Kai Lenny Crosses the Hawaiian Islands on Hydrofoils and Raises Awareness for Plastic Pollution

The Maui waterman crossed the channels of the Hawaiian Islands using hydrofoil shortboards, kiteboards, and stand-up paddleboards.
The Downwind Voyage for Change saw Kai Lenny traveling a total of 200 nautical miles between Hawaii, Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Oahu, and Kauai.
Kai Lenny raised awareness for plastic pollution in our oceans, alongside Dane Jackson, with a series of water clean-up operations on Earth Day - April 22, 2017.
Lenny took to the waters and shorelines of Hawaii's big islands for a plastic clean-up, while Dane Jackson led a team of fellow kayakers in Tennessee to fill five rafts with rubbish ranging from 40 tires to 60 roof shingles in just a three-mile stretch of the Nolichucky River.
For both men, the water has very much been their home, Jackson growing up on the aforementioned river, while Lenny is Hawaiian-born and remains a Maui inhabitant.
Both were appalled by the waste they were faced with.
Lenny, helped by locals across six islands, explained: "We can clean up all day, but we've got to figure out a way to stop the flow [of trash] and put a plug in it.
"Riding those waters, I learned how much trash is in the ocean. Now, I really want to bring awareness to it and make it a preventable thing."
To raise awareness, he traveled - occasionally in perilous waters - between the islands in all manner of water vessels, from his hydrofoil board to a kitesurf, to a traditional paddleboard and a plain old sailing boat for the final leg.
On every major island, he and his team cleaned up one beach in the hope of riding it of microplastics.
As he said: "It's all in the name of protecting our oceans and bringing awareness to the pollution that is microplastics on our shorelines and in our seas."
For Jackson, the pollution just below the surface of his home river was equally devastating to see close-up.
The 23-year-old was joined by ten local kayakers and raft guides for two laps of a three-mile stretch.
"I've spent my entire life in or around the river, and it's so mind-blowing that so many people just throw their trash in the river," said Jackson, one of kayaking's biggest names, at the conclusion of his river clean-up.
"Throwing trash in the river affects everything from wildlife to humans. Trash affects the entire ecosystem of a river. Some waste, like motor oil, is completely toxic, and other stuff, like plastic bags, just sticks around forever.
"It really comes down to ignorance and laziness because it just doesn't make any sense to throw trash in a river."
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[@surfertoday]

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE and hit that notification bell if you haven't already. Thank you. 🤙

[@AWSOMEGUY9]

open water swell surfing must feel incredible

[@kevinb5200]

So incredibly inspiring! The surfing, kiting, SUP is super in and of itself but the commitment to our planet is beyond words. I will be donating and pass this on. Mahalo.

[@straight2curveus]

inspiring how? a rich kid surfing on different islands

[@straight2curveus]

Picking up trash to improve his brand on youtube i don't see him picking up trash on surfer rider beach clean ups or picking up trash after or before a surf session.

[@andrewlove3686]

Kevin Butterbaugh please don't give these scammers money

[@WildTurtleTakeover]

Anyone who is criticizing this video because the board, paddle, kite, etc. are all plastic isn't getting the point. They want people to stop using plastic for daily use items that will be tossed away most likely within a few hours. THAT is the kind of debris that is polluting the ocean and causing problems. As far as I know, there is NO plastic pollution problem involving tons of surfboards, kites, and paddles polluting the ocean. The equipment he is using will most likely be in use for a few decades and at the end of their lifetime will most likely not just be tossed into the ocean. The idea that humanity gives up plastics for EVERYTHING is ridiculous and would set us back decades in technology/ material science.

[@baarni]

But he took food and drink wrapped in plastic from the guy on the boat while surfing on the board. Isn't that the "plastic for daily use items that will be tossed away most likely within a few hours" you are commenting about? As a matter of fact plastic fabrics, resins, paints and mouldings are a major contributor to environmental pollution. "The idea that humanity gives up plastics for EVERYTHING is ridiculous and would set us back decades in technology/ material science." I 100% agree, we just have to learn to live with this amazing and versatile material. Plastic is fine, it's our consumer habits that are the problem.

[@justbk]

The creation of plastics is also very damaging.

[@rafasimsim]

Thanks for caring for our planet 🌏

[@rooracer78]

Why on earth are there thumb downs for this? You guys are absolute legends.. Great stuff!

[@henrymorgan3982]

Good to see the next generation be out there and spread the word of our world. Thank you Kai!

[@ellijohns]

What an awesome cause and a terrific short video to promote a cleaner more sustainable earth for all. TWO thumbs up!!

