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The accumulation of trash in the sand at Waikiki Beach has significantly increased, raising community concern.

Once a retreat for Hawaiian royalty and the first capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii (1795-1796), Waikiki now generates 42% of the state’s visitor revenue. On average, 71,000 people visit Waikiki every day, producing a significant amount of trash, a substantial portion of which is not properly disposed of and often ends up in the sand or ocean.

Currently, between Kuhio and the Royal Hawaiian groins, there are five small trash cans (three in front of the Moana Surfrider and one at the Royal Hawaiian), either half-buried in the sand or hidden in vegetation, like the one in front of Duke’s Restaurant. The size and positioning of these trash cans, along with the frequency of their emptying, are inadequate to handle the volume of trash generated by the daily visitors.

As a result, the trash cans frequently overflow. Additionally, hotel guests often leave towels on the beach, contributing to the overall litter problem.

Through conversations with both visitors and locals, we’ve discovered that the absence of large, well-marked and frequently emptied trash cans, combined with the lack of appropriate signage, presents a significant challenge for responsible trash disposal and fosters complacency.

At Aloha Beach Services, the longest-running beach service business in Waikiki, the beach boys have to arrive earlier each day to clean the beach before starting their work.

“The truth is people are lazy and they are not educated. Every morning before we start working, we take three or more buckets of trash. The trash cans are not visible, so a few people come and ask us where the trash can is, while others just throw trash on the sand. When we approach them and ask them to pick it up, they simply deny it and refuse to do it,” one of the beach boys told us.

He suggested informing people on airplanes before they arrive and at hotels to keep our beaches clean.

Lifeguards also mentioned that there aren’t enough trash cans or signs, and people often ask if there are trash cans on the lifeguard towers. Another lifeguard at Waikiki Beach suggested making the trash cans more visible, perhaps with fluorescent lids or paintings: “Maybe put, like, you know, cool funny drawings.”

Even though trash cans might not be easily visible, they are present on the beach and near the showers. So, why are people not disposing of their trash properly and what can be done to improve this situation?

For one Waikiki local, the solution lies in education and adopting a “leave no trace” approach. He instills in his children the values he was raised with: “I have always picked up trash since I was a little kid. I teach my kids to always pick up after themselves, if you see something, don’t ignore it. Even if it’s not yours, pick it up and throw it away.”

He suggested playing educational videos at airports and on airplanes, reminding people to clean up after themselves and to pick up any trash they see.

“The reason everyone wants to come to Hawaii is because it is a beautiful place, and we want it to remain that way,” he added.

Two visitors we spoke with said that believe that “people are either too lazy or too drunk to do it, and they assume someone will come and pick it up, maybe the resorts.” They suggested putting up more signs to remind people to take their trash and highlight the consequences of not doing so, noting they did not see any signage for trash during their time in Waikiki.

Kai Sallas, crowned the 2023 WSL Longboard Champion, highlights the need for a collective effort to keep our beaches clean and our oceans healthy: “Everyone needs to do their part. We need more trash collections throughout the day, and hotels should inform their guests to pick up their towels.”

The longboard world champion, born and raised in Waikiki, points out that social inequality has increased in his hometown, and heavily affects the trash situation.

Apart from the well-known health consequences of plastic pollution, linked to everything from cancer in humans to wildlife death, the unsightly trash on beaches affects marine ecosystems, and detracts from tourism. The tourism industry represents roughly a quarter of Hawaii’s economy, and according to the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, the state saw a 5% decrease in the number of visitors to the Hawaiian Islands in March 2024.

Littering is against the law in Hawaii, and as punishment litterers can be sentenced to four to eight hours either picking up litter on public property or performing community service and be required to pay a fine ranging from $500 to $1,000.

One lifeguard we talked with suggested that people should be held accountable for littering and that ticketing should be enforced. Susan, a tourist visiting from California, agrees: “I think there should be a fine for littering, and I don’t think schools or colleges are educating people on that anymore.”

According to a Swedish beachgoer who has been living in Waikiki for over 10 years, the lack of law enforcement is concerning: “Even though smoking at the beach is prohibited, people keep smoking, and many cigarette butts are found on the sand.”

Since Waikiki Beach is a world-famous and heavily visited place, why not use this as an opportunity to educate people on the environmental issues we are currently facing?

A campaign with educational videos played at hotels, and signs placed on the beach can serve as a model of environmental stewardship in Hawaii, setting an example for others to follow. This can be applied by them when visiting other Hawaiian beaches and islands.

We are facing an extremely challenging battle to save Waikiki due to climate change and sea level rise. Scientists are working on finding solutions to adapt infrastructure to these changes so people can continue to enjoy the most valuable asset: our natural resources. The community now pleads to work together with the scientific community to educate people on the importance of protecting and keeping our beaches clean.

Waikiki yearns for the return of aloha, to be cherished as it rightfully deserves. Duke Kahanamoku is the father of surfing, and Waikiki is its mother — a loving mother who, despite being constantly mistreated, abused and exhausted, continues to abundantly give: endless curling waves, the most beautiful sunsets and almost half of the state’s visitor revenue.