Photo by Vanessa Wolf. 

A new social media campaign from Central Pacific Bank is encouraging Hawaiʻi residents to continue to support local restaurants and eateries amid the growing COVID-19 pandemic.

The company is offering to pay for half of take out bills for select dining locations throughout the state.

“The best way for all of us to get through these tough times will be doing so together, as a community. We hope that after hearing about and experiencing the #KeepHawaiiCooking program for themselves, others in our community will be encouraged to create concrete, positive ways to help as we lean on each other to get through this together,” added Catherine Ngo, Central Pacific Bank president.

Hereʻs how to participate: 

1. Find a restaurant from the list of participating restaurants. 
2. Order your favorite food and pick it up as takeout, drive-through or delivery. 
3. Take two photos: one of your meal and another of your receipt.
4. Post your food photo to your social media feed on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. (No FB or IG Stories.)
5. Make sure your social media account is set to PUBLIC so that CPB can see your posts.  
6. Tag @keephawaiicooking on Facebook and Instagram.
7. Tag @keephicooking on Twitter.
8. Use the hashtag #keephawaiicooking.
9. Tag the restaurant: If the restaurant does not have a social media handle, you can geo-tag them, and mention them in your caption. Spread the support.
10. Send a Direct Message (DM) from your social account to @keephawaiicooking on Facebook and Instagram or @keephicooking on Twitter with a photo of your receipt, and CPB will reimburse all eligible entries.

Central Pacific Bank Foundation will then reimburse you 50 percent of the bill for your takeout, drive-through or delivery of food – up to $100 per order.

The reimbursement will be sent vie Venmo or PayPal only.

The program is available to for everyone- not just Central Pacific Bank customers.

Representatives say the promotion will continue until the allotted $100,000 runs out.

“The #KeepHawaiiCooking program is just one of many ways Central Pacific Bank and the Central Pacific Bank Foundation are trying to creatively and thoughtfully offer real-world help and solutions to our customers and all of Hawai‘i’s residents,” Ngo added.