A&B employee Gail Abrena-Agas appeared on Hawaii News Now to talk about A&B Pride, a new diversity and inclusion initiative, and our participation for the first time in the Pride Parade. A&B Pride was established by employees for employees as an engagement, resource and social group for LGBTQ+ employees, allies and supporters.
Check out the video link below:
Lance Parker, A&B’s chief real estate officer, recently sat down with Pacific Business News to share his thoughts about the company’s growth as a Hawaii-focused commercial real estate company.
The interview was published in the Oct. 18 edition of Pacific Business News. Here are some highlights from the article, which is only available to the paper’s subscribers:
“As we all know, Hawaii is extremely relationship driven,” said Parker, who came home to Hawaii to join A&B 15 years ago after working in California and was promoted to his current position last year after serving as president of A&B Properties since 2015. “The real estate industry is extremely relationship driven, and so, we try to maintain those relationships consistently and constantly … In every case, we had existing relationships with the sellers.”
“All things being equal, we’d certainly have a bias toward local. We certainly encourage small, local businesses.”
Pearl Highlands Center is adding four new tenants to its mix of shops, restaurants and services. Roger Dunn Golf Shops, Spectrum, Tin Hut and Pampanga Kitchen will all be moving into the shopping center, anchored by Sam’s Club, 24 hour Fitness, Regal Pearl Highlands and Ross Dress for Less.
Pearl Highlands Center has more than 30 tenants in its 411,300-square-foot retail center.
“Each of these tenants brings something new to our already diverse mix of shops, restaurants and services, so we are excited to welcome them to the Pearl Highlands Center family,” said Darren Pai, a spokesman for Honolulu-based Alexander & Baldwin (NYSE: ALEX) that manages the center.
Roger Dunn Golf Shops is moving its Pearl City store into a 5,610-square-foot store in Pearl Highlands Center, slated to open in December. The store will continue to carry a full range of equipment, accessories, shoes and apparel, and will also feature an indoor putting green, golf simulators, hitting stalls and club repair.
Spectrum‘s newest 3,073-square-foot store is open for business and offers Leeward customers a convenient location to make payments and shop for mobile, internet, TV and voice services.
Tin Hut’s new 648-square-foot location at Highlands Market, the center‘s food hall, opened Monday and will be the company‘s first brick- and-mortar restaurant. The company started as a barbecue food truck business featuring Texas brisket, Carolina-style pulled pork, Kansas City ribs and southern-style fried chicken.
A 439-square-foot Pampanga Kitchen is also slated to open its third Oahu location in Highlands Market later this month, featuring a menu of Filipino dishes.
The architectural expression of a triumph of human courage, ingenuity, energy and faith over obstacles, seen and unseen, which beset the pioneers of industrial Hawaii.” – Honolulu Star-Bulletin, September 30, 1929.
Ninety years ago, the Alexander & Baldwin Building celebrated its grand opening. Today, our headquarters serves as an enduring reflection of quintessentially Hawaiian architecture designed by Will Dickey and his associate, Hart Wood. Come take a look at the building’s exterior: a study of diversity in architectural design, with beautifully preserved tile murals depicting Hawaiian coral reefs and grand portico columns featuring Chinese ornamentation and tropical fruit motifs. Inside, the building has evolved over time to meet the needs of our growing company and is now a bustling environment for over 100 employees, with energy-efficient fixtures that have earned it an Energy Star designation from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The A&B Building is also listed on the Hawaii and National Register of Historic Places. We’re incredibly lucky to celebrate 90 years in this remarkable building, with its rich heritage and iconic presence in downtown Honolulu.
hawaiiarchitecture historichawaii honolulu downtownhonolulu hawaiibusiness alexanderbaldwin
GRANT AWARDED FOR SUGAR MUSEUM’S PROGRAMS AND PROJECTSPuunene, Maui, Hawaii – Alexander & Baldwin has awarded a $20,000 grant to the Sugar Museum. The grant will provide support for the museum’s core programs and projects. Museum Director Holly Buland said, “We are very grateful for this award. Alexander & Baldwin is committed to supporting local communities, allowing us to provide valuable services to the
people of Maui–and beyond.”
Education Program: Helps children learn about our sugar plantation heritage and how it helped shape our current society. Alexander & Baldwin has been supporting the transportation and operating costs for second-grade students since the inception of the program in 1990.
