Originally published by American Savings Bank – Check out the full news release here.

American Savings Bank (ASB) announced the results of its 2025 Kahiau Giving Campaign, contributing more than $277,000 to four local nonprofits. This year, 94% of teammates participated in the annual employee-led initiative, a 2% increase from the prior year. Since its inception nearly 15 years ago, the Kahiau program has generated more than $4 million in total donations.

“Kahiau means ‘to give from the heart without expecting anything in return’ and reflects who we are at American Savings Bank,” said Ann Teranishi, president and CEO at American Savings Bank. “For 100 years, we’ve believed in helping Hawaii thrive by investing in our people and communities. This campaign is a reminder that when we come together with generosity and purpose, we can create lasting change. I’m grateful to our teammates for giving from the heart and continuing to bring real impact to Hawaii.”

2025 Kahiau Campaign Highlights

• 94% teammate participation – 2% increase from prior year
• $175,221 pledged by teammates
• $277,000 total donated with a match from the ASB Charitable Foundation
• More than $4 million donated since program launch

This year’s campaign carried special significance as part of ASB’s centennial celebration. ASB collaborated with Aloha Revolution to design a limited-edition 100 Years of Aloha shirt gifted to all teammates who contributed to the campaign. Ed Sugimoto, owner of Aloha Revolution and an ASB customer for more than 40 years, collaborated on the initiative as a tribute to ASB’s legacy of community giving.

“The families who receive these books are very appreciative because they don’t have money to spend on books for their children, and because they understand that education and the ability to read are the keys to escaping poverty,” said second grade teacher Dayna Nakamura.

“This project also benefits [the HBA] students because they are able to learn in a tangible way that they are able to make a positive impact in their community.”

We are so grateful to these second graders for their generosity and hard work. Their efforts exemplify our mission to inspire communities to lift up one another.

Hot chocolate was provided for the keiki and coffee for the adults, along with a myriad of sprinkles, marshmallows, and other toppings to decorate. Ka Paʻalana provided different Christmas and holiday-related activities for the families, including a ‘gingerbread’ house using graham crackers and fruit.

As the families went caroling to their neighbors at the veterans’ home and transitional housing units, the Starbucks staff brought in Santa Claus himself with presents for the keiki. Each keiki received a gift, a stuffed animal, and got to pose for a family photo with Santa.

Mahalo nui loa to the Starbucks ʻohana and Ka Paʻalana staff for helping to make the season merry and bright for our families!

The gifts will be given to in-need and underprivileged families in our Tūtū and Me ʻohana and distributed in time for the holidays. Such efforts are especially valued during this time of year, when many of our families may not have the resources to make the holidays special for their keiki.

Mahalo nui General Manager Drew Crocker and the Hula Grill team for helping to make Christmas special for our preschoolers!

“We had so much food and water leftover,” said crew member and volunteer coordinator Mariah Hugho. “We estimated our crews would take about 30 days [to reach San Francisco from Honolulu], so we packed our canoes with 40 days’ worth of food and water.”

Hikianalia reached California on September 10th after 23 days at sea. After spending nearly four months on the California coast, she returned to Honolulu on December 12th after 19 days of sailing.

The voyage was named Alahula Kai O Maleka, honoring “the frequented pathway” across the “sea of America,” the ocean between Hawaiʻi and California.

Alahula Kai O Maleka celebrates “the many island-continent relationships that reflect a shared vision for a sustainable Island Earth, a thriving future for our children, and a global consciousness towards human kindness.”

This focus on human kindness branches out into the daily efforts of the Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS) outside of their famous voyages. Not wanting the leftover provisions to go to waste, the crew members decided to donate what was left to Partners in Development Foundation.

“We are glad we were able to put [the provisions] to good use, to nourish some children’s bodies,” said Hugho. The supplies were picked up by our Ka Paʻalana program and distributed to the Puʻuhonua o Waiʻanae community at the Waiʻanae Boat Harbor.