[@peterjarnes25]

Love to see legends doing legendary things!

[@edwardkaneshiro6437]

God bless you Kai and your clean up crew!

[@bge2371]

Thank you so much for helping the earth I am only 12 so i can’t start something like that and I live in Cali but Might join a program like yours. And I surf

[@CoolestCoupleInTheWorld]

Amazing job! Thanks for all your help with our oceans!

[@luap1100]

224 thumbs down? What the...? How cynical does one have to be, not to get the gist of what happening here. Great job of taking action and creating awareness Kai and Team

[@72marshflower15]

It’s probably the RedBull sponsorship that turns people off...

[@Sprint-jj3fe]

233 when i viewed, i dont get it either

[@proudhawaiianz5524]

Fyi all the islands are called hawaii the islands has certain names.... I believe he was on oahu but he called it hawaii

[@proudhawaiianz5524]

But Good job cleaning up kai

[@nealcapuchino2524]

i live here in florida.....when we go kayaking around this beautiful state...we always take a trash bag to clean the river or beach we go to....i know its not much but we feel good and tired at the end of our adventures.....and hes right....we dont buy water in bottles anymore...no more straws....it amazes me when i see people on their kayaks throwing their food wrappings cigarette butts into the water....good job people!!!

[@blakehurst8695]

Its the same here in South Georgia in all the rivers we kayak, we always take as much out as possible

[@svendubliano9919]

you say you think its not much, but its all the difference in the world. Thank you.

[@Justinkyulee]

Ocean Plastic pollution is a huge global issue many are not aware of..

[@bilbobaggins2083]

People pollution is a much bigger issue

[@LeQuebecQuebecois]

it'S just beginning .going to double in the next 10 years and most of ocean dye from chemical poisoning.

[@halheywood3910]

I love plastic but I don't like puka shells

[@baranakin2]

@@SimonWoodburyForget Don't be stupid. You are comparing plastic which is in most cases not biodegradable to dead trees and dead bodies which are the total opposite. Fish, marine mammals and seabirds are being injured and killed by plastic pollution, and its it believed that 700 species could go extinct because of it. Current estimates suggest that at least 267 species worldwide have been affected, including 84% of sea turtle species, 44% of all seabird species and 43% of all marine mammal species - but there are probably many more. Deaths are chiefly caused by ingestion of plastics, starvation, suffocation, infection, drowning and entanglement.

[@KingKlong07]

It is thanks to people like you guys that this earth of ours will survive. Kudos on a job well done and may your movement be followed by all 👏🏼

[@ChrisSprenger.]

Faith in humanity restored ❤️

[@ChrisSprenger.]

Thanks for the hart 😬 much love from Canada 🇨🇦❤️✌️

[@tonymoore7805]

I support this environmental activism. This is practical and local. Well done and thank you!

[@ssonjaevensen6877]

Kai you are awesome! What a waterman! And I love your message about beach clean ups! Good on ya!

[@jeffotis6009]

Keep up the good work that you and your team are doing!!

[@ewaldsteven]

This dude is pure positive energy. What an inspiration.

[@funafter5081]

Monumental task...gotta start somewhere! I once had a fight with a friend because he littered and I picked up his litter and carried it a great distance to a garbage can. He actually got upset with me about picking up his litter!!! So, from that example, there are a lot of people working against you...how do you change the mindset of those people...they exist!? Keep up the good work! Cheers, John ;)

[@pyarepiyush]

why did he get upset

[@funafter5081]

Punte Dai...because I picked up his litter that he threw down on the ground in front of me...I guess he liked to litter and got mad at me because I didn't like to litter...

[@funafter5081]

That was 43 years ago...long forgotten...don't even know where the guy is...

[@wowenterprises2118]

Your friend got upset for calling out his utter lack of respect. Something that many of recent generations carry. They should all be strung up by their fucking toes and horsewhipped.

[@funafter5081]

That was over 40 years ago...hopefully he has changed hid ways. I don't even know where he is now or if he is even still alive. In any case, I still hate seeing people litter...especially ciggy butts and Tim Horton's coffee cups!!! grrrrrrr :(

[@wozow182]

Thank you for making this a priority!

[@0356danmcc]

Great job bro, the ocean gives us all life, sad to see how we repay it. Mahalo for your commendable efforts& shared awareness! And great surfing 🤙

[@astrocasterslivestreaming603]

Thank you for your amazing and inspiring video.

