#Aloha United Way

Aloha United Way’s 211 Statewide Helpline handled 99,576 contacts, including calls, texts, and online requests, marking the highest volume since 2021, when communities were still facing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A grant program designed to keep Lahaina families in their homes is among the initiatives receiving support following a record-breaking $623,000 fundraising campaign by Bank of Hawai‘i employees and retirees. The 2025 Live Kōkua Giving Campaign, which concluded Oct. 31, directed a portion of its corporate proceeds toward the Holomua Collective. The organization’s Lahaina Homeowner […]

First Hawaiian Bank today announced that employees and retirees have made a major impact this holiday season by contributing a donation of $886,449 to 36 charities in Hawai‘i, Guam, and Saipan as part of its annual Kōkua Mai employee giving campaign.

The campaign encourages individuals and other organizations to donate to Hawaiʻi Community Foundation’s Hawaiʻi Resilience Fund or Aloha United Way’s Safety Net Fund, both of which help support nonprofits who are facing historical federal funding reductions. Donations are encouraged from Dec. 1 to 24. 

Aloha United Way President and CEO Michelle Bartell joined senior leaders from the United Way network at Nasdaq MarketSite in Times Square for the 4 p.m. bell ringing on Tuesday.

Aloha United Way (AUW) is responding to a dramatic increase in calls to its 211 statewide helpline following public announcements about the Hawaiʻi Relief Program and the Hawaiʻi Emergency Food Assistance Program (HEFAP). 211 normally handles about 150 calls a day, but that number skyrocketed to over 850 contacts (calls, texts and chats) in one day from residents looking for resources and information.

Hawaiʻi State Federal Credit Union employees raised $51,370 for local nonprofits through two fundraising initiatives held earlier this year, according to an announcement this week.

Under the new federal law, those affected must complete an average of 80 hours per month (20 hours per week) in qualifying work or training activity. Acceptable activities include paid or self-employment, volunteer service with a government or nonprofit organization, or participation in job training programs such as SNAP Employment and Training, or services at American Job Centers.

Aloha United Way has appointed two accomplished leaders to its executive team, strengthening its commitment to community-centered solutions and strategic growth. Lopa Shah has been named vice president of Operations, and Kaʻili Trask O’Connell joins as vice president of Resource Development and Donor Relations.

With first reading of the Maui County Council’s $1.56 billion budget set for this week Friday, one of the line items up for approval in the fiscal 2026 budget is $12 million for Maui United Way’s Countywide ALICE Initiative: Kamaʻāina Credit program. The initiative aims to help residents who’ve been referred to as ALICE households. […]

This contribution represents a quarter of all funds awarded to Hawaiʻi organizations and will support a range of initiatives focused on affordable housing, financial education and community revitalization, including Lahaina homeowner recovery efforts.

Guided by the theme “Lōkahi,” meaning unity and harmony, Hawaiian Electric employees, retirees and IBEW Local 1260 came together to raise more than $423,000 during a workplace campaign in 2024 to benefit Aloha United Way and Hawaiʻi Island United Way. The funds will support critical programs and services aimed at strengthening communities across the state.

Bills have been referred to committees in both chambers of the Hawaiʻi State Legislature to limit the amount landlords can raise rents for tenants at a time of desperate housing shortages and renters having few, if any, options if they can’t afford demands for higher monthly rent payments.

Former residents of the Lahaina Surf and Front Street Apartments — destroyed in the August 2023 wildfires — cheered when they were reassured that both affordable housing complexes would be rebuilt and that they, as residents at the time of the fires, would be given priority to return to redeveloped homes.

First Hawaiian Bank today announced that bank employees and retirees have ushered in this year’s holiday giving season by contributing a donation of $873,987.53 to 36 charities in Hawai‘i, Guam, and Saipan as part of the bank’s annual Kōkua Mai employee giving campaign.

In partnership with Aloha United Way (AUW), Town Center of Mililani on Oʻahu hosts Mililani + Maui – United in Aloha: A Day of Lōkahi on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. The community can gather to mark the one-year commemoration of the Aug. 8 wildfires on Maui, the deadliest natural disaster in Hawaiʻi’s history. The center aims to honor the memory of this solemn day and acknowledge the resilience and unity of those affected. The day’s lineup will include donation collections, community resources, keiki activities and cultural entertainment. 

In honor of National Volunteer Month, American Savings Bank hosted its 14th community clean-up event to beautify and revitalize the Chinatown-Kalihi neighborhood on Oʻahu. The event was held on Saturday and drew participation of 140 volunteers from eight organizations.

A yearlong campaign by Hawaiian Electric employees raised more than $316,000 for Aloha United Way, the utility announced.

Gov. Josh Green and the state of Hawai‘i Department of Human Services have announced the launch of the Disaster Case Management Program for survivors of the Maui wildfires.

Hawaiian Telcom and its employees set a new record for their annual United Way fundraising campaign in the company’s 140 anniversary year, raising more than $210,000 for Hawai‘i’s four United Way organizations: Kaua‘i United Way, Aloha United Way on O‘ahu, Maui United Way and Hawai‘i Island United Way.  Of the total, nearly $40,000 was designated for Maui relief efforts.