PO‘IPU — An associate with the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort &Spa said this beach cleanup was the best one she’s been participating in, Wednesday along the shoreline fronting the Po‘ipu resort.
“There’s a lot of people signed up,” she said. “And there’s not that much trash. This is what makes it so good.”
About 50 people, including Hyatt staff and guests and volunteers from Surfrider Foundation Kaua‘i, scoured the beach and paths fronting the hotel and worked to the top of Shipwreck’s Beach.
Dr. Carl Berg said the cleanup was part of the Ocean Friendly Visitors Program that was initiated back in November.
The program is designed to help visitors enjoy Kaua‘i while also helping to protect its ocean, beaches, reefs and marine life, states a release from the Hyatt, and the Wednesday cleanup allowed guests at the Hyatt an opportunity to join the scheduled Surfrider Kaua‘i beach cleanup.
Guests are also able to sign out family beach-cleanup kits as a “voluntourism” activity for the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority’s Malama Hawai‘i “Trip that Gives Back” program. Surfrider Kaua‘i and the Hyatt are both members of this program as well.
“The Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i is known for promoting malama ‘aina — caring for our land and culture,” said Cynthia Welti, the Surfrider Kaua‘i chair. “They have been a great supporter of Surfrider Kaua‘i for many years, hosting beach cleanups, environmental-planning forums and more. We’re very pleased to have them join our Ocean Friendly Visitors Program.”
The Hyatt also offers educational and awareness programs on learning ways in which guests can volunteer to leave Kaua‘i just a little better than when they arrived.
“Surfrider Kaua‘i’s Ocean Friendly Visitors Program aligns very well with the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i’s Enrich program that provides guests with a way to give back to our island community through volunteer experiences that protect Kaua‘i’s natural resources,” said Diann Hartman, the Hyatt’s director of marketing and communications.
“Because we are both partners in the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority’s Malama Hawai‘i program, it also provides us with another ‘voluntourism’ opportunity to offer our guests in the form of solo or scheduled beach cleanups.”
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
