Despite worries about another Pacific tropical storm, Trilogy’s Blue ‘Aina Campaign’s August reef clean up happened on a calm, beautiful day. New volunteers and regulars alike joined us on Sunday morning in Lahaina Harbor, ready to dedicate their morning to cleaning a Maui nearshore reef of marine debris. We did our harbor clean up before boarding the boat, removing 2 large bags of trash from the harbor, including hundreds of cigarette butts. It was such a calm, clear, beautiful day on the water that Captain Katie and the crew, Ben, Ryan and Max, decided that it was a great chance to check in on marine debris and coral bleaching at one of our favorite snorkel sites, Honolua Bay! We had a lovely trip up to the Bay, spotting flying fish on the way while snacking on breakfast pastries and coffee provided by Hard Rock Café Maui. We tied up to a mooring in Honolua Bay and had a site briefing by Captain Katie and a quick reef clean up orientation by Kelly, our Blue ‘Aina Coordinator. Volunteers buddied up and brought along dive shears and mesh bags, ready to carefully remove any fishing line littering the coral reef. Snorkeling among sea turtles and eagle rays, volunteers picked up a fair amount of both land based and marine based debris, including cans, bottles, old slippers, and fiberglass chunks.

We were especially grateful for the volunteers that joined us from our corporate sponsor, Hawaiian Paddle Sports, for their freediving abilities. It was also significant to our non-profit recipient, Surfrider Foundation Maui, to revisit Honolua Bay, as they have been involved in Blue ‘Aina reef clean ups since their inception with the very first reef clean up happening at Honolua Bay. Lipoa Point and the land surrounding Honolua Bay, recently the focus of the Save Honolua coalition, was acquired by the state from Maui Land and Pineapple Co. Inc. in October 2014, for preservation, protection and public access. Save Honolua Coalition was a recipient and partner of Trilogy’s Blue ‘Aina Campaign in 2013- it’s amazing to see what our community is capable of!

When it was time to head back to Lahaina, we all had an amazing onboard lunch of prosciutto- caprese- foccacia sandwiches, pasta salad and tasty cookies from Hard Rock Café. We then heard presentations from our sponsors and recipients. Our wonderful corporate sponsor, Hawaiian Paddle Sports, has sponsored 3 Blue ‘Aina reef clean ups this year and has donated a total of $3,000 to 6 different local nonprofits. Allie from Hard Rock Café Maui, who generously provided breakfast and lunch for our 65 volunteers, told us about Hard Rock’s community support efforts, specials, and new beach lounge.

Then, Kyle Juk from Surfrider Foundation Maui, told us about upcoming beach clean ups and public access protection efforts that Surfrider needs volunteers for- right now they are mustering community support to protect and create public ownership of Pe’ahi- Maui’s famous surf break also known as “Jaws”. Check out https://maui.surfrider.org/ for more information. Nancy from Pacific Cancer Foundation talked story about all the good that they do for the Maui community. Finally, Robin, a volunteer from the Sanctuary’s water quality team, gave us the results from our water samples taken in Honolua Bay.

Our Blue ‘Aina volunteers cleared 4 bags of debris from the Harbor and from Honolua Bay, monitored coral bleaching to report of Eyes of the Reef, sampled water quality, and supported 2 local nonprofits, all while enjoying a day out on Maui’s reefs. Great work everyone!

To join us on our next Blue ‘Aina reef clean up on September 20th in honor of International Coastal Clean Up, call 408-569-7986, email blueainareservations@gmail.com, or check out our full calendar at http://blog.sailtrilogy.com/blueaina-program/.

Do you know a business or restaurant interested in giving back? Email kelly.montenero@sailtrilogy.com for information on how to be a corporate or food sponsor of the Blue ‘Aina Campaign.