50 Volunteers Help in Holiday Cleanup Campaign

Kanahā Beach Park wetland area. Image courtesy Mālama Maui Nui.

By Maui Now Staff

A total of 50 volunteers took part in the final cleanup campaign of the year for Mālama Maui Nui, the organization formerly known as the Community Work Day program.

The “Holiday Gift to Maui Nui” cleanup effort included the removal of about 200 pounds of litter and 800 pounds of kiawe from Kanahā Beach Park on Dec. 6.; and the cleanup of Sugar Beach in South Maui, and Hawea Point in Kapalua in December.

Among the groups participating in the holiday cleanup were members of Mālama Maui Nui, the Hui Malama Learning Center the Green Team at The Fairmont Kea Lani, and the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project.

“Getting more hands on deck is always the goal, but we were happy with the results,” said Mālama Maui Nui executive director John P. de Jesus in an organization press release. “There is a constant need to clean this park, so we will definitely have more events targeting this area in the future.”

The group’s next cleanup campaign is its “Aloha ‘Āina” event on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015.  Volunteers are invited to participate in one of two co-hosted events that day:

• Poʻolenalena Beach cleanup from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in partnership with Surfrider Foundation–Maui Chapter; or the
• Waikapū Cemetery workday with West Maui Mountains Watershed Partnership. (Event details will be released in the New Year)

Throughout the year, Mālama Maui Nui’s conducts five annual cleanup campaigns with their own signature theme.  Organization leaders say all share the common goal of engaging the Maui County community–residents, visitors, businesses, and community groups–to either partake in a hosted MMN cleanup, or to organize their own event in an area they love.

Volunteers are also welcome to join the December beach cleanup with Surfrider Foundation at DT Fleming Beach Park this Saturday, Dec. 20 from 9 to 11:30 a.m.  The Maui Brewing Company will provide lunch for event volunteers.

To participate in an upcoming event, or to reserve supplies, call Mālama Maui Nui at 877-2524 or email [email protected].