The Lions Step In

Injuries caused by worn sidewalks were costing the city of Honolulu millions of dollars in lawsuits. Preventing trash from being dumped in the ocean required the manpower to stencil every drain in the city. Lions in Hawaii joined together for hands-on community service. Through the Safe Sidewalks Project, they repaired and patched sidewalks in high-traffic areas to extend the life of the city blocks by about five years. They stenciled “No Dumping” messages on all drainage throughout the city to protect the ocean from unsafe trash. Other environmental projects included removing litter and cleaning up graffiti.

Working with the Community

“It’s become abundantly apparent to those of us in government that private public partnerships are really, really advantageous, particularly when money is tight,” said Pete Carlisle, the mayor of Honolulu. The Lions work closely with the city of Honolulu to identify the city’s environmental and maintenance needs and provide volunteer services to address those needs – helping the community as well as taxpayers. For example, the Safe Sidewalks Project helps to save the city thousands of dollars per city block.  “With the Lions involved, we get more done,” said Carlisle.

Fast Facts

Lions environmental service projects are one of the top five areas of service among clubs worldwide. During the 2011-2012 fiscal year, Lions reported planting over 15 million trees. Other environmental projects include recycling, community education and clean-up activities. Lions are committed to protecting, preserving and improving the environment.