News Release

98% of First Hawaiian Bank Employees Participate in the Bank’s Annual Kokua Mai Campaign Donating $854,615 to Charity

Over $12 million contributed since 2007

Honolulu, December 8, 2023 - First Hawaiian Bank (FHB) today announced that bank employees and retirees kicked off the holiday giving season with their combined heartfelt donation of $854,615.80 to 39 charities in Hawaii, Guam, and Saipan as part of the bank’s annual Kokua Mai employee giving campaign.

Through the program, employees contribute to causes and charities that are personally meaningful to them. Since its inception in 2007, FHB employees and retirees have donated over $12 million through Kokua Mai in support of thousands of people who receive assistance from non-profit organizations.

FHB 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. This year, 98% of the bank’s employees made financial donations to Kokua Mai, which exceeded this year’s total contribution goal of $700,000. In addition, 220 Leadership Givers stepped forward with contributions of $1,000 or more.

“I’m humbled by the outpouring of community support from our employees and retirees this year. Their contributions directly helped our Kokua Mai agencies assist those in our community who are in need of assistance,” said Bob Harrison, First Hawaiian Bank Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer. “Many thanks to our generous employees who went above and beyond this year with their donations to Kokua Mai and other Maui-related causes.”

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 fun activities to encourage employees to support their favorite charities through baked goods, shave ice sales, and online auctions. This year, Kokua Mai ran from October 2 through October 31 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. HUGS (Help, Understanding and Group Support)
  20. Imua Family Services
  1. Kama`aina Kids
  2. Kauai Hospice
  3. Kauai United Way
  4. Keiki Circles of Love Hawaii
  5. Lanai Community Association
  6. Make-A-Wish Hawaii
  7. Make-A-Wish Guam and Saipan
  8. Maui Foodbank
  9. Maui United Way
  10. Palama Settlement
  11. Partners in Development
  12. Pali Momi Women’s Center (Breast Cancer Prevention and Treatment)
  13. Public Schools of Hawaii Foundation
  14. Salvation Army Hawaii
  15. Salvation Army Hawaii - Guam and Saipan Corps
  16. Special Olympics Hawaii, Inc.
  17. Teach for America
  18. Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center
  19. YWCA - Oahu

Other ways First Hawaiian Bank and its employees gave back to the community in 2023:

  • First Hawaiian Bank launched its 165th Anniversary Celebration in which the bank donated a total of $1.65 million over the course of the year to local nonprofits and community groups. FHB’s giving included $50,000 to Campbell High School to support girls’ athletics, $75,000 to Kona Community Hospital’s Surgical Technology Program, $280,634 to HomeAid Hawaii to support Governor Green’s Kauhale Projects, and $100,000 to Parker School to fund the purchase of two school buses.
  • The First Hawaiian Bank Foundation donated $100,000 to the Hawaiian Humane Society to support its West Oahu Campus capital campaign, which funded a cozy dog gazebo in the Humane Society’s community dog park, an interior cat room in their cat adoption pavilion, and an examination room in its cat admission space.
  • Caring is a core value at FHB and hundreds of employees demonstrate they care by serving on non-profit boards throughout the community and by volunteering their personal time on the weekends through the bank’s Community Care program, in which employees support non-profits through community activities like assisting families through the Maui Foodbank, HUGS and Special Olympics.
  • A partner in the Aloha for Maui relief efforts, First Hawaiian Bank donated $250,000 to the Aloha for Maui campaign, organized by the Hawaii Bankers Association (HBA). The funds supported the Hawaii Community Foundation Maui Strong Fund which provided resources to aid with response and recovery in Maui’s unprecedented wildfire disaster. The bank also accepted donations at any of its 51 branches statewide to provide assistance to the people, businesses and organizations impacted by the wildfires.