Waimea Plantation Cottages joins Surfrider Organization for Beach Cleanup on Kauai

Beautifully positioned along the shoreline of West Kaua’i and within a short distance to many of the island's most breathtaking natural landscapes, Waimea Plantation Cottages in mid-April hosted the Surfrider Foundation, Kauaʻi Chapter, for a beach cleanup along the shoreline of the property. With its history of conservation and beach location, it was a logical site for the community to gather. The goal? To work as a community to remove all the trash, fishing nets and garbage that didn’t belong on Waimea Beach.  

“A couple of years had passed since the last organized beach cleanup in front of the resort. We felt the time was right to partner with Surfrider, our guests, and the community to help keep Kauai’s shoreline healthy and vibrant,” said Gregg Enright, general manager at Waimea Plantation Cottages. “By removing fishing nets, garbage, and plastic items from the beach, we can keep those things out of the ocean, protecting both sea life as well as our environment. Keeping our beach pristine contributes to the preservation of Hawaii’s ocean and contributes to  Kauai being a desirable place to live and to visit.”

In celebration of Earth Day, Surfrider joined the property’s staff, its guests, and Waimea Plantation Cottages to clean up anything man-made, including plastic pollution, along the 2-mile-long black sand walking beach. The group collected more than 250 lbs. of plastic fishing nets and trap fragments, carpet remnants, microplastics, a used tire and other trash that has washed ashore.

Marine debris remains a global issue that can, in part, be addressed by the removal of pollution that poses harm to fish and birds as plastic can look like food and be mistakenly ingested.  Another grave issue facing sea life is the derelict fishing nets in the oceans. These nets can cause injury to whales, monk seals, turtles, dolphins and many other creatures as the nets can ensnare, hurt and sometimes kill these animals.

Throughout the year, Surfrider organizes beach cleanup events that support public education efforts and itemizes what is picked up to provide underlying data needed to bolster the organization's plastic pollution advocacy campaigns. Joining one of Surfrider’s beach cleanups, participants become aware of the impact of waste-related beach debris, while actively removing litter and preserving beautiful public spaces for everyone to enjoy.

“My team and I were excited to partner with Waimea Plantation Cottages as well as Westside volunteers, guests and staff from the resort, “ said Barbara Wiedner of Surfrider Kauai Chapter. “We had 52 volunteers pitch in, many of whom were children who we hope will grow up to be ‘Ocean Ambassadors’. It is so important to maintain a clean beach and ocean ecosystem as it enhances both living and visiting Kauai. And of course, it is critically important for the marine life.”

Destination for the eco-conscious traveler

Guests embrace the spirit of aloha at Waimea Plantation Cottages, which provides an oasis of calm in the heart of one of Kauai's most distinctive regions. The island’s secluded resort is set on 43 oceanfront acres of lush tropical landscaping. Blessed with an idyllic location from which to watch sunsets and stargaze, the resort resonates with discerning, sustainably minded travelers who appreciate slow, relaxing travel experiences in authentic places that preserve the cultural heritage of Hawaii.

Many travelers are now looking to slow their overly programmed lives and enjoy rest, time to reflect to reconnect with themselves and their loved ones. They are also more mindful of the environmental impact of travel. Each cottage offers a fully equipped kitchen, living area, and a private lanai. Guests can prepare and share meals in the comfort of their cottage. Not only is this a healthy choice, but it’s also a simple way to reduce their carbon footprint instead of driving to a restaurant.

Waimea Plantation Cottages is Kauai’s Historic Hotel

Established in 1884 as a dairy and then a working sugar cane plantation, Waimea Plantation Cottages was reborn as a resort in 1984. Each of the 59 one- to five-bedroom cottages has a unique floor plan with comfortable Hawaii-style furnishings. Most of the historic cottages carry a nameplate next to the front doorframe with the surname of a plantation worker who once called the cottage home. The 43-acre property is landscaped with tropical plants, mature trees and expansive green lawn areas providing a sense of serenity and quiet. Walking along the beach guests are treated to spectacular sunsets with the island of Niihau in the background.

Over recent years, amenities have been added to the cottages for today’s guests who expect modern comforts in a vacation home. These improvements include the paving of the dirt roads on the property, air conditioning in all the cottages, an oceanfront pool and an on-property restaurant.

In addition, guests will enjoy the resort's standard complimentary amenities:

• Free parking
• Free guest laundry
• Free recent-release DVD rentals for in-cottage viewing
• No check-out cleaning fees

Waimea Plantation Cottages welcomes a diverse range of guests from both domestic and international places. Voted the #1 Boutique Hotel on Kauai for 2025 by readers of Hawaii Magazine, and offer a perfect destination for both family vacations and romantic getaways. For those seeking a place to sit back and relax, and those who want to visit the world-class natural wonders of West Kauai, there is something for everyone to enjoy.