Alaska Airlines Volunteers Celebrate Earth Day by Tending Taro Patches in Hawaiʻi

Alaska Airlines recently celebrated Earth Day with a unique community outreach event, bringing more than 20 team members and their families to Ka Papa Loʻi ʻO Punaluʻu on Oʻahu's windward coast. The volunteers gathered to tend taro patches, demonstrating the airline's commitment to mālama ʻāina, a Hawaiian concept that emphasizes caring for the land.

On a warm, overcast morning, the volunteers worked on the three-acre agricultural site to help maintain the traditional taro patches, known as loʻi. This effort reflects Alaska Airlines' dedication to community engagement and environmental stewardship in Hawaiʻi.

The taro plant, or kalo, is a staple of Native Hawaiian culture and has a long history in the islands. The volunteers' work involved clearing invasive plants, maintaining stream flow, and tending to the taro patches, contributing to the ongoing efforts to preserve this important aspect of Hawaiian heritage.

This event is part of Alaska Airlines' broader partnership with Kanu Hawaii, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting volunteerism and sustainability in Hawaiʻi. Alaska Airlines has supported Kanu Hawaii's Volunteer Month Hawaiʻi since 2018, reinforcing its commitment to giving back to the community and promoting a sustainable future for Hawaiʻi's children.