To Meet the Challenge of Marine Debris, First Collect It

A study of marine debris on Kalaupapa’s coastline reveals what it is and where it came from. It’s an important step in figuring out how to stem the tide of trash.

By Glauco Puig-Santana, Madeline Duda, and Kelly Moore

About this article

This article was originally published in the "Picture This" section of Park Science magazine, Volume 39, Number 2, Summer 2025 (August 29, 2025).

Two Sustainable Coastlines Hawaiʻi employees carrying out debris along a remote and rocky section of Kalaupapa National Historical Park. Sustainable Coastlines Hawaiʻi / Jasmine Buerano

In September 2024, Kalaupapa National Historical Park staff joined forces with Sustainable Coastlines Hawai'i staff and volunteers to remove marine debris from the park. In one week, they picked up 6,191 pounds of marine debris from more than 6,400 acres of coastline. Among the items they collected were 1,780 buoys, 343 hagfish traps, and 10,115 oyster spacers. Also 53 toothbrushes, 17 combs and hairbrushes, 1,131 bottles, and 1,350 bottle caps. Random finds included a fridge door, a mannequin head, and the front of a kayak.

The logistics of this effort were formidable. The park sits on a remote peninsula on the Hawaiian island of Molokaʻi. It’s only accessible by small aircraft or by a hiking trail that climbs over 1,600 feet. Sustainable Coastlines Hawai'i worked with local partners to remove the debris by helicopter to topside Molokaʻi (what Kalaupapa locals call the rest of Molokaʻi). It was then transferred to the organization’s sorting facility on O’ahu for analysis.

A key component of the project was cataloging the collection of trash. This revealed insights about its origins, composition, and pathways to Hawai'i’s coastlines. Researchers found that over 60 percent of the debris originated from industrial fishing operations. Many of the bottles and bottle caps were labeled in multiple languages. This supports the idea that Hawai'i’s shorelines receive debris carried by vast oceanic currents that act as global conveyor belts.

These findings can help resource managers develop strategies that target the source of marine debris. Although the work begins on the shoreline, meaningful solutions lie “upstream” (mauka). Cleanups—both marine and land-based—can be used as a way to inspire change. Education and outreach about this issue can foster cultural reconnection and environmental awareness. Messages may show the benefits of reuse, composting, and different purchasing decisions.

Sustainable Coastlines Hawai'i plans to return to Kalaupapa for another week next summer. “Though the sad reality of this is that more plastic will wash up here, our efforts weren’t for nothing,” the organization said in a December 2024 social media post. “All of the debris collected…can be used to inform consumer decision making, policy change, and give us a better understanding of where this plastic is coming from and how it’s getting here.”

About the authors

Cite this article

Puig-Santana, Glauco, Madeline Duda, and Kelly Moore. 2025. "To Meet the Challenge of Marine Debris, First Collect It." Park Science 39 (2). August 29, 2025. https://nps.gov/articles/000/psv39n2_to-meet-the-challenge-of-marine-debris-first-collect-it.htm

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