Making a Difference: Kailua Beach Adventures' Earth Day 2023 Beach Cleanup at Kalamas Beach
Introduction:
At Kailua Beach Adventures, we believe in the importance of preserving our precious natural resources and protecting the environment. This Earth Day, we took part in a meaningful initiative to clean up Kalamas Beach in Kailua, making a positive impact on our local community and the planet. With our sand sifters in hand, we joined forces with Seedworld, Koolau Distilleries, and Classic Wave along with passionate volunteers to restore the pristine beauty of this beloved beach.
Highlighting the Event:
On a bright and sunny day, Kalamas Beach came alive with the spirit of environmental stewardship. We were thrilled to host this year's Earth Day beach cleanup with Seedworld, Koolau Distillers, and Classic Wave, bringing together individuals who share our commitment to keeping our beaches clean and free from litter. Participants of all ages, including our dedicated staff and enthusiastic volunteers, gathered to make a difference.
The Cleanup Efforts:
Equipped with sand sifters provided by Kailua Beach Adventures, our team embarked on a mission to remove debris and litter from the beach. The sand sifters proved to be invaluable tools, allowing us to efficiently separate trash from the sand and collect even the tiniest pieces of waste. Together, we combed through the shoreline, ensuring that no trace of litter was left behind.
Community Engagement:
One of the most inspiring aspects of the Earth Day beach cleanup was the incredible community engagement. Local residents, visitors, and environmental advocates all joined forces, united by a shared goal of preserving the natural beauty of Kalamas Beach. The sense of camaraderie and shared purpose created a positive and uplifting atmosphere throughout the event.
Making a Lasting Impact:
By actively participating in beach cleanups like this, we are not only restoring the beauty of our shores but also raising awareness about the importance of environmental conservation. Our efforts to provide sand sifters allowed us to make an even greater impact, ensuring that every piece of litter was properly removed from the beach. We are proud to be part of a community that values the protection and preservation of our precious coastal ecosystems.
Conclusion:
The Earth Day beach cleanup at Kalamas Beach was a resounding success with over 200 volunteers participating thanks to the collective dedication of our team, volunteers, and the community at large. Kailua Beach Adventures remains committed to organizing and participating in such initiatives that promote environmental sustainability and preserve the natural wonders of our beloved Kailua. Let us continue to work together in safeguarding our beaches and creating a cleaner, greener future for generations to come.
How to Easily Create A Microplastics Sand Sifter
Want to clean the beach rid the sand of microplstic debris? This how to guide explains the steps to follow so that anybody can easily make their own microplastics sand sifters and help keep their beaches clean.
More and more beach clean-ups are dedicated to the removal of smaller bits of plastic known as microplastics. Due to the size of these plastics, the sand must physically be sifted through in order to remove the plastics. This how-to guide explains the steps to follow so that anybody can easily make their own microplastics sand sifters and help keep their beaches clean.
Materials
-Duct Tape (Any brand will do)
-1/8” Wire Mesh (Roll or large pieces)
Tools
-Wire Shears
-Tape Measure (optional)
-Scissors (optional)
-Gloves (recommended for safety)
-Sharpie (optional)
STEP 1:
MEASURE & MARK WIRE MESH WITH DIMENSIONS 18” X 14”
Don’t worry if its not perfect, we’ve just found that 18” x 14” is a good working size for a hand sand sifter.
Step 2:
Cut wire mesh on your marked line
TIP: Try to cut along each strand to minimize the amount of wire ends sticking out on the mesh.
STEP 3:
TRIM OFF EXCESS EDGES SO THERE are NOT ANY POKEY BITS OF WIRE STICKING OUT
This helps reduce the likelihood of stray metal wire that might poke someone while using the sifter.
STEP 4:
ADD 1 LAYER OF DUCT TAPE TO THE SIDE OF THE WIRE MESH AND FOLD IT OVER THE MESH
We usually like to leave a gap of 1/8” or so on the edge of the duct tape to give an extra barrier between the wire mesh and hands.
