Aqua Hospitality is launching a two-part initiative in observance of Earth Day 2014 (April 22) to support ocean conservation. The program includes a volunteer coastal cleanup to remove invasive algae and a donation to Hui o Koolaupoko to support local marine and watershed programs.
The first phase begins April 14, when Aqua Hospitality teams up with the Waikiki Aquarium for an invasive algae removal effort. This coastal restoration project is led by Dr. Celia Smith, a botany professor at the University of Hawaii, and targets non-native algae species that are damaging Waikiki’s coral reefs. To encourage employee participation and emphasize the project’s importance, Aqua Hospitality will pay employees for the time they spend on the cleanup. Volunteer tasks will include collecting and unloading algae, separating invasive from native species, and recording the amounts removed.
On April 22, Aqua Hospitality will contribute to Hui o Koolaupoko by donating one dollar from each room reservation made that day. Reservations can be for any Aqua property and do not require a minimum stay. Funds will support Hui o Koolaupoko’s work monitoring ocean conditions and watershed health, coordinating natural resource efforts with stakeholders, and advancing community education programs focused on protecting coastal and watershed ecosystems.
This combined approach—hands-on restoration and financial support—aims to protect marine habitats, restore reef resilience, and engage the community in long-term conservation efforts.
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