Beach Cleanup

MA, Punahou, D22H

On January 28, 2023, 16 Punahou Key Club members and 2 officers volunteered at Kailua Beach to participate in a beach cleanup sponsored by the Surfrider Foundation, Avasol, and Sunrise Shack. From 10:00 am to 12:00 am, Key Clubbers picked up trash along the beach and in the park surrounding the beach. Gloves and bags to use for trash collection were provided. The Surfrider Foundation also provided handmade sifters, which were used to filter tiny microplastics from sand. The leaders educated attendees about the harmful effects of microplastics, explaining how they can be found in the bellies of sea animals and will be dispersed throughout beaches for centuries. At the end of the event, all attendees put their collected trash into bags that were weighed. This event was highly educational and fun, as members enjoyed helping the environment while being at the beach.