Hawaii’s Carissa Moore speaks out for ocean conservation on her way to Tokyo Olympics

As she prepared to represent the U.S. as a member of its first-ever Olympic surfing team in Japan, Hawaii’s Carissa Moore, four-time world champ, found time to speak up for protecting the ocean environment.

“I want to encourage you to do your part,” Moore, standing on a Hawaii beach wearing her navy blue Olympic shirt with an American flag, said in a video released Monday by USA Surfing, the U.S. national governing body for surfing competitions, and the Wyland Foundation, which are partnering in fundraising for ocean conservation efforts.

“Every little bit counts—when I was little, I used to pick up three pieces of trash whenever I went to the beach,” the Honolulu native said, adding, “just imagine if we all did that, what a difference that would make,” she added with a smile.

Over the years, Moore, 28, has participated in several beach clean-ups at Hawaii surf breaks.

“I want my children and the generations after to be able to walk the same beaches, surf the same reefs and enjoy the same wildlife and ocean ecosystems that have made a difference in my life,” she said in a statement issued by USA Surfing for an Earth Day cleanup in April.

The Wyland Foundation, a non-profit environmental organization started by famed marine mammal artist Robert Wyland, has produced a limited-time, commemorative Tokyo Olympics USA Surf collection of apparel and stickers depicting an octopus drawn by Wyland in a Japanese-influenced Gyotaku style.

Proceeds support the ocean conservation partnership between USA Surfing and the Wyland Foundation.

For more information, wylandfoundation.org.

To view Moore’s video, go here.

The inaugural Olympic surfing event is scheduled to start July 25 at Tsurigasaki Beach in Chiba, Japan.