News Release

Honolulu, May 30, 2023 - First Hawaiian Bank’s (FHB) foundation announced today that it has donated $75,000 over three years to support Kona Community Hospital’s (KCH) Surgical Technology Program. The funds will help offset tuition costs for five qualified students, each receiving $5,000. The first set of students graduated on May 18.

“We are pleased to support Kona Community Hospital’s Surgical Technology Program,” said First Hawaiian Bank Chairman, President and CEO Bob Harrison. “By investing in the education of qualified students and offsetting the tuition costs, we hope to empower the next generation of skilled surgical technologists. This program not only offers a promising career path for graduates, but will help to keep the talent here in Hawaii. Congratulations to the first set of graduates on their remarkable achievement.”

In August 2022, First Hawaiian Bank Foundation awarded Kona Community Hospital $75,000 over three years for its newly-launched Surgical Technology Program. The rigorous 10-month hospital-based training program includes classroom instruction, supervised laboratory, and clinical time. As part of the graduation requirements, students must take the certification exam of the National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting. The KCH Surgical Technologist Program will not only address the shortage of these skilled professionals, but will also provide an on-island career path for this healthcare field. Graduates will have an opportunity to seek employment at any hospital on the Big Island or in the state of Hawaii.

“We are proud to watch the first set of students graduate from this groundbreaking program. The Surgical Technology program had been in discussions pre-pandemic, but the effects of the pandemic motivated us to launch it sooner,” added Clayton McGhan, CEO, Kona Community Hospital. “We realized that to provide the excellent care we do to our community viably, we needed to invest in our future workforce of healers. We couldn’t have made this happen without the support of our business partners in the community, such as First Hawaiian Bank. We are very thankful and fortunate for their support.”

FHB launched its 165th anniversary celebration by donating $50,000 to James Campbell High School on March 24 to support the girls’ athletics program. This donation marks the beginning of the Bank’s anniversary giving campaign in which FHB will donate a total of $1.65 million over the course of the year to Hawaii nonprofits and community groups.