Puʻuhonua o Waiʻanae is a village of over 200 ‘houseless’ people, including keiki, kūpuna, and working families. The majority of the residents are Native Hawaiian, and all of the residents believe in the shared kuleana of caring for the children there.

“Much mahalo, we are so grateful for the people out there [the Polynesian Voyaging Society],” said one resident who came to help unload the many provisions into the village’s donation tent.

Within a week of the food and water being distributed to the kānaka of Puʻuhonua o Waiʻanae, the Polynesian Voyaging Society donated another invaluable resource: their time.

Taking time off from work and other obligations, 13 crew members hosted families from our Tūtū and Me Traveling Preschool sites at Papakōlea and Makakilo.

Over two days, dozens of keiki and their caregivers had the opportunity to come aboard both the Hikianalia and her sister canoe, Hōkūleʻa, where they are currently docked in Honolulu. The crew members walked the families through the ins and outs of the canoes from the rigging and steering to the necessities of daily living like the galleys and sleeping areas.

Besides the tours of the famous canoes, the families were able to spend time in the nearby classrooms with our Hui Nohona culture team. Cultural Specialist Malia Scanlan and cultural practitioner Aaron Mahi organized a lesson about traditional Hawaiian sailing techniques.

They taught the families about how Hawaiian navigators use star lines to find their way across oceans. Scanlan and Mahi explained the Hawaiian names for stars, combining Hawaiian stories with astronomical observations.

Mahi led the families on ʻukulele to learn a song created by Scanlan to explain some of the main stars and constellations used in traditional navigation: “Nā Hōkū Hoʻokele o Kaiwikuamoʻo,” or “The Navigating Stars of [the star line] Kaiwikuamoʻo.”

At the end of the huakaʻi, the families, Tūtū and me staff, and PVS crew gathered together around Hōkūleʻa for a photo. Mahi led everyone in the “Nā Hōkū” song, which the PVS crew were excited to learn. It was a day of mutual learning and appreciation.

“They’re not our canoes,” said another crew member. “They’re the community’s canoes.”

“We focus not on necessarily the excitement of presents or the commercialism of Christmas, but on the family and us as an organization,” says Hawaiian Airlines’ Community Relations Director, Debbie Nakanelua-Richards.

Families are asked to make a nominal contribution to participate in the parade, and for the last 10 years the monies were collected in an envelope and delivered to Partners in Development Foundation.

This year to honor their employees and their families that give, Nakanelua-Richards delivered a bigger presentation so that everyone at PIDF could see the generous check going to our Ka Paʻalana Homeless Family Education program. She described the giving campaign at Hawaiian Airlines, how about five years ago, charitable giving became a top priority for the organization.

Her leadership with the airline has seen the development of the Hawaiian Airlines Team Kōkua, which oversees the company’s giving, “including the deployment of more than 1,000 employee volunteers and their family members every year to assist and support communities throughout the Islands,” according to a press release.

“It’s been proven that any time you engage in giving, in supporting, in kokua, it often impacts you more than the people you think you’re helping. From our families to your Ka Paʻalana families, we mahalo you.”

The holidays are a time of holidays, of reconnecting to family and loved ones, and charity. This last year, we were so blessed to receive numerous contributions from partner organizations and individuals across the state.

Aloha United Way and PetSmart Donate 100 Plush Toys

Aloha United Way, the Hawaiʻi office of national nonprofit United Way, partnered with PetSmart to collect 100 plush toys for our Ka Paʻalana Homeless Family Education Program. The toys were distributed to the keiki at the December holiday parties.

Nā Pono No Nā ʻOhana Throws Thanksgiving

Near the end of November, Nā Pono No Nā ʻOhana held its annual Thanksgiving luncheon. They provided meals to the dozens of Waimānalo families who came to the site at Blanche Pope Elementary School. The Nā Pono team even brought in a shaved ice truck!

“It’s really a very important time for us because we thank the families for being part of our program,” says Nā Pono’s Project Director, Lora Perry. “It’s heartfelt, and they are heartfelt… we couldn’t have this program without them. We are blessed, and that’s what Thanksgiving is all about.”

