OCT. 31, 2022 — On Oct. 15, NOAA Marine Debris Program’s Pacific Island Regional Coordinator Mark Manuel participated in a remote beach cleanup with Fiscal Year 21 removal grantee, Hawaii Wildlife Fund.

The 16 volunteers hiked two miles to Kaunāmano, located on the southeast side of Hawaii Island, and removed an estimated 350lbs of debris. In addition, an LA Times reporter and camerawoman joined the cleanup to learn more about marine debris/plastics in Hawaii and the extremes that volunteer organizations take to combat the issue.