[@guillaumedes]

We can be as aware as can be in the west about plastic pollution, fact of the matter is developing countries aren't doing enough to ramp up their waste-management infrastructure or create awareness. Countries like China, India, the Philippines, Brazil or Algeria, where I'm often for work, together account for 90 % of plastic in the ocean. They don't seem invested one bit in this issue, they do almost noting not even educate their population so that they'd stop littering anywhere...

[@kanedashu]

It s because plastic is a problem of the richs, some parts of algeria have water on their tap , 1 day per week, poor people don t give a shit about plastic because they have other priorities. I m not trying to say it is right, but the west likes to give lessons, yet, algeria didn t conduct any nuclear test, and is not producing any nuclear wastage, oh even worst, if i remember correctly, France used to do their nuclear test in the Algerian Sahara cause it was their colony. see in the end, no one is clean.

[@WGJ791]

Fun true

[@Ayumaz]

The reason they don't care is the reason they're poor in the first place. They lack brain power.@@kanedashu

[@Kalanimauimusic]

We just have to stop using plastic, but easier said than done.

[@gutwounds]

@@Ayumaz some people in 3rd world countries are born poor and are stuck there. So many circumstances stand in the way of those born with this unfortunate start

[@felipeduque4620]

Ono Kai. What an awesome journey🤙🏼givem!

[@izzzzzz6]

Nice work with the trash cleanup guys, love the hydrofoil.

[@oops5414]

Thanks for the effort they make. I will reduce my individual plastic consumption wherever I can, as well as recycle the plastics I use wherever available opportunities make it practicable. Oh, and that hydrofoil surfboard. That's what got my attention to get here. The ecological protection stuff was a surprise. Mahalo.

[@aidenwindham9390]

Love what you’re doing 🤙🏽

[@jeremystarliper9411]

You guys Rock!!! An inspiration!

[@sethsc77]

Very cool. Nice work you guys! Great vid.

[@furlong337]

Solid! Thank you!!

[@tomkarrow8208]

outstanding Kai.

[@jt5439]

So inspiring!!!! Mahalo Nui Loa!!!! What a life, must be awesome... I MUA!!!

[@GameChanger-hj9jx]

Good stuff Kai & Crew!

[@sandipdas5684]

I never through any plastic waste in pond, river and ocean and tried to avoid take plastic bag while shopping.i took my won bag.Great job by all of you .

[@CaliBreeeze]

It's good to see positive things like this to help preserve our beautiful beaches more people need to be aware of how serious it is.. I live next to mavericks and will help spread the word as well

[@patandbrandi]

awesome story. great kid

[@arturocordoba4841]

felicitaciones por recoger el plastco podemos dejar un mundo mejor 🏄‍♂️🏄‍♀️♥️ saludos desde Costa Rica pura vida

[@_willalexander.88]

Great job!

[@deldridg]

Great positive contribution and thanks for sharing. No doubt you'll inspire others and create some great momentum. This world can do with a little less narcissism and a little more 'us' based thinking (or a shvtload). Cheers from Oz - Dave

[@surfn07]

PLASTIC SUCKS!!! Mahalo Kai 🤙🏽

[@stewdog22]

That's awesome. Sometimes I walk around my city with a garbage bag and wait until I fill it with trash. Everything helps.

[@jtomasik]

Great footage of the foil. Just got one to pull behind my boat, and using the chute/kite looks like a blast.

[@adayinthelife5772]

kiting is awesome. free power from God

[@YangYang-wp4vh]

Well done!

[@JUCKERHAWAII]

Great initiative 🤙🏽

[@surfertoday]

It sure is.

[@pinturagris]

I thank for the help to the ocean

[@Kernowking101]

Kai is one of the few celebrity surfers who uses his influence for good rather than to make money from his sponsors.

[@jamesdewer]

Such an amazing video. I've seen the water quality particularly in Pearl Harbor, over the last 20 years seriously decline. Oahu is bad but the plastic problem is island wide.

[@iisunny_parrot2797]

Awesome!

[@cleanseas7324]

👍nice work 🤙🏾

[@alexcarter8807]

There's a group called 808cleanups, they go and clean the beaches, and frankly it sounds like a lot of fun!

[@Flo-fm4nb]

Very cool idea

[@baylonaj]

bravo young man!

[@erinwhalen2686]

I don’t understand how the “hydrofoil” connects with this video

[@normanbaron8408]

Erin- obviously he got our attention. He’s raising awareness for everyone to take of our moana (ocean), our makai (mountain) and most important our AINA (our land) for all to enjoy and continue to enjoy! Mahalo Kai Lenny!🌴🤙🏾🌈🌋❤️🌺🌎

[@atlas_1802]

A hydrofoil is the thing on the surfboard, that’s how it connects.

