Group Going Beyond Reef In Cleanups

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Hawaii Kai residents Suzanne Frazer and Dean Otsuki, founders of Beach Environmental Awareness Campaign Hawaii, have won the 2008 Living Reef Award in the non-government organization category.

“We feel very honored to receive the Living Reef award,” said Frazer. “It’s an award that recognizes the hard work that we’ve been doing out there to help the reef and the marine life.”

Coral Reef Outreach Network gives the awards to those who are active in coral reef conservation and further education on reef ecosystems for preservation.

Frazer and Otsuki were nominated for organizing beach cleanups, participating in the cleanups, campaigning to reduce litter statewide and increase use of reusable bags.

“We were surprised to win, because we’re not a well-known organization that’s been around a long time, or gets a lot of government funding. In fact we don’t get any government funding,” Frazer said. “It just shows that a few people can really make a difference, and that if you really put your mind to something or see a problem and want to help, you can.”

Frazer and Otsuki recently visited schools all over Oahu to educate students about the harmful effects plastics can have on the marine environment. The visits were related to last month’s Marine Debris Awareness Month and an Oct. 22 forum at the state capitol.

For more information, call 393-2168 or visit http://www.b-e-a-ch.org.