Ten dedicated Ocean Defenders Alliance (ODA) volunteers gathered at Hanauma Bay for one of our most impactful cleanup dives to date.

The team included me, Temple Liebmann, our dive leader Gary Liebmann, and eight others: Chandler Bosch, James Delecki, Ray Goodrich, Crystal Gray, David Marcelli, Bill Metzler, Ed Sisino, and Rose Zhang. 

Crystal took all these great underwater pictures, despite the trying conditions.

We were treated to a stunning sunrise spilling light over the ridges surrounding the bay, with gentle breezes carrying the scent of the ocean. Conditions in the water greeted us with some surface surge but decent visibility—enough to get to work quickly and safely.

The divers entered the water...

The effort was nothing short of remarkable. The ODA debris-removal team are serious experts at what they do. Finding a giant mass of floating nets and ropes didn't scare them. They wrangled the mass and got it to the surface!

Together, our team retrieved a record haul of debris from the bay. The largest find was a massive tangle of nets and ropes weighing more than 50 pounds! 

This was a true team effort as it was discovered and collected by MSG David Marcelli then carried into the shore by Gary and hauled up the sand for disposal by Ed.  Great teamwork!!  

In addition, countless plastics, fragments of fishing gear, and assorted trash were collected. Once sorted on shore, the debris spread across an area of nearly 120 square feet—a sobering reminder of how much marine debris continues to plague even protected waters like Hanauma.

Amidst the hard work, we were gifted a special moment of inspiration: a Hawaiian monk seal playing out in the bay. Seeing this endangered species thriving, even for just a few minutes, grounded us all in why we rise early on Saturday mornings to do this work. The health of these waters and the creatures that live here depend on removing what doesn’t belong.

Monk seal in Hanauma Bay.
Photo credit Lynette Liu the Director of the Parks at Hanauma Bay.
Each volunteer played an essential role, whether hauling rope, bagging plastics, photographing the underwater action, or ensuring safe topside support. The teamwork and dedication displayed made this cleanup not only effective but also uplifting. As we wrapped up, standing around the pile of debris that once choked marine life but was now headed for proper disposal, we felt the quiet satisfaction of making a measurable difference. Hanauma Bay looked a little cleaner, and we left knowing our early morning efforts truly mattered.

If you live in Oahu and want to be part of our coastal water cleanups, email us at volunteer@oceandefenders.org