About the Program
Marine Debris Removal from the Waiohinu-Ka Lae Coast Hawaii Island
The windward Waiohinu -- Ka Lae (South Point) coastline of Hawaii Island has long been known as a site for accumulation of marine debris. Most of this coastline is very remote and difficult to access, and is probably the most debris- littered coast in the state, primarily due to its difficult access for debris removal. This debris poses an entanglement threat to wildlife and may refloat during storms. The shoreline is used by endangered Hawaiian monk seals, endangered hatchling hawksbill turtles.
The Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund organized volunteers to conduct a full cleaning of this coastline, educated the community about the problem, and organized a consortium of interested community groups and individuals to begin a regular cleanup schedule. With each cleanup tackling a different section of the coastline over four to six months, the Waiohinu–Ka Lae coast is now cleaner and safer for everyone. Cleanups were completed on November 19th and December 17th of 2005 and February 18th and 19th and April 22nd of 2006. These NOAA-funded cleanups were contracted by the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary to the Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund, an environmental not-for-profit organization known for its work in research, conservation, and education about Hawai‘i’s native wildlife.
Over 220 volunteers participated in these cleanups, some from as far away as Japan and the West Coast of the United States. In total, 35 tons of marine debris was removed from nine miles of coastline. Approximately 30 tons were derelict fishing nets, and plastic made up 82% of other debris items.
Through the cooperation of various state and county agencies, private businesses, and community groups, the marine debris removed was disposed of in the most proactive and environmentally friendly way possible. Recyclables were kept separate and given to the County of Hawai‘i to recycle. Fishing net debris was put into a donated Matson Navigation Co. container and barged over to O‘ahu where Schnitzer Steel Hawaii Corp. (formerly Hawai‘i Metal Recycling Co.) picked it up and transported it to their facility, where the nets are chopped into
smaller pieces. From there, Schnitzer takes the net debris to the City and County of Honolulu’s H-Power waste-to-energy facility where it is recycled to create electricity.
View photos of cleanup activity.
This program is funded through NOAA's Ocean Service, Office of Response & Restoration, Marine Debris Program.
