Honolulu, April 12, 2024 – Last week, 20 Oceanit employees and their families gathered at ‘A’ala Park to volunteer for the annual “A Day on the Land” community impact event hosted by the Trust for Public Land (TPL). ‘A’ala Park is located close to Oceanit’s offices in downtown Honolulu, an urban oasis that is within a 10-minute walk for 18,000 city residents. The park has suffered from what TPL calls “disinvestment” in recent decades, making the park unwelcoming to the community. TPL, Oceanit, and other local businesses and volunteers are now working to revitalize the park under a community-based participatory design process.
During the event, Oceanit’s volunteers had the opportunity to learn about the park’s history and work alongside other local company volunteers to improve and enhance the park, creating a safe and welcoming space for surrounding residents. Volunteer tasks included removing trash, scrubbing graffiti, planting native trees, and touching up colorful murals.
“It was a rewarding experience contributing alongside the Oceanit ohana at ‘A’ala Park for the betterment of the community. Learning that some of my colleagues frequent the exact skatepark during their free time added an extra layer of significance,” expressed Jan Sullivan, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Oceanit.
A’Ala Park is one of Oahu’s oldest parks, surrounded by and serving more low-income housing residents than other parks in the state. Built-in the early 1900s, it was used for various purposes over the years, including as a political gathering place and a site for ethnic festivals and test shelters. However, it has now become a place that residents tend to avoid due to feeling unsafe. Fortunately, due to events like “A Day on the Land” and the ongoing efforts led by TPL, the park is transforming into a safe and inviting place for all to enjoy.
Oceanit has been an ongoing sponsor of TPL, a national nonprofit dedicated to providing everyone with the benefits and joys of the outdoors by collaborating with communities to create parks and protect public land. We firmly believe in TPL’s mission to connect quality parks and outdoor spaces to everyone, as it is essential for building equitable, healthy, and resilient communities.
Our participation in the “A Day on the Land” event last year at Kahuku Point and this year at ‘A’ala Park reflects Oceanit’s commitment to community engagement and environmental stewardship. By partnering with organizations like the Trust for Public Land, we can create inclusive and resilient public spaces that benefit all members of society.
