My father is a fisherman. We live on the island of Kaua'i, where my mother is a teacher in the first grade and grows coconuts to sell. I am in the eleventh grade, but on spare days I often go out with Dad.

This one time, I was out with Dad on our boat, fishing for ahi- a kind of tuna- when our boat suddenly stopped. I didn't notice the jolt at first, as I'd just gotten a bite on my line and was busy reeling the fish in, but I did notice when the fish came out in a burst of plastic. I unhooked the fish and placed it in the bathtub we kept on deck for that purpose, then turned to Dad.

"Dad, why is there so much plastic?"

He replied: "Ah, Makani. It is the people's fault. We have been using plastic and throwing it into the sea as a way of disposal. Now see what has happened because of our folly."

He guided my gaze with a gentle but firm hand until I saw a miles-wide strip of ocean all covered in plastic. Plastic bottles, bags, containers, nets; it was all there. I was horrified. More horrified than when the teacher had me recite a poem in front of the whole school in third grade. I am dyslexic, and it is hard for me to read. I was so embarrassed when I stumbled over my words. But this sight was worse- it nearly made me vomit.

"How could people do this? It has to be killing the sea animals!" I complained, clutching my stomach. The sea creatures are my friends, and sometimes also my food. I could not help but be shocked by the disrespect people are showing them.

Dad placed his hand on my shoulder. His hand was warm and comforting. "It is, my son. You remember the turtle you found when you were ten? You named him Kai."

The name Kai brought up memories I'd rather not remember. The turtle Kai was very cute, but he died several days after I found him on the seashore. But I didn't understand how Kai was connected to this giant mass of plastic garbage.

"How is he connected to this-" I waved my arm around, trying to encompass the plastic area. "Abomination?

Dad shook his head sadly. "After he died, I took him to the veterinarian for an X-ray, to know what killed him. Kai swallowed plastic, Makani. It's what killed him."

I scowled. I wanted to restore Kai to life. My desire to destroy the plastic patch was unbearable. I knew what I had to do, and I knew it wouldn't be easy. But my hatred of the killer plastic was overwhelming. It surrounded everything I knew, meaning that I had to do something about it.

That day, I swore to never stop working to remove plastic from the face of the earth. It was my life goal, and I wouldn't sit down and rest until it was completed. This is for our earth's many oceans!