Bank volunteers beautify Hawaii Island schools

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The campuses of Hilo, Honokaa and Waiakea high schools received a fresh coat of paint courtesy of more than 150 volunteers Saturday.

The campuses of Hilo, Honokaa and Waiakea high schools received a fresh coat of paint courtesy of more than 150 volunteers Saturday.

Rain did not deter First Hawaiian Bank employees, who led this volunteer effort with their friends and families, and members of Hilo High School’s Viking ROTC and UH-Hilo’s men’s and women’s soccer teams.

They spent the morning painting curbs, stairwells and railings to assist the nonprofit Hawaii 3R’s with addressing the Department of Education’s backlog of repair and maintenance projects at Hawaii’s public schools.

Bank employees on the Big Island and Oahu are assisting Hawaii 3R’s (repair, remodel, restore) with 21 school projects over seven Saturdays. The bank contributed $50,000 toward paint and supplies and is providing the “sweat equity” of more than 1,000 employees.

These efforts are part of First Hawaiian Bank’s annual Community Care Employee Volunteer Service Program where teams of employees are making a difference in their communities through partnerships with nonprofits in Hawaii, Guam and Saipan.