Mālama Maui Nui Going Blue!
The very small suggestions of switching from sugary lemonade to fresh fruit-infused water really inspired Mālama Maui Nui to look at our community events in a larger, more holistic view. Pointing out one small and easily changeable detail such as the water opened up the entire process for internal evaluation. This is the kind of inspiration I think is very important, that Blue Zones Project could be the catalyst for much larger change without having to directly be the ones to facilitate those changes.
Volunteers armed with pickers, buckets, and bags head to their zones to clean areas surrounding Kalua Beach.
Changes Mālama Maui Nui made as a result of the partnership with Blue Zones Project:
- Switching out sugary lemonade for fresh fruit infused water
- Providing healthy snacks to volunteers such as fresh fruit
- Serving plant-based food for lunch
- Providing picnic tables for volunteers to share a sit-down meal after the clean-up instead of grab n go lunches.
- Adding a healthy food drive to the clean up
- Providing and asking the community to BYO (bring your own) reusable plates, cups, and utensils – by providing these options for those who could not bring their own we ensured that the event was inclusive with the goal that the initial Blue Zones Project inspiration would trickle down and become assimilated into the larger picture of everyday life.
After the cleanup volunteers were able to downshift and make connections as a group over lunch.
In addition, Mālama Maui Nui believes that the building of a strong community is much more important than the actual items we removed from our environment. With a cohesive community that believes in its collective capacity and has the desire to work together for the protection of our environment, the cleanups will happen naturally. By bringing up the idea of a healthy food drive, and a family-style lunch in addition to healthier alternatives for food and drink we were able create that family/community gathering which has more impact than a morning beach cleanup.
Words by Anna Lieding – Program Manager, Mālama Maui Nui
Mālama Maui Nui is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to educate, inspire, and empower individuals and communities to beautify and maintain Maui Nui’s environment, thereby supporting its economy, quality of life, and unique Hawaiian culture. Through litter pickups, marine debris cleanups, recycling events, and more, Mālama Maui Nui brings individual volunteers, local businesses, community organizations, and government agencies together to promote the environmental health of Maui County.
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Learn more at hawaii.bluezonesproject.com
