Hawaiian Gardens, a city rich in heritage and community spirit, recently hosted a 60th anniversary celebration. In early April, residents, businesses and visitors came together for an anniversary parade and carnival to commemorate six decades of resilience, growth and unity.
“Hawaiian Gardens holds a special place in the hearts of its residents and our 60th-anniversary parade was a momentous occasion to celebrate our community’s history and accomplishments,” said Mayor Victor Farfan. “We thank everyone for joining us for this unforgettable event as we honor our past, embrace our present and look forward to a bright future together.”
The Hawaiian Gardens anniversary parade showcased the community and culture of the city. It commenced in the heart of Hawaiian Gardens and featured colorful floats and lively performances, reflecting the city’s rich history and the remarkable individuals who have shaped its journey.
Community members also enjoyed family-friendly activities at the carnival, which took place at Furgeson Elementary School from April 4 to April 7. The carnival featured thrilling rides, delicious food vendors, games, live entertainment and music.
Incorporated on April 9, 1964, Hawaiian Gardens is the smallest city in Los Angeles County by size; it boasts a population of approximately 14,400 residents and a vibrant community renowned for its diversity and cultural heritage.
The city is committed to meeting the future with preparation and enthusiasm; in 2023, Hawaiian Gardens received a Gateway Cities Energy Action Award, exemplifying its commitment to a sustainable future. It also completed several maintenance and infrastructure improvement projects that bettered the community’s quality of life. City staff completed more than ten safety training programs through the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority (California JPIA) and completed over 2,500 work orders and resident requests.
“On behalf of the California JPIA, I congratulate the City of Hawaiian Gardens on this momentous occasion,” said Senior Risk Manager Melaina Francis. “It is my pleasure to work with excellent staff at an amazing city.”
The city also invested in future generations, serving over 600 participants in city youth sports programs, providing over 6,000 meals to community youth during summer months, implementing a socialization program for Hawaiian Garden’s preschoolers and re-opening the C. Robert Lee Game Room to kids across the city.
As Hawaiian Gardens enters a new decade, it will pursue eight central goals: promoting a strong local economy, enhancing employee relations, prioritizing community safety, pursuing community revitalization, ensuring government responsiveness and transparency, enhancing residential quality of life, maintaining fiscal stability and enhancing city operations.
Providing innovative risk management solutions for its public agency partners for more than 45 years, the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority (California JPIA) is one of the largest municipal self-insurance pools in the state, with more than 125 member cities and other governmental agencies. Members actively participate in shaping the organization to provide important coverage for their operations. The California JPIA provides innovative risk management solutions through a comprehensive portfolio of programs and services, including liability, workers’ compensation, pollution, property and earthquake coverage, as well as extensive training and loss control services. For more information, please visit the California JPIA’s website at cjpia.org.