Honolulu (February 1, 2024) – Together with its employees, in 2023, Hawaiian Telcom donated more than $1.8 million in corporate, in-kind and employee contributions and sponsorships to local non-profits and organizations creating a better future for Hawaiʻi. In addition, employee volunteer time for community service jumped more than 60% over 2022 to more than 5,200 hours.
“From investing in the continued expansion of our future-proof fiber network throughout our state to volunteering to support local non-profits, our goal is to continue to help make Hawai‘i better for all,” said Hawaiian Telcom President Su Shin. “We are fortunate to call Hawai‘i our home, and our team shares a sense of kuleana to help improve our island state in any way we can.”
Hawaiian Telcom’s giving highlights include:
- More than $1.2 million powered by the Bell Charitable Foundation, philanthropic arm of Hawaiian Telcom’s parent company, altafiber. This includes $1 million of a $3 million commitment that will be paid over three years to the Hawai‘i Community Foundation to support the families, businesses, and organizations impacted by the devastating Maui wildfires, and $140,000 in digital equity grants in celebration of Hawaiian Telcom’s 140-year anniversary in 2023.
- Nearly $350,000 to local non-profits and organizations throughout the state, which included donations to Special Olympics Hawai‘i, American Lung Association, and the Kaua‘i Economic Development Board to support the state’s first digital equity gathering, Broadband Ho‘ike.
- $210,000 contribution to local United Way organizations, including Aloha United Way, Kaua‘i United Way, Maui United Way and Hawai‘i Island United Way. Of this amount, more than $40,000 went to Maui relief efforts.
- Nearly $30,000 in airtime for public service announcements for non-profit organizations and government agencies on Hawaiian Telcom TV.
Empowered by Hawaiian Telcom’s Mālama Hours program, which grants employees 40 paid volunteer hours yearly, employees volunteered more than 5,200 hours in 2023. The programs gives employees the flexibility to support initiatives they found most meaningful, such as planting native species to preserve watersheds in Wai‘anae, making genki balls to help clean the Ala Wai Canal, and coaching youth sports.
About Hawaiian Telcom
Established by King David Kalakaua in 1883, Hawaiian Telcom, a locally managed legacy company, has served Hawaiʻi's telecommunications needs for over 140 years. Headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaiian Telcom delivers communications solutions, including high-speed internet, video, voice, data network solutions and security, managed and cloud services to residential, business and wholesale customers over its statewide future-proof fiber network. Hawaiian Telcom has expanded the possibilities of community connectivity, offering the fastest, most reliable connection available through its resilient, weather-proof fiber network.
Hawaiian Telcom has made a significant investment in the state, from building local infrastructure, including laying new undersea cables across the Pacific to Asia, to making strides in closing the digital divide by expanding its services statewide and supporting local organizations with programs focused on digital equity. Since 2017, between grants and sponsorships, Hawaiian Telcom has given more than $5.5 million to support nonprofits and charitable initiatives across Hawaiʻi. For more information, visit Hawaiiantel.com.
Contact
Ann Nishida Fry
(808) 285-9289
Ann.nishida@hawaiiantel.com