News Release

Honolulu, October 6, 2025 - First Hawaiian Bank (FHB) announced that 85 employees generously gave their manpower hours to provide Residential Youth Services & Empowerment (RYSE) with general maintenance and landscaping. The employee-led FHB Community Care event was held from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4 to spruce up RYSE’s Hale‘iwa site, which provides deeply affordable housing for young adults ages 18-24.

“Social responsibility is a choice and a commitment for so many employees at First Hawaiian Bank, and supporting youth development is one of our key areas of focus,” said FHB President, Chairman and CEO Bob Harrison. “It’s an intrinsic part of our culture and values and strengthens the connections between our employees and the communities we serve.”

Volunteer duties today included cutting grass around the perimeter of the building, trimming medium-size trees and clearing vines, parking lot maintenance and power washing sidewalks, sanding and painting stairs and railings, painting various buildings and structures, and clearing debris from under and around the facilities.

“Partnerships mean everything to us at RYSE. When the community shows up alongside us, it reminds our youth that they’ve got a whole team in their corner, cheering them on and helping them move forward,” added Kahanu Ah Puck, Fleet and Facilities Manager at RYSE.

RYSE is a nonprofit organization with a mission to provide a continuum of support that empowers Hawaiʻi’s street youth to move beyond homelessness. RYSE operates its primary 20-bed facility in Kailua, the Kawailoa Access Center, offering youth ages 14-24 the opportunity to drop in for shelter, access medical services, behavioral health support, education and employment counseling, and financial literacy help. RYSE also operates a mobile outreach team that reaches youth on the streets and offers additional housing services spread among six housing programs in Makiki, Kalihi, Pālolo, Hale‘iwa, and Waiʻanae.

“Building a loving and supportive community is the most effective action to empower disenfranchised youth. Young people flourish when they are connected with trusted adults and given opportunities to succeed. FHB’s Community Care team serves as a shining example of this, creating a safe and supportive environment for young people to thrive,” said Carla Houser, Executive Director of RYSE.

Launched in 2014, First Hawaiian Bank’s Community Care is an employee volunteer service program that connects nonprofits with FHB employees willing and ready to lend a hand. This bank-wide initiative is completely run by employees, with employees serving alongside senior managers to volunteer their time and talents throughout Hawaiʻi, Guam, and Saipan. Volunteer community service activities focus on helping the elderly, children, families, and the environment.

Since 1858, First Hawaiian Bank has actively supported the communities it serves. First Hawaiian Bank’s culture and legacy continues through the spirit of its employees who volunteer, serve on nonprofit boards, and participate in blood drives, food drives, community walks, and charity events. Volunteering through the bank’s Community Care program allows employees to show their aloha for organizations working to build stronger communities.