OUTRIGGER Resorts & Hotels Rolls into Action at Waikīkī Aquarium to Celebrate World Ocean Month & OUTRIGGER Zone Day

RELEASE NUMBER 19|24

Download High-Resolution Images of OUTRIGGER’s World Ocean Month Initiatives HERE

HONOLULU – To close out its global World Ocean Month initiatives OUTRIGGER Resorts & Hotels invited the community to the Waikīkī Aquarium in Honolulu, Hawai‘i on Saturday, June 29, 2024 to make Genki Balls with their hosts and conservation partners at the 8th annual OUTRIGGER Zone Day.

In partnership with the Genki Ala Wai Project – which aims to make O‘ahu’s Ala Wai Canal fishable and swimmable by 2026 – hundreds of volunteers combined to make more than 2,000 mud balls made of microorganisms that eliminate the sludge that forms from organic debris, trash and pollutants.

On July 27, these dried Genki Balls will be tossed into the Ala Wai Canal – a manmade waterway that leads to the Pacific Ocean – where they will sink to the bottom and start digesting the sludge, thus restoring a healthy balance of microorganisms in the ecosystem.

“At OUTRIGGER, we take immense pride in backing the Genki Ala Wai Project’s efforts to rejuvenate the Ala Wai Canal’s ecosystem. The dedication shown by our conservation partners to enhance and safeguard our ocean’s health and natural surroundings is truly inspiring,” stated Monica Salter, VP of Global Communications and Social Responsibility.

OUTRIGGER Zone Day featured an impressive collection of organizations including Bishop Museum, the Board of Water Supply, Eat Pono – ‘Āina Guardians, Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology, HPU Center for Marine Debris Research, Environmental Artist Jodi Endicott, Kanu Hawai‘i, NOAA, Raw Elements Sunscreen, Surfrider Foundation, University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program & Waikīkī Aquarium.

Since the founding of its global OUTRIGGER Zone conservation initiative in 2014 – the company pledged to make a difference at its premier beach resorts worldwide with activations connected to ocean health and conservation to educate and inspire its communities to care for the ocean. Highlights include:

• Ho’omalu Ke Kai – OUTRIGGER’s Kaua‘i-based nonprofit partner dedicated to ocean conservation – teamed up with OUTRIGGER Kauaʻi Beach Resort & Spa to remove more than 1,000 pounds of marine debris from Nukoli’i Beach on World Ocean Day. They also installed a permanent waste diversion station for marine debris, collect it regularly and take it to their upcycling facility where it is upcycled for use in building materials and artwork.
• Raw Elements Reef Safe Sunscreen stations are installed at all Hawai’i properties, powerful environmental exhibits by artist Jodi Endicott are featured at OUTRIGGER Reef Waikiki Beach Resort & OUTRIGGER Waikiki Beach Resort & the OUTRIGGER Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel held a Terrace of Modern Art Show to raise Funds for Wastewater Alternatives & Innovations.
• In Thailand, OUTRIGGER Khao Lak Beach Resort collaborated with the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources to care for & release sea turtles into the ocean, OUTRIGGER Koh Samui Beach partnered with the Bantai Crab Bank to release female crabs & OUTRIGGER Surin Beach Resort joined forces with Phuket Marine Biological Centre to clean sea turtle nursery ponds.
• At the OUTRIGGER Fiji Beach Resort nearly 500 pounds of rubbish was removed from Korotogo and the plastics were separated and recycled. They also make fish houses with their guests and partner with the Mamanuca Environment Society to plant coral. To date, OUTRIGGER has planted more than 100 football fields of coral reef fronting its global resorts.
• In the Maldives, OUTRIGGER’s own resident marine biologist Sanya Shantanu Shete leads whale shark and manta ray research and provides hands-on marine experiences for guests.
• On O’ahu, more than a dozen of OUTRIGGER’s retail partners are offering valuable discounts on sustainable products ranging from 40% off recycled fabrics to free reusable totes.

Learn more at www.OUTRIGGER.com/SustainableSummer

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