Surfrider dubs July 5 ‘dirtiest beach day’ – Kaua‘i chapter invites island to join cleanup

The Fourth of July is fast approaching: In less than two weeks communities throughout the United States will celebrate, and for many, Independence Day festivities take place at the beach.

But what about the day after?

“It’s official – July 5th is the dirtiest beach day of the year,” the national office of the Surfrider Foundation announced Monday. “After the Independence Day celebrations close, all the firework smoke has faded, and friends and family have made their way home, America’s treasured beaches are often left covered in trash.”

Surfrider is an ocean conservation nonprofit with over 200 chapters and clubs on coastlines throughout the continental United States, as well as Hawai‘i and Puerto Rico. This year marks the organization’s 40th anniversary.

On Kaua‘i, the local Surfrider chapter will hold its annual July 5 Cleanup at Anahola on the East Side of the Garden Isle. The 9 a.m. event’s partners also include Permanently Affordable Living Hawai‘i and Kumu Camp.

“This postholiday cleanup is a great opportunity for our community members and visitors to come out and clean the beach and learn more about Surfrider and PAL Hawai‘i,” Barbara Wiedner of Surfrider said. “We are always looking for new volunteers to help us with our efforts to protect Kaua‘i’s coastal environment.”

For more information about the July 5 Cleanup at Anahola, call Wiedner at 808-635-2593.