Adopt-A-Highway Recognizes Molokai Teachers

HIDOT Highways Division News Release 

For more than two decades, members of the Hawaii State Teachers Association’s Molokai Chapter have helped protect their island by removing unsightly and environmentally damaging trash along Maunaloa Highway. Their sustained dedication has earned HSTA Molokai Chapter the Adopt-A-Highway No Ka Oi Highway Hui Award from the State of Hawaii, Department of Transportation (HIDOT) Highways Division – Maui District (HWY-M).

“HSTA Molokai’s adopted section of highway runs near Kaunakakai Harbor, and if you’ve ever enjoyed how naturally beautiful that area is, Molokai’s teachers certainly deserve credit for helping to keep it that way,” said Ty Fukuroku, program manager, Environmental Management, HWY-M. “We’re very pleased to applaud them as our first No Ka Oi Highway Hui Award recipient from Molokai.”

HSTA Molokai Chapter President Tes Kaulia was quick to acknowledge the contributions of her fellow teachers and other community members, as well as former HSTA Molokai Chapter presidents, for their volunteerism and years of involvement with the Adopt-A-Highway program.

“I’d like to recognize all the HSTA members who gave of their time on the weekends to meet up with their colleagues from various schools on our island to clean up our highways,” Kaulia said. “I also would like to recognize other individuals who are not a part of our HSTA Molokai Chapter but are always alongside the highway picking up trash going into our small Kaunakakai town.”

Adopt-A-Highway cleanups are carried out by volunteer groups that commit to adopting a two-mile portion of a state highway for a minimum of two years, pick up litter on their section of the highway at least four times per year, and undergo safety training before each cleanup event. Cleanups must also comply with state or county COVID-19 safety requirements in effect at the time.

Trash and other pollutants discarded along roadways often wash into storm drains and end up miles away in the ocean where they can damage the environment. Adopt-A-Highway is one of several programs managed by HWY-M to help reduce pollution and ensure only rainwater enters the storm drain system.

Organizations in Maui County interested in signing up for Adopt-A-Highway can search for available highway segments at HWY-M’s stormwater website, stormwatermaui.com. Applications, cleanup forms, a safety training video, and program information are also available on the website.