Shovel Heroes Return to Hualien! KING'S Team Trip Explores Nature, Culture, and Community Spirit

KING'S held a three-day, two-night employee trip to Hualien, Taiwan, from November 1 to 3, 2026. With "Nature + Culture" as the theme, employees and their families enjoyed whale and dolphin watching, Indigenous cultural experiences, and local cuisine. On the final day, the team returned to Guangfu Township, where they had volunteered for disaster relief the previous year. It was a meaningful homecoming for the "Shovel Heroes" to revisit the community where they had worked together to help with recovery.

Discovering Hualien's Natural Beauty

The trip featured a variety of outdoor experiences. The team joined a whale-watching tour with Turumoan and headed into the Pacific Ocean. Despite the beginning of the northeast monsoon season, the sea was surprisingly calm! Everyone was lucky enough to encounter three dolphin species, watching them leap and play in the waves while experiencing the beauty of marine wildlife up close.

From ATV rides along the lower reaches of Sanzhan Creek and enjoying its clear waters to admiring the Pacific coastline at Qixingtan Beach, employees had the opportunity to relax, recharge, and connect with nature.

Exploring Indigenous Culture and Local Life

In addition to Hualien's beautiful landscapes, the trip included a special visit to the Indigenous community where KING'S employee Ah-Sheng grew up. His family and community members guided the team through their mountain village, sharing local traditions, natural scenery, and warm hospitality.

This experience was more than sightseeing. It gave colleagues a chance to better understand Ah-Sheng's background and appreciate the rich cultural diversity of Taiwan's Indigenous peoples.

Shovel Heroes Return: Witnessing the Power of Community

On the final day, the KING'S team returned to Guangfu Township in Hualien. During the first weekend after the disaster last year, KING'S employees voluntarily organized a relief trip to help clean up the affected area. What began as one vehicle of employees grew into three vehicles after business friends joined the effort. Even before the term "Shovel Heroes" became widely known, the team was already helping with disaster recovery.

On the tour bus during the third day, Charles, General Manager of KING'S, shared his memories of that experience. He recalled how severe the damage had been. Compared with what they saw at the memorial museum during this visit, the actual disaster scene had felt a hundred times more shocking. At the time, Charles believed recovery might take two to three years. Surprisingly, thanks to the collective efforts of volunteers from across Taiwan, the community made remarkable progress in just over a month.

Charles emphasized that "Contribution" is one of KING'S core team values. The company's vision also focuses on creating shared and sustainable success with customers and partners. This belief inspired the company to organize volunteer activities. He explained that volunteering should go beyond words; people need to experience it personally to understand its meaning. As he recalled from last year, "Although we were physically exhausted, we felt deeply fulfilled and happy."

Returning to Guangfu was not only about remembering their volunteer experience. It was also an opportunity to see how the community had recovered and to help colleagues who could not participate last year connect with the story firsthand.

From Employee Travel to Company Culture: Making Sustainability Part of Everyday Life

For KING'S, employee trips are more than a company benefit. They help strengthen teamwork and bring corporate values to life. From exploring marine ecosystems and learning about Indigenous cultures to revisiting a community where the team once volunteered, every experience added meaning to the journey. KING'S believes that through personal participation, "Contribution" can become a shared team value, creating a positive cycle of kindness and lasting impact.

With cool weather, calm seas, and delicious local food throughout the three days, employees jokingly said, "Everything goes smoothly when KING'S is around!" The journey left everyone with wonderful memories.

Green Solution, Machine Soulmate