{"id":5153,"date":"2026-04-22T14:27:44","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T00:27:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cptbruce.com\/information\/?p=5153"},"modified":"2026-05-04T23:17:23","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T09:17:23","slug":"earthday-north-shore-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cptbruce.com\/information\/news\/earthday-north-shore-2026","title":{"rendered":"Earth day Beach Cleanup North Shore 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Oahu\u2019s North Shore<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"2026<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

At Captain Bruce, our love for the ocean goes beyond the horizon of our boat tours. Every year on Earth Day (April 22), we join with Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii<\/a><\/em> to give back to the islands that give us so much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"2026<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"2026<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"2026
James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While our tradition usually takes us to Bellows in Waimanalo, 2026 called for a change of course. Following the devastating floods that hit the North Shore this past March, our mission took us to a place that is as beautiful as it is vulnerable: the James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

A Hidden Sanctuary Facing a Plastic Crisis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

Located in Kahuku, the James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge<\/strong> is a restricted sanctuary for Hawaii\u2019s endangered waterbirds and green sea turtles. It is a “hidden gem” in the truest sense\u2014normally closed to the public except for exclusive guided Saturday tours.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"2026
James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge, Kahuku<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"2026<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

However, there is a heartbreaking irony to this sanctuary. Despite being protected, its coastline acts as a net for Pacific plastic. It is infamous for having so much marine debris that the sand can become invisible under the layers of trash. For 12 years, dedicated local crews have spent every Saturday cleaning this beach just to keep it from disappearing under plastic.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Climate Watch: Why 2026 is a Critical Year<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As we gathered on the sand, the conversation wasn’t just about trash\u2014it was about the shifting climate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n