By Oahu Volunteer Coordinator and Advisory Board Member Temple Liebmann

Yesterday was an unforgettable day for the Ocean Defenders Alliance (ODA) as we took on another crucial mission to protect Hanauma Bay.

With teamwork, dedication, and a bit of luck, we managed to remove a massive haul of dangerous marine debris, ensuring the bay remains a safe haven for marine life.

It all started around 1 p.m. on Sunday when we got a call from Renee our contact Hanauma Bay. A group of divers had spotted two massive fishing nets tangled around a large coral head in the Witch’s Brew area. Gary Liebmann (our dive team leader for Oahu) got right to work calling on volunteers to get help for Monday’s mission. 

Monday came and with our directive defined, our volunteer ODA crew—Major Jerritt Larson USARMY, Gary Liebmann, Bill Metzler, and me—geared up and headed out to the bay.

The timing couldn’t have been better. With the bay closed to tourists, we had the place to ourselves, aside from three incredibly playful Hawaiian monk seals that kept us entertained throughout the dive. The water was pristine, visibility was crystal clear, and we were laser focused on removing as much debris as possible.

Once we located the nets, Gary, Jerritt, and Bill dove in to carefully cut them away while I provided surface support.

Major Jerritt Larson USARMY marches some debris out of the ocean.

It wasn’t just nets—we found an unbelievable 1,000 pounds of marine ropes and plastic debris, including a laundry basket, two plastic egg crates, and even a 30-gallon plastic water container.

But we weren’t done yet. While working in the bay, we also discovered a massive tangle of netting and ropes along the shore—a massive 1,500-pound tangle of hawser rope, thick and unyielding, lodged along the shore.

Given the size of the Hawser rope (a staggering six inches wide!), we knew we’d need some heavy-duty cutting tools to get the job done. So, we returned Tuesday morning, armed with hatchets and saws, to tackle the beast.

By the end of it all, every last piece of debris was safely removed and properly disposed of, ensuring it could no longer pose a threat to the marine life in this iconic bay. Days like these remind us why we do what we do—protecting our oceans, one mission at a time.

A huge shoutout to the ODA team and our amazing partners who make these cleanups possible. On to the next one!

Please help keep ODA nimble and ready for any cleanup that calls - your financial contribution is an investment in clean oceans.