The City Council convened to recognize several individuals and organizations for their contributions to the community through the honorary certificate program. The meeting featured presentations honoring environmental stewardship, public service, literacy advocacy, athletic leadership, youth sports achievement, and botanical garden management.
Aloha everyone. Good morning and welcome. How about a round of applause for the Royal Hawaiian Band Glee 12? Gigi Takaki, Kala'i Stern, and La Amel Palaka. Mahalo, you guys. And thank you all for being here. The City Council's honorary certificate program honors and acknowledges those individuals and groups who have made an impact in our local, national, and international communities. Mr. Clerk, our first recipient. Good morning, Mr. Chair and Council members. Our first presentation recognizes Ray Ivazian III for outstanding environmental leadership, community service, and stewardship of Honolulu's parks, beaches, and oceans through the city and county of Honolulu's Adopt a Park program. This presentation is made by Councilmember Talba. Hi, good morning, everybody. All right, today I'm proud to recognize the true community hero, Ray Iverson III. Everybody give him a round of applause. Ray is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. Thank you so much for your service. Veteran, teacher, scientist, engineer, inventor, environmental advocate, and volunteer. The best way to describe Ray is simple. He sees a problem and steps up to solve it. Well, my seat will be open in two years, my friend. Ray believes Earth Day is every day. In 2018, he founded Seed, which stands for a stimulating education and ecological design. He educates people of all ages about marine debris, microplastics, recycling, and protecting our environment. And Ray has a unique way of uh letting people listen and getting people to listen. He talks trash. Through his trash talk presentation, Ray teaches Keiki and adults about the waste that ends up in our parks, beaches, mountains, and oceans, and what we can do about it. One of Ray's most important contributions began right here with the city and county of Honolulu. Ray was the first volunteer to join our Adopt the Park program. Today, Ray helps care for Kie Lagoon Beach Park, Neil S. Blazedale Park, and Kalama Beach Park, working alongside community organizations and volunteers. They pick up litter, beautify our parks, restore public spaces, and make them a better place for everybody. Ray doesn't just talk about environmental problems, he works to solve them. Remarkably, he has developed innovative tools to help scientists and volunteers study microplastics and remove them from the ocean. A quote from Edward Everett Hill captures his approach to service. I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but I still can do something. Ray shows us how powerful small actions can be. His greatest impact may be the people he inspires. When you teach one person to care, the person can inspire others. Adopt a park, clean the beach, teach a child, care for our neighborhood. That is how movement grows. Today, Ray is studying architecture at UH Panor, where he is learning to build stronger and more sustainable communities. But the best way we can honor Ray today is not with his certificate, it is by following his example, by caring for our parks, beaches, streams, mountains, and oceans, by teaching our Kiki to love and respect Aina, and by stepping up when we see something that needs to be done. One person can make a difference, and we inspire others to join us. Together, we can make Oahu a better place for generations to come. Mahalo Ray, for showing us what it means to serve, for caring about our home, and chilling all of us to be and to do the same. Thank you, Ray, and the King of the Community, and the Microsoft, and the United States.