The Honolulu City Council recognized several community organizations, teams and leaders during its honorary certificate program on March 8, presenting awards to Special Olympics Hawaii, Radford High School’s varsity coed cheerleading team, the Going Green recycling program, Zionahou Church of the Waianae Coast, the Polynesian Voyaging Society on Hokulea’s 50th anniversary, longtime business owner Cindy Lau, Pearl City High School bowling teams and Herb Lee Jr.

Council presentations highlighted the groups’ achievements and community service. Councilmember Taoba introduced the Special Olympics Hawaii recognition, noting, “Special Olympics Hawaii has grown to include 7,200 athletes and unified partners across the state with more than 7,800 coaches and volunteers.” The council named individual awardees including Ian Kahalewai (outstanding male athlete), Jayna Hassan (outstanding female athlete) and Marissa Wong (outstanding coach). The council’s certificate thanked athletes and volunteers “for going above and beyond.”

Councilmember Cordero presented the Radford High School varsity coed cheerleading team for winning the 2025 National Cheerleaders Association Advanced Coed Varsity Performance Division Championship. Cordero said the team demonstrated “unparalleled athleticism, teamwork, and sportsmanship,” and named head coach Dr. Lawrence Beau Frank and assistant coaches Shai Tellis Kuwahara, Susie Newsome, Eric Newsome and Thomas Luna. The council called out multiple program titles and listed individual team members present at the chambers.

Councilmember Weier recognized Going Green, a recycling initiative that began in 2004 with events at Haleiwa Harbor and Kaimuki High School. Weier said the program has run one-stop recycling events across Oahu for more than 20 years and credited partners including TNN Computer Recycling Services, Hawaii Lions District 50, Interstate Batteries, United Cerebral Palsy Association of Hawaii and others for helping divert “thousands of pounds” of electronics, batteries, clothing, eyewear and other items from landfill disposal.

Councilmember Tupole presented a certificate to Zionahou Church on the Waianae Coast honoring the congregation’s more-than-90-year history of worship and community service. Tupole named past and present clergy and lay leaders and described the church’s ministries, including youth rallies and outreach programs.

The council recognized the Polynesian Voyaging Society and the voyaging canoe Hokulea on its 50th anniversary. Chair Waters and Councilmembers Kia Aina and Tupole each spoke, with Waters noting Hokulea’s 1975 launch at Kualoa and Kia Aina describing the vessel’s role in the Hawaiian cultural renaissance. The council’s certificate credited the voyaging society with cultural revitalization, environmental stewardship and education, and named voyagers and historic contributors referenced by speakers, including Nainoa Thompson.

Councilmember Dos Santos Tam honored Cindy Lau and Cindy’s Lei Shop for a multigenerational business in Chinatown and for 65 years of lei-making service. Councilmember Okimoto presented certificates to the Pearl City High School boys and girls bowling teams for winning the 2024 Hawaii High School Athletic Association state championships, and Kia Aina presented a retirement honor to Herb Lee Jr. for his decades of work with the Pacific American Foundation and related cultural-education initiatives.

The session opened and closed with musical recognition for the Royal Hawaiian Band Glee Club. The honorary certificate program concluded before the council’s regular agenda items began.