July 28 Workday, Beach Cleanup Set at Hawaiian State Park
Volunteers are invited to build sand castles using sand that was deposited in an anchialine pool during the 2011 tsunami.
The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of State Parks is sponsoring Sand Castles for Conservation, a July 28 community workday to help restore the anchialine pool at Ka'elehuluhulu Beach. Volunteers are encouraged to help build sand castles using only sand from the anchialine pool – which is an enclosed water body or pond with an underground connection to the ocean.
Fun activities and prizes will be held throughout the day at Kekaha Kai State Park in the Mahai'ula section of the park.
The sand was deposited in the pool during the 2011 tsunami. "There has been much progress over the past year in restoring the pool and the local community is welcome to help remove the sand during the event. The restoration process efforts have resulted in the return of an endangered Hawaiian stilt, which has been seen foraging in the Ka'elehuluhulu pool for the first time in several years," according to the state's announcement of the event. It says there will be a beach cleanup hosted by Hawaii Wildlife Fund from 9:30 to 11 a.m., and the sand castle competition will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Prizes are being donated by the Four Seasons Hualalai Resort, Big Island Diver, Dolphin Quest, Surfer Rider Foundation Kona, and Hawaii Wildlife Fund.