Trash on the wall in Waikiki

Not long ago I visited “the wall” at the end of Kapahulu in Waikiki. I learned to body surf and boogie board in the waves off that wall.

Once I saw a local boy catch a hefty wave which crashed on the face of the wall sending him up and over the top of the wall– standing. That’s right. Instead of falling onto the top of the wall, he stood up. It was cool. I tried repeating what my 80-pound companion managed to do on the next hefty wave, but 200 pounds of lau-lau and sushi laden brawn doesn’t fight gravity quite the same way.

My recent visit to the wall that day was inspiring. The waves were decent and the boogie boarders plentiful. From time to time, a hefty wave would hit the front of the wall, showering the tourists with the liquid form of soon-to-be salty stickiness.

Three local girls sat at the end of the wall and pulled out snacks from a backpack. Snacks? Little Debbie this or that, Hostess this or that, and a few candy bars. The waves subsided. As the girls snacked, and I watched, they tossed their plastic rubbish into the water below the wall. They laughed and giggled and continued to munch away, unwrapping, and dropping their goodie wrappers into the water. Munch? Yeah, it’s hard to grind a Twinkie, you know.

I watched for a few moments more, thinking what a shame that local folks could treat the beaches with such disregard. Then I took action. I walked toward the girls, ready to say, “Hey, do you mind if I help you put away your rubbish so it doesn’t get tossed in the water?” I never had a chance to get the words out.

Along came another of those aforementioned hefty waves, which crashed solidly against the front of the wall, showering everyone within 10 or 15 feet with sticky, salty brine. We were drenched. The girls were drenched, too, head to toe. Speaking of toes, deposited right at the girl’s feet were half a dozen plastic wrappers from Twinkies and Cupcakes and Suzie-Qs.

The ocean at the wall on Waikiki Beach had responded to the environmental insult and breach of manners, and cleaned itself of the girl’s rubbish.

I was soaked, too, but felt that more than poetic justice had been served on the wall that day.