At the September 9 Honolulu City Council meeting, Councilmember Augie Tulba recognized Ray Aivazian III with an honorary certificate acknowledging his service to Hawaiʻi and commitment to protecting the ʻāina.
A United States Marine Corps veteran, teacher, scientist, engineer, inventor, environmental advocate and volunteer, Ray has built his work around a simple philosophy:
He sees a problem, and he steps up to solve it.
Ray believes protecting the ʻāina is something people should do every day.
That commitment became especially clear when Ray became the first volunteer in the City and County of Honolulu’s Adopt-a-Park Program. He did not wait for someone else to lead. He saw an opportunity to serve and stepped forward.
Today, he helps care for Keʻehi Lagoon Beach Park, Neil S. Blaisdell Park and Kalama Beach Park, working with community organizations and volunteers to remove litter, beautify public spaces and improve parks for everyone.
In 2018, Ray founded SEED, or Stimulating Education and Ecological Design, an organization that teaches people of all ages about marine debris, microplastics, recycling and environmental stewardship.
Protecting Hawaiʻi means caring for the places we share and inspiring the next generation to do the same. Photo: Josh Koh
Ray has a memorable way of getting people to listen.
He talks trash. Through his “Trash Talk” presentations, Ray teaches keiki and adults about waste that ends up in parks, beaches, mountains and oceans and shows them how they can make a difference. He makes learning fun, then turns that knowledge into action through community cleanups and volunteer projects.
His environmental work extends beyond cleanups. Ray has developed innovative tools to help scientists and volunteers identify and study microplastics. His work includes an invention designed to remove microplastics from the ocean.
Ray lives by the words of Edward Everett Hale: “I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something.”
He puts those words into action. He adopts a park. He cleans a beach. He teaches a child. He brings people together. Then he inspires others to do the same.
Cleaner parks, healthier oceans and stronger communities begin with people willing to step up and take action. Photo: Josh Koh
“Ray reminds us that one person can make a difference,” Tulba said. “The best way we can honor his work is to follow his example, care for our ʻāina and step up when we see something that needs to be done.”
Ray continues that work as he studies architecture at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. He hopes to combine science, engineering and design to build stronger and more sustainable communities. He has served his country as a Marine and continues to serve his community and his home.
The honorary certificate recognizes Ray’s service and leadership, but his example offers an even greater challenge: care for the parks, protect the beaches, keep our streams clean, respect our mountains and ocean, and teach the next generation to love Hawaiʻi.
Ray's work is a reminder that stewardship isn’t defined by one big gesture. It’s built through what's around us. Photo: Josh Koh
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