Maui Ocean Center to Provide Beach Cleanup Materials Starting June 8

In honor of World Ocean Day, the Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute announced a beach cleanup program that allows residents and visitors to Maui to take a hands-on approach to help protect marine environments and collect data.

“Plastic pollution is one of the most significant threats impacting our ocean today,” according to a Maui Ocean Center announcement.

To participate in the Honu Hero Beach Cleanup Program, pick up a beach cleanup kit from the Maui Ocean Center, choose a beach to clean and return the kit and datasheet once complete. Participants can post a picture on Instagram of their cleanup using #HonuHero to receive a free Honu Hero sticker.

The beach cleanup kit includes a bucket for debris, datasheet, clipboard, pencils and gloves. Kits are available for pickup and drop-off between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. every day of the week at MOC Marine Institute’s table near the front exit of Maui Ocean Center.

To pick up the cleanup kit beyond scheduled times, make arrangements at honuhero@mocmarineinstitute.org.

Data on Plastic Pollution

The following data comes from the MOC Marine Institute:

• 10 million tons of plastic are dumped into the ocean annually
• 1 million marine animals are killed by plastic pollution every year.
• Half of all plastic produced is for single-use purposes
• Less than 9% of all plastic gets recycled
• Humans eat an estimated 40 pounds of plastic in a lifetime