E kuahui like i ka hana.
Let everybody pitch in and work together.
– Mary Kawena Pukui, ‘Ōlelo No‘eau No. 323
More than 160 members of our community came together on Saturday, April 27, 2024 for Kapālama Kai’s second annual Earth Month event to care for our ‘āina.
After checking in at Dillingham Plaza bright and early for coffee and muffins from Kapālama Kai tenant Elvin’s Bakery, volunteers donned high visibility neon green Kapālama Kai T-shirts and gathered for a moment of pule and reflection led by Keoni Kelekolio, Director of Hawaiian Language Advancement for Kamehameha Schools’ Ho‘okahua Cultural Vibrancy Group.
Following the safety briefing, volunteers received cleanup supplies and headed out along five different routes to collect trash. Family groups with young keiki walked along Hart Street, while adults and teens cleaned up Kalani Street, McNeill Street, Colburn Street, and the stretch of Dillingham Boulevard and Waiakamilo Road bordering Dillingham Plaza and the Hawaii News Now Multimedia Center.
Event partner 1-800-GOT-JUNK? generously provided a large truck to receive and haul away all of the collected trash. Within approximately 90 minutes, volunteers had collected a record 1,670 pounds of trash, making a tremendous impact in cleaning up the Kapālama Kai community!
After working hard to kōkua and mālama ‘āina, volunteers gathered for food and fellowship, enjoying a well-deserved and tasty lunch from Kapālama Kai tenant Nippon Bento.
Mahalo nui loa to the many organizations and individuals who participated in the 2024 Mālama ‘Āina Community Cleanup! We look forward to coming together again for the next cleanup in April 2025!
