Tim Steinmeier Wrote:


Growing up in Hawaii, I have been exposed to ocean and beach pollution since I was a keiki. As a young kid I did not realize the detrimental effect this pollution had on the environment because I just accepted the debris as something that would always be there. As I grew up, the pollution became more of an eye sore, cluttering and degrading the beauty of our beaches. I also became educated about the harmful effects that pollution had on marine life. Marine life is damaged by all sorts of pollution such as chemical and oil spills, to rubbish, debris and other dangerous man made objects like fishing nets.
As a surfer, I share a passionate love for the ocean and its creatures. Looking into the future I wish to see the ocean free of pollution and the beaches clear of debris. I feel that it is my responsibility to play a part in the purification of our marine environment. I decided that a beach clean up would be the most beneficial action because I could clean up a large area of the environment which directly influences the pollution in the ocean through tides, waves, wind and man made drainage systems.
Even though it should have been a natural reaction to clean up the beach before this project, I am glad that this project let me experience what it was like to help our environment. I took my dog Pepper and a trash bag with me on my beach clean up along Lanikai beach and found that it was relaxing, easy and it also made me feel good that I was doing a positive thing for our Hawaiian environment.
After my beach clean up, I decided to use the rubbish that I had collected to make an informative collage about ocean and beach pollution and that people should play a part in keeping the environment clean and pollution free.