HANALEI — The Hanalei Watershed Research Foundation in cooperation with the county Department of Parks &Recreation is organizing a community cleanup at a section of Hanalei Bay known as Pine Trees Sunday, May 30, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
“We thank the Hanalei Watershed Research Foundation volunteers for the foundation’s commitment as an Adopt-A-Park participant with the County of Kaua‘i,” said Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation Wallace G. Rezentes Jr.
“They have agreed to assist the county with maintenance needs for Pine Trees, Hanalei Pavilion and Black Pot Beach Parks. Additionally, we understand they intend to engage with the community for a beach cleanup of the areas in and around these beaches, including a clean-up of Hanalei Pavilion Beach Park, on Sunday.”
The cleanup involves removing all the driftwood off the beach so it doesn’t end up on the local reefs. According to HWRF director Zeb Beadle, this wood and organic debris also mixes in with the sand, changing the sand into soil, which puts the native plants and critters at a disadvantage.
“At HWRF, we scuba dive with marine experts and knowledgeable locals throughout Hanalei Bay and surrounding areas so have seen first hand the damage this invasive green waste and giant logs do to our barrier reefs,” Beadle said. “If we lose reefs, Hanalei will be gone in a matter of years. Hanalei is a low-lying, sand-and-dirt basin with no natural barrier to the sea other than the reefs.”
Beadle said change is happening fast.
Look at “Oahu’s North Shore this past winter to see how fast things can change when there’s a bit more wave energy hitting the shoreline on these fragile Islands,” Beadle said. “Or at the Waipa Foundation land, where they lost over 20 feet of beach-front in about six weeks this past winter, which took down a bunch of 80-plus-year-old trees.”
Volunteers should bring rakes and their own water, though no single-use plastic bottles are allowed. Gloves and large reusable garden bags will be provided.
“Our goal is to bring resident attention to the massive and growing green waste issue that is destroying our barrier reefs,” Beadle said. “The fragile marine ecosystem we all enjoy would surely consider it a favor if you would help support this beach cleanup effort. There is lots to do for the entire family.”
To register, see hanaleiwaiwai.org/events.
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Stephanie Shinno, education and business reporter, can be reached at 245-0424 or sshinno@thegardenisland.com.
Mahalo for the awesome write-up! Thankfully the great Team at Parks & Rec are allowing us to use the large grass park next to Pine Trees to hold the event. There should be plenty of parking but still get there early so we can finish up before the beach going tourists arrive in mass.
This is the first large gathering at the beach parks since the pandemic began. It seems a great way, and metaphor, to welcome our normal lives back: clean out the old invasive junk so we can enjoy socializing with ‘Ohana while helping our beautiful environment.
Masks, gloves and hand sanitizer will be made available. Bring your own hydration- no single use bottles or other trash please. If you have a sturdy flexible rake please bring it.
Volunteers need to sign a waiver that is required by the County before getting started with the clean-up work.
Aloha + Community = Kauai
Am I correct in assuming that the County will have tractors, loaders, trucks and dumpsters on site?
Good to see the Hanalei Watershed Hui actually doing something useful for a change.
it’s a different non-profit. that said would be nice to know exactly who makes up this group. don’t want to accidentally support another non-profit using that notorious fake marine biologist.