More than 250 volunteers gathered in Kapālama Kai for the third annual Mālama ʻĀina Community Cleanup on Saturday, April 19, 2025, making it our largest Earth Month event yet. The act of aloha ʻāina brought together longtime Kapālama residents, Kapālama Kai tenants, community groups and volunteers from across the island. Many Kamehameha Schools haumāna, alumni, staff, partners and their ‘ohana also joined in on the clean-up. From keiki to kūpuna, every generation was represented in this kākou effort to uplift and care for this wahi pana.
The day’s activities were headquartered in a warehouse on Mo‘owa‘a Street in the industrial heart of Kapālama Kai near the Kapālama Canal. The program began with pule and manaʻo led by Keoni Kelekolio, Director of Hawaiian Language Advancement for Kamehameha Schools’ Ho‘okahua Cultural Vibrancy Group and Bobbie Lau, Senior Asset Manager for Kamehameha Schools ʻĀina Pauahi Group. Their remarks grounded the event in Native Hawaiian values, reminding volunteers that the ʻāina is not just land—it is our kumu and that which sustains us.
“At Kamehameha Schools, aloha ʻāina is one of our core values. Service opportunities such as this cleanup event are tangible ways for all of us to mālama ʻāina and make a positive impact in Kapālama – an area at the heart of our organization,” said Lau. “Our collective efforts show the power of our community and what we can achieve when we come together.”
With trash bags and cleanup supplies in hand, volunteers cleared an astounding 1,600 pounds of litter from the neighborhood streets. In all, volunteers covered an area that spanned from the canal to Waiakamilo Road, and from North King Street to Dillingham Boulevard. Mahalo to our longtime sponsors at 1-800-GOT-JUNK? for serving as our ‘ōpala collection partner.
After hauling away the trash, volunteers jumped to help make genki balls. These small but mighty mud balls contain Effective MicroorganismsⓇ that help clean our waterways and support our ecosystems. Guided by Hiro Nago of EM Hawai‘i, the pioneering group behind the Genki Ala Wai Project and Genki Kapālama, our volunteers rolled up their sleeves to make nearly 1,500 genki balls!
“It was incredible to see so many keiki and their ʻohana participate in this event, and learn about the importance of aloha ʻāina,” said Clyde Hirata, Land Information Systems Support Manager with Kamehameha Schools’ Kapohokukui Group. “It’s through these opportunities that we restore our connections to each other and to our ʻāina.”
After a morning of service, we fueled back up with food from our Kapālama Kai businesses. Volunteers were treated to ‘ono bentos from Nippon Bento as well as refreshing popsicles generously provided by ShakaPops.
Mahalo nui loa to everyone who came out and contributed their time, energy and aloha. The 2025 Mālama ‘Āina Community Cleanup is just one example of the vibrancy and soul of Kapālama Kai, and we are proud to perpetuate the values that make this community so special.
Join us for our fourth annual Mālama ʻĀina Community Cleanup in April 2026 and become part of this growing tradition! Make sure to sign up for our email list and follow on social media for updates.