The Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) is working hard to clear the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor after heavy rainfall caused significant debris accumulation. According to Island News, a large amount of waste flowed in from upstream over the weekend, flooding the harbor and prompting environmental crews to work quickly to manage the situation.
According to KHON2, local residents familiar with Hawaii's unpredictable weather have joined in the cleanup efforts at Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor, trying to remove accessible garbage to prevent further congestion. Meghan Statts, DOBOR Administrator, expressed the challenge of the situation, stating, "This work is endless. As past experience has shown that once an area is cleaned up, more trash comes in. This debris is generated far upstream; and unfortunately, the entrance to the ocean and the small boat harbor forms a collection basin."
DOBOR's cleanup began with removing debris from the fingerpiers and continued with a contractor using heavy equipment to clear the canal's trap until yesterday. However, Statts emphasized that the main problem is upstream, where waste is dumped into the stream and flows under the Ala Wai bridge, stating, "The debris is not a DOBOR issue and outfalls from the stream and under the Ala Wai bridge needs to be addressed to prevent post-storm rubbish from even reaching the harbor," as reported by KHON2.
Statts emphasized the ongoing problem of trash accumulation, noting her division's long-standing plea for a comprehensive solution for over 25 years. As calls for better waste management and environmental protection grow, the struggle against debris in Ala Wai continues.
