Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii

What Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii does

Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii (SCH) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2010 in Kaimuki, Hawaii, focused on inspiring communities to care for coastal environments through beach cleanups, environmental education, and waste diversion. The organization operates programs across Oahu and Molokai, reaching 42,980+ volunteers through 336 cleanups and 540 community and private events, and engaging 45,068 students through its (Re)Learning educational program in K-12 public, private, and Hawaiian Immersion schools. To date, SCH reports removing 700,000+ pounds of marine debris from Hawaii coastlines and diverting 400,000 pounds from the traditional waste stream through its Resource Recovery program. Core programs include Cleanups & Restoration, (Re)Learning, Resource Recovery, Corporate Cleanups, and DIY Cleanup Kits, supported by civic engagement workshops (SCHivics 101), a Core Volunteer Program, signature events (Coastlines & Community Festival, Trashion Show Fundraiser), and educational content via the SCHtories blog and Resources Hub.

SCH generates revenue through individual donations and recurring SCHmember memberships, corporate sponsorships and foundation grants (premiere partners include 11th Hour Racing, Helmsley Charitable Trust, Kosasa Foundation, and Purelei), cause-marketing partnerships (Purelei and Slowtide donate 5% of sales), and corporate team-building cleanup services. The organization employs approximately 16 named full-time staff plus interns and a large volunteer base, governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Jack Kittinger (Conservation International VP) and led by Executive Director Rafael Bergstrom since 2019. SCH holds a four-star Charity Navigator rating and a Gold Transparency Badge from GuideStar, and operates celebrity ambassadorship with Jason Momoa. There is no technology product, software platform, or AI capability; SCH's offering is fundamentally a community-driven service delivery model anchored in volunteer mobilization, cultural relevance to Hawaii, and ecosystem partnerships.

Name

Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii

Legal name

Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii

Website

https://sustainablecoastlineshawaii.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2010 that runs beach cleanups, environmental education, and waste diversion programs across Oahu and Molokai, serving volunteers, K-12 students, corporate partners, and community members in Hawaii.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Remediation and Other Waste Management Services (5629)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks) (THAAAIAH)

Keywords

• Beach cleanup programs
• Marine debris removal
• Environmental education
• Waste diversion services
• Coastal conservation nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Honolulu

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Membership: SCH generates revenue through individual donations and their SCHmember recurring donation program. The website features multiple donation CTAs and a dedicated membership campaign.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: The organization receives funding from corporate sponsors and partners including premiere partners (11th Hour Racing, Helmsley Charitable Trust, Kosasa Foundation, Purelei) and various sponsor companies.
3. Corporate Cleanup Services: SCH offers private and corporate cleanup programs where businesses can sponsor team-building environmental activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that organizes community beach cleanups, coastal restoration events, and environmental education programs across Hawaii. Its core services include large-scale volunteer cleanups, the (Re)Learning K-12 education program, Resource Recovery waste-diversion services, Corporate Cleanup team-building events, free DIY Cleanup Kits, and SustainEvents zero-waste consulting. The organization is funded primarily through donations, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants.

