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Hundreds of volunteers cleaning Waimānalo Beach Park at Sustainable Coastlines Hawai‘i 2022 Earth Day Celebration (Credit: Kate Dolbier).
Submitted by: Sydney Millerd, Sustainable Coastlines Hawai‘i
To celebrate Earth Month, Sustainable Coastlines Hawai‘i Earth Day Cleanup Festival is back and bigger than ever at Waimānalo Beach Park on Sunday, April 23rd! Two thousand volunteers are anticipated to participate, marking the biggest cleanup event in state history. This event is more than a beach cleanup: Attendees can also participate in native plant restoration and enjoy free food, music, sustainable-living workshops, and giveaways throughout the day. Keiki to kūpuna are invited to take part in this fun-filled day to show the planet some aloha and connect with ʻāina and community.
Learn more about Sustainable Coastlines Hawai‘i and events like this on our website.
Offload of a derelict net estimated to weigh around 2,000 lbs from the vessel APSARA, part of the Hawai‘i Longline Association, in Honolulu on April 12, 2023 (Credit: Kellie Teague).
Submitted by: Kellie R. Teague, Hawai‘i Pacific University's Center for Marine Debris Research
In the past three months, over 3,500 lbs of derelict fishing gear (DFG) have been removed from the North Pacific thanks to a bounty program led by the Hawai‘i Pacific University Center for Marine Debris Research (CMDR). Supported in part by the NOAA Marine Debris Program, CMDR has partnered with the Hawai‘i Longline Association and Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Aquatic Resources to incentivize the removal of DFG at sea. Intercepting DFG before it nears land is the best way to protect key natural resources, like coral reefs.
CMDR is currently seeking a Project Coordinator to lead this endeavor! For additional information or to apply, please visit the Hawai‘i Pacific University career opportunity webpage.
Hale Pono Boys and Girls Club youth paddling out with Nā Kama Kai into perfect conditions (Credit: Maiana Villegas).
Submitted by: Joshua Gonzalez, Parley for the Oceans
During the month of March, our team at the Parley AIR Station began our ocean immersion journey with youth from O‘ahu. At Parley for the Oceans, we know that bringing awareness about the beauty and fragility of the oceans plays a key role in protecting them. We teamed up with Nā Kama Kai and were able to take 12 youths from Hale Pono, the ‘Ewa Beach Boys and Girls Club, to enjoy a day full of ocean activities and education at the beautiful Poka‘i Bay in Wai‘anae. At Parley, we believe we only protect what we love, so by giving youth more opportunities for exposure to the ocean, we hope it will result in greater appreciation and protection of it.
If you’re interested in getting involved with future education opportunities feel free to email for inquiries.
Derelict fishing net being removed from Kahuku Beach, O‘ahu (Credit: Mark Manuel).
Submitted by: Cathy Gewecke, Division of Aquatic Resources
The Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) Protected Species Program is coordinating and funding various nongovernmental organizations on Kaua‘i, O‘ahu, Maui, and Hawai‘i island to rapidly respond to derelict fishing gear and marine debris reported through their established hotline (833-4-Da-Nets or 833-432-6387). This program is funded by several different DAR environmental remediation funds. A few months ago, DAR responded to a hotline call on O‘ahu for a large blue 55-gallon barrel that potentially contained oil or other hazardous material. DAR, in coordination with the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation and Department of Health - Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response Office, successfully removed the barrel (confirmed to be only sea water) and disposed of it in accordance with Department of Health standardized protocols. This program that contracts nongovernmental organizations for rapid response efforts should be finalized in May 2023, at which time DAR will put more time into promoting the hotline to encourage public engagement.
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NOAA Ocean Guardian School Program and funding organizations (Credit: NOAA).
The NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries is now accepting applications for the NOAA Ocean Guardian School Program for the 2023-2024 school year. Grant amounts range from $1,000 - $4,000 per school depending on the program region and funding year. An Ocean Guardian School makes a commitment to the protection and conservation of its local watersheds, the world's ocean, and special ocean areas, like national marine sanctuaries. The school makes this commitment by proposing and then implementing a school- or community-based conservation project.
The application is due by June 1, 2023, and can be found here.
Volunteers from the Mariana Islands Nature Alliance participate in a Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project tutorial (Credit: NOAA).
Marine debris is a familiar sight on shorelines around the world, and a reminder that there is still work to be done to tackle this global environmental problem. You can help collect data with the NOAA Marine Debris Monitoring and Assessment Project! An updated Monitoring Toolbox contains all of the resources you need to get started, including video tutorials. Through these tutorials, you will learn how to set up your site, conduct a survey, categorize debris, and submit data. Videos are available in both English and Spanish.
Check out the updated Monitoring Toolbox on our website.
The articles written by partners are not the opinions of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and do not imply that NOAA recommends or endorses those expressed by partner organizations. These opinions and their associated actions will be carried out by interested partner organizations and are not affiliated with NOAA or the NOAA Marine Debris Program.
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