First Hawaiian Bank Foundation
First Hawaiian Bank Foundation is a private foundation based in Honolulu, Hawaii. It makes charitable grants to educational, religious, health, social, cultural, and civic organizations.
First Hawaiian Bank Foundation at a glance
In short: First Hawaiian Bank Foundation gave $1.8M across 69 grants in 2024 (avg $27K), mostly in Hawaii. 28% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,848,900
- -3.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 69
- -1.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $26,796
- -2.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $5,698,655
- +34.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 28% first-time grantees (19 of 67, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Hawaii (98% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to First Hawaiian Bank Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Submit a letter of request detailing the organization’s purpose, tax-exempt status, and proposed use of funds. The foundation states that there are no restrictions on awards.
- Review Cycle
- Applications are accepted at any time.
- Deadline
- Applications are accepted at any time.
- Contact
Application contact: Cameron W Nekota
Mailing address: 999 Bishop Street, Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: (808) 525-7777
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who First Hawaiian Bank Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Hawaii Community Lending Inc ($250K). Together the top 10 received $800K.
Organizations only. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($33,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
356 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 296 grants of 356 (83%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in Hawaii, 1% to California, and 1% to AP.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 69 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is First Hawaiian Bank Foundation open to new grantees?
28%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 19 of 67 grantees (28%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $29K; repeat grants $27K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 45% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+11%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 730% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.7M (2021) to $3.6M (2020). In 2024 it made 69 grants totaling $1.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii Community Lending Inc Hilo, HI | To support the Lahaina Homeowner Recovery Program to assist 500 owner-occupant Lahaina homeowners impacted by the wildfire. | $250,000 |
| Blood Bank of Hawaii Honolulu, HI | To support capital campaign to construct permanent facility in Kapolei. | $125,000 |
| Aloha United Way Honolulu, HI | Corporate campaign pledge. | $100,000 |
| University of Hawaii Economic Research Org Honolulu, HI | To support economic research relevant to Hawaii and the Asia-Pacific region. | $50,000 |
| Youth Impact Program Honolulu, HI | To support Summer Camps for at-risk middle school students from low income, marginalized communities. | $50,000 |
| Parker School Kamuela, HI | To support the purchase of a 14-passenger van to transport students. | $50,000 |
| Straub Foundation Honolulu, HI | To support training and emerging technology/equipment at the Straub Burn Center. | $50,000 |
| Hawaii Foodbank Honolulu, HI | To support Food Purchase Program: Serving Hawaii's Keiki, Kupuna and Families. | $50,000 |
| Punahou School Honolulu, HI | To support the redesign and renovation of Cooke Library into the Academy Learning Commons. | $40,000 |
| Hawaii Island United Way Hilo, HI | Corporate campaign pledge. | $35,000 |
Ready to take the next step with First Hawaiian Bank Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $5,698,655 | $3,314,328 | $1,849,198 | $1,848,900 | 69 | $1,848,900 | $306,862 | $253,242 |
| 2023 | $4,233,525 | $194,373 | $1,920,474 | $1,920,250 | 70 | $1,920,250 | $193,449 | $246,898 |
| 2022 | $5,959,626 | $68,589 | $1,964,027 | $1,948,692 | 76 | $1,948,692 | $169,939 | $328,922 |
| 2021 | $7,855,064 | $1,803,538 | $1,680,436 | $1,672,234 | 62 | $1,672,234 | $791,279 | $380,866 |
| 2020 | $7,906,962 | $443,709 | $3,631,387 | $3,621,020 | 79 | — | $434,575 | $457,510 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, First Hawaiian Bank Foundation reported a distributable amount of $253K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s filing describes its charitable activity as giving to educational, religious, health, social, cultural, and civic organizations. Its 2024 grants included support for recovery after the Lahaina wildfire, health care facilities and services, food assistance, schools, and community campaigns.
