This quarter, we’re so excited to recognize the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps (USNSCC), NAS Puunene Division, for the incredible work they’ve been doing on the Maui Veterans Highway. Their hard work recently earned them the No Ka Oi Highway Hui Award from the State of Hawaii Department of Transportation, and it’s easy to see why!

The Maui Sea Cadets officially joined the program in 2024, taking on a two-mile stretch of Route 311. For this group of young leaders, cleaning this specific highway is about more than just picking up litter. As administrator Mitsue Okamura Eldredge explained, “This is a veterans’ highway, and we are Sea Cadets and we like to honor our veterans. That’s what we do.”

The cleanups have turned into a great way for the cadets to see the direct results of their hard work. It’s been a real learning experience, especially for 8th grader Cadet Damon Ramos. He shared that Adopt-A-Highway “taught me in particular that the littlest removal of trash can make a big difference,” and added that “you can just start by picking up trash wherever you can – in the park, on the highway, on your own. Eventually, your work will not go to waste.”

We want to thank the Maui Sea Cadets for their hard work and for showing so much respect for our island and our veterans. Even though they are a young group, their impact is huge. Their consistency ensures that the road into South Maui stays clean, and by working together, they are proving that local action makes a big difference, one cleanup at a time.