Happy New Year and Mahalo for Your Support!

Hauʻoli Makahiki Hou! We hope your year is off to a great start! On December 17, 2019, Bill 40 was signed into law, banning most disposable plastics on Oahu by 2022. Your voice matters and we thank you for all your support with getting Bill 40 across the finish line! Did you make any green resolutions to create a healthier environment in 2020? If so, share them on Instagram, tagging @kokuahawaiifoundation.

We thank our many members, volunteers, and friends who continue to support Kōkua Hawaiʻi Foundation’s programs. Plastic Free Hawaiʻi (PFH) highlights from fall 2019 include:

• Over 5,000 pounds of marine debris removed during 8 PFH beach cleanups with the help of 575 volunteers. 

• 19 PFH Educational Presentations were made to 2,300 students and community members on Oʻahu. 

• PFH Water Refill Stations were offered at 37 events. In total, our water refill stations reduced the use of 70,000 single-use plastic water bottles. 

• The PFH Reusable Cup Program prevented over 15,000 single-use plastic cups from entering the waste stream by lending, donating, and selling 11,440 cups to businesses, communities and schools (since February). 

• PFH tabled at 38 Outreach Events on Oʻahu. Participants at these outreach events totaled 10,000 people in attendance. This included outreach tabling at the 2019 Pipemasters Surf Competition as well as 14 days at our new Haleʻiwa Property Pop-Up Shop. 

• 11 local businesses sell our Plastic Free Hawaiʻi merchandise, helping to raise funds for our programs while reaching a diverse audience of consumers. 

To help sustain and grow this important work, we invite you to become a Kōkua Hawaiʻi Foundation Member or make a donation. You can also shop our online store for lots of Plastic Free Hawaiʻi goodies, or stop by our new Haleʻiwa Pop-Up Shop in downtown Haleʻiwa, located in the old Haleʻiwa Flower Shop on Kamehameha Highway on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 11:00am-2:00pm.