Every piece of litter can travel much farther than we expect. When trash falls out of pockets, blows out of car windows, or is left on roads, sidewalks or beaches, it can be carried by wind or rain into storm drains, streams, and can eventually reach our ocean. Actively keeping our communities clean is one simple way that we can help protect Hawaiʻi’s waterways and the environment we share.
Make a Difference Day provides an opportunity to bring your community together and take action. Celebrated on the fourth Saturday of October each year, which is October 24, 2026 this year, Make a Difference Day encourages people to come together through acts of service in their communities. Whether you are a teacher, student, organization or group of friends, consider hosting your own cleanup this October. Here are a few ways that you can make a difference:
1. Adopt a Highway.
Adopt-A-Highway is a Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation program that gives individuals and organizations the opportunity to help keep litter off of Hawai’i highways and roads. The program allows groups to adopt a two-mile section of highway and commit to cleaning it at least four times a year. Volunteers set their own cleanup schedules and receive free supplies such as high-visibility safety vests, trash bags, and gloves.
If you have a group interested in participating, check out the Adopt-A-Highway webpage to learn more about available sections, the application process, and how to get started.
2. Organize a beach cleanup.
Litter often collects on beaches and in surrounding areas, making them important places to gather volunteers and make an immediate impact. Plan your cleanup by choosing an appropriate location, determining the number of participants, and gathering the supplies you will need, including gloves, trash bags, water, hats, and sunscreen.
Be mindful of the surrounding environment when collecting litter in these areas. Avoid disturbing wildlife, plants, coral, and other natural elements, and never enter the water to retrieve debris unless conditions are safe.
3. Plan a school cleanup.
Community cleanups can also be a hands-on way for students to learn about their responsibility to protect the environment. Schools can organize cleanups around their campus, surrounding neighborhoods, or other locations with permission from the property owner.
This can be an opportunity to teach students about where litter goes after it is left behind, and how trash and debris can be carried into Hawaiʻi’s streams, beaches, and oceans.
Make a Difference Day reminds us that change can start with a simple action. Whether you organize a beach cleanup, bring classmates together to clean your school, or adopt a section of highway, every effort helps keep Hawaiʻi clean and protects the waterways connecting our communities to the ocean.