Feel free to measure and cut the duct tape with the measuring tape and scissors to make them exact. Don’t worry about overhang from the duct tape. We will clean it up in the next step.
STEP 5:
ADD ADDITIONAL LAYER OF DUCT TAPE TO THE SIDES OF THE WIRE MESH FOR SAFETY/COMFORT
Do your best to keep the duct tape even on either side so that the sticky part of the duct tape is not exposed on one side.
If you have any overhang of duct tape extending over the edges, fold them in and place the second layer of duct tape so that it keeps the edges of the first layer taped underneath it.
STEP 6:
GO OUT THERE AND USE YOUR NEW SAND SIFTER AT A BEACH CLEAN UP!
Remember to bring a bucket or reusable bag with you to dump the microplastics that you have sifted out.
Want to watch it step by step?
Here is the perfect video for you!
Community Events for Keiki!
This spring, Kailua Beach Adventures had the opportunity to put on and support several noteworthy events for the keiki of Kailua and Oahu.
This spring, Kailua Beach Adventures had the opportunity to put on and support several noteworthy events for the keiki of Kailua and Oahu. In March, we partnered with Quicksilver to host an event for the 6th graders of Kainalu and Ka'ōhao Elementary Schools, and this past weekend we supported the Boys and Girls Clubs of Oahu by providing an opportunity to introduce children to a plethora of watersports while educating them about ocean safety.
On Friday, March 15th, sixth grade students came to Kailua Beach Adventures to share their sustainable boardshort designs, receive autographs from professional surfers, and view a screening of the Quicksilver Generations movie. Surfers including Freddy Patacchia, Zeke Lau, Jamie Mitchell, and Joey Johnston came out to sign autographs and to select a winner of the creative sustainable boardshort art project.
Some students took the project to another level by collecting microplastics and waste from the beach and incorporating it into their design. Other students artistically depicted healthy aquatic scenes, and a few depicted side by side comparisons of a healthy ocean v. a polluted one. Students made it a tough decision for our judges - these sixth graders have talent!
We at Kailua Beach Adventures were overwhelmed by the turnout and the energy students and parents brought. Pizza was served, and a good time was enjoyed by all.
Later this spring on Saturday, April 20th, organizations including Hawaiian Island Creations, Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku foundation, Volcom, and more collaborated to get keiki of the Boys and Girls Club out on the water. The goal of this event was to introduce children to ocean sports and fitness.
For many keiki, it was their first time trying an ocean sport. Children rotated among four stations and had the opportunity to play volleyball, catch waves on a surfboard, boogie board, and paddle. The paddling station was comprised of outrigger canoes and SUPSquatches. Waves were caught and smiles were shared!
With over 40 volunteers and more than 100 children, the turnout was excellent and the energy that this event inspired was tremendous. We already can’t wait for next year’s event!
Sustainable Coastlines Waimanalo Beach Clean-Up
Earth Day 2019 was yet another great success as over 1,050 volunteers came out and 4,000 pounds of debris from Bellows to Makapu`u was collected. This annual event was spearheaded by Sustainable Coastlines, an organization founded in 2010 . . .
Earth Day 2019 was yet another great success as over 1,050 volunteers came out and 4,000 pounds of debris from Bellows to Makapu`u was collected. This annual event was spearheaded by Sustainable Coastlines, an organization founded in 2010 that is committed to keeping our beaches clean.
Several of our staff members members joined the ranks to help facilitate this large-scale event. Matt, Austin, and Ashton helped to outfit guests with beach cleaning supplies including our sand sifters, bags, and gloves.
The day began with a yoga class provided by Core Power Yoga. As our sea kayak guide Ashton pointed out, this Earth Day celebration began with health for our own bodies followed by health for our planet. She noted that seeing local businesses willing to offer their goods and services inspired the community, and similarly was overwhelmed by the number of people who showed up.
