Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Participates in Earth Day Events

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- Service members attended Earth Day events in the Pearl Harbor area including the Navy Exchange (NEX) Mall at Pearl Harbor on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH) April 19-20.

The NEX held an Earth Day Expo that featured 12 exhibits by several local organizations, including the Department of Emergency Management, Hawaii State Civil Defense, American Red Cross as well as the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Kicking off the event was an announcement of an Earth Day coloring contest that was awarded to three first place winners in different age categories, Gabriel Brule Age 5, Julianna Brule Age 8 and Jasmine Holmes Age 10.

The winners received gift bags and their photos were taken with Rear Adm. Frank Ponds, commander, Navy Region Hawaii and Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific, his wife Carolyn and Capt. Jeffery James, commander, JBPHH.

Some of the attendees at the event shared their thoughts toward their efforts in benefiting the environment.

I think events likes these make you aware of what™s happening to our environment, especially living in Hawaii, it™s a beautiful place and we need to be aware that what we™re doing can affect it, said Li Yu of Mililani, Hawaii. My family does a lot of recycling at home and if we™re outdoors and happen to see trash lying around, like cans or bottles, we make sure it gets put in the right container.

Shawny Richardson-Acoba, Miss Aloha Islands, explained what Earth Day means to her.

Earth Day to me basically means to make sure we take care of our environment and that we get the word out on how we can take care of it, said Richardson-Acoba. Things that I do to make sure I™m taking care of our environment " I make sure I pick up my trash and recycle - these events are very important " we should have more of these, it™s getting the word out to our community on how to take care of it.

Additionally, Sailors, Airmen and their families participated in an Earth Day fair at Hickam Harbor on JBPHH.

It™s for the public to bring their kids and families out to enjoy Earth Day activities, said Gavin Doi, staff member of Hickam Harbor office. We have different harbor activities, including a touch pool, so they™re more aware of the ocean and the creatures in it. We also have booths where they can learn about conserving nature and things like that.

Chief Cryptologic Technician (Collection) Richard Wyatt, who recently moved to the Hawaii with his wife and two children, talked about the importance of letting his children participate in the fair.

I think it™s a great opportunity for the kids to learn how they can protect the environment and how they can make things better for their future, Wyatt said. It™s a great thing for them to learn about.

Among the many booths the fair had to offer was the 15th Aeromedical/Dental™s booth, represented by bioenvironmental engineer Skyla Spotkaeff.

What we do is, on our environmental side, we do air, water and soil sampling, explained Spotkaeff. For example, we go out and do brown water sampling. We basically take the samples and we get them analyzed by the Navy lab to make sure there™s nothing harmful in the water. We make sure the water is good for the people and make sure it™s good for their health.

This year™s theme, Partnering for a Greener Future, highlights the Navy™s partnerships with other military services, government agencies, local schools, non-governmental organizations and the public.

Earth Day, celebrated since 1970 and nationally recognized as April 22, reminds people of their commitment to environmental protection and community engagement.

Additional information about Navy Earth Day is available online at http://greenfleet.dodlive.mil/files/2011/12/20130422-Final-NED-Infographic.pdf, on facebook at www.facebook.com/navyfcurrents, and on twitter (@NavyCurrents).


For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Navy Public Affairs Support Element West, Det. Hawaii, visit www.navy.mil/local/pacenhawaii/.