Guam & Micronesia Place Third at Sandfest 2024

by Hans Sholley, Operations Manager, Guam and Micronesia

A four-person employee team recently participated in Guam’s inaugural Sandfest 2024 in Tumon. Sandfest was a two-part event consisting of the Annual Coastal Cleanup and a sand-building contest. Sandfest celebrates artistic talent and promotes environmental stewardship through a sand sculpting competition on Ypao Beach. The primary goals of the first annual Guam Sandfest were to promote public awareness of ecological issues, encourage community involvement in beach cleanup efforts, and instill island pride in taking care of our island surroundings.

Matson was represented by Hans Sholley, operations manager, Guam, Renee Ibanez, manager, Marine Operations, Dreama Asor and Claire Pollard, Guam Customer Service. Team Matson was
one of nine teams, which included teams from Guam Community College, and several local high schools.

Sandfest’s sculpting theme focused on protecting marine life and participants were encouraged to create sand sculptures celebrating our oceans and protecting the marine ecosystems. The sand sculpting competition’s theme aligned perfectly with Matson’s commitment to minimizing our impact on the marine environment and safeguarding our seas for future generations. Team Matson’s sculpture was titled “Adahi I Tasi,” Chamorro for “Protecting our Ocean,” and highlighted the Matson wordmark surrounded by corals and sea creatures.

After eight hours of intense, sun-drenched, and rain-soaked sculpting, the Matson team was proud to bring home the third-place medal for this first-of-its-kind event in Guam. But even more rewarding was the camaraderie and team-building that occurred on the beautiful beaches of Guam and the demonstration of Matson’s commitment to the community and our ocean environment.