NEWS RELEASE

First Hawaiian Bank Employees and Retirees Donate a Record $910,225 to Charities in Hawaii, Guam, and Saipan through the Bank’s Annual Kokua Mai Campaign

$10.4 million contributed since 2007, Exceeds 2020 giving amount of $877,457

HONOLULU, December 7, 2021 – First Hawaiian Bank (FHB) today announced that bank employees and retirees kicked off the holiday giving season with their heartfelt donation of $910,225 to 36 charities in Hawaii, Guam, and Saipan as part of the bank’s annual Kokua Mai employee giving campaign. 

Through the bank’s Kokua Mai giving program, employees contribute to causes and charities that are personally meaningful to them. Since the program’s inception in 2007, employees and retirees have donated over $10.4 million through Kokua Mai in support of thousands of people who receive assistance through non-profit organizations. 

This year, employees added four new Kokua Mai agencies:  

  • Hawaii LGBT Legacy Foundation
  • Hope Services Hawaii
  • Maui Foodbank
  • Partners in Development

Recognizing the pandemic’s far-reaching impact on the community, employees remained committed to helping local non-profit agencies which struggled to keep up with community demands – particularly the needs of vulnerable kupuna and keiki as well as the growing number of hungry families. 98% of the bank’s employees made financial donations to Kokua Mai this year, demonstrating strong support during a global pandemic health and economic crisis.

“Once again, our employees and retirees joined together to make our Kokua Mai Campaign a remarkable success. Our team members have always been passionate about helping the community and really stepped up with their support this year. Their generosity demonstrates just how ingrained giving back to the community is part of the bank’s culture,” said Bob Harrison, First Hawaiian Bank Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer. “I want to thank our employees for strengthening our communities, particularly during times of need.”

The program is run completely by employees with the bank covering all program costs so that 100 percent of every employee contribution goes to their local charity of choice in the communities FHB serves. The program includes a variety of activities to encourage employees to donate to their favorite charities from baked goods and book sales to online auctions. This year, Kokua Mai ran from October 1 through October 29 and benefited the following organizations that focus on health, education, self-sufficiency and life-sustaining services:

  1. American Red Cross, Hawaii, Guam & Northern Mariana Islands Chapters
  2. Aloha Harvest
  3. Aloha United Way
  4. Ayuda Foundation
  5. Big Brothers, Big Sisters Hawaii
  6. Blood Bank of Hawaii
  7. Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii
  8. Catholic Charities Hawaii
  9. Child and Family Service
  10. Domestic Violence Action Center
  11. Easter Seals Hawaii
  12. Family Programs Hawaii
  13. Goodwill Industries of Hawaii, Inc.
  14. Hale Makua Health Services
  15. Hawaii Children’s Cancer Foundation
  16. Hawaii Foodbank
  17. Hawaii Island United Way
  18. Hawaii LGBT Legacy Foundation
  19. Hope Services Hawaii
  20. HUGS (Help, Understanding and Group Support)
  1. Imua Family Services
  2. Kama`aina Kids
  3. Kauai Hospice
  4. Kauai United Way
  5. Lanai Community Association
  6. Make-A-Wish Hawaii and Guam
  7. Maui Foodbank
  8. Maui United Way
  9. Palama Settlement
  10. Partners in Development
  11. Pali Momi Women’s Center (Breast Cancer Prevention and Treatment)
  12. Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii
  13. Salvation Army Hawaii (includes Guam and Saipan Corps)
  14. Special Olympics Hawaii, Inc.
  15. Teach for America
  16. Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center

 

 

 

 

 

Other ways First Hawaiian Bank and its employees give back to the community:

  • During the 2020 pandemic, the bank, its employees, and the First Hawaiian Bank Foundation donated more than $5.7 million to over 400 charities, making it one of the largest corporate contributors to charity in Hawaii.
  • Each year, the bank’s branches serve as convenient community collection points for various charitable causes, as well as natural disaster recovery and relief efforts, such as hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic eruptions. 
  • In 2021, First Hawaiian led a statewide community Slippah Drive to benefit Child & Family Service, bringing in 2300 pairs of new slippers for keiki to kupuna. 
  • From now through December 31, 2021, monetary donations are being accepted at any First Hawaiian Bank branch statewide for the Good Neighbor Fund --a partnership with the Honolulu Star¬-Advertiser and First Hawaiian Bank to benefit Helping Hands Hawaii and its Adopt-A-Family program. 

 

# # #