First Hawaiian Bank Cleans up Kaimuki Neighborhood for HUGS

June 15, 2024

HONOLULU – HUGS (Help Understanding & Group Support), a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping Hawaii’s families with seriously ill children, welcomed over 150 employees from First Hawaiian Bank for their Community Cares event this Saturday morning to help clean up a neighborhood block in Kaimuki, where HUGS is located.

3636 Kilauea Avenue in Kaimuki, a property owned by the University of Hawaii (UH) and leased by HUGS for $1.00 per year, has been home to HUGS for more than 30 years. When Covid hit in 2020, state offices located on the property were vacated and maintenance was discontinued, resulting in the need for a groundskeeping overhaul. In exchange for an extended lease, HUGS agreed to upkeep the property, and First Hawaiian Bank, looking for a Community Cares project to positively impact the local community, came to the rescue!

“First Hawaiian Bank is committed to supporting the communities where we live and work. We are proud to have partnered with HUGS in their mission to provide crucial support to Hawai’i’s families with seriously ill children,” said First Hawaiian Bank Executive Vice President and HUGS Board Member Michael Tottori. “Our employees were honored to lend a helping hand during the Community Care event. It is our privilege to give back and make a positive impact on the lives of those in need, so we can build a stronger, more compassionate community.”

“Timing is everything and the stars aligned for this project,” said Maureen Purington, HUGS Executive Director. We were in discussions with UH for a lease extension when the proposal of cleaning up and maintaining the overall property was presented. Initially, that seemed overwhelming to me since HUGS is a small nonprofit with a staff of six – until Mike Tottori with FHB called in search of a Community Cares project! He brought his team by the HUGS House to get a firsthand look at the scope of the project, they pitched it to their boss, and here we are today!”

In addition to much needed weed whacking, lawn mowing, and hedge trimming, FHB employees also donated backpacks and school supplies for HUGS keiki and included a handmade card of encouragement for a great school year in each backpack.

Media Contact:
Alex Wereszczynskyj
alex@hugshawaii.org