Keiki to Kupuna gathered Saturday to clean up West Hawaii beaches.
Nearly 600 community members gathered to pick up trash at beaches from Milolii to Kawaihae at the Wave Riders Against Drugs Beach Cleanup.
The day started early with volunteer sign-up at Old Kona Airport Park, Spencer Beach and Miloli‘i. From there, community members dispersed to local beaches along the coast and started their quest for trash.
In its 20th year, the cleanup garnered loads of trash, cigarette butts, tires and other assorted garbage dumped on beaches from South Kohala to South Kona.
“It’s all for the keiki,” said WRAD founder Jeff Fear, who started the community effort after 10 years of hosting youth surf contests. He said he started the annual cleanup because of the sheer amount trash, cigarette buts and needles he would find when he was at the beach with his family.
Afterward, there was a gathering of the rubbish, and volunteers at Old Kona Airport Park congregated for lunch and games with prizes for the keiki.