Group empowers residents to spruce up natural sites

It all started when a small group of friends, all avid hikers, noticed tagging under the Koko Crater arch in east Oahu last year.

Apparently, nature tagging — spray-painting graffiti on rocks and trees — was becoming increasingly popular. This defacement of nature was just so wrong, it spurred Michael David Loftin into action.

"Graffiti has no place in nature," said Loftin, a lifelong environmentalist. "We said, ‘You know what, we can’t sit around. We’ve got to do something.’"

He searched for a biodegradable cleaner to scrub the tags, discovering Motsenbockers Lift Off at Home Depot. At the same time, he realized education and stewardship had to be part of the solution, too, or there would be a never-ending battle of cleaning up after taggers.

So in March 2014, Loftin, 33, of Honolulu founded a group called 808 Cleanups, which is in the process of becoming a nonprofit.

Its mission is to "empower communities in restoring their natural environments through decentralized beach, graffiti, hiking trail and marine debris cleanups."

This decentralized philosophy is, in part, what makes 808 Cleanups different. Participants are encouraged to clean independently, adopting a site they visit regularly and maintaining the area once a week.

The idea is to get people to take responsibility, said Loftin, who formerly worked in the solar industry and is now focusing on the nonprofit full time.

"It’s about leaving the place better than you found it," he said.

People have embraced the mission. More than 1,300 people have signed up on Facebook, but a core group of about 100 is involved regularly.

The group has tackled large projects like the Tantalus Lookout, which had been a dumping ground for years. More than 85 volunteers removed more than a ton of trash, including tires, car parts and empty alcohol bottles in March.

Last month 808 Cleanups partnered with Rep. Gene Ward to clean up more than 600 pounds of bonfire debris — nails, pallets and broken glass from the Ka Iwi shoreline.

Both sites will need long-term stewardship.

But cleanups can also just be one person visiting a nearby beach, or a few friends going for a hike and picking up litter along the way.

Participants are encouraged to post cleanup efforts to social media via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter with #808cleanups to inspire others and to document places that need attention.

Home Depot sponsors the group, providing supplies including biodegradable cleaner, gloves and orange buckets at its cleanups.

Volunteers who adopt a site will be provided a startup kit, including gloves and a bucket.

This month cleanups are scheduled at Nimitz Beach and Liliuokalani Botanical Garden. Find 808 Cleanups on Facebook at fb.com/groups/808cleanups, Twitter and Instagram at @808cleanups or at 808cleanups.org.

Nina Wu writes about environmental issues. Reach her at nwu@staradvertiser.com, follow her on Twitter @ecotraveler, or visit her blog thegreenleaf.staradvertiserblogs.com