Marketing: Operating costs for promoting the Museum through advertising as well as printing the “Passport to the Past,” which offers discounted admission to four island museums.
Community Outreach: Delivers information to our neighborhoods through displays at festivals and other cultural events throughout the year. As a resource for the community, we provide cultural and community groups with loans of photographs and objects from our collection for their events, bulletin board space to promote their activities, and a venue for
community meetings.
About The Alexander & Baldwin Sugar Museum
The Alexander & Baldwin Sugar Museum is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to preserving and presenting the history and heritage of the sugar industry and the multi-ethnic plantation heritage it engendered. Created in 1980 as a
memorial to early sugar pioneers Samuel T. Alexander and Henry Perrine Baldwin, the Sugar Museum is the primary source for information on the history of sugar on Maui. Open daily, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, go to www.sugarmuseum.com, find us on Facebook, or call 808-871-8058.
About Alexander & Baldwin, Inc.
Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. is Hawai’i’s premier commercial real estate company and the state’s foremost owner of grocery-anchored retail centers. A&B is a fully integrated real estate investment trust and owns, operates and manages approximately 3.8 million square feet of primarily retail and industrial space in Hawai’i, and is a major landowner in the state. A&B’s interests extend beyond commercial real estate into renewable energy and land stewardship. A&B is also a construction materials company and paving contractor in Hawai’i. Over its nearly 150-year history, A&B has evolved with the state’s economy and played a lead role in the development of the agricultural, transportation, tourism, construction and real estate industries.
The Rotary Club of Kahului and Alexander & Baldwin announced that more than $40,000 was raised for the 2019 Michael H. Lyons II Memorial Scholarship Palaka Celebration Fundraiser and Golf Ball Drop on Aug. 16 at the King Kamehameha Golf Club.
One highlight of the evening was, while the audience watched from the lanai, Sunshine Helicopters dropping 2,000 golf balls on to a practice green.
This year, the club honored Goodfellow Bros. for its philanthropy service to the community; Mercer K. “Chubby” Vicens for his long and tireless community and volunteer service; and Larry Laird for his extended contributions to the Maui Rotary clubs and youth of Maui.
The awards and certificates were presented by state Sen. Roz Baker, state Reps. Troy Hashimoto and Kyle Yamashita, and County Council Members Tasha Kama and Tamara Paltin. Entertainment was provided by Uncle George Kahumoku.
Net proceeds directly fund the Rotary Club of Kahului’s Michael H. Lyons II Scholarship Program, providing college scholarships for exceptional and deserving Maui youths.
Lyons, for whom the fund and the Palaka Award are named, was the epitome of a Rotarian and a prominent figure in the Maui community, according to a news release.
He served as president of the Rotary Club of Kahului and as governor of Rotary District 5000. Lyons died on March 26, 2004.
The Rotary Club of Kahului’s annual Palaka Award distinguishes outstanding long-term philanthropy and volunteer service to nonprofit organizations on Maui to community members who demonstrate their commitment to helping others by volunteering their time, talent and treasure to create positive change and stronger communities on Maui.
To make a donation to this scholarship fund, contact Gary Albitz at 281-9672 or [email protected].
A&B continues to engage with the Kailua community through sponsorship of popular community events. Over the past four months, A&B has underwritten three large-scale Kailua events, underscoring A&B’s commitment to community partnerships and engagement.
“I Love Kailua” Town Party
On Sunday, April 28, the Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle (LKOC) hosted the 27th annual “I Love Kailua” Town Party in downtown Kailua. The event featured live entertainment, local vendors, artisans & crafters, community organizations, keiki activities, plant sales and food booths. The block party has been held in downtown Kailua since 1993, and the LKOC was grateful for A&B’s partnership and support again this year. The company has been sponsoring this event since acquiring the Kailua properties in 2014. This year, A&B provided grant and in-kind support exceeding $10,000 and hosted a booth at the event. A&B employees interacted with nearly 1,000 members of the Kailua community on that sunny Sunday afternoon!
Steve Mechler, president of The Outdoor Circle, presented a Beatification Award to A&B Asset Manager Sheila-Anne Ebert at the “I Love Kailua” Town Party on April 28.
At the event, the Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle also presented A&B with a “Beautification Award” in recognition of the landscaping for the Davis Building at the entrance to Kailua. On the certificate, they note the greenery “enhances the
community’s experience as they enter the town [they] call home.”
