January 24, 2003

First Hawaiian Foundation Donates $500,000 to Japanese Cultural Center

First Hawaiian Foundation, the charitable arm of First Hawaiian Bank, has donated $500,000 to the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, the Center announced today.

"It’s great to see the Japanese Cultural Center working through its financial difficulties and developing an exciting new vision for the future. First Hawaiian wants to do everything it can to insure that the Center survives and thrives, because it’s such an important institution for both the Japanese community and all of Hawaii," said First Hawaiian Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Walter A. Dods, Jr.

"This gift is a wonderfully generous gesture on the part of First Hawaiian Bank. This contribution, in addition to the bank’s willingness to work with us on restructuring our debt, will make a huge impact on the prospects for a bright future for the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii," said Colbert Matsumoto, who chairs the Committee to Save the Center.