Earth Month quarantine-friendly activities that also happen to be ocean-friendly

Let’s face it. This really sucks. It’s traumatic. We can all agree on that. “Normal” is out the window, and we don’t know when we’ll be able to resume whatever will be left of the “normal” we once knew. Hopefully we can make some improvements to the systems that are failing us and create a new, better “normal.” But in the meantime, we’re stuck with whatever this “normal” is, which obviously varies depending on our individual situations. Everyone is being challenged differently, everyone is coping in different ways. Amidst all this, so many people on Maui are stepping up to help others while adhering to the social distancing requirements. That needs to remain our top priority. 
 
Recognizing that things are operating differently right now, we at West Maui Kumuwai wanted to assess the situation, to determine what is and is not appropriate for us to be doing at the moment. Seriously, who is *really* thinking about stormwater runoff and land-based pollution right now? 
 
*Looks around* 
 
Exactly. And that’s fine. 
 
However, we know that so many people do care about our environment, and it is Earth Month. So, how can we build some ocean-friendly activities into our current reality, in an unobtrusive way that respects everyone’s priorities and circumstances? 
 
We did some “research” of sorts. We looked around, and we noted what people are doing, how they’re doing things differently, and how they’re doing new things. We came up with some ideas we’ll be sharing in more detail through a series of posts on our website throughout the month. 
 
Here’s a rundown, based on the new reality in which we find ourselves, of activities you may already be doing, that can be made more ocean-friendly with minimal effort:

• Your kids are at home. Need some homeschooling educational activities? Or an activity to get them out of your hair for an hour or so?  
• Growing a “Victory Garden.” Shopping has been a challenge. We know that you can’t grow your own toilet paper, but you can start a garden and grow your own salad. When you go to buy supplies like fertilizer, are there better options for the environment? 
• Going to the beach and into the ocean. What can you do, while complying with the rules that you must be exercising, or gathering food, and basically moving at all times.
• Doing some yard improvement projects. Are there ways you can rebuild better, in a way that saves water or prevents runoff, when you’re already ripping up and retrofitting things?
• Excessively and obsessively walking your dog, whether they want to go out or not. We think you know where we’re going with this one. 

 
Stay tuned.
 
Finally, one thing we will be doing that we wanted to share up front is giving back to the essential businesses that have supported us through the years. Instead of asking local businesses for prize donations this year, we’ll be using the funds that would have supported our public events to purchase gift certificates from places that are still operating at the moment, particularly West Maui restaurants. For starters, we’ll be giving these out as part of an Earth Month activity for kids being homeschooled. Read about how you can participate here; check out all the other posts too to see how you can participate in other #MauiEarthMonth2020 activities and receive a gift card.

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