Micro-Plastic Cleaning Machine Debuts in Hawai‘i

A unique micro-plastic cleaning machine debuts on Hawaiʻi Island today.

The machine, called the Hoʻōla One, was shipped from eastern Canada to test its ability to suck small bits of plastic, known as micro-plastics, from the coastal sands of Kamilo Point.

Developed as a class project by twelve mechanical engineering students at the University of Sherbrooke in Quebec, it’s hoped the giant vacuum cleaner will help keep this beach and others around the state, clean and plastics free.

The co-founders are spending additional time on Oʻahu to talk about the machine, with non-profit beach clean-up organizations and potential funding groups to build additional models based on the prototype.

*Video above courtesy: Hawaiʻi DLNR.