Volunteers Remove 30,000 Pounds of Debris

Photo courtesy of Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii

The fifth annual Mo’omomi Cleanup organized by Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii two weeks ago removed an estimated 30,000 pounds of debris from Molokai’s northwestern coast. More than 300 participants joined the effort, according to Kahi Pacarro, Sustainable Coastlines executive director. The previous week, Sustainable Coastlines visited classrooms and reached 678 students on the island sharing information about marine debris, plastic pollution and why it’s so important to take care of our oceans.

“We are grateful to be able to visit this place and give back,” said Picarro. “We couldn’t do it without the help from the Ka’auwai Family, Uncle Mac Poepoe, the community of Molokai, Matson, and Hawaiian Airlines.Thanks to our partnership with Pu’u o Hoku Ranch, The Nature Conservancy, Matson and Parley for the Oceans, none of the debris will stay on Molokai. Three quarters of it has already been sent to Oahu where we recycle or incinerate it for energy.”