Maui Company Joins “Eat Less Plastic” Voyage

A new community science voyage is hoping to reduce plastic pollution and a Maui business is among those participating in the effort. The “Eat Less Plastic” project is currently sailing on its five-month voyage from Southern California to New Zealand, collecting debris data from unstudied waters.

According to the project organizers, nearly 8 million tons of plastic pollution fills the ocean each year, threatening to cover beach sands with plastic.

With planned stops in the Pacific Islands, the data collected will give researchers an accurate sample of the types of plastic pollution in the ocean.

The “Eat Less Plastic” crew will also organize service projects in the communities they visit to learn how residents of the Pacific Islands are fighting plastic pollution. Video footage of the project will be used for future education and outreach purposes.

Maui’s own Hawaiian Paddle Sports eco-tour company has committed to join the “Eat Less Plastic” voyage. Hawaiian Paddle Sports’ founder Timothy Lara will join the “Eat Less Plastic” research team on the sail from Tahiti to the Cook Islands.

“I am stoked to join the ‘Eat Less Plastic’ voyage to help collect this important data,” Lara said. “I hope the community will join us in this important mission—whether it be through a donation, joining the crew, or reducing their single-use plastic consumption.”

The company will match up to $2,500 in donations pledged by July 29 to support the basic costs of the voyage, including fuel, food, filming, scientific research equipment, and safety equipment.

Other Maui residents joining the “Eat Less Plastic” voyage include Campbell Farrell, executive director of Love The Sea and co-creator of Ocean Aid Hawaiʻi; Magdalena Carey, honu watch naturalist for Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund; and Alexander Sasha Nitze, owner of Cinemaui Studio.

For more information, visit Hawaiian Paddle Sports online or go directly to the GoFundMe donation page.

Nearly 8 million tons of plastic pollution is dumped into our oceans every year, threatening to eventually cover all our beaches with more micro plastics than sand.

Enter the “Eat Less Plastic” voyage, a citizen science project that aims to collect vital plastic debris data from previously unstudied waters.

Nearly 8 million tons of plastic pollution is dumped into our oceans every year, threatening to eventually cover all our beaches with more micro plastics than sand.

The “Eat Less Plastic” voyage is a citizen science project that aims to collect vital plastic debris data from previously unstudied waters.

A 54’ sailboat is currently on its five-month journey from Southern California to New Zealand, with planned stops in the Pacific Islands along the way.

Data collection from the “Eat Less Plastic” crew will follow the 5 Gyres Trawl Share Program and give researchers an accurate sample of the types of plastic pollution in our world’s oceans.