Hawaii Surfer Turns Old Boards into Beach Cleanup Stations

Every beach walk in Hawaii just became an opportunity to make a difference, thanks to surfboards that aren't riding waves anymore.

Thomas Forney, founder of Hi-Kine Unlimited and a lifelong surfer, noticed two problems colliding on Oahu's beaches. Trash kept washing up on shore, and old surfboards kept ending up in landfills when they reached the end of their useful life.

His solution connects both issues beautifully. Forney now collects discarded surfboards and transforms them into bright cleanup stations stationed at beaches across the island. Each upcycled board holds nets and buckets that anyone can grab during their beach walk.

The stations have appeared at beaches like Makapuu Beach Park, inviting beachgoers to pick up trash as naturally as they'd pick up shells. No special trip required, no complicated commitment, just grab the supplies and clean as you go.

Forney funds the creation and maintenance of these cleanup stations through another mindful product: sustainable travel maps. Every map sold directly supports keeping the upcycled stations stocked and ready.

These aren't ordinary tourist maps. Printed on waterproof stone paper instead of traditional materials, each map guides visitors through Hawaii's major islands with cultural context and historical significance. They explain why certain locations matter and encourage travelers to experience Hawaii as a living culture rather than a theme park.

The maps serve as an intentional antidote to smartphone apps. Forney wanted people to unplug, stay present, and hold onto something tangible after their vacation ends. It's a souvenir that teaches mindfulness.

The Ripple Effect

What started as one surfer's frustration with beach litter has grown into a movement available across four Hawaiian islands. The maps now stock shelves in over 80 stores across Oahu, Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii Island.

Every purchase creates a circle of care. A visitor buys a map to explore responsibly, that money funds cleanup stations, locals and tourists use those stations to remove trash, and beaches stay healthier for the next generation. The discarded surfboards that would have taken up landfill space instead spend years helping protect the shorelines they once rode.

Forney bridged the gap between tourism and stewardship by making it incredibly simple to participate.

Anyone walking Hawaii's beaches now has an open invitation to give back, one piece of trash and one upcycled surfboard at a time.