Symphony in the Park
In May, A&B once again partnered with the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra to bring music to the people of Kailua. “Symphony in the Park” is a free, family-friendly concert in Kailua District Park with a full symphonic orchestra. This year, the
event was held on May 31 and featured music selections from the HSO’s Halekulani Masterworks and musicthatPOPs series. A&B supported HSO with a $10,000 grant to sponsor the concert and provided raffle prizes from local Kailua businesses.
This popular event draws in hundreds of Kailua community members every year who spread out lawn chairs and picnic blankets to enjoy the performance.
A&B also funded the HSO’s “Windward Outreach Program” to bring musical ensembles to schools and senior centers throughout Windward Oahu. Hundreds of students, teachers, and residents enjoyed the performances immensely. A&B’s
Kokua Giving Program also provided a $150 grant to school music programs at each ensemble performance. The goal of HSO’s Windward Outreach Program is to bring music to Windward Oahu and inspire a love of music in keiki and kupuna.
Strings, brass, percussion and woodwind ensembles from the Symphony traveled to different Windward Oahu schools and care homes for special performances.
Kailua Fireworks and Air Show
This is the sixth year that A&B partnered with the Kailua Fireworks Corporation to sponsor the Kailua July 4th Fireworks and Twilight Air Show. For over 70 years, Kailua Beach has been the location for the most popular 4th of July fireworks
display on Windward Oahu. This beloved event draws hundreds of community members, many of whom have made watching this show a family holiday tradition. A&B served as a “Platinum” level sponsor with a cash donation and
tremendous in-kind assistance, opening up our retail parking lots to the community and providing complimentary shuttle service to Kailua Beach.
Jana Holden of the Kailua Fireworks Corporation said, “In the past, the Kailua Fireworks display was at risk of ending due to a shortage of funds and volunteer event organizers. Support from A&B and many other sponsors ensures the fabulous fireworks show, a tradition for many Kailua families, will continue.”
In 2003, Alexander & Baldwin and The Nature Conservancy signed a 10-year pact to protect the 80-acre Kanaele Bog in east Kaua‘i – a one-of-a-kind community of native Hawaiian plants that was the only well-preserved low-elevation bog remaining in the Hawaii. This was the first of three partnerships between A&B and The Conservancy over the past 15 years create some of the largest private nature reserves in Hawaii. A recent story published in the Garden Isle shares recent restoration effort by The Conservancy to ensure the native lowland bog is thriving.
View Garden Isle Story – Last Native Lowland Bog ‘Thriving’
*Photo Credit:Nathan Yuen/TNC
The following is an interview of A&B employee Gail Abrena-Agas, written by fellow A&B employee Robbie Rhead.
On May 31, A&B announced at a company town hall the formation of A&B Pride to kick off national Pride Month, as well as the company’s newly established Diversity & Inclusion initiative. Gail Abrena-Agas, an A&B employee who helped establish A&B Pride, discussed the origin of the group and why it’s important to embrace diversity in the company.
How and why was A&B Pride started?
A&B Pride was established by employees for employees as an engagement, resource and social group. It is intended to create cohesion and solidarity among LGBTQ+ employees, allies and supporters who recognize a need to connect with one another and with our community. We’re recognizing that workplace diversity brings value to our business and overall experience. We want to foster an environment where employees from different backgrounds, schools of thought, and beliefs are comfortable collaborating and sharing their unique perspectives. When employees are comfortable bringing their whole selves to work, sharing ideas and collaborating is exciting and dynamic. We want to celebrate what makes everyone proud to be who they are.
I’m proud to be part of a 150-year-old, kama’āina company that is enthusiastically embracing diversity. The hope is that being open to supporting an evolving company culture can help A&B thrive for another 150 years.
What has A&B Pride done so far, and what do you hope to see in the future?
So far, A&B Pride has received an overwhelming amount of internal support, most of all from our executive leadership who understand how these sorts of initiatives align with our company vision, mission and values. People across different departments have reached out to express their excitement about what we’re doing, and about ways that we can keep the momentum going. More than half of the employees in the corporate office participated in a rainbow group photo on our historical steps (shown above). It was so meaningful, especially for someone like me who, prior to A&B, had never felt 100% comfortable sharing my full background and story. Many have already volunteered to walk with A&B Pride in October’s Honolulu Pride Parade and have offered their help in organizing. It’s truly inspiring.
