LIHU‘E — Kuhio and Kapule highways between Wailua and Lihu‘e are “strewn with litter,” but businesses and volunteer organizations “are out there doing their part,” said county Office of Economic Development Director George Costa regarding the Adopt-A-Highway program.
In an effort to help keep the island litter-free, Costa has been proactively working with members of the business community affiliated with the state Department of Transportation’s program committed to eradicating litter on its highways, according to county spokeswoman Mary Daubert.
And even though one may not see “the people in action” because they “start early in the morning,” the orange Adopt-A-Highway litter bags can sometimes be viewed “along the roadside,” Costa said.
On the other hand, one North Shore business owner who wishes to remain anonymous said Kuhio Highway between Hanalei bridge and town is “always trashed,” even though road signs — and essentially free advertising — indicate the stretch of highway has been adopted.
“It’s not terribly bad (the litter), but it seems like it should be a whole lot cleaner,” the business owner said regarding the numerous bottles, cans and plastic bags.
Businesses, organizations and churches part of the Adopt-A-Highway program agree to keep a two-mile portion of a state highway tidy with four annual cleanups for a minimum of two years, according to the DOT.
Litter is “unsightly” and “destroys the natural beauty,” according to the state DOT. Not only is it unwelcoming to visitors, it is expensive and reportedly costs about $2 million a year to pick up.
Costa said he has “noticed on several occasions” state employees mowing the shoulders of the highway “without picking up the litter and shreds it into hundreds of pieces,” he said.
Providing a mowing schedule to Adopt-A-Highway organizations so litter pickup can be done prior to mowing would be ideal, Costa said.
“As far as state highways go, we would be happy to discuss with the DOT how we can support their highway-cleanup efforts, but we cannot take the lead in this effort as the county has many other priorities that we are chartered to address first,” wrote Daubert in an e-mail.
Tammy Mori, state DOT spokeswoman, said around 48 businesses and organizations are currently signed up for the Adopt-A-Highway program statewide.
They are required to clean their designated two-mile stretch quarterly, and after pickup the sponsor fills out a form indicating how many people volunteered, how many bags were collected, and the mile-marker locations where the rubbish was picked up, said Mori.
State DOT workers then pick up the bags.
It is everybody’s kuleana (responsibility) to malama the ‘aina (care for the land), Costa said. “But we are all human, and certain individuals don’t always feel that way, and that’s why it’s important for those that do care to step up to the plate and pickup litter on their own or organize a group to do it.”
For more information on becoming a part of the Adopt-A-Highway program call 241-3032.
