Beach in Waimanalo takes spotlight at Earth Day event

Last year Stephen P. Leatherman, aka Dr. Beach, a professor at Florida International University, listed Waimanalo Beach Park on Oahu as the best beach in America.

In his Top 10 Beaches of America, he ranked Waimanalo No. 1 and praised it for its soft, white sands, which extend for more than 5 miles. He lauded the turquoise waters and the shade of ironwood trees.

But Leatherman made no mention of the cigarette butts that end up beneath the trees and the huge amount of plastic debris — tiny pieces as small as a grain of sand — that wash ashore here in great quantities. This has been documented through aerial surveys by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii will bring attention to the Windward side with a beach cleanup and Earth Day Festival from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Waimanalo Beach Park on April 30. Check-in time is 9 a.m., with cleanup from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Volunteers will fan out from Makapuu Beach Park to Bellows in partnership with the Waimanalo Canoe Club, Hawaii Army National Guard and Kokua Hawai‘i Foundation.

“Microplastics are abundant along the Windward coast and are also notoriously difficult to clean out of the sand,” said Kahi Pacarro, executive director for Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii.

Participants will have an opportunity to see innovative solutions to the problem. The new Education Station, a mobile classroom made from a recycled shipping container, will be on hand, along with live entertainment by Mike Love, games and more.

Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii will also bring back the Ultimate Sand Sifter Competition, which encourages community members — from kindergartners to adults — to create an apparatus that removes microplastic debris from the sand.

Finalists from each of three divisions will demonstrate their sifter at the final challenge April 30. Festivalgoers and a panel of judges will cast their votes at the event. The criteria will include cost, effectiveness, education value, portability and use of sustainably sourced materials. Winners from each division get a cash prize of $1,000.

Kailua Sailboards and Kayaks constructed a winning sifter at the 2014 contest. It was made from a two-level screen sifter with a step ladder, mesh and colorful banners.

Even when it’s not Earth Day or Earth Month, you can help pick up the plastic debris and litter along any shoreline in Hawaii to help battle the endless barrage that lands on our shores.

Visit sustainablecoastlineshawaii.org to learn more.

Nina Wu writes about environmental issues. Reach her at 529-4892 or nwu@staradvertiser.com. Read more at thegreenleaf.staradvertiserblogs.com.