ANAHOLA — Affordable housing nonprofit Permanently Affordable Living Kaua‘i (PAL Kaua‘i) and the Surfrider Foundation hosted the Second annual post-4th of July Beach Cleanup at Anahola Beach last week.
More than 20 members of the community, visitors and PAL Kaua‘i and Surfrider Foundation staff met at Kumu Camp at 9 a.m. Tuesday morning. The group swept the beach, cleaning up firework debris, trash left over from campsites, and more. In all, the group collected 522 pounds of trash.
“Cleaning the beach was really meditative,” said Anahola resident Edoardo Segato-Figueroa. “It felt great to be outdoors getting a bit of exercise and doing something that matters.”
“The second annual clean-up was a huge success! Keeping our oceans clean is everyone’s responsibility,” said Surfrider Vice Chair Barbara Weidner.
Surfrider Foundation holds coastal cleanups every Wednesday from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at various locations.
“We make an effort to give back to our community in as many ways as we can. Anahola is our new home, and we want to make a difference here,” said Larry Graff, PAL Kaua‘i chief operations officer.
PAL Kaua‘i, which is currently developing affordable-housing projects in Kilauea, Waipouli and Kalaheo, recently moved its offices to the Anahola Marketplace. PAL Kaua‘i also has a fully operational affordable apartment complex in Kekaha that serves households under 50% of the area median income.
Those interested in participating in Surfrider beach cleanups can call Weidner, 808-635-2593, for more information.
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Guthrie Scrimgeour, reporter, can be reached at 647-0329 or gscrimgeour@thegardenisland.com.
