SURFRIDER HOSTS TWO VALENTINE'S EVE BEACH CLEANUPS WITH KOKUA FOUNDATION AT SAND ISLAND AND MALAEKAHANA STATE PARK ON SAT. 2/13/10
Honolulu, Oahu (Feb. 11, 2010): The Surfrider Foundation Oahu Chapter will host two simultaneous cleanups, one at the park on Sand Island and one at Malaekahana State Park., on Sat. morning, 2/13/10, from 9:00 am - 11:30 pm. Surfrider is partnering with the Kokua Foundation and invites volunteers to participate in one of their "Love Your Beach" cleanups on the eve of Valentine's Day. Volunteers are asked to bring old plastic bags, sunscreen and reusable water bottles.
Working with a coalition of other groups like Sierra Club and Styrophobia, Surfrider just hosted a Rise Above Plastics Rally at the Hawaii State Capitol on Wed., 2/10, and they hope to build on the momentum of the rally at the beach cleanups this weekend. More than 70 people came to support legislation to ban or impose a fee on single-use plastic bags and hear inspiring messages from Sen. Hooser, Sen Gabbard and House members of the Freshman Caucus who sponsored the fee bill (HB2125). Americans use more than 100 billion plastic bags each year, less than 5% are ever recycled, and many end up in the ocean.
Surfrider is working to educate people about the dangers of plastic marine debris and reduce the proliferation of single-use plastics like bags and water bottles. Because plastics never biodegrade, they remain in the environment forever, leading to the creation of the Garbage Patch in the North Pacific Gyre. "In certain areas of our oceans, the amount of suspended plastic particles outnumbers plankton," says Angela Howe, who oversees the program for the Foundation. "Subsequently we see all this plastic making its way up the food chain." Each year, plastic marine debris kills over a million seabirds, marine mammals, fish and other sea creatures, including endangered monk seals and sea turtles.
The public can learn more about plastic debris and how to reduce their own plastic "footprint" at www.surfrider.org/oahu. Surfrider hosts cleanups once a month, partnering with environmentally friendly groups and businesses. "We are stoked to work with the Kokua Foundation," Hawaii Coordinator Stuart Coleman says, "because their Plastic-Free Hawaii Project works well with our Rise Above Plastics Campaign. And a beach cleanup is the best way to show your love for the ocean on Valentine's Day!"
Started by a group of visionary surfers in 1984, the Surfrider Foundation now has over 70 chapters and 50,000 members across the world. The Oahu Chapter is working on issues of beach access, water quality, coastal preservation and plastic marine debris. For more information, go to www.surfrider.org/oahu.