Volunteers clean harbor, reef fronting Puamana

The Blue’Aina event raised $1,000 for Ocean Defender Hawaii.
LAHAINA – Trilogy Excursions recently partnered with Ocean Defender Hawaii to clean the reef in front of the Puamana clubhouse.
During the trip – part of Trilogy’s Blue’Aina program – a full boat of 45 passengers scoured the reef for fishing line and debris.
Along with trash that was removed from the reef, volunteers cleaned up Lahaina Harbor before stepping aboard the boat for the sail.
In only 30 minutes, participants were able to fill multiple trash bags and collect more than 250 cigarette butts from the ground around the harbor.
In addition to cleaning the reef and harbor, the event raised $1,000 to benefit Ocean Defender Hawaii. The money was put forth by an anonymous donor, and breakfast and lunch were graciously provided by the Sea House Restaurant at Napili Kai.

Forty-five passengers scoured the reef in front of the Puamana clubhouse for fishing line and debris.
In addition to funds garnered for Ocean Defender Hawaii, $225 of ticket sales went toward the Hawaii National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.
Water samples were collected for testing by volunteers from the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. On the sail back to Lahaina Harbor – as youth from Ocean Defender Hawaii sang their original song, “Stop Hurting the Fishes of the Sea” – a trawl was dragged behind the boat to test the waters for floating debris.
The sample will be sent to Algalita Marine Research Institute, with whom Trilogy has partnered to complete a study on micro-plastics.
For more information on the Trilogy Blue’Aina program, or to become a volunteer or sponsor, visit www.blog.sailtrilogy.com/blueainaprogram or send an e-mail to kellison@sailtrilogy.com.
- Forty-five passengers scoured the reef in front of the Puamana clubhouse for fishing line and debris.