[@menehunebeachbumboogie8430]

right on braddah Lenny!!!

[@shacktime]

Noble cause. Totally unrealistic approach to tackling what is a massive and complex issue.

[@VienerSchnitzel69]

The act of a few people picking up trash on one beach for a day does little to help clean the oceans of plastic. However, posting a video of cleaning up trash so that hundreds of thousands can be inspired to pick up a few pieces of trash can do a lot of good.

[@shacktime]

I used to think that. But I've lived nearly my entire life (pushing 50) on coastlines. People aren' getting the hint. I ALWAYS pick up trash on my way back from a surf. I even pull trash that floats by me out and stuff in in my wetsuit sleeve (I never see anyone do the same).

[@MsMesem]

Any trip anywhere in nature I end up picking up rubbish... how can you not?

[@MsMesem]

He should be supporting the plastic corrals that are being placed in the Pacific that collect plastic to be picked up and recycled. www.theoceancleanup.com/ People need to get to co operate and share ideas.

[@shacktime]

You're preaching to the choir.

[@jholid6y]

Looks like you guys cleaned up the local Hawaiian as well, gj guy🤘

[@IAMREIKI]

I enjoy longboarding here at my bch on a wildlife refuge and have been picking up trash where ever I go for many yrs now . Doing the right thing builds care loving kindness . When people litter in front of Me I've grown to learn to still be a Gentleman and ask kindly Please Pick that up .

[@seanhatch4425]

That's a Beautiful thing....

[@pietrozucci3971]

very good guys

[@isakpalsater4643]

Great work guys! you are an inspiration to all. :-)

[@maxshrapnel8998]

i'm trying to learn to walk and run again so i will be strong enough to try this and help more

[@hughess004]

mahalo guys for what you're doing, so saddening to see whats happening to our beaches. At Ala Moana everyday I see guys (mostly local sorry to say) using shampoo in the beach showers and throwing their plastic drink bottles on the ground within a few yards of trash cans.

[@element19961]

Hey guys I have a question: after you pick up the trash from the beach what do u do with it? The concern is I don't think people are throwing it in the ocean but the trash is finding its way in. It seems the underline problems are where and how we store or rid ourselves of trash. Maybe find/ construct procedures or programs that would be more effective?

[@AnujYadav-mr8do]

My full support for cleaning up all😮

[@pashmaster]

Mahalo, I love it when a message of hope is communincated within an community of people that find themselfs together/united taking action to make something better and incite better behaviour to save the planet and change our habits of consumption. But as Yvon Chouinard said, the most difficult thing for man to make is making a step backward, when we do someting in the wrong way. So next thought: Do we need Carbon fibre boards, paddels, Neoprene Wetsuits, Inflatable Kites, all made in China? There is probably loads of toxic stuff in the making of the equippment. For leisure sports.... not sure where we have to start to takle this polution problem. So my instinct just says right way....but what a long way to go to solve the consumer way of life. Still feel great about the spirit here.

[@flor.1986]

Thank you to raise awarness

[@eyke7225]

It's great that there are people who show commitment. But I have a question: What do you do with all the "hazardous waste"? Where is it disposed of?

[@surfertoday]

The waste is sent to recycled centers or sent to incineration. We believe they wouldn't be picking up trash and then left it on a beach.

[@zachfrazee3335]

👍🏼Love it

[@TheAgentAssassin]

I don't know why all plastic manufacturers aren't forced to produce biodegradable plastic for water bottles etc. Should be some sort of regulatory commission.

[@games1004]

TheAgentAssassin Yes, but research has shown that current blends of biodegradable plastics do almost nothing to the duration or way that they degrade. They can nearly call it “biodegradable” because they want to, if they put additives in it (without proper testing even.). We do need better regulations so that the labels actually mean something.

[@alexeastham4118]

Most of the biodegradable, biodegrade in 10 years

[@pr4wn5tar]

To the "plastic surfboard" people ... they said we can help by stop using SINGLE-USE plastic items! Like takeaway cups, plastic bags, packaged food and all that stuff.

[@taradead]

every time I see all those sheep in line at the starbucks drive-thru, I want to snipe them all off the earth. I see exponentially more discarded starbucks plastic cups on the sidewalks than any other.

[@jeffreyturnage360]

Awesome

[@jerrydelyea5820]

WOW, GOOD STUFF PEOPLE!! We need more action like this before we wipe ourselves out . Cheers to you all!

[@alexcarter8807]

How many glass floats did you find?