Leeward Community College’s Toy Drive

In the first week of December, Leeward Community College’s library facilitated a toy drive for Ka Paʻalana families. They collected new, unwrapped toys for keiki under 5 years old.

Tūtū and Me – Kauaʻi Raises Over $1,300

Our Tūtū and Me Traveling Preschool Kauaʻi-East team completed their yearly fundraiser on Friday, December 7. The coffee, bake, and rummage sale raised over $1,300.

“We are truly blessed for all the help and donations from our school families and friends,” said Site Manager Michelle Curammeng.

American Savings Bank: Mahalo Mail & Kahiau Giving Campaign

On December 12, we received some ‘Mahalo Mail’ from American Savings Bank (ASB) – Hawaiʻi. We are fortunate enough to be part of their Kahiau Giving Campaign, an annual teammate program that supports select community organizations.

The mail consisted of letters, cards and notes, handwritten by ASB employees expressing their ‘mahalo’ for our work serving Hawaiian families across the state.

Kamehameha Schools Provides Critical Items

Sheryl Kahue, a teacher at Kamehameha Schools (KS), facilitated a large donation of toys, books, backpacks, and hygiene items. KS students participated in the drive by helping to collect items that are necessary to our program families, but not as frequently donated.

Zumbathons Collect Toys for Keiki

Two ‘Zumbathons’ were put on by Nisi and Friends and Pomai and Friends. The Zumbathons collected toys for Ka Paʻalana keiki, which were given out at the various holiday parties put on by our program staff throughout December.

For several years, Pomai Akiona (a former Parent Educator with Ka Paʻalana) hosts a Zumba class where she does not charge attendees cash for participating. Instead, she asks attendees to bring a toy to donate to the families of Ka Paʻalana. This year, over $1,500 worth of toys was collected for the keiki!

Cricket Donates Needed Supplies to Ka Paʻalana

Joy, Patrick and Natasha from Cricket Wireless brought much-needed donations of household items to Ka Paʻalana on December 13. The items included boxes of diapers, packs of wipes, and infant teething rings.

The kind donation will go to the unsheltered families with infants that the Ka Paʻalana outreach team encounters living on the Leeward Coast of Oʻahu.

NASW Delivers Doughnuts to We Are Oceania

The National Association of Social Workers – Hawaiʻi (NASW – Hawaiʻi) is currently running a campaign called ‘tell NASW why you need donuts’. The campaign is meant to reward the hard work of registered NASW members, and We Are Oceania was the first winner!

Project Director Jocelyn Howard and the rest of the We Are Oceania staff worked tirelessly for weeks to ensure their constituents were able to sign up for health insurance during the open enrollment period. Everyone welcomed the respite of doughnuts!

Wyndham Vacation Resorts Donates Toys, Books

Every year, Robert Nelson and Kathy Goo with Wyndham Vacations and his team help organize donations for Ka Paʻalana families. This year they collected over $1,700 worth of toys and books!

Hula Grill Waikiki Gives Gifts to Over 50 Keiki

On December 19, Hula Grill Waikīkī’s General Manager, Drew Crocker, and Community Relations Coordinator Kaitlyn Taketa paid our office a visit. They had coordinated with our Tūtū and Me Traveling Preschool and home visiting programs, and our Ka Hana Noʻeau mentorship program, to organize gifts for over 50 children and youth across the islands.

We were blown away by these generous presents, as so many of our families are just scraping by and do not have the resources to make the holidays special for their keiki. Drew and Kaitlyn said they are excited to organize this drive again next year, and collect gifts for even more keiki.

Program Keiki See Snow and Santa Claus

Several of our Tūtū and Me and Ka Paʻalana program sites across the state held holiday parties, from Christmas to the traditional makahiki.

The holiday parties included thematic activities and games created by our staff, from homemade holiday playdough and real snow to visits from Santa Claus. The keiki also received wrapped gifts from our staff, partners and from the many donations received over the holidays.

To see more photos of our programs’ holiday activities, click here.

