By Joseph Bonfiglio, Honolulu District Public Affairs
More than 40 volunteers picked up trash at Fort DeRussy in Waikiki in honor of National Public Lands Day and International Coastal Cleanup Day on Sept. 20. The Corps of Engineers’ Pacific Regional Visitor Center (RVC) coordinated the event which was supported by Corps employees, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, and Punahou Junior ROTC cadets.
About 20 cadets led by Punahou JROTC Commander Lt. Col. Robert Takao concentrated their efforts on cleaning up the beach berm behind historic Battery Randolph.
“We’ve been doing this for the last seven or eight years, and we always get willing volunteers. It’s never hard to get the cadets to come out because they realize how good it is for our world to do things like this. I’m really proud of them,” Takao said.
Volunteers picked up over ten large bags of trash from the area.
"We’re happy about educating the public on the importance of preserving and improving our precious natural and cultural treasures,” said Angela Jones, head park ranger for the RVC.
National Public Lands Day is the largest single-day volunteer effort for public lands in the U.S. It began in 1994 and focuses on education and partnerships to care for the nation’s natural treasures. In 2013, more than 16,000 volunteers worked to clean 1,651 miles of shoreline, maintain 135 miles of trails, and plant some 835 trees and shrubs at USACE-operated sites.
For more information on National Public Lands Day visit http://www.publiclandsday.org For information on Corps’ recreation opportunities visit www.CorpsLakes.us .
Release no. 14-009