About 170 dentists, family members and staff turned out yesterday to clean up Ala Moana Beach Park after the Independence Day celebration.

It was no small task, as more than 30,000 people had turned out the night before, on a dazzling Fourth of July, to munch on everything from fried chicken and pizza to sushi and watch the fireworks splashing in vivid colors over the boundless blue Pacific.

Sean Holliday, a dentist from 'Aiea, said the Hawaii Dental Association did the cleanup as a public service.

"We did it last year at Sandy Beach, but the need here seems to be greater," he said. "Last year, things just weren't that trashy at Sandy Beach. There was lots of stuff to pick up here today."

Indeed, as the piles of trash bags attested.

There were also scores of folks from Central Pacific Bank helping out.

"We're dedicated," said Central Pacific Bank employee Virgin Callorina of Salt Lake.

"We try to help out the community in any way we can," said Cheryl Iloveno.

Judy Devereux, who lives on Prospect Street, was there with her daughter, Tia, 5, who said she wants to be a singer when she grows up, "like Beyonce."

Considering the thousands who packed the park the night before, things were safe and clean Saturday night, and pretty sedate yesterday morning. People were swimming, picnicking and extremely laid-back.

"It's Hawai'i," one man lying on the sand said. "It's 'ohana."