Matson's Long History of Support for Special Olympics

On June 10, the Matson Ohana turned out in droves to volunteer at the annual Special Olympics held at Kaiser High School in Honolulu.

Matson has been hosting the softball throw competition since 1989 – 34 years of dedication and support from Matson’s Hawaii employees, paying it forward to their community.

“We had a great turnout this year, with more than 30 Matson volunteers, all of whom brought family and friends,” said Keahi Birch, environmental affairs manager, Hawaii, who has been assisting with the event for more years than she’d care to count. “In total, we probably had about 80 people helping.

“My first year as a volunteer was 1994. I took over the job of event organizer in 2009.

“It’s always a wonderful experience, and I’m proud to have been a part of it for so long. The kids have a great time, and we get to join in their fun.”

Many are longtime volunteers.

“The Parrilla Ohana has been a part of the Matson Special Olympics support crew for over 30 years,” said Harding Parrilla, district manager, Hilo. “We love volunteering and seeing that special smile on the participants during the Matson softball throw event.

“We were also fortunate enough to involve other family and friends to help support this important event. For the last several years, we have had over 20 volunteers, from neighbors to close friends, at each event. There is no greater feeling than to cheer on and see the happiness in these Olympians when they are competing.”

“I’ve volunteered for Matson at the Special Olympics for over seven years,” stated Shireen Estavillo, manager, CFS auto operations. “Having participated for all these years, it feels like I’ve watched these athletes grow. I remember their smiling faces from my first year, then seeing these same athletes years later older, but with those same smiles makes me proud to be a part of an organization that supports the Special Olympics. It’s a funfilled day full of competition and camaraderie.”

Dean Kapoi, vice president, Matson Terminals, added, “Special Olympics has been an annual event for the Kapoi Ohana for over 25 years. Since joining Matson in 2018, we’ve made it a point to participate in every Softball Throw event held, save for the break during COVID. It’s a special day to honor our local Special Olympians, and we look forward to it every summer.”

The Special Olympics Hawaii Summer Games have been held annually since 1968. It is a global inclusion movement using sports, health, education, and leadership programs every day around the world to end discrimination against and empower people with intellectual disabilities. Since their beginnings, the Hawaii games have grown to include more than 4,700 athletes and more than 11,000 coaches and volunteers.