Hawaii to Honor Local Environmental Heroes

The Storm Water Quality Branch of the City Department of Environmental Services in Honolulu has introduced a new campaign to honor the everyday environmental heroes who help prevent runoff from polluting local waters.

The “heroes” will be recognized through television, radio and print messages. According to the Hawaii Reporter, those honored will be people who inspire and help sustain local efforts by demonstrating proactive habits every day at home, school or on the job. An example would be a citizen who keeps sidewalks, curbs and gutters clean, or recycles.

Other environmental heroes will be honored for participating in on-site partnerships with schools, businesses, service organizations and government agencies as a way to educate the community and get others involved. Environmental heroes will also be honored if they report illegal dumping and discharge.

Beginning in February, the Environmental Services Department will focus on selected neighborhoods. The neighborhood will be inspected, and awards will be given to businesses and neighborhoods with the highest levels of environmental care and compliance in terms of storm water, wastewater, refuse and recycling. The winners will be announced in March and honored at the Keiki Festival.

During Earth Month in April, the Ala Wai watershed, Aiea, Pearl City, Waipahu, Ewa Beach, Nanakuli and other communities plan to remove litter and graffiti, replant native vegetation, remove invasive species, stencil storm drains with the message “Dump No Waste, Protect Our Waters For Life,” and distribute educational materials. During 2006, more than 11,000 volunteers committed time to such projects.

Source: Hawaii Reporter