When you visit our cafe, you might be surprised to find that we ask $0.25 for each one of the paper straws that leaves through our doors. I know what you are probably thinking, “Ridiculous! Will the islands stop at nothing to push me over the edge into bankruptcy?!”. But before passing judgement, allow us to explain ourselves.

The United States as a whole plow through an astounding 500 million disposable drinking straws – not in a year, or even a month, but in ONE. DAY.  Of those straws, over 7.5 million end up in our oceans where they become hazardous to the beautiful creatures that reside there.

Maui is an island. And on islands, there is only so much space before garbage and waste begin to find its way to the shoreline. At Belle Surf we love our honu, kohola, mano, and all other life that find homes among the surrounding reefs. We feel it is our responsibility to be conscientious, and we love to inspire others to understand the importance of protecting our Earth!

Minimizing the use of plastic straws is just the beginning! Our business is grateful to partner with other organizations who are doing so much for ocean conservation, such as Surfrider Foundation and Pacific Whale Foundation. In fact, that quarter you might have spent on a paper straw on your last visit to the cafe went directly to Surfrider, as do all proceeds from the straws. We also love seeing other Maui locals jump on board with ocean-friendly products. Our friends at Wahi Straws and Lahaina Organics make it easy and fun to do the right thing for the planet with reusable bamboo straws and reef-safe suncreen.

Your choices don’t have to be dramatic to make a difference! Something as small as a straw can be the catalyst to spark big change. As individual’s mindsets shift, talk of eradicating plastic straws all together has been excitedly spreading throughout the island. Maui has even enjoyed an increase in the Hawaiian green sea turtle population in recent years for the first time since they were added to the endangered species list! What may at first seem like a mild inconvenience in our everyday lives can transform into healthy and flourishing oceans. Totally worth it, yeah?

So the next time you join us for a smoothie or cold brew, skip the straw or support our partners by choosing an alternative, like paper straws, and you can leave with a big smile on your face and a joyful heart knowing you help keep Maui clean and beautiful!