[@wolffgang101]

I lived in Hawaii for a couple years and loved it. I always enjoyed the nature along with the beaches and disliked seeing trash in all that beauty. I'm from California and it's worse here for the trash

[@Visionery1]

Damn, look at those swells!

[@peakperformancetrain]

So once it’s all collected where does it go then into a dumpster ? And where does it go then ? And where does it go then ? And where does it go after that ? Seriously want to know can we turn plastic back into elemental structures cost efficiently?

[@supersub8856]

easiest way to start helping is using reusable drinking bottles..... but a can of red bull always goes. hahah

[@Patbwoy]

Someone please explain, who or what pulls these guys through the water? I don't see no sail nor rope. Do they have a tiny engine under water? I don't get it!

[@socomao3]

I was in the Navy onboard an aircraft carrier. You wouldn't believe the things they allow to be thrown overboard.

[@leadslinger492]

the man the myth the legend

[@lexnuss791]

"One word Benjamin: Plastic." - The Graduate, the late sixties movie

[@taradead]

every time I go to the beach, I spend a few hours picking up plastic garbage...people look at me like I'm crazy

[@HealthyPlanet]

Good People!

[@tekisasuproductions4609]

Cool video. Great job cleaning up the beaches and spreading the word about one time plastic usage. I think people should not view themselves just as consumers. If that was the case then the best way to solve most environmental problems would just be to kill yourself. We are more than consumers (though many advertisers would like to make us believe otherwise). We are also political activists and positive environmental influencers. Make your politicians understand that good recycling patterns are important to you. Make them know that corporations should also bare this burden, not the individual alone, who is the least responsible part for most pollution and energy use. Lastly, remember the great achievements of humanity. Humanity is beginning to understand our position as stewards of the earth. There are great technologies that people are developing, little by little, to help us live in better ambiance with nature while still providing us with a solution for our energy based society. Stay positive and Pura Vida amigos.

[@Sonsterod]

I like this video! It is positive and progressive. Hope you will have more people to understand the beauty and humbleness we all share for these waters. And other waters as well.I also like your attitude to your sport. It is far from hyped and shows up real interest. My name is Lars Sönsteröd and I have à similar passion for sports close to my backyard here in Sweden. It's easy to find me on KZbin as well.....

[@swipenderswiper9575]

Sice guys!

[@gageforeman893]

What is the name of the song at 2:06?

[@surfertoday]

"Woman Woman" by Awolnation. ;)

[@natewright7951]

Bro what did he do with all the plastic? Did he throw it out?

[@sandipdas5684]

What is the beautiful song, please let me know....

[@ThePerpetualStudent]

Massive respect for taking care of the beaches. Don't forget the cities too, tons of trash.

[@cluelessbeekeeping1322]

I'm so glad you're out there picking up the trash on the beaches. I feel so much less guilty now (I always use my local creek to throw my trash out, mainly the plastic). I burn the paper. Again, thanks for your contribution to making this planet clean!

[@knaiad]

Am I reading this right? You still throw plastic trash in your local creek, even after watching this video??

[@cluelessbeekeeping1322]

@@knaiad Absolutely...In fact, I drive a large dually which takes 6-1/2 gallons of oil. I Just changed it, I'll recycle it at my local creek. You know, give back to the earth what its graciously given us! Thanks for the inspiration man!

[@murrayhiscock240]

I’m inspired

[@TacoPete]

Bringing awareness to the overuse of plastics by riding on a plastic board with plastic paddles.

[@Alex-oz6xh]

looks fun

[@raindogred]

I live and surf in Indonesia and plastic problem is out of control, and as I write this in July 2017..environmental issues are not even on the school curricullum, and local council does not provide a collection service for garbage. Trash is disposed in each neighbourhood where they burn it. Lazy/poor people dump their waste in creeks and rivers, and after each big downpour of rain the beach i surf at has 1000's toothbrushes, lighters, baby diapers and plastic bags going for miles. The solution has to be to somehow make mining plastic from the ocean profitable, so that people all around the world will clean up this mess, and be able to earn a good living. win win 4 everyone. Good on Kai and the crew for highlighting this issue..its far worse than most can imagine..

[@MsMesem]

Wow and with the Indonesian population being so large and increasing rapidly this is a huge concern. The locals seem more concerned about making women wear polyester head scarves than anything related to population. Java already imports rice since decades as they can't be self sufficient in this.

[@ivarellefsenmentz7446]

reminds me of the hawaii southpark episode

[@robcase6299]

I can donate more plastic bottles for your cleanup parties! I'll just deposit them in here in Tokyo Bay.