action, having 575 site visits that 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 Totals

• Site Visits: 453
• 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
  • 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

We believe our cleanups, outreach and educational programs make a difference in our community. We are grateful for contributions and support from our valued community partners and volunteers. YOUR DONATIONS ARE IMPORTANT! Help us be sustainable and continue our community conservation efforts on the South Kohala Coast. Tax exempt donations accepted by South Kohala Reef Alliance, EIN #46-0680337 a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Join our group and sign up keeppuakobeautiful.com                       

Email: keeppuakobeautiful@gmail.com

Join us at Facebook.com/keep.puako.beautiful

Contact: 808 731-6630

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.

The International Coastal Cleanup Month is Here

Join our group and sign up for an individual or safe pod cleanup. We encouraged frequent, small or individual cleanups implementing COVID safety site procedures that include 10 or less volunteers, mask wearing, hand sanitizer, cleanup gloves, clean pens and cleanup equipment. Mahalo to our frequent safe cleanup volunteer. Volunteers have been busy reporting potential safety hazards to the environment and Hawaii wildlife such as fishing line tangled on coral reefs, turtle sighted entangled in fishing line, and potential explosives in the water are. Puako residents have passed over this tank (5’ x 1.5’) several times while in the water and just recently spotted it. Another neighbor made a map to help DLNR DOCARE agent Daniel locate, identify and coordinate the best way to treat this marine debris site. They dove the site to determine if this was an explosive (UXO).  Daniel reported the DAR marine biologist determined it had been there for quite some time and removing it would do more harm than good. There is coral growing on it, integrating it with surrounding reef, and marine life living in it. The tank has two gaping holes which likely caused it to sink, and does not have any hazardous materials contained within. It poses no significant danger to the reef and its inhabitants. HPA Sea Turtle Research  responded to a Puako entangled turtle sign call. Our Community Relations Police is a good resource for questions in our community. We appreciate these teams coordination of efforts for marine conservation and community safety. 

Contact for reporting concerns in the water, or community. Emergency call 911 

Madelyn T. Martinez 
Biologist - Military/IIS Section 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Honolulu District
Environmental Branch (CEPOH-PPE) 
Bldg 230 Otake Street, Suite 104 
Fort Shafter, HI 96858-5440 
808-835-4103 (w)
808-426-0662 (c)

Madelyn.T.Martinez@usace.army.mil
Daniel Elvenia, CREO III 
Department of Land and Natural Resources

Waimea resident Laura dove and removed about 100m of fishing line around Kohala Waterfront. The team of divers investigated a report of a Puako turtle entangled in fishing line.

Justin L. Cabanting 
Hawaii Police Department 
South Kohala 
Community Police Officer 
67-5185 Kamamalu Street
Kamuela, HI 96743
Ph.:  (808) 887-3080 / Fax.: (808) 887-3086

Laura M R Jim (she/her/hers)
Associate Director, HPA Sea Turtle Research Program
PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor
Science Educator
Parent ’16, ’19
hpa.edu

PICTURED BELOW: The Ocean Environment and Education program, Aloha Board, Aloha Box, Hi5 recycling, fishing line recycling, cigarette litter recycling, and UXO awareness protect Hawaii’s coral reefs, wildlife and are ongoing in reaching the South Kohala community and beyond.

Coming Up In 2022

Save the Date for the West Hawaii Community Beach Cleanup on March 5, 2022 at the Pua Ka’ilima Surf Park. Kohala coast cleanup, education tables, exhibits, games door prizes and more. Volunteers and educators can RSVP to sign up.

Contact us for more information on this service project. We are looking for service partners. 

New Service Project Partnership in South Kohala

Keep Puako Beautiful is partnering with the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail Corridor, NPS and NOAA Marine Debris Hawaii to provide collection bins and supplies to reduce and recycle the amount of environmentally harmful marine debris, fishing line and cigarette litter that enters into the ocean in South Kohala. We identified sites if need and partnered with government, public and private sector landlords for approval to install BIN  kiosks on their land. Ocean Steward partners joining us to develop a year around monitoring program are KPB data specialists, Hawaii Preparatory Academy Marine Science Educator, HPA High School Capstone program and Hawaii Institute of Public Health. 

Adopt A Project

The pictured Aloha Box is being converted to the “ALOHA BOARD.” Pua Ka’ilima Surf Park gave us site approval to locate the Ocean Environment and Education kiosk that includes an Aloha Board, Fishing line bin and cigarette litter bin.

Contact us for more information on this service project. We are looking for General funds and "Adopt A Project" funding partners.