Surfrider Ocean Friendly Restaurant Certification
Our “Restaurant on the Water” is Certified Ocean-Friendly!
Holo Holo Charters is proud to be partnered with Surfrider Foundation and join its team of passionate “Coastal Defenders”
Holo Holo Charters received the Ocean Friendly Restaurant certification in 2018. Removing single-use plastics was accomplished many years ago, with a commitment to utilize reusable dishes, flatware and serving items instead. Our menu is catered using locally sourced ingredients and island produce wherever possible.
Holo Holo Charters has always championed environmental conservation and sustainability in its business practices and community outreach. Educating our visitors about eco-friendly choices has always been at the forefront of our business model, as such we are the only Kauai tour boat company to be certified as “Dolphin Smart”, a NOAA credential for companies who demonstrate responsible viewing of marine life. In addition, we continue to promote only non-toxic, reef-friendly sunscreens by providing Raw Elements, a certified natural, mineral-based sunscreen, complimentary for passengers on board all tours.
As dedicated water people, sailors, surfers and islanders, we have a unique perspective on the collective effort necessary to protect our reefs, oceans, marine life and coastlines. We love sharing our beautiful island home with visitors who quickly grasp the delicate balance and pristine beauty of the stunning and remote destinations we visit on our tours. As we work and play on the water, we have daily reminders of the precious marine ecosystems which can be negatively impacted by human activities and pollution.
The threat to turtles, birds, fish and mammals were the impetus for the Ocean Friendly Restaurant program. Plastic pollution is suffocating our ocean and the many animals that call it home. Researchers estimate that there are now over 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic in the ocean and that number grows daily. So, what is the best way to combat this global epidemic facing our ocean? Simply stopping the problem at its source. The Surfrider Foundation’s Ocean Friendly Restaurant program does just that, one restaurant and one customer at a time. This increases awareness, drives change in behavior and ultimately creates scalable impact to reduce our plastic footprint.
Our Captains and Crew consider it a privilege to be able to contribute to ocean cleanup. We regularly find floating trash piles as we travel the ocean, most commonly derelict fishing gear, nets and buoys, with consumer plastics trapped in the pile, often weighing hundreds of pounds or more. These hazards pose a serious risk to boaters, reefs and marine life. When we encounter large marine debris during a tour, we will stop to retrieve it and transport it back to shore. We work with Surfriders “Net Patrol” program who collects the debris for proper disposal.
The Surfrider Foundation is world-renowned, has chapters nationwide and in Canada. Surfrider is active in protecting our coastlines by providing volunteers who conduct water-quality testing, organize beach clean-ups, and lobby our legislature to pass laws that protect and defend our oceans and waterways.
The Ocean Friendly Certification is awarded to restaurants that eliminate Styrofoam and plastic bags, implement proper recycling techniques, and provide reusable tableware when dining in-house. Check out Surfrider Ocean Friendly Restaurant for a list of restaurants in your area.