Cesspools - Water Quality's Worst Enemy

Conservation International and other organizations have been working to advocate for and establish a visitor fee in Hawaiʻi to create revenue for the State and to help protect and restore our natural places that residents and visitors depend upon. One of the proposed fees was a $40 per visitor fee to go into a climate change and conservation fund. Speakers include: Jack Kittinger and Emelia von Saltza from Conservation International. This webinar was recorded on Monday May 3rd at 12-1pm HST.

Dr. Chip Fletcher is a leading climate scientist in Hawaiʻi. This presentation was made to raise awareness about the climate crisis, how it impacts us, and how it is leading to beach loss. One of Surfrider Foundation Oahu's priorities is beach protection, including ensuring public beach access for all and working to prevent new shoreline hardening structures from hurting our beaches.

The Disposable Foodware Ordinance (Ordinance 19-30), previously known as Bill 40 begins its 1st phase of implementation on Jan 1, 2021. It applies across Oahu. Speakers include: -Nicole Chatterson, Executive Director of Zero Waste Oahu -Henry Gabriel, Department of Environmental Services at the City & County of Honolulu -Michelle Ching, Owner of Farm to Barn Cafe -John Elkjer, Owner of Sustainable Island Products Businesses will no longer be allowed to offer plastic forks, straws, and other serviceware. They will also be required to give these items (paper and compostable versions) away only upon request. This will save businesses thousands of dollars, as 98% of takeout meals are eaten at home or at work where silverware is already available. The ban on foam and plastic containers and cups and other items will go into effect on Jan 1, 2022.

Learn more about what you can do to fight against water quality's worst enemy - CESSPOOLS  featuring these speakers: -Colleen Henn, Surfrider Foundation Clean Water Coordinator -Dan Amato,  Surfrider Oahu Blue Water Task Force Coordinator -Stuart Coleman, WAI: Wastewater Alternatives & Innovations Executive Director -Joachim Schneider, WAI Project Coordinator & 2020 Sea Grant Grau Fellow

Lauren is the Oahu Group Manager for the Sierra Club of Hawaii and has a profound sense of purpose in connecting deeply rooted values to movement building. Lauren has worked on several campaigns in alliance with diverse community leaders, students, and organizations, as well as created art based protests for actions and rallies. In this clip she talks about the interconnections between sustainability and social justice. "Sustainability needs to be rooted in justice as nothing is sustainable if we are harming individuals and communities." Be sure to listen to the full conversation from our Advancing Environmental Justice Panel Discussion.

Kristen serves as the State Logistics Director for the Hawaii Youth Climate Strike and is Vice Chair for the Environmental and Climate Justice committee for the NAACP Hawaii.  Kristen shares with us her perspective on: Why the youth are becoming more involved in today's discussion on human rights and environmental issues. How our access to technology allows people to better understand the impact our actions are having on the planet and to each other. How we can engage and mobilize together to make legitimate change in today's society. Be sure to listen to the full conversation from our Advancing Environmental Justice Panel Discussion.

In this episode we discuss issues involving sea walls, sea level rise, beach access, and more. Surfrider fights for beach access as a public right as well as protecting our beaches from coastal threats and bad development.   Speakers: Dr. Mike Foley, Coastal Engineer & Surfrider Oahu's Beach Protection Coordinator Dolan Eversole, Waikiki Beach Management Coordinator   Dr. Mike Foley, Surfrider Oahu's Beach Protection Coordinator & Dolan Eversole, Waikiki Beach Management Coordinator, offer their expertise to educate and empower us around local beach protection issues on Oahu. 

Alphonso Braggs is a devout social justice advocate who is committed to defending civil and human rights.  He is a life member and current president of the Honolulu-Hawaii NAACP overseeing operations in Japan, Korea, Guam, and Hawaii.  In this clip Alphonso shares with us how infrastructures and economics are valued more than human health and how we the people need to come together and say no more, to protect our health, rights and future way of life.   Be sure to listen to the full conversation from our Advancing Environmental Justice Panel Discussion.

Join us as we discuss issues around plastic pollution and more holistic perspectives & solutions.   Featuring: - Kahi Pacarro, Co-Founder of Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii and Director of Parley Hawaii  - Marissa Miller, President of CalPoly Surfrider Club and Punahou Alumnus  - Doorae Shin, Oahu Chapter Coordinator for Surfrider Foundation  - Moderated by Lauren Blickley, Hawaii Regional Manager for Surfrider Foundation

Professor and Chair of Political Science at University of Hawaii and Kanaka Maoli activist & scholar. She shares with us how the concept of Aloha ʻĀina connects to the call for Hawaiian sovereignty as well as the demands of the black lives matter movement.  Aloha ʻĀina expresses an unswerving dedication to the health of the natural world that we understand as family and ancestors. We have a saying that the land is the chief and we are the servents.  Be sure to listen to the full conversation from our Advancing Environmental Justice Panel Discussion.