By Oahu Volunteer Coordinator and Advisory Board Member Temple Liebmann

It was one of those perfect Hawaiʻi mornings at Hanauma Bay — calm water, clear skies, and sunlight lighting up the reef as our team geared up for another cleanup on March 28, 2026. Days like this remind us exactly why we do what we do – we are determined to keep this place beautiful!

With Gary Liebmann leading the dive, our crew slipped into the water while I provided topside support and captured the day through photography. We were excited to have Olga Piquette, our newest team member and an underwater videography professional, joining us — bringing both talent and a fresh perspective to the dive. Check back for the video!

Alongside them were Eduardo Abreau, Morgan Abreau, James Delecki, Dan Okamura, and Rose Zhang, all working together to carefully search the reef and surrounding areas.

At first glance, the bay looked clean — and in many ways, it was. But as always, once you slow down and really look, the story changes. Tucked into the reef and scattered across the sandy bottom were small but persistent pieces of debris. Most of what we found this time was plastic — broken fragments, bits of packaging, and a surprising number of small gardening pots that had somehow made their way into the bay. Mixed in were microplastics, the kind that are easy to miss but impossible to ignore once you start seeing them everywhere.

There was also some fishing line tangled in the reef, and one particularly frustrating find — a lead fishing weight. Seeing that in a protected area like Hanauma Bay is a strong reminder that even places set aside for conservation still need active stewardship and protection.

While this wasn’t a “big haul” day in terms of volume, it was an important one. These smaller pieces of debris are often the most dangerous over time, breaking down further and entering the food chain. Every fragment removed is one less piece impacting marine life.

Other outings at this bay have produced large amounts of ghost net, fishing line, and all manner of rubbish.

And of course, it wasn’t all work. With conditions as beautiful as they were, the reef was alive with activity — a perfect backdrop for both cleanup efforts and underwater photography.

After wrapping up, the team did what we always do after a good day in the water — we headed over to Koa Pancake House, salty, sun-soaked, and hungry. Over plates of pancakes and coffee, we shared stories, laughed about the finds, and enjoyed that sense of camaraderie that comes from doing meaningful work together.

Another beautiful day, another step toward a debris-free sea — and another reminder that even when the ocean looks clean, there’s always more we can do.

Check out our other reports on Hanauma Bay on our Hawaii page!