Grantees’ own mission statements illustrate the range of organizations supported. Hawaii Community Lending says its mission is to increase access to capital for Native Hawaiians residing in Hawaii. Blood Bank of Hawaii says it works to meet patients’ transfusion needs in Hawaii, and Straub Foundation says its mission is to create a healthier Hawai‘i. Aloha United Way describes its work as advancing health, education, and financial stability in the community.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 69 grants totaling $1,848,900. Grants ranged from $2,500 to $250,000, with a median of $25,000.
The largest reported grant was $250,000 to Hawaii Community Lending for the Lahaina Homeowner Recovery Program, intended to assist 500 owner-occupant Lahaina homeowners affected by the wildfire. Other notable grants included $125,000 to Blood Bank of Hawaii for a permanent facility in Kapolei; $100,000 to Aloha United Way as a corporate campaign pledge; and $50,000 each to the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization, Youth Impact Program, Parker School, Straub Foundation, and Hawaii Foodbank. Additional grants included $40,000 to Punahou School and $35,000 to Hawaii Island United Way.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Robert S. Harrison as chairman and director; Cameron W. Nekota as president and director; Alton A. Murakami as vice president and tax manager; Joel E. Rappoport as vice president, secretary, and director; and James M. Moses as vice president, treasurer, and director. Directors listed are Alan H. Arizumi, Christopher L. Dods, Gina O. W. Anonuevo, Corbett A. K. Kalama, and Donald G. Horner.
First Hawaiian Bank Foundation is led by Cameron W. Nekota, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 14 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Cameron W. Nekota
President & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Robert S. Harrison
Chairman & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Alan H. Arizumi
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Christopher L. Dods
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Corbett A. K. Kalama
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Donald G. Horner
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Gina O. W. Anonuevo
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Joel E. Rappoport
Vice President, Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Neill A. Char
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Sharon S. Brown
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Darlene N. Blakeney
Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
James M. Moses
Vice President, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Lea M. Nakamura
Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Alton A. Murakami
Vice President & Tax Manager
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Former officers (7)
- Former: Iris Y. Matsumoto (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Lance Mizumoto (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Ralph M. Mesick (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Ravi Mallela (2020–2022) — Treasurer & Director
- Former: Anthony R. Guerrero Jr. (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Mitchell Nishimoto (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Walter A. Dods Jr. (2020–2021) — Chairman Emeritus & Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about First Hawaiian Bank Foundation
How much does First Hawaiian Bank Foundation give each year?
First Hawaiian Bank Foundation gave $1.8M across 69 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.9M across 70 grants.
What is First Hawaiian Bank Foundation's typical grant size?
First Hawaiian Bank Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $26,796, across 69 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from First Hawaiian Bank Foundation that year got $29K on average.
Where does First Hawaiian Bank Foundation give grants?
First Hawaiian Bank Foundation gives mostly in Hawaii: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Honolulu, HI (37 grants), Hilo, HI (4 grants), Kamuela, HI (4 grants) and Kailua, HI (3 grants).
Does First Hawaiian Bank Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 69 grants with a stated purpose on First Hawaiian Bank Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Corporate campaign pledge." (5 grants).
Who are First Hawaiian Bank Foundation's largest grantees?
First Hawaiian Bank Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Hawaii Community Lending Inc ($250,000), Blood Bank of Hawaii ($125,000) and Aloha United Way ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($33,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 26% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is First Hawaiian Bank Foundation?
First Hawaiian Bank Foundation reported $5.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $253K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does First Hawaiian Bank Foundation fund?
The foundation’s filing describes its charitable activity as giving to educational, religious, health, social, cultural, and civic organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from First Hawaiian Bank Foundation?
Submit a letter of request detailing the organization’s purpose, tax-exempt status, and proposed use of funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is First Hawaiian Bank Foundation's EIN?
First Hawaiian Bank Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7437822. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). First Hawaiian Bank Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/first-hawaiian-bank-foundation-morg_eff0c48d9ceb4e80af2cf1c9c42d2f82
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_237437822_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{First Hawaiian Bank Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/first-hawaiian-bank-foundation-morg_eff0c48d9ceb4e80af2cf1c9c42d2f82},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from First Hawaiian Bank Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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