September 16, 2017 was International Coastal Cleanup day started by the Ocean Conservancy nearly 30 years ago. Even though this is an annual event for some “coastal cleanup” is an everyday event for Lissette and I as we walk and run one of the most beautiful and pristine coastlines in the world within the Mauna Lani Resort. The photos above are just one day’s “treasure” of “opala” or trash in what is as much of our daily routine as our early morning walk and run. I also included a photo of a plastic hard hat I found at the shoreline which floated here from Japan.

Plastic, opala (trash) is usually the most evident in and around our shoreline but I’ve found glass bottles, oil filters, fishing nets and other debris while scuba diving, surfing or paddling. I remember finding a plastic beach ball floating 1/2 mile off shore riding my stand up paddle board and a large, ice cooler another time. Yes-I chased down both and hauled them to shore with me:)

We do all of this with joy, never condemning silently the source of the problems but instead thankful to be a very small part of the solution. I always say “joy” motivates” more than “anger” and I apply this to my daily “easter egg hunt”.

One time use plastic bags have been outlawed on our island for several years resulting in everyone carrying their favorite bags and coolers to Costco and favorite grocery outlets. Maybe plastic straws will be next based on the inventory of items often found blowing in the trade winds here.

All items are inventoried during these Coastal Cleanup events and I can confirm their results are true on a micro level also. Check out this link for the Coastal Cleanup inventory: https://oceanconservancy.org/trash-free-seas/international-coastal-cleanup/

Based on their yearly findings, here are a few suggestions of small things we can all do in our day to day lives that will help!

1. Just Say No…To Straws…

   …yes those little plastic things that make sipping sunset drinks oh-so-fun? They migrate through our streams to our beautiful ocean, where they stay seemingly forever. Some of us are old enough to remember biodegradable straws made of paper with bright swirly stripes, maybe these can make a come back!

2. Pick It Up Around You!

   …it’s easy…don’t assume it’s somebody else’s “job”. This morning I asked my friend “Spike” at the Boat House for a mooring gaff- a long pole with a hook on the end. I told him there was a large, plastic bag floating in the fish pond and I wanted to snag it before it sank to the bottom. Upon returning the gaff back to my friend another person asked me, “Isn’t that the landscape crews job?” I told him it was “my job” and I appreciated the opportunity to do so:) Laughing, Spike informed him he had seen me the day before with 4 plastic bottles and handfuls of other items. Whatever…I’m the trash man of Mauna Lani…thankfully!

3. Take One for the Team…

   Take reusable bottles and mugs with you to Starbucks or your favorite coffee hangout…it isn’t just cheaper, but it helps reduce plastic and other waste worldwide. Starbucks and other fast food cups make it easy to keep your drink cold or hot on the fly. But how much better would it feel to be enjoying your favorite beverage and saving the ocean — at the same time?

Written by Rick Oliver on October 11, 2017
Posted in: Hawaii Life | Tags: Coastal Cleanup, Mauna Lani, opala, plastic, trash