HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0482.313 2024-2026HawaN WiRife Fund
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Celehrating 29+ gears of Protecting Hawaii's native wildlife through research,
education and conservation.
2 December 2025
Aloha Councilmembers,
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First, many thanks to Councilwomen Rebecca Villegas and Michelle Galimba for bringing this much- Z5
needed legislation forward. This effort to more sweepingly reduce the single -use -plastics "foodware _
footprint" of our island is long-awaited and has been envisioned for many years now.
Second, to be clear, this effort is nothing novel and similar legislation has already passed on O'ahu in
December 2019 and in Maui County in April 2020. Hawaii County is following their lead with Bill 83
(Draft 2), and Hawai'i Wildlife Fund (HWF) supports this legislation being heard for a second reading at
full council tomorrow.
Hands down, the best way to reduce plastic pollution from the environment (and from its continued
contributions to climate change) is to stop producing / distributing it. And as an island community, that
means refusing any mindless single -use -plastic products we can (where clear alternatives exist) in an
effort to reduce our carbon footprint. Yes, and as the comment letter from DEM mentioned, single -use
foodware and serviceware may not be the "worst" contributors (like tires and textiles) to micronplastic
pollution in our environment however they do contribute some ... and ask yourselves this: How much
plastic (and plastic additives) do YOU want to be consuming and contributing to our island waste stream
(and into our environment)?
Here at HWF, we believe and have seen firsthand the damage that plastic pollution has had on our native
wildlife and coastal / marine ecosystems. We also know that plastic pollution = marine debris, as over
94% of what we collect on our standardized shoreline surveys is made of plastics. While plastic pollution
is truly a global problem, we must act locally to find solutions. That means more reusables and less single -
use consumerism, wherever possible.
HWF has been involved in large-scale marine debris removal efforts on this island since 2003. During that
time, we have removed over 370 tons of debris (a.k.a. plastic pollution!) from along the Hawaii Island
shoreline, averaging 34,000 pounds annually. Last year alone, HWF and volunteers removed a total of
55,004 pounds of marine debris from the shores of Ka'u (89.7% by weight), Kona and Kohala districts
during 58 cleanup events. With 537 participants (97 of whom were keiki), that is an average of 102
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pounds removed per person per cleanup day. This figure should help tell the story of the true scale of the
problem, and hopefully help to inspire action to change the mantra.
Bill 83 is an opportunity to reduce some of the local sources of plastic pollution from our environment
(and fro our households). It may not be perfect but no legislation is. This bill was fully supported by the
volunteer Mayor's commission on Environmental Management and hundreds of testifiers before now.
Please vote with your constituents. Previous legislative efforts on this island to reduce cigarette butts on
beaches, plastic bags, and polystyrene containers have already made a notable difference along our
roadways, coastlines, within our dryland and mauka forests and within our communities. True, bans (or
prohibitions) are not the only solution, but they are part of the solution and provide a great step in
educating our island residents, visitors, and business members about better ways that we can all take
care of our island, our planet and our people.
Founded in 1996, Hawaii Wildlife Fund is a nonprofit organization with a mission to conserve Hawaii s
native wildlife through research and education. We engage and inspire communities through outreach,
education, conservation and habitat restoration activities, conducting environmental research,
supporting community -driven management efforts, and initiating advocacy campaigns. We have been
working to protect native wildlife and restore coastal/nearshore ecosystems across the Hawaiian
Archipelago for the past 29 years with community and partner support.
Many thanks for your time and consideration. Should you have any questions please feel free to contact
me at megan@wildhawaii.org.
Sincerely,
Megan Lamson Leatherman, M. Sc.
Hawat i Wildlife Fund
President & Hawai'i Program Director
PO Box 1801
Kealakekua, HI 96750
www.wilAawaii.org
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