Product overview

Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii operates as a grassroots nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of environmental programs organized around two pillars: Inspiration and Action. The core offerings include Cleanups & Restoration (large-scale beach cleanups), (Re)Learning (environmental education for students and adults), Resource Recovery (waste diversion services), Corporate Cleanups (team-building business events), and DIY Cleanup Kits (enabling self-organized cleanups). Supporting programs include SustainEvents (zero-waste event consulting), SCHivics 101 (civic engagement education), the Core Volunteer Program, and the SCHtories blog. The organization also hosts signature events including the Coastlines & Community Fest and Trashion Show Fundraiser. The Resources Hub provides curated educational content. This is not a technology product company—it does not offer a software platform, API, or SaaS product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cleanups & Restoration
• (Re)Learning
• Resource Recovery
• Corporate Cleanups
• DIY Cleanup Kits
• SustainEvents
• SCHivics 101
• Core Volunteer Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 700,000+ pounds of debris removed from Hawaii coastlines
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• SlowtideminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCreated a collaborative collection with Hawaii-based artists; 5% of every purchase supports SCH. Slowtide co-founders curate the collection reflecting appreciation for Hawaii's creative community.
• ParleyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram contributor through SustainEvents and Corporate Cleanup programs. Partnership with Free the Ocean funds plastic removal through daily trivia - each correct answer funds removal of 1 piece of plastic.
• World Surf LeagueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram contributor through SustainEvents and Corporate Cleanup programs supporting beach cleanups.
• 1 800 Got JunkminorOthersService sponsor providing junk removal services for cleanup operations.
• Na Kama KaiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner organization working with SCH on ocean conservation and education.
• Kokua Hawaii FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner; collaborated on MLK cleanup with 253 volunteers removing over 1,000 pounds of marine debris in Kahuku.
• NOAAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing scientific guidance and support for marine debris research.
• Surfrider FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner organization focused on protecting oceans, waves, and beaches.
• Zero Waste OahuminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner focused on reducing waste and creating circular economy on Oahu.
• Bishop MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner providing educational resources and museum access for SCH programs.
• Protectors of ParadiseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner organization working on environmental protection.
• Hawaii Green GrowthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner part of Hawaii Green Growth network working on statewide sustainability goals.
• Jason MomoaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerActor and environmental activist serving as SCH ambassador, participating in beach cleanups and educational initiatives.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Ocean Conservancy: Large, established U.S. marine conservation NGO running the International Coastal Cleanup and broader policy advocacy; the category leader for marine debris and ocean protection, against which SCH is a regional specialized alternative.

Direct peers

• Kupu Hawaii: Hawaii environmental nonprofit operating conservation and youth workforce programs across the islands; comparable to SCH on Hawaii-based environmental programming and as an employer of conservation corps members (Kupu ʻĀina Corps).
• Hawaii Wildlife Fund: Hawaii-based nonprofit doing coastal and marine debris removals, native species protection and restoration; the closest in-state peer to SCH on geographic overlap and core activity set.
• The Ocean Cleanup: Nonprofit focused on developing and deploying technologies to remove plastic from oceans and rivers; directly comparable to SCH on the marine debris mission, with SCH executing beach/land-based cleanups and Ocean Cleanup focused on open-water and river intercepts.
• Surfrider Foundation: Coastal stewardship nonprofit running beach cleanups, education and advocacy across the U.S.; directly comparable to SCH because Executive Director Rafael Bergstrom was Surfrider's O'ahu Chapter Coordinator, and SCH partners with Surfrider in Hawaii.
• Heal the Bay: California-based marine conservation nonprofit running beach cleanups, education and policy advocacy; a strong analog to SCH's integrated cleanup/education/advocacy model in a different coastal geography.
• Plastic Pollution Coalition: Global advocacy coalition working to end plastic pollution through policy, education and corporate engagement; comparable to SCH's anti-plastic advocacy work and SCHivics 101 civic engagement workshops.
• 5 Gyres: Research-and-advocacy nonprofit focused on plastic pollution science, policy and education; aligned with SCH's plastic analysis (254,313 pieces analyzed) and SCHivics 101 advocacy programming.
• Sustainable Coastlines (New Zealand): The original New Zealand coastal cleanup nonprofit that directly inspired SCH's founding in 2010; operates the same beach-cleanup-and-education model in the Pacific and shares resources, programs and brand.

Others

• NOAA Marine Debris Program: Federal government program that funds and conducts marine debris removal, research and outreach; an SCH partner (NOAA appears in SCH's partnership list) and a programmatic comparator, but not a direct fundraiser or event operator.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/sustainablecoastlineshawaii
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCbuatJsOxMI2lCm0h52f3Rg
• Facebookfacebook.com/sustainablecoastlineshawaii
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sustainable-coastlines-hawaii
• Instagraminstagram.com/sustainablecoastlineshawaii

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii