There’s been little news regarding what coastal communities should expect as the debris from the March 2011 tsunami starts showing up on the shores of Hawai’i. As it hits Midway and makes its way down the island chain, we can’t ignore the reality: It is coming. Considering how many people chose Hawai’i as their vacation destination; how many billionaires chose it as their home (or second or third home); and that our current President is from Hawai’i, one might imagine that more action would be taken to prevent the trash from dirtying our shorelines in the first place. Will it carry radioactive materials? Will it have diluted enough to not have a major impact? How will it effect our beaches? The marine life? Surfrider is bringing together experts in the field of marine biology, marine debris and ocean currents for this conference, which will take place at Kauai Community College cafeteria on Saturday, December 10th from 9am-12pm. Everyone who lives in or visits Hawai’i, everyone who cares about the environment and oceans, should either be at this event or watch it streaming at Livestream.com/surfriderkauai.
I am so happy that Surfrider is doing what it can to get ready for the marine debree that is coming to Kauai. I am a Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity who teaches at Saint Theresa School on the west side of Kauai. Our school is right across from the ocean so my Sisters, my students and I see first hand the affects of marine debree and what it does to our Kauai’s shores. In the past, we have done beach clean-ups. This was a good reminder for me to once again do some beach clean-ups with my students.