Surfrider Kauaʻi August newsletter touts county council actions, upcoming events, more

Surfrider Kauaʻi touted actions made in July by Kauaʻi County Council and issued an invited the public to several upcoming events throughout August, plus more, in its August 2026 newsletter.

Kauaʻi County Council on July 29 approved Resolution 2026-24, which urges county administration to prioritize waste diversion, curbside recycling and development of a materials recovery facility as work to extend the life of Kekaha Landfill continues.

The resolution is not binding, but it sends a strong message that the community supports moving toward a more sustainable future.

Surfrider Kauaʻi during the past several years collaborated with Zero Waste Kauaʻi to build community support for islandwide curbside recycling.

Volunteers helped collect hundreds of petition signatures, submitted 120 letters from children and 86 letters from adults calling for curbside recycling and testified before the council about the issue.

“By reducing waste at its source and diverting recyclable materials from the landfill, this resolution marks an important step toward protecting Kauaʻi’s communities, natural resources and ocean,” said Surfrider Kauaʻi in its recent newsletter.

Kekaha Landfill is filling rapidly.

The facility is projected to be full by November 2030, with Cell 3 vertical expansion expected to be operational by August 2029, barring any delays.

Resolution 2026-24 says indiscriminate disposal of materials in landfills causes damages to human health, wastes precious natural resources and transfers liabilities to future generations. A policy of focusing on landfills and waste-to-energy as primary solid waste solutions is not sustainable nor cost-effective.

Meanwhile, there are numerous types of materials sent to Kekaha that are divertible: construction and demolition debris, green waste and food waste and especially traditional recyclables, including paper, metals, plastics and glass, plus more.

“Diverting reusable materials … from the landfill allows a longer lifespan and more time for a new landfill to be fully sited and constructed,” the resolution says, which means a facility is needed to receive, sort and process materials to prepare them for manufacturer reuse.

Kauaʻi County Council in 2011 adopted zero-waste principles and set a diversion goal of 70% by 2023 for the island. The diversion rate so far this year hovers at about 43%, the same it has been for the past 10 years.

County council in 2014 created the Pay as You Throw program, a volunteer-based fee structure for trash collection providing an economic incentive to the public for reducing trash and increasing recycling and waste diversion behaviors.

The Pay as You Throw program, created in 2014 by county council, specifies deployment of smaller, more economical and environmentally friendly 32-gallon trash carts and a robust free recycling collection program, allowing households to save money by recycling.

It also uses a volunteer-based fee structure for collection, providing an economic incentive for the public to reduce trash and increase recycling as well as waste diversion behaviors.

There are 20,745 Garden Isle households now using a residential refuse collection service, including 8,960 households with 64-gallon carts and 11,785 with 96-gallon carts.

Kauaʻi County Public Works in September 2021 also commissioned a successful and well-received pilot curbside recycling program, which served 672 residences in the Puhi area and 628 residences in central Līhuʻe.

A subsequent report recommended the county implement islandwide single-stream curbside collection recyclable collection and develop a materials recovery facility capable of processing a mixed stream of recyclable materials.

With all that data in hand, council members approved Resolution 2026-24 sending a message to county administration that the above report’s recommendations should be initiated plus the Pay as You Throw program and curbside recycling implemented to ensure urgent needs are addressed.

They also request an operational and financial plan with proposed timelines, funding strategies, staffing needs and any additional resources necessary for successful implementation.

“Mahalo to everyone who testified, attended the meeting, signed the Zero Waste Petition and continues to advocate for smarter waste solutions for Kauaʻi,” said Surfrider Kauaʻi in its monthly newsletter. “Together, we’re helping create a cleaner, healthier island for future generations.”

Council on July 8 also unanimously adopted Resolution 2026-21, urging Hawaiʻi Board of Land and Natural Resources to prohibit commercial aquarium fish collection statewide or, alternatively, calling on Hawaiʻi state lawmakers to enact a statewide ban.

Surfrider Kauaʻi testified in support, continuing regional advocacy to protect Hawaiʻi’s reef ecosystems.

“Kauaʻi’s action is part of a broader effort to demonstrate statewide opposition to commercial aquarium collection,” the nonprofit’s newsletter said. “This month, Honolulu City Council also adopted similar resolutions, sending a clear message to decision-makers ahead of [Hawaiʻi Board of Land and Natural Resources] anticipated consideration of the Division of Aquatic Resources proposed aquarium fishery rule changes.”

Click here to learn more, and stay tuned and ready to raise your voice to help protect Hawaiʻi’s reefs.

Mālama ʻĀina Community Day Recap — Anahola Beach Reserve, July 18

Mahalo to everyone who joined us for an incredible community workday at Anahola Beach Preserve! The Hosea Lovell Foundation brought together many community groups, with about 50 volunteers working side by side to care for this special place.

Together, volunteers:

• Removed 235 pounds of marine debris and trash during the beach cleanup.
• Planted 55 native plants, plus potted 14 keiki palms.
• Cleared 4 truckloads of yard waste.
• Installed 3 educational signs throughout the reserve to help encourage stewardship.
• Created coconut rhinoceros beetle traps to help protect young coconut palms.

The day wrapped up with a delicious lunch prepared by the work day’s host. Surfrider Kauaʻi extends a mahalo to every volunteer and partner who helped make the day such a success.

“Working together we continue to protect and mālama our beautiful coastline for future generations!” the nonprofit’s newsletter says.

SURFRIDER KAUAʻI AUGUST EVENTS

Net Patrol

• 3:30 to 6 p.m. every Wednesday
• Text Scott at 816-781-5883 to confirm location

Follow-up on film “Earth’s Greatest Enemy” film

• 5:30 p.m. Aug.4
• Hoʻike Kauaʻi, 4318 Rice St., Līhuʻe

Blue Water Task Force, Water Quality Testing

• Aug. 8; volunteers needed

Limu Festival

• 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 15
• Anahola Beach Park; volunteers needed

Pau Hana Cleanup

• 4:30 to 6 p.m. Aug. 28
• Outrigger Kauaʻi Beach Resort

Hāʻena Holoholo Challenge with Hui Makaʻāina O Makana

• 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 29
• Invasive species 3-prong dive challenge, Hāʻena

International Coastal Cleanup Day at Nukoliʻi

• 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• September; partnering groups, volunteers sought to help with data collection cleanup

Visit the Surfrider Kauaʻi website for additional information and to sign up for upcoming events.

You also can call 816-781-5883 for additional information or questions about Net Patrol or 808-635-2593 for the same about all other events.

Visit the Surfrider Kauaʻi website for additional information about the nonprofit, its projects and events, plus more.

News reporter Nathan Christophel contributed to this story.