KEALIA — Kapaa Elementary is calling all third-graders to Kealia Beach on Thursday to lend a hand in cleaning up the plastic that could make its way to albatross bellies.
It’s part of learning about the Laysan albatross life cycle, and is taking place under the guidance of the Surfrider Foundation, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Kauai Department of Education.
“In November, all of the third-graders in Kauai public schools received a visiting instructor to teach them about the wonderful yearly visit of the Laysan albatross to the Hawaiian Islands,” said Tana Ball, a volunteer at the Kilauea Lighthouse and volunteer instructor at Kapaa.
Volunteers bring lessons in bird biology, courtship, nesting, fledging and the other various aspects of albatross life to the kids through a series of lessons every year, just before the albatross land on Kauai for nesting season.
“Most of the albatross sea birds stop at Midway, but this year Kauai has received a 20 percent increase in nesting parents who came to the North Shore to complete the life cycle of giving birth and raising a chick,” Ball said.
Part of the lesson plan is a focus on ocean trash and plastic, and the impact that has on the sea birds, also known as moli.
“This message really hit home when dissecting a moli bolus (regurgitated stomach content) to show the amount of trash — mainly plastics and fishing gear — the moli struggle with every day when feeding their young,” Ball said.
Each third-grade class took a field trip to the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge to see the nesting moli, and after the trip the students were asked to share a message they learned.
That’s where the idea for a beach cleanup surfaced at Kapaa Elementary School.
The class decided to share their message in three ways: by creating informative posters to be displayed in the community, creating a 2019 calendar featuring keiki artwork with proceeds going toward moli education, and hosting the Kealia Beach Cleanup.
“The third-graders at Kapaa Elementary want to save the lives of albatross by challenging everyone to stop using plastic and stop disposing of trash and fishing gear into the ocean,” Ball said.
Momentum has increased as word about the cleanup has spread, and third-graders from St. Catherine’s have jumped on board.
On Thursday, Kapaa Elementary’s four third-grade classes — about 100 students — plan to arrive at Kealia Beach at about 10 a.m. The cleanup will last through 1 p.m., with lunch included, before walking back to school.
Info: Tana Ball, yes@hawaiiantel.net
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Jessica Else, environmental reporter, can be reached at 245-0452 or jelse@thegardenisland.com
