Bank has Contributed Over $125,000 to the Program since Inception

(Honolulu, Hawaii July 13, 2012)—Hawaii High School Auto Academy has received a $22,500 grant from the First Hawaiian Bank Foundation, according to an announcement today by Bob Harrison, First Hawaiian Bank's president and chief executive officer. Since the program's inception in 2004, the bank has contributed over $125,000.

At today's graduation ceremony held at Honolulu Community College's (HCC) Automotive Mechanics Technology & Diesel Mechanics Facility, Harrison presented a check for $22,500 to Erika Lacro, HCC Chancellor. This grant by First Hawaiian bank ensures that the program will continue through 2015. Fifteen high school students received recognition for their completion of a 120-hour automotive technology course which included internships at The Cutter Group during the six-week summer program.

"First Hawaiian is proud to join The Cutter Group and HCC in support of this Hawaii High School Auto Academy which provides a unique learning experience and future career opportunity for students.," said Harrison. "This has been a terrific example of how businesses can collaborate with the Department of Education to develop meaningful partnerships to benefit students and our community."

"The Cutter Automotive Family is proud and delighted to be part of this program. Over the past 8 years, we have mentored more than 100 future mechanics and technicians, many of whom have ultimately joined our team in servicing an ever-increasing array of very complex machines. Considering the employment challenges of the past few years, I'm especially gratified that we not only help create local talent and promising careers, but are then able to hire them," said Nick Cutter, president Cutter Family Auto Centers.

This innovative program began in 2004 as a collaborative partnership between First Hawaiian Bank, HCC, Waipahu High School and Cutter Automotive Group in response to what was seen as a shortage of trained workers in the automotive technology industry. The program is geared to high school students interested in the automotive industry and provides them with advanced automotive training and college credit towards an Automotive Technology degree. After that first year, the program added high school students from Kaimuki and later Aiea, McKinley, Roosevelt, Farrington and Waialua followed. The students not only receive technical skills, they also are taught life skills and are trained on how to be a good employee.

Now in its 9^th year, the Hawaii High School Auto Academy has been expanded to include students at all DOE Oahu High Schools as well as Kamehameha Schools students who participate in their school's Auto Shop program.

First Hawaiian Bank Foundation is the charitable arm of First Hawaiian Bank. In 2011 the Foundation and the Bank contributed to more than $2.5 million to 400 non-profit organizations in Hawaii, Guam and CNMI. The Foundation funds educational opportunities, access to health care, services for youth and children, human service needs and support for the culture and arts.

First Hawaiian Bank (fhb.com) with assets of $16.1 billion, was founded in 1858 and is Hawaii's oldest and largest bank. The bank operates 58 branches in Hawaii, three in Guam and two in Saipan.