(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- World Oceans Day is June 8th and Kona Brewing Co., a brand born on the beaches of Hawaii, will be at the 94th Street Beach in Rockaway, New York as part of their the 2nd Annual Catch a Clean Wave initiative, which comes to Asbury Park on June 9th. Kona, professional surfer Anna Gudauskus and internationally recognized surf photographer Sarah Lee are taking part in an 8-stop, 1,500+ mile epic surf and beach clean-up journey down the East Coast. The duo will be in search of the best breaks and host community beach clean-ups, all while ensuring each beach is left in better condition than how they found it.
“After seeing the positive impact that the Catch a Clean Wave program made on the West Coast, we knew that we needed to continue this important initiative by supporting our East Coast Ohana and help clean-up efforts at their favorite beaches from Maine to Florida,” said Ashlee Conrad, Brand Manager, Kona Brewing Co. “With summer beach season kicking off, we hope this program reminds beachgoers all over the world that every piece of trash collected counts and helps us all enjoy our beaches and waterways for years to come.”
Last summer, Kona, with partners Gudauskas and Lee, traveled from Washington to Southern California, stopping at a total of 15 beaches and collecting more than 240 pounds of trash. This year, in addition to having fans participate in beach clean-ups at every stop, individuals can also direct message Kona on Instagram @KonaBrewingCo to receive their own beach clean-up kit to help keep their favorite beach clean.
As reported by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, at least 14 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean year, with plastic making up 80% of all marine debris. On top of that, 80% of marine litter comes from land-based pollution, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. In an effort to combat marine litter and lower these jarring statistics, Kona is continuing its partnership with Save the Waves Coalition and making an impactful donation to bring additional awareness and support to the importance of ocean conservation.
As a result of our ongoing partnership with Kona, we have been able to engage even more consumers to further our mission and make a positive impact on preserving our surf breaks and coastlines,” said Nik Strong-Cvetich, CEO of Save The Waves Coalition. “Through the Catch a Clean Wave program, we hope to inspire consumers on the East Coast and beyond to take preservation into their own hands so we can continue doing what we love – surfing the cleanest waves – for generations to come. Download our Save the Waves app to start defending your own coastline today.”
Since its founding on the Big Island of Hawaii in 1994, Kona Brewing Company has remained deeply rooted in this special place, spreading its foundations of balance, respect for nature, community, and authenticity. Today, Kona brews, distributes, and markets the Kona portfolio outside of the Island of Hawaii to the mainland U.S. and more than 30 countries around the globe. The Kona brand family includes top-selling flagships Big Wave Golden Ale, Longboard Island Lager, and Kona Spiked Island Seltzers.
Save The Waves Coalition is a California-based nonprofit with a mission to protect surf ecosystems across the globe. Their conservation efforts have led to the protection and preservation of surf breaks and coastlines from California to Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Chile and beyond.
2022 Catch a Clean Wave Schedule:
* June 6: Long Sands Beach, Maine
* June 7: M Street Beach, Boston, Massachusetts (Beach clean-up only)
* June 8: 94th Street Beach, Rockaway, New York
* June 9: Asbury Park, New Jersey
* June 11: 1st Street Jetty, Virginia Beach, Virginia
* June 14: Tybee Island Pier, Savannah, Georgia
* June 15: Juno Beach Pier, West Palm Beach, Florida
* June 16: Cocoa Beach, Florida
PHOTO: Beach clean up at Doheny Beach, CA during Catch a Clean Wave 2021
