Letter From The Editor

I find those photos of animals trapped in trash to be so heartbreaking. You know, those pictures of sea turtles choking from six-pack holders or seals gnawing on a plastic bag. Then there’s those huge garbage patches that are floating around the ocean, comprised of plastics and marine debris.

Researchers have found hundreds and thousands of tons of trash in the ocean.

I think what makes those pictures so sad is the fact that this is all damage of our own doing — something that people are contributing to on an everyday basis. While we might feel hopeless looking at such images, the truth is that we are to blame.

That’s the message that Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii seeks to get across. The nonprofit, founded by Kahi Pacarro in 2011, conducts beach cleanups while educating others on how we are part of the problem — and how we can be a part of the solution instead.

We recently had the chance to catch up with Pacarro to learn more about his motivations in starting Sustainable Coastlines, and what’s going on with the group for Earth Month. See the story here.