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Waikele Community Park renamed in honor of Darrell T. Young

O‘AHU -- Much like the park now bearing his name, Darrell T. Young was a humble, resourceful, and cordial civil servant who worked in his personal and professional capacity to provide for his community. This sentiment resounded amongst the dozens who gathered at the Darrell T. Young Waikele Community Park today to mark the renaming of this public space in honor of the late father, husband, son, civil servant, and community leader.

An Eagle Scout, Kamehameha School alumni, and University of Notre Dame grad, Darrell was inspired to serve Hawai‘i through the legacy of his grand uncle, business leader and philanthropist Clarence T.C. Ching. This inspiration led Darrell to a diverse and accomplished 36-year career in government service, including working as: an advisor to Honolulu City Council Chair Emeritus Nestor Garcia, Deputy Director of the State Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Deputy Director of Harbors for the State Department of Transportation, and most recently as the leader of the Community Based Development Division of the City's Department of Community Services. This final position in the City focused on assisting O‘ahu's houseless, a magnanimous calling reflected in the variety of extracurricular activities Darrell tasked in his personal time.

Darrell volunteered extensively with his church, particularly as talented musician, and was a board member of the Waikele Community Association since 1994, serving as president for the last 13 years. Darrell also devoted years of service to the Champions at Waikele Neighborhood Committee and Waipahū Neighborhood Board.

"Darrell Young was a man who didn't believe in impossible tasks," said Anton Krucky, Director or the Department of Community Services. "While the other people were telling you why something wouldn't work, Darrell would provide a dozen creative solutions for every problem. That's how he became affectionately referred to as "MacGyver," because he could twist two problems into a solution. The Waikele Community, City, and State were lucky to have him and we couldn't be happier that this dedicated public servant is being honored with the renaming of Waikele Community Park in his honor."

The park was officially renamed in honor of Darrell following the passage of Resolution 23-182 introduced by Honolulu City Councilmember Matt Weyer.

"Darrell's commitment to our Waikele community was next to none," said Honolulu City Councilmember Matt Weyer. "His heart and years of service to the people of O'ahu and Hawai'i serve an example of what it means to be a public servant. He was ready to find solutions to any problem that arose, and he directly improved the lives of so many of our residents. Through his work at the City alone, hundreds of families were housed and supported. What some of us aspire to accomplish in a lifetime was all in a day's work for Darrell. Honoring his legacy with the naming of the Darrell T. Young Waikele Community Park is a part of keeping his legacy alive. A legacy that further lives on through his family, friends, and the countless current and future leaders he counseled."

Darrell passed away at the age of 60 last July. He is survived by his wife Jamie (with whom they had just celebrated their 33rd wedding anniversary), sons Carson and Zachary, mother Marjorie, brother Kevin Young, and the family's fat cat Poof.

Located at 94-870 Lumi‘āina Street, the 12.84-acre park features a 25-yard swimming pool, recreation building, a playground refurbished in March 2018, and large, open field near the Waikele Fire Station.. It became a City park in May 1995.

If you need an auxiliary aid/service, other accommodations due to a disability, or an interpreter for a language other than English in reference to this announcement, please contact the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation at (808) 768-3003 on weekdays from 7:45 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. or email parks@honolulu.gov at least three business days before the scheduled event. Without sufficient advanced notice, it may not be possible to fulfill requests.

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