FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                               September 8, 2006

LEEWARD TEENS HELP LAUNCH  ANTI-POLLUTION CAMPAIGN

WITH RALLY AND VIDEO/PHOTO CONTEST

The City’s first Earth Month  Pollution Solutions Teen Video/Photography Contest will begin with a kickoff rally at 3 p.m.  Wednesday, September 13, 2006 at Kapolei Hale.

The contest is intended to encourage the next generation of filmmakers and photographers  to promote  meaningful water pollution prevention activities that benefit their communities.  The teens will provide unique ideas, energy and community connections to increase awareness of pollution issues and put their ideas into action.  Categories include:  storm drains and streams, soil and erosion control, trash and overall best of show. For details, see the website www.cleanwaterhonolulu.com/storm/news/contest.html.

The contest is open to students from nine Leeward and Central Oahu middle and high schools. They will produce 30-second television spots aimed at preventing water pollution. Deadline for submissions is February 1, 2007. Winners will be announced on March 1. The winning videos will air on KHON TV March 21 through April 30, 2007. 

Students from the participating schools will join Mayor Mufi Hannemann’s office,  Tiny Tadani of KHUI radio, Pipi of KCCN radio, Eric Enos of Keala Farms, the Honolulu Advertiser, Burger King, the Kiwanis and others at Wednesday’s  rally, which is organized and sponsored by the City Department of Environmental Services.

Participating schools are Aiea Intermediate, Campbell High, Kapolei High, Nanakuli High and Intermediate, Pearl City High, Radford High, Waianae High, Waianae Intermediate and Waipahu High.

The rally will also celebrate “Make a Difference Day” in October. The contest is a prelude to the City’s observance of Earth Month next April. The rally  is open to the public and all those that are interested in participating in other community clean up events scheduled through out the year. 

Oahu is home to nearly 1 million residents who have a direct effect on our island environment and water quality.   What ends up in a storm drain could flow directly into our streams and ocean.  There are more then 20,000 storm drains inlets and over 670 miles of storm drains to clean and maintain.

The City, along with other agencies and organizations, conducts public education and outreach programs all over Oahu with the help of volunteers and community groups. Community projects include Adopt-A-Stream cleanup, Adopt-A -Block cleanup, storm drain stenciling, Discovery Recycling Fair where you can learn how to recycle properly, watershed field trips, and best environmental management practices conference.

Here are some upcoming events:

SEPTEMBER  

Name of Project:              Project Leaders:                             Date and Time:                                Meeting Location

 Aiea Middle School               Matt and Trisha                      Wednesday, 20 September 2006             Aiea Middle School
Watershed Field Trip                                                           8:30 am - Noon

Discover Recycling Fair                                                       September 21-23 2006                          

Thu 8a-3p; Fr 8a-5p; Sa 9a-4p                Neal S. Blaisdell Center

Waipahu High School             Sherry                                   Tuesday, 26 & 28 September 2006         Waipahu High School

Campbell High School             Zaricke                                  8:30 am - Noon                                     Campbell High School

Pouhala Marsh Field Trip

Chaminade Adopt-A-Stream   William                                  Saturday, 30 September 2006                

                                                                                          9:30 am – Noon                                     St. Louis School Field House

Adopt Manoa Stream                                                          Saturday, September 30, 2006               

Mauka to Makai cleanup                                                                      

Malama O Manoa                  George & Eric                       9:00 am – 11:30 am                               Woodlawn Bridge

Environmental Law Society     TBA                                      9:00 am – 11:30 am                               Koali Road

OCTOBER 

Name of Project:              Project Leaders:                             Date and Time:                                Meeting Location

Kapolei Adopt-A-Block          Robin                                     Thursday, 5 October 2006                      Kapolei High School Gym 

Kapolei High School               8:30 am - 12:00 noon

Palolo Adopt-A-Block            Dahlia                                    Saturday, 14 October 2006

Mutual Housing Association                                                 8:00 am - 12:00 noon                              Palolo Valley Recreation Center

Ewa Adopt-A-Block               Zaricke                                  Saturday, 14 October 2006                     Campbell High School Cafeteria

Campbell High School                                                          8:30 am - Noon

World Water Monitoring Day    Debbie                                 Friday, 20 October 2006                         Washington Middle School    

Watershed Field Trip                                                           8:30 am - Noon                                     Makiki Stream

                                                                                                                                                      Ala Wai Canal

Windward Ahupua'a               Shannon & Bill                       Saturday, 21 October 2006                     Kapa'a Quarry Road 

 Make a Difference Day

Adopt-A-Stream Clean Up     Laurence & Sharon                Saturday, 21 October 2006                     Jack-In-The Box

8:30 am - 11:00 am                 S King & Kalakaua

Kapakahi Stream Cleanup       Pauline                                  Saturday, 28 October 2006                     Pouhala Marsh (Waipahu)

Pouhala Marsh Restoration                                                  8:30 am – 11:30 am                               across the Honolulu Police

Recruit Academy

Nanakuli Adopt-A-Block        Katy                                      Saturday, 28 October 2006                     Nanakuli Beach Park                 

8:30 am – 12:00 noon                            

NOVEMBER

Name of Project:              Project Leaders:                             Date and Time:                                Meeting Location

Hawaii Baptist Academy        Lynn                                      Friday, 3 November 2006                       Hawaii Baptist Academy

                                                                                                                                                      Chaminade University

                                                                                                                                                      Manoa (TBA)

                                                                                                                                                      Kanewai Park

                                                                                                                                                      Pauoa (TBA)

                                                                                                                                                      Hawaii Nature Center

Storm Drain Stenciling            Yugi & Gregg                        Saturday, 18 November 2006                 Moanalua Middle School              

Moanalua Boy Scout Troop 9                               

Construction Best Management Practices Workshop             Monday, 20 November 2006                  East-West Center

                                                                                          8:00 am - Noon

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Contact:   Iwalani Sato, Storm Water Quality Branch community outreach coordinator, 429-4112