Flotilla less trashy this year, but debris an everyday affair

Question: I saw on the news that there were a couple of warnings and two people with alcohol poisoning at the Waikiki flotilla, but what about the trash on the beach afterward?

Answer: We followed up with Kahi Pacarro, executive director of Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii, a nonprofit group that organizes large-scale beach cleanups. As in past years, SCH had volunteers out on the water collecting rubbish during the Fourth of July floating party and urging partyers not to drop trash in the ocean or leave junk behind on the beach.

The consensus was that the revelers — which numbered about 1,000 people on boats, stand-up paddleboards, inflatable rafts and other flotation devices — were much better this year about not throwing empty beer bottles and other trash straight into the ocean, Pacarro confirmed Thursday. Many used SCH’s floating garbage cans or brought their own trash bags.

However, SCH was dismayed by the large number of plastic inflatables abandoned on the beach at day’s end, a messy scene documented on the group’s Facebook page with a photo and the accompanying text, “Sunset this evening after Flotilla. Such a bummer. Flotilla may be dying but our work is just getting started. We’ve been trying our best but it’s apparent this demographic is struggling to hear us. We’re not giving up.”

The big parties promoted via social media and variously described as “flotilla,” “floatilla” or “floatopia” worsen the problem but are not the sole source of debris.

“Every day there is trash left on the beach — floaties abandoned on the shore-line, towels ignored for others to take care of and just an overall apathetic view to the end-of-day kuleana at Waikiki Beach,” Pacarro told Kokua Line. (“Kuleana” means “responsibility” in Hawaiian.) “The cost of floaties has dropped, and their proliferation has increased. When they only cost $2.99, the user places little value on it, and it is treated like a single-use item. Often they think if they leave it, then someone else can use it.”

As for the flotilla’s other effects: Nearly a third of all revelers (about 300 of 1,000 people) had to be helped back to shore, to keep from drowning or drifting out to the open ocean, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement.

“The flotilla took place approximately a quarter-mile off shore in 30 feet of water; participants were consuming alcohol and were extremely intoxicated. They didn’t factor in the tide change, surf and currents. The challenge for participants on floats in returning to shore proved to be too much,” DOCARE said in a statement relayed by DLNR spokesman Dan Dennison.

Officers also terminated two voyages, issued two warnings and assisted with two cases of alcohol poisoning that day.

Finally, we followed up with Stan Dickson, race director for the O‘ahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association, who said the Macfarlane Regatta was not disrupted by floaties as it was last year. He credited DLNR’s rapid response in keeping the race course clear.

“OHCRA did not have to cancel any events because of interference this year,” he said. “We do thank your readers for their support as well as DLNR for all the assistance to keep our Hawaiian sport of canoe paddling alive.”

As Dickson noted, Kokua Line readers prompted previous columns on this topic, which you can read at 808ne.ws/29uguga and 808ne.ws/291yzQz.

Mahalo

I want to send a huge mahalo to Amira Soliman, key assistant location manager, and all the “Hawaii Five-0” staff for caring enough about the possible inconvenience caused by filming in our Manoa neighborhood. “No Parking” signs were posted one week ago. Not only was advance notice provided, it was broken down into beginning and end dates, the time periods affecting us on each of those days, and a description of the filming activity. A full-page written notice was attached to our front-door knobs on East Manoa Road. Demonstrating class and consideration leaves a favorable impression. I’m sure my neighbors and I will tune in on Sept. 23 at 8 p.m. to watch this episode. — Mahalo, Kahala Motoyama

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