Kahuku, Hawaiʻi — Monday, January 15, 2026 — In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of service, Kōkua Hawaiʻi Foundation (KHF) and Sustainable Coastlines Hawaiʻi (SCH) along with 253 dedicated volunteers came together for a powerful community cleanup at Keoneʻōʻio (Kahuku Golf Course Beach), removing approximately 1,202 pounds of marine debris and stewarded 2 miles of coastline.
The cleanup was part of the national MLK Day of Service, uniting individuals, families, and community groups to give back to Hawaiʻi’s environment while honoring Dr. King’s vision of collective action and stewardship.
“Every year, this day brings us so much joy to see families and friends come out to clean our coastline. We’re super fortunate to work with partners like Sustainable Coastlines Hawaiʻi to come together for not only a day of service, but also a day to learn more about these issues and to see our impact. We work together to provide solutions and creative ways for education, so that our keiki can grow to be stewards of the earth. We love seeing families come out together, connecting with one another, and that’s what it’s all about.” Kim & Jack Johnson, Kōkua Hawaiʻi Foundation Co-Founders
The event focused not only on removing marine debris during a single cleanup, but also inspiring long-term change in our relationship to plastic. Attendees celebrated the end of the cleanup at Sustainable Coastline Hawaiʻi’s solution center at the Kahuku Sugar Mill. At the solutions center, attendees connected with additional orgs, including Parley Hawaiʻi and Hawaiʻi Pacific University. Dr. Sarah-Jeanne Royer also led a presentation on how researchers analyze marine debris we find on Hawai’i’s North Shore.
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“It’s always such an honor to work alongside the Kōkua Hawaiʻi Foundation. The MLK Cleanup is a powerful reminder of the impact and joy that community can create. Early mornings with the team, boots on the ground — this is why we do the work."
- Shaina Duran, Operations Manager, Sustainable Coastlines Hawaiʻi
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“Kōkua Hawai‘i Foundation and the Johnson ʻOhana Foundation are among SCH’s longest-running partners and supporters. It is a relationship we truly cherish. Fifteen years later, we’re proud to still be working side by side to bring our community together for this special day of service.” – Rafael Bergstrom, Executive Director Sustainable Coastlines Hawaiʻi
Special mahalo to event partners Debris Research, Parley Hawaiʻi, and Global Preservation Initiative, whose continued collaboration plays a vital role in expanding the impact of beach cleanups and sustainability education across the islands.- Rafael Bergstrom, Executive Director, Sustainable Coastlines Hawaiʻi
To learn more about reducing plastic waste and getting involved in future cleanups, volunteer opportunities, and ways you can support visit:
About Sustainable Coastlines HawaiʻiSustainable Coastlines Hawai‘i (SCH) started in 2010 with 8 friends sitting around a table in a small house in Kaimukī, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi. We decided to take keeping our beaches clean into our own hands while making the work fun. What we’ve learned along the way is that cleanups can only do so much.
Today, not only do we host community and private beach cleanups, but we also partner to support ʻāina workdays, help businesses and communities re-define waste, operate a solutions center, and connect K-12 students and public audiences to inspiring educational programs through our (re)learning and storytelling experiences.
To date, SCH has reached nearly 55,000 students with educational content and has removed over 750,000 pounds of debris from Hawaiʻi’s coastlines with the help of over 50,000 volunteers.
About Kōkua Hawaiʻi FoundationKōkua Hawaiʻi Foundation (KHF) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 2003 by Kim and Jack Johnson, that supports environmental education in the schools and communities of Hawaiʻi.
We provide opportunities that enhance appreciation for and understanding of the environment to inspire lifelong stewards of the earth.
KHF cultivates long-lasting behavior change around sustainability by engaging students, educators, families, and community in hands-on environmental stewardship. We provide inspiration, resources, experiences, and connections that:
Promote Local & Healthy Food Awareness, Production & ConsumptionEmpower Viable Waste Reduction Practices & SystemsFoster ʻĀina- & Place-Based Respect, Understanding, and Practice
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