State-wide smoke-free beaches and parks

Photo of Makena State Park, Maui: © Suzanne Frazer

Friday, 19th June, 2015, Governor Ige signed HB525 into law banning smoking and tobacco products at all Hawai`i State Parks. The law takes effect on 1st July, 2015. Beach Environmental Awareness Campaign Hawai`i brought the need for a law to ban smoking in state parks to the attention of Representative Cindy Evans who then introduced HB525. B.E.A.C.H. provided written and spoken testimony in strong support of the bill throughout the hearings as well collecting thousands of cigarette butts from state parks. Click here for more information

Photo of cigarette butts at Wailua River State Park, Kaua`i: © Suzanne Frazer

B.E.A.C.H. co-founders Suzanne and Dean traveled to Kauai and Maui in March to do cigarette butt clean-ups at state parks. They brought back the thousands of butts collected to show state legislators that there is a need to pass HB525 -banning smoking at state parks.

Beach clean-up at Ala Moana Beach

B.E.A.C.H. organized a beach clean-up and short educational presentation about marine debris impacts and solutions at Ala Moana Beach Park for 35 visitors from Australia on Thursday 8th October, 2015.

2015 plastic reduction campaign - glass straws

B.E.A.C.H.'s new plastic reduction campaign started on Earth Day, April 22nd  by giving away glass straw sets as this year’s membership gift (9” glass straw, cleaning brush, and hemp sleeve) when people join to become B.E.A.C.H. members. Plastic straws are one of the top ten items littered and B.E.A.C.H. is bringing awareness to this problem by providing a solution through encouraging the use of glass straws.

Recycling plastic caps and lids to save sea birds

With the help of several schools, businesses and organizations collecting and preparing plastic caps and lids for recycling, B.E.A.C.H. can now send the Matson container full of caps and lids to the Mainland to be recycled.

Outreach and education

B.E.A.C.H. went to 26 education and outreach events in 2015. Volunteers gave educational presentations at schools and the community, taught the community at farmers' markets about the impacts of marine debris on marine life including solutions to plastic marine debris. In addition they also gave interviews on television and radio about the new plastic bag ban, smoking ban in state parks, and plastic microbeads in personal care products.

Microplastic marine debris research

B.E.A.C.H. started a year long project sorting and researching microplastic and macro sized marine debris. The data collected will be analyzed for solutions for preventing and reducing marine debris in the environment. The public, educators and government will have access to this information. Volunteers from universities, high schools and members from the community are helping with this project.

Plastic microbeads in personal care products

B.E.A.C.H. brought awareness and solutions to plastic microbeads in personal care products through its website, television interviews and joining the Beat the Microbead international campaign to ban microbeads in personal care products. President Obama signed a bill against microbeads: the Microbead-Free Waters Act in December 2015.

2015 Sponsors included: Pura Vida Bracelets, Glass Dharma, Simple Ecology, Matson, StorKeeper Self Storage, Awesome Foundation O`ahu, Young Brothers


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Coral Photograph Credit to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/Department of Commerce and Dr. James P. McVey. Dolphins, Japanese Angelfish, Green turtle, and Laysan Albatross photos by James Watt. Humpback whale photo by James Mobeley

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