Mālama Maui Nui Seeks Volunteers for First Cleanup of 2015

Mālama Maui Nui.

By Maui Now Staff

Mālama Maui Nui (Community Work Day Program) will hold its first cleanup campaign of 2105 on Saturday, Jan. 17.

“Aloha ‘Āina” volunteers may join one of two co-hosted events that day–a beach cleanup at Po‘olenalena Beach from 9 to 11:30 a.m. in partnership with Surfrider Foundation-Maui Chapter, or a workday at the Waikapū Cemetery with West Maui Mountains Watershed Partnership from 8:30 a.m. and noon.

Cleanup supplies, water, and snacks will be provided for volunteers at both events. Volunteers should bring their own reusable water bottles and sun protection. Beach cleanup volunteers are encouraged to bring gloves and reusable bags or buckets to lessen the amount of plastic bags used to collect litter.

Waikapū Cemetery workday volunteers must wear close-toed shoes and gardening gloves appropriate for weeding and cutting back brush.

As with all MMN cleanup campaigns, the goal of “Aloha ‘Āina” is to engage the Maui County community residents, visitors, businesses, and community groups in a hosted MMN cleanup, or organize their own event. MMN can provide cleanup supplies and also pick up the trash collected after an event to facilitate the community-organized cleanups.

“With each of our annual cleanup campaigns, we like to offer an event for ‘free-agent’ volunteers and groups from schools, teams, churches, businesses, or other organizations to join us”, explained Volunteer Coordinator Lauren Kennedy. “And if there is a group that wants to create their own volunteer event for a place they have a connection with, we are happy to help support that act of aloha ‘āina, too!”

Any community cleanups that use MMN supplies and occur within a week’s time of the campaign date are counted as part of “Aloha ‘Āina”. MMN cleanup campaigns are held with support from the County of Maui, Department of Environmental Management.

Mālama Maui Nui Volunteer Cleanup Campaigns for 2015 include “Aloha ‘Āina” (Jan. 17); “Great American Cleanup” (March 1-June 30); ““Keep the Hawaiian Islands Beautiful Day” (April 18); “Litter Bugs Me” (July TBD); “Get the Drift and Bag It” (Sept. 19-Oct.  31); “Make A Difference Day” (Oct. 24); and “Holiday Gift to Maui Nui” (December, date to be determined).

Call Mālama Maui Nui at 877-2524 or email [email protected] to participate in these upcoming events or to reserve supplies for your own community cleanup.