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AIEA, Hawaii – Sailors assigned to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and their families partnered with the city and county of Honolulu for a morning cleanup of the Pearl Harbor Bike Path, Oct 15.
The cleanup, along the 13.5-mile waterfront from Waianae to Waipahu, was one of the many ways Sailors and their families are able to support and strengthen relationships with their local community.
Participants walked the path, picking up all the trash and ensuring it was clear of obstructions for the safety of bike riders and pedestrians, according to Chief Petty Officer Dan Mayer. At the end of the day the volunteers had removed approximately 50 trash bags worth of trash and debris from the bike path.
Tonya Ketza, from City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Facility Maintenance, was onsite to help coordinate the effort and said having volunteers from the Navy made a big difference.
“It’s difficult for the city to maintain the path on its own,” said Ketza. “Navy volunteers are so hard working, very skilled and able to get things done really quickly and efficiently, we’re so glad to have them.”
For Chief Petty Officer Robert Pagtakhan, this was his first opportunity to support the community since his recent transfer from Atsugi, Japan. Pagtakhan said the bike cleanup was a great way for his whole family to be more active within their community.
“I’m here to help out the community and to introduce my daughters to volunteer work. These events allow them to take pride in their community,” said Pagtakhan. “We have a responsibility to do our part and preserve this area. This community project is a great opportunity for us to come together and lend a hand.”
“The bike path is a historic trail that runs along the railway here and it’s been a little over 10 years ago that the community took it back and created this paved path,” said Ketza. “It’s a powerful recreational resource for the community here, to be outside and have an active life and be able to enjoy the beauty of Pearl Harbor.”
“The turnout was fantastic,” said Mayer, JBPHH volunteer service coordinator. “I think it’s important to show that the Navy is helping support the community as a whole, it’s not just here to support the Navy’s mission, its here to make a difference in the local community.”
| Date Taken: | 10.15.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 10.17.2016 16:00 |
| Story ID: | 212162 |
| Location: | PEARL CITY, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 32 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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