Mahalo nui loa to all of these amazing organizations, foundations, partners and individuals, and of course all our wonderful staff, for making the a season of giving for our families in need!

As part of their milestone “30 in 30 for 30” campaign, the Locations Foundation surprised 30 different community-based organizations in Hawaiʻi every day through the month of September. They selected Partners in Development Foundation’s Ka Paʻalana program as one of their donation recipients.

“30 in 30 for 30 is a fun, impactful way for the Locations Foundation to celebrate its 30th anniversary while spreading some extra kindness across the communities in which we, as realtors, live, play and work,” said Kristin Mukai, realtor and Locations Foundation president, in a press release.

From their history of working with our Ka Paʻalana program bringing supplies and smiles, it was a “no brainer” to select Ka Paʻalana as one of the organizations to donate to for the campaign, said Jodie Tamaye, realtor-associate and active volunteer with the Locations Foundation.

Items like air mattresses and children’s shoes may not seem like much, but to these families they make a world of difference. The Locations Foundations staff sees the difference this makes as well as the heart Ka Paʻalana staff puts into serving these families.

“This is how we produce change,” begins Kasey Galariada, Ka Paʻalanaʻs family education coordinator. “By building relationships with these families, we help them to create a better future for themselves and their keiki.”

Ka Paʻalana serves homeless and at-risk families on the Leeward Coast of Oʻahu by providing basic needs items as well as educational programming. The programming includes family-child interaction preschool, parent education, adult education, and home visiting. Ka Paʻalana also serves as an initial contact agency for families ready to transition to local shelters or temporary housing facilities.

“Through our community-focused, family-oriented chapter, members aspire to achieve fraternal ideals through our social, civic, charitable, educational, patriotic, and voluntary service activities. We partner with local schools, fire departments, and other charitable organizations to help make our community better for everyone.”

Mahalo to Richelyn and the Hawai‘i Chapter of WoodmenLife for your generous donation!

James, Jodie, Kathy, Elizabeth, Hazel and her children spent some time getting to know the homeless children from the shelter and answering questions. At one point, James got close and kneeled down to answer a question posed by one of the children. “What are backpacks made of?” What a neat question. Without hesitation, like a trained teacher (which he swears he is not), James patiently explained the different materials used in making the backpacks and then outlined the different uses and benefits of each of the pockets. Although the donations were much needed, what made a bigger impact on the children was the time spent with adults who genuinely cared about and enjoyed being with them.

This latest donation was one of several from Locations LLC and Locations Foundation. In May, the realtors and staff of Locations LLC and Locations Foundation collected and donated over 2,000 lbs of clothing and children’s items to Ka Pa‘alana. In June, at the Ka Pa‘alana preschool graduation ceremony, Michael Marks and Kengo Ueno (realtors and Locations Foundation Board Members) surprised preschool families and guests by presenting a check to Ka Pa‘alana so that the program could continue its work with homeless families and children.

Mahalo Locations LLC and Locations Foundation for your generosity and commitment to helping vulnerable families and children in the community.

We would like to give a special Mahalo to Locations Hawai’i LLC for their generous donations. Their representatives, Michael Marks and Kengo Ueno, presented to Ka Paʻalana a monetary donation of $2,100. Thank you very much for attending the graduation ceremony, and for your continued support and generosity.

We would also like to express our deep appreciation for guest speaker Sam Kapu III, who presented us with a wonderful graduation speech, and entertained us with a song that was in keeping with our “Super Hero” theme, Maui the Hawaiian Superman.

A big shout out to the Ke Kama Pono Program participants for attending and helping serve lunch to the families and guests. And, to all the administration, board members, family and friends of the graduates for attending this event.

We would also like to thank the Honolulu Police Department, Honolulu Fire Department, and Honolulu EMS team for volunteering your time.

Last but not least, Mahalo Nui to the staff members of the Ka Paʻalana program for doing such a wonderful job decorating and setting up this event. Not only that, but thank you for your dedication to our keiki and their families and for another wonderful school year. Congrats class of 2015!