Inspiring artwork in the SCP Hilo Hotel lobby and hallway. (PC: Megan Lamson)
SCP Hilo Hotel’s innovative partnership has removed over 60 tons of marine debris from Hawaiʻi Island beaches!
When SCP Hilo Hotel opened its doors in June 2020, they didn’t just welcome guests—they launched a groundbreaking commitment to ocean conservation. Through the Pristine Makai Partnership with Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund, every overnight stay at the hotel directly supports the removal of marine debris from Hawaiʻi Island’s remote beaches. Now, almost five years later, the results speak for themselves: SCP Hilo Hotel has supported the removal of over 60 tons of plastic and marine debris removed from Hawaiʻi Island coastlines!
The Impact: By the Numbers
Since June 2020, SCP Hilo has donated $54,990 to support HWF’s marine debris removal efforts. Through this partnership, HWF has been able to remove approximately 121,178 pounds of marine debris from some of the island’s most vulnerable and remote beaches, including Kamilo, South Point (Ka Lae), North and South Kohala beaches, and Kona area coastlines.
For every guest who stays at SCP Hilo, the hotel donates $1 to HWF—funding that enables our team and dedicated volunteers to remove approximately 2.2 pounds of marine debris from Hawaiʻi Island beaches for each guest stay. This calculation isn’t arbitrary: 2.2 pounds roughly equals the amount of consumer waste generated per day during a typical hotel stay, making this partnership a powerful example of offsetting tourism’s environmental footprint.
Why This Work Matters
Due to its proximity to the North Pacific Subtropical High and ocean currents, Hawaiʻi Island’s remote, windward-facing beaches act like a natural sieve, collecting floating debris from the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch”—a massive gyre in the North Pacific that accumulates debris from across the Pacific Basin. An estimated 80% of marine debris worldwide comes from consumer waste generated on land (UNEP, NOAA), making beach cleanups both locally necessary and part of a global-scale solution. HWF surveys at Kamilo have found over 94% of the debris items categorized to be made of plastic, and brand surveys have identified less than 11% of marked items are local in origin
According to HWF’s Board President and Hawaiʻi Island Program Director, Megan Lamson, “HWF’s partnership with SCP and the SCP Hilo Hotel enables our important conservation work to continue. It’s through these types of purposeful, conscious partnerships that we can meet our long-term goals and move toward net zero waste initiatives.” The partnership contributes to HWF’s larger efforts to remove an estimated 15-20 tons of marine debris each year. It also supports critical research, habitat restoration, and community engagement initiatives across the island.
More Than a Hotel Stay: Active Conservation Participation
The Pristine Makai partnership goes beyond financial support. SCP Hilo Hotel actively encourages guests to become conservation participants through their DIY beach cleanup program. Hotel guests can borrow stand-up paddleboards (SUP) to conduct their own cleanups of Hilo Bay, directly experiencing the challenging issue of marine debris and contributing to the solution during their stay. This hands-on approach transforms a typical beach day into meaningful environmental action, helping visitors develop a deeper connection to Hawaii’s ocean ecosystems.
Our youngest and furriest HWF volunteers enjoy a stay at the SCP Hilo Hotel after participating in an engaging marine debris presentation in Hilo (PC: Megan Lamson).
A Model for Sustainable Tourism
The partnership exemplifies what sustainable tourism can look like when businesses align their values with community conservation needs. As Ken Cruse, Soul Community Planet Co-Founder and CEO, explained at the partnership’s launch: “Hawaiʻi is comprised of some of the most naturally spectacular and ecologically significant islands on the planet. Unfortunately, some of the Big Island’s remote southern beaches now act as catch points for the Great Pacific Garbage Patch debris… We are honored to serve HWF’s efforts to maintain the beauty of Hawaii’s shorelines and to protect its marine wildlife and eco-systems.”
Cruse also emphasized an important point: “To be clear, cleaning up Hawaii’s beaches is a matter of treating a symptom, rather than addressing the cause. Through the Pristine Makai program, we hope to not only help keep Hawaii’s beaches beautiful, but also bring awareness—and inspire change—to the far-reaching consequences of our throw-away society.”
The Pristine Makai Partnership is part of SCP’s broader “Every Stay Does Good” commitment, which ensures that every guest stay supports multiple conservation and community initiatives. It also aligns with the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority’s Mālama Hawaiʻi program, which HWF participates in on both Hawaiʻi Island and Maui.
The Path Forward: Why Private Partnerships Matter
As HWF faces the end of federal NOAA Marine Debris Program grant funding in March 2026, partnerships like Pristine Makai become increasingly vital to sustaining our conservation work. While federal grants have been instrumental in supporting large-scale debris removal efforts, long-term sustainability requires diversified funding sources and community partnerships.
The SCP Hilo partnership demonstrates how private businesses can create meaningful, measurable environmental impact while enhancing their guests’ experience. Over almost five years, this single partnership has enabled the removal of debris equivalent to filling several large shipping containers—all while raising awareness among thousands of visitors about the issue of marine debris.
The SCP Hilo Hotel is located adjacent to the beautiful groundwater-fed estuaries and tidepools of Keaukaha along Reed’s Bay and Banyan Drive in Hilo (PC Megan Lamson).
Join the Movement
The success of the Pristine Makai Partnership shows what’s possible when businesses, nonprofits, and communities work together toward shared conservation goals. We invite other Hawaiʻi businesses to explore how they can create similar partnerships that benefit our islands’ fragile ecosystems.
For Businesses: Are you interested in creating a conservation partnership that makes a real difference? Learn more about partnering with HWF or contact us to discuss customized partnership opportunities.
For Travelers: When you stay at SCP Hilo Hotel, you’re not just enjoying comfortable accommodations—you’re directly supporting the removal of marine debris from Hawaiʻi Island’s beaches. Every stay counts.
For Supporters: Help us continue this critical work beyond federal funding. Donate to HWF to support marine debris removal, sea turtle conservation, coastal restoration, and education programs across the Hawaiian Islands.
Looking for ways to reduce your environmental impact while traveling? Check out our Tips for the Eco-Conscious Traveler guide, created in partnership with SCP Hilo Hotel.
