Here’s how you celebrate turning 90 in style: gather your friends, pool together nearly $100K, and make sure families across your state have food on the table. That’s exactly what seven Hawaii credit unions just did.
The Hawaii Credit Union League announced that local credit unions hitting their 90th anniversary decided to mark the occasion with something bigger than cake and balloons—a collective $93,350 donation to the Hawaii Foodbank. Because nothing says “we’ve been around for nine decades” quite like doubling down on the whole helping-people thing.
Four credit unions kicked things off earlier this year: Hawaii State Federal Credit Union, HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union, Aloha Pacific Federal Credit Union, and Hawaiian Financial Federal Credit Union. They started the initiative as a way to commemorate 90 years of serving their members. When the Hawaii Credit Union League sent out the invite, three more jumped in—Hawaii Federal Credit Union, Hawaii County Employees Federal Credit Union, and Hawaii First Federal Credit Union.
“For 90 years, Hawaii’s credit unions have helped local families build financial security while giving back to the communities they serve,” said Timothy Ashcraft, president of the Hawaii Credit Union League. “It was fitting to mark this anniversary not only by reflecting on our history, but by coming together to support an organization that helps families across our state. This donation represents the cooperative spirit that has defined Hawaii’s credit union movement for generations.”
The money will fund a new Hawaii Foodbank project focused on disaster preparedness and community resilience—pretty crucial stuff when you’re living in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
Here’s How the $93,350 Breaks Down:
- Hawaii State Federal Credit Union: $31,900
- HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union: $30,000
- Aloha Pacific Federal Credit Union: $16,500
- Hawaiian Financial Federal Credit Union: $12,200
- Hawaii Federal Credit Union: $1,500
- Hawaii County Employees Federal Credit Union: $1,000
- Hawaii First Federal Credit Union: $250
Amy Miller, president and CEO of the Hawaii Foodbank, expressed gratitude for the contribution. “We are deeply grateful to Hawaii’s credit unions and the Hawaii Credit Union League for their generosity and longstanding commitment to our community,” she said. “This generous contribution will help strengthen our ability to provide food assistance, prepare for emergencies and continue meeting the needs of the many families who rely on us.”
The whole thing ties back to 1936, when Hawaii’s credit union movement started with a small group of locals who pooled their resources to create member-owned financial cooperatives. The “people helping people” philosophy they launched with? Still going strong. Today, 45 credit unions serve more than 881,000 members statewide, proving that what started as a grassroots effort nearly a century ago has become a cornerstone of Hawaii’s financial landscape.
Ninety years later, they’re still showing up for their communities—just on a much bigger scale.