HONOLULU (HI Now) - For more than a decade, 808 Cleanups has been quietly transforming Hawaii’s coastlines, neighborhoods and natural spaces one cleanup at a time. Now, the local environmental nonprofit is marking a major milestone: collecting over 1 million pounds of trash across the islands.
Michael Loftin, executive director of 808 Cleanups, and Kimeona Kane, director of community outreach, joined HI Now Daily on April 23 to talk about the organization’s work and to celebrate Native Hawaiian Plant Month. The nonprofit’s mission is to educate and empower the community to sustainably restore Hawaii’s native ecosystems through decentralized cleanups and environmental stewardship.
One of the organization’s signature projects is its restoration work along the Kaiwi Coastline, where volunteers have spent years removing trash and invasive species to make room for native Hawaiian plants to take root and thrive. That work is ongoing, and 808 Cleanups holds cleanup events every day around Oahu, welcoming participants of all ages and abilities.
In honor of Native Hawaiian Plant Month, the organization is also highlighting the native plants grown and maintained at its cleanup sites. A new plant-themed shirt is available for purchase for those who want to show their support.
Visit 808cleanups.org for a full calendar of upcoming events and follow along on Instagram and social media at @808cleanups.
Copyright 2026 KHNL. All rights reserved.