As someone who enjoys volunteering, Ashton noted that her favorite part of the day was being able to lead a group of volunteers and supply them with the necessary tools and information. She was also overjoyed to see just how many parents were showing their kids how to take care of our planet at such a young age. As this year’s Earth Day fell so close to the Easter holiday, she noticed how many groups treated the event as a family celebration that positively affected the planet.
For Austin, the biggest takeaway was the feelings of empowerment. He noticed the variety of people who showed up. This included families with small children, friends, and even individuals who were even feeling under the weather. Whether people showed up for the entirety of the event, or made the effort to spend an hour of their Easter Sunday and Earth Day weekend cleaning windward Oahu’s beaches, people made it a priority.
Lastly, Matt, a Kailua Beach Adventures veteran, commented that it was great to see the community show up, collect a massive amount of trash, and reinvigorate a lot of hearts and minds. We are excited to continue in this ongoing partnership and are already looking forward to the next beach clean-up!
Read on for a few fun facts about Earth Day and it's inception!
Earth Day was born after New York Times’ bestseller Silent Spring was published and shortly after a massive oil spill occurred in California in 1969.
20 Million people participated in the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970. They participated in the form of loud rallies, peaceful reflections, nature walks, speeches, concerts, and more.
The senator of Wisconsin, Gaylord Nelson, spearheaded the Earth Day celebration.
The secret to Earth Day’s success was the involvement of college students as this helped the movement gain major traction. The date of Earth Day was strategically planned to fall between spring break and final exams.
Business Profile: A Different Kind of Kayak Company
We recognize that we are not just running a business in a ‘vacuum’ as if we were a restaurant or retail store. We interact with our guest’s, nature and the community when paddling in Kailua Bay.
Let’s face it, life is good in Hawaii. It’s easy to just catch the tropical breeze, soak up the Pacific sun and passively enjoy life’s moments as they float by. Hawaii’s remote location and Polynesian roots allow us to invent our own priorities and way of life. These include relishing the ocean and land but also preserving its pristine state. Otherwise, before you know it, “they’ve paved paradise and put up a parking lot.”
We recognize that we are not just running a business in a ‘vacuum’ as if we were a restaurant or retail store. We interact with our guest’s, nature and the community when paddling in Kailua Bay. We consider those pillars as the foundation that keeps us grounded. We look at work as an opportunity to facilitate the interactions between human, animal and our natural world. Granted we could look the other way and operate as an amusement park but that would not be fair to our company morals and community we have built. As a company we want to preserve the beautiful culture and environment and hold ourselves accountable as environmental stewards.
Our Goal: Educate and push coexistence throughout Kailua
How we accomplish our goals:
We hold beach clean ups in perpetuity as the world’s plastic consumption is relentlessly endless. We allow these cleanups to act as an educational tool as well as to bring attention to issues such as the Pacific Garbage Patch. Seeing this issue has pushed us to pay out of our own pocket for compostable containers for the restaurants providing our kayaker’s lunch and sell water in boxes instead of plastic bottles. We help the Dept. of Land and Natural Resources recruit volunteers, provide staff and kayaks for restoration of our offshore islands. We see this kind of cooperation as the perfect embodiment of our goals as a company.
We stay humble, however as we recognize that we can always do much more. We learn from our neighbors and from our out of town guests as the problems facing us are complex and pervasive. So, go surf, go kayak, be outside and spread your passion for these things. People will work hard to protect the things that bring them enjoyment and we’re all in this one together.
Sustainable Tourism Certification
The Hawai’i Eco-Tourism Association is the leading authority on Sustainable Tourism.
The Hawai’i Eco-Tourism Association is the leading authority on Sustainable Tourism, and Kailua Beach Adventures is ecstatic to be Certified for the fourth year in a row! KBA’s commitment to the environment is clear in all of our operations, but the kayak guides are truly shining stars when it comes to environmental awareness and activism. Employees regularly volunteer for beach cleanups, restoration efforts, and bird count trips to the offshore islands. We are grateful for everything The HEA does and love being a part of their vision for the future.