Beyond the fence: Army and community partners work together to clean up Dillingham Army Beach
Oahu, Hawaii – Caring for Hawaii’s coastline takes more than one organization. It takes neighbors, community partners and people willing to work together toward a common goal. The spirit of service brought U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii and community organizations together on October 24th to conduct a coordinated cleanup at Dillingham Army Beach, highlighting the importance of partnerships in addressing shared environmental and public safety concerns.
“I am extremely proud of our U.S. Army Garrison Teams who partnered with our community to make a huge difference in such a short amount of time,” said Col. Rick Luce, Commander of U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii. “Being able to work side-by-side with the City and State, not to mention the local non-profit organizations who provide the services for the homeless and houseless is a tremendous honor and duty for our team,” Luce said. The effort was about more than removing debris. It demonstrated how collaboration across government agencies and community organizations can address shared challenges while creating opportunities for service and civic engagement.
Among the participating organizations was Hawaii Youth Challenge Academy, a program that helps young teens and adults develop leadership, discipline, life skills and a sense of personal responsibility.
For the Army, that connection is particularly meaningful. Service is a value shared by military members and the young people preparing to become future leaders in their communities.
The cleanup also highlighted the importance of established partnerships with HDOT and Hala Toa Mui Contractors. Working alongside the Army and other participating organizations, the partners supported a coordinated effort to address mounting debris and environmental concerns along the coastal property.
According to HDOT, approximately 30 tons of debris were removed from six encampment sites during the four-hour operation. Crews also collected two five-gallon buckets of hazardous medical waste.
The operation involved the Honolulu Police Department, Surfrider Foundation, Kealahou West Oahu and the garrison’s Directorate of Public Works Environmental Division and Directorate of Emergency Services Military Police.
Beyond the immediate cleanup, the effort illustrated the importance of maintaining relationships with organizations that share a commitment to Hawaii’s communities and natural resources.
For USAG Hawaii, stewardship does not end at the installation boundary. Working with state agencies, youth programs and local organizations helps address concerns that affect both the military and civilian communities.
The Dillingham Army Beach cleanup was one example of how those relationships can translate into action – bringing different organizations together in service of a shared home.
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