KAILUA, KONA — The old adage about a little hard work never hurting anyone rang true for 17-year-old Dennis Honey.

He and fellow members of Boy Scout Troop 120 were among the nearly 80 people who volunteered yesterday to clean up after the Ironman World Championship.
Crews dismantled tents, deconstructed scaffolding, ramps, barricades and bike racks, hauled trash, rolled up carpet, as well as cleaned debris leftover following the race. Several volunteers began their duties immediately after the triathlon's final cut off of midnight or before daybreak. Their goal was to have the streets of Kona and Kailua Pier back to normal by noon.
Given the scope of Ironman, the cleanup can be grueling for the volunteers, who repeatedly said they were glad to help. They also expressed gratitude for the breakfast provided by Konawaena High School's culinary arts program.
More than 500,000 items must be set-up, put together, washed, cleaned, picked up or disposed of during the world championship. By the end, volunteers at 44 stations had hand out 46,600 bicycle bottles, 235,000 paper cups, 56 cases of oranges, 66 cases of bananas and more than 20,000 gallons of fluid replacements, soda, water and soup, according to the World Triathlon Corp.
Volunteers gathered and recycled the used items, as well as picked up the leftover mess. "Sweep" trucks started the gathering process after the last athlete cleared the bike course Saturday. Organizations that help staff race week events and aid stations take the "HI-5" redeemable items and keep the profits. Last year's volunteers filled two 40-foot shipping containers, recycling 98 percent of what was used along the course, said Rosalind Butterfield, recycling coordinator.
While doing the post-race cleanup is not a glamorous job, transition director David Huerta said everyone has a good time and many enjoy having the opportunity to support other people. What Huerta likes most about Ironman is what the world-class sporting event does for the community, pumping money into the island economy and showcasing residents' "aloha spirit." He also mentioned the Ironman Foundation, which make charitable contributions to local organizations.
Konawaena High School senior Genevieve Krier, 17, spent most of Saturday volunteering at an aid station and cheering for competitors with her peers in the National Honors Society.
Despite the long day, Krier still woke up at 3:30 a.m. yesterday to arrive on time at the pier, where the cheerleading captain and her squad had agreed to donate their time. She said the squad felt "youth should be involved in their community." Earlier in the week, the squad had pumped up the crowd while riding on the transition crew's float in the Ironman Parade of Nations.
Krier said she was proud of her fellow cheerleaders for "busting their booties and doing whatever needed to be done without any complaints."
Liam Milburn, of the Kealakehe High School JROTC and Boy Scout Troop 120, said it was "pretty cool" watching triathletes from different countries compete in the test of endurance Saturday. The experience catapulted the 15-year-old boy's desire to do triathlons and maybe even the world championship when he's older.
Milburn said he volunteered yesterday for two reasons. The first, his dad said so. The second, he feels good about giving back to the athletes who gave him something — inspiration.