Participants make waves during statewide World Ocean Day event

Community groups, state agencies and nonprofits throughout Hawaiʻi teamed up earlier this month to participate in a statewide restoration event on World Ocean Day.

The multi-island Coastal Kuleana Cleanup effort, organized as part of the Year of Our Coastal Kuleana, focused on protecting the precious shorelines, reefs and wetlands that are vital to Hawaiʻi’s identify and prosperity.

“By keeping thousands of pounds of debris out of the ocean, these volunteers made our beaches safer, our reefs healthier and protected our favorite marine neighbors — from the endangered Hawaiian monk seal to native limu species and the green sea turtle,” said Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Aquatic Resources Education Specialist Kristen Kelly in a state release.

Cleanup statistics reported from Hawaiʻi Island, Maui, Molokaʻi, Kauaʻi and Oʻahu

• Pounds of marine debris and trash removed: More than 6,074.
• Pounds of invasive plant species removed: More than 60.
• Documented staff and volunteers participating: More than 900 people.
• Total participating organizations and groups: More than 19.

Efforts extended from land to sea.

Groups of all ages combed beaches and shorelines for microplastics, glass and trash. Dive teams extracted hidden debris such as fishing line, lead weights and abandoned nets off living reefs.

Maui Nui crews dug out buried carpets clogging beaches and removed 1 ton of heavy marine debris. Teams on Oʻahu cleared a staggering 2,700 pounds of litter from coastlines, planted grass and trimmed trees at Diamond Head.

Kauaʻi volunteers extracted invasive plants to help protect native wetland bird habitats. Groups on Hawaiʻi Island matched efforts on the shore and underwater to rid areas of debris.

“The dedication and cooperation exhibited around giving back to and supporting our shores demonstrates the innate stewarding spirit that can preserve and sustain our coastal resources into the future,” Kelly said. “The [Division of Aquatic Resources] team at [Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources] wishes to express its gratitude to each of the organizations, volunteer groups, families and individuals who joined or led efforts to remove marine debris and invasive plant species to mālama our coastal environments.”

She added that because of the support and enthusiasm for the cleanup event, the number of of participants and amount of debris removed during the statewide cleanup event far surpassed expectations.

Participating partners and groups

Kauaʻi

• Mālama Na ʻĀpapa
• Hoomalu Ke Kai, Surfrider Foundation Kauaʻi
• Pacific Birds Habitat Joint Venture, Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife

Oʻahu

• Global Preservation Initiative, Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources, Kōkua Hawaiʻi Foundation, Mauliola Keʻehi, Hawaiʻi Softball Foundation, Kaiaulu
• Sustainable Coastlines Hawaiʻi, Parley and partners
• Kailua Beach Adventures
• Outrigger Canoe Club, Kuilei Cliffs
• Waikīkī Aquarium
• Mālama Pūpūkea-Waimea and University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant

Molokaʻi

• The Nature Conservancy, Sustʻāinable Molokai, student volunteers, Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Aquatic Resources

Maui

• Pacific Whale Foundation
• Maui Ocean Center
• Surfrider Foundation, Hawaiʻi Sea Grant, County of Maui, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

Hawaiʻi Island

• Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund and Ocean Defenders Alliance

World Ocean Day is officially observed June 8 globally but sparks events year-round.

Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green proclaimed 2026 Makahiki Kuleana Kahakai: The Year of Our Coastal Kuleana, a yearlong campaign celebrating the richness of the state’s coastal ecosystems, ways coasts connect people and everyone’s role in helping care for them.

Click here to learn more about the Year of Our Coastal Kuleana effort.