Iwalani Sato can't imagine the public outrage if thousands of Islanders started toting their daily rubbish down to the beach and casually heaved it in the ocean.

But what astonishes Sato more is the scant outcry over the tons of trash that ends up in the ocean each day through the city's storm drain system.

Yet Sato, a community relations specialist for the city's Storm Water Quality Branch, remains optimistic. Folks aren't outraged about garbage going into the sea through storm drains because many of them aren't aware of it. Heighten public awareness, she says, and you can begin to tackling the problem.

To that end, Sato coordinated yesterday's kickoff of the city's summer Adopt-A-Steam program with a combination street and stream cleanup in Kalihi, at the Banyan Courtyard next to Kaumakapili Church, and at nearby Kapalama Stream along Kokea Street.

"This effort was about raising awareness and getting the community involved," said Sato. "What we're trying to promote is the water quality — to get citizens involved in protecting our waterways. That's really what it comes down to."

People need to understand that throwing trash on the ground is the same as dumping it in the ocean — because that's where it's almost certain to end up, she said.

And junk in the water, some of it toxic, has become one of the biggest water quality problems on O'ahu, said Sato. The good news is that it's a problem the average resident can easily do something about.

Simply placing candy wrappers, cigarette butts and plastic foam cups in the wastebasket instead of pitching them out the car window virtually guarantees that those items won't wind up wreaking havoc in the ocean, she said.

Even children can understand the importance of not polluting the waterways.

Rios Nickepwi, 11, and Noah Iose, 9, were among those who had moved beyond passive involvement to actively engage in yesterday's volunteer cleanup.

"I decided I wanted to help the community," said Rios, who along with Noah stenciled "Dump No Waste" warning signs near storm drains.

Rios, who also volunteered for the last neighborhood cleanup, said he plans to do so again for the next cleanup on Oct. 4.

Meanwhile, dozens of gloved volunteers bearing heavy-duty trash bags fanned out at both locations collecting plastic bottles and bags, metal cans, rags, rusted wires, car parts, six-pack rings, paper fireworks refuse, and anything else that was destined to get rain-washed into storm drains, swept into Kapalama Stream, and ultimately whisked out to sea.

At one point, state Rep. Karl Rhoads, D-28th (Kaka'ako, Iwilei), paused to gaze in wonder at the enormous pile of trash at the corner of Kanoa and Banyan streets that included vehicle batteries and a pile of car and bike tires.

"Tires and batteries are the most troublesome because they're considered hazardous waste and they're supposed to be handled special," said Rhoads, who also was volunteering. "And let's see, we've got two wrecked motor scooters — tires and all — a lamp, a shopping cart, a bicycle, an old dresser drawer, a wooden beam with nails sticking out of it, and I'm not sure what this is ... an old parking meter pole, I think."

Yesterday's Department of Environmental Services Adopt-A-Stream effort had help from volunteers from the Honolulu Police Department's District 5, Kalihi Weed and Seed, Kaumakapili Church, Boy Scouts, Ka'iulani Elementary School, and numerous other organizations and businesses.

Following the morning's cleanup, volunteers were treated to cold drinks, snacks, watermelon, bananas, a T-shirt and a Pollution Tips packet with action tip sheets, a key chain and a ballpoint pen.

"People need to realize they can really make a difference," Sato said. "This has been a good example of how awareness can really be increased."