A&B Pride was started as an internal initiative. Do you foresee this having an impact externally within the community?
As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I understand how important it is to feel represented and seen. A hope of mine is that while we’re building this group internally, community members outside of the company see and recognize that we support them. It’s always been A&B’s legacy to partner with the community, and we want to continue to expand that to all of Hawai’i.
An honoree of Alexander & Baldwin’s Sports Spotlight program — which currently is in its 20th year and has recognized more than 1,600 high school athletes, including Major League Baseball All-Star Kurt Suzuki — said that the program is “great for the kids” in how it recognizes student-athletes’ growth on and off the field.
Every year, 84 students are selected by their coaches and school administrators for demonstrating what the Maui Interscholastic League Sports Spotlight program stands for — leadership, teamwork, responsibility and determination.
“I think, from experience, the best thing that (sports) teaches is just discipline, self-discipline and accountability,” said Jordan Helle, Baldwin High School alumnus and 2007 Sports Spotlight honoree.
“Everything that goes into being a student athlete, of course, starts with making sure you’re getting the job done,” he said.
Athletes learn to compete, be part of a team, represent themselves, their schools their communities “and putting in the work to make yourself as successful as possible,” said Helle, who was a star quarterback for the Bears.
“I think that’s the greatest thing that I learned,” he said.
Sports Spotlight was founded in 1999 by A&B in partnership with the MIL and The Maui News. The program recognizes Maui County public and private high school student athletes for their athletic performance as well as their efforts in the classroom.
Athletes get their pictures and profiles published in The Maui News and the Alexander & Baldwin Foundation donates $200 in honor of each awardee, which goes to their high school’s athletic fund. At the end of each academic year, all of the Maui County honorees, along with their families and coaches, get together for the Sports Spotlight dinner reception.
Sports Spotlight has honored more than 1,600 young men and women since its inception. Donations to the MIL athletic programs have totaled more than $250,000.
Helle was honored during his senior year of high school for his work ethic as a football and basketball star, and as a student. He has continued his passion for sports through coaching, officiating and commentating for ESPN Maui AM 900 radio station and on Spectrum OC16 Sports television broadcasts.
“From what I remember, it was just really cool to get a chance to showcase and not only feature what you did athletically, but it featured some of your academic accomplishments,”he said. “From our standpoint, it was just nice to be in the spotlight and get a chance to share a little bit of how sports impacted us.”
“Sports are still a very big part, and I think it’s still fun to stay in that community and see the next generation of kids coming up and seeing all the hard work that they are putting in,” he added. “The kids just keep getting better and better.”
Tessa Munekiyo Ng, a 2002 graduate and swimmer for Baldwin, said that sports was a big part of her life growing up and being recognized by Sports Spotlight was a “nice surprise.”
The mother of two added that the lessons she learned from her sport, as well as the team experience, are something she will pass down to her children.
“They are still very young. … I’ve started to introduce sports to them just for fun,” she said.
“It’s been really important for us to make sure” the children are active, not so much about how they are doing in sport, she said. The important things are “having fun, being a part of a team and making friends,” she said.
Other past Sports Spotlight winners, who have extended their athletic careers beyond high school to the professional and college ranks, include:
• Suzuki, Baldwin class of 2001, who played high school and college baseball before entering the major leagues and becoming an All-Star in 2014 with the Minnesota Twins. A catcher, he is currently with the Washington Nationals.
• Keahi Rawlins, Molokai class of 2001, played baseball and volleyball in high school and baseball for the University of Hawaii before being drafted in 2002 by the Philadelphia Phillies.
• Kaimana Lee, Seabury Hall class of 2003, played volleyball in high school before continuing her career at George Washington University.
Balancing athletics and academics in high school played an important role in the lives of all Sports Spotlight winners.
“Swimming taught me a lot in terms of hard work and discipline, and time management,”Munekiyo Ng said. “I made lifelong friends in swimming, my friends today are people I spent hours and hours with in the pool.
“I really appreciate everything that swimming has allowed me to have.”
A&B converts to a real estate investment trust (REIT) and undertakes a comprehensive rebranding effort to provide clarity to its stakeholders. Adopts the new tagline “Partners for Hawai‘i” to reflect not only our focus on Hawai‘i, but our intent to work with local communities to achieve our mutual goals. The new logo was inspired by the motifs of A&B’s historic building’s architecture, the crest represents strength in history and solidarity through change.
