Date:
August 6, 2025
Contact:
Shay Zykova
Employee Experience Manager
Hawaiian Telcom
O: 808.546.7891 | C: 808.354.7487
shay.zykova@hawaiiantel.com
Nathan Hokama
Corporate Communications
Hawaiian Telcom
808.226.7470
nathan.hokama@hawaiiantel.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hawaiian Telcom Employees Raise Over $20,000 To Support Local Arts Organizations
Honolulu, Hawai‘i—Hawaiian Telcom’s 900 employees recently raised over $20,000 this year to benefit the Honolulu Museum of Art as part of its ArtsWave campaign. The total included a $2,500 company contribution from Hawaiian Telcom. Hawaiian Telcom also donated $1,000 to the Estria Foundation, which creates art in public spaces.
Hawaiian Telcom launched its annual signature ArtsWave campaign in 2023 to support culture and the arts because many nonprofit programs were still recovering from the adverse impact created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Hawaiian Telcom and its employees have continued to dedicate their efforts to support local arts and culture programming, cultural preservation, and the mental wellness of communities statewide.
“Hawaiian Telcom chose to support the Honolulu Museum of Art because the museum offers diverse art exhibits and educational programs for keiki to kūpuna,” said Su Shin, president of Hawaiian Telcom. “Changes in federal policies have created uncertainty for many organizations, and we know donors prioritize their support for social service providers and overlook the value of culture and the arts. The Hawaiian Telcom ‘ohana wanted to make sure organizations like the Honolulu Museum of Art, as well as the Estria Foundation, receive the support they need during this challenging time.”
“The Honolulu Museum of Art is deeply grateful to Hawaiian Telcom and its staff for this generous donation through its innovative ArtsWave campaign. It is so meaningful to the Museum that they understand and value the tremendous benefits arts and culture programs have for our shared communities,” said Honolulu Museum of Art interim director and CEO Penni Hall. “By making this gift, Hawaiian Telcom is supporting an institution that is committed to serving the community as a place of learning and discovery that welcomes everyone.”
Hawaiian Telcom’s annual ArtsWave campaigns to date have raised nearly $400,000 for Hawai‘i arts organizations. Past recipients have included:
- Estria Foundation (statewide), which beautifies public spaces with murals as they educate keiki and at-risk youth about cultural importance, mediation and creative collaboration.
- Hui No‘eau Visual Arts Center (Maui), an arts and cultural program that includes virtual art classes and free keiki art kits for mental health relief.
- Kalihi Palama Culture & Arts Society, a non-profit organization that enables new generations to carry on the traditions of hula;
- Na Maka O Pu‘uwai Aloha Foundation (O‘ahu), a nonprofit whose name can be translated as “Descendants of Generosity,” uses music and dance to teach and perpetuate Hawaiian culture and language.
For more information about the ArtsWave campaign, contact Shay Zykova at 808.546.7891 or shay.zykova@hawaiiantel.com
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About Hawaiian Telcom
Hawaiian Telcom is the only organization in the state that provides 100% fiber internet service. Hawaiian Telcom’s plans are now underway to invest $1.7 billion to make Hawai‘i the first fully fiber enabled state in the nation by the end of 2026. To date, Moloka‘i, Lāna‘i and Kaua‘i are fully fiber enabled. Maui will be fully fiber-enabled by the end of 2025, and Hawai‘i Island and O‘ahu will be fully fiber-enabled by the end of 2026. Hawaiian Telcom has been named the “Top Rated Internet by Consumers” and “Top Gaming Experience” by Ookla, an objective, independent source and global leader in connectivity intelligence. For more information, visit hawaiiantel.com.