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A Message from Our Divisional Leaders

Week 1: Jan 19 - 23

Major Lani and I hope that all of you were able to spend time with your loved ones over the holidays. Mahalo Nui Loa to ALL of you and your teams for your service to the community  through Thanksgiving, Angel Tree, Toys for Tots, Fill the Truck,Live Nativity and the Red Kettle Campaign. We would not be able to reach our goals and start the new year strong without your help!

With  the  New  Year comes new ideas and hopes to build a stronger sense of community throughout our Division as we continue to strive to be of service to  those  who  are in most need. Each week, we will share with you some of the  upcoming events and latest news from our Divisional Headquarters. This will be an ongoing process and we look forward to hearing your feedback on how to best develop this means of communication. 2015  is  a  chance for us to reflect on the impact that The Salvation Army made  on  over  117,000  lives  throughout  the Hawaiian & Pacific Islands. Jeremiah  29:11  says,  “For  I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,  plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a  future.” One of the most powerful things we can offer those we serve is the  opportunity  for  a bright future and hope. With hope comes education, stable  jobs  and  recovery  for  families  that have endured hardship. The Salvation Army is prepared  to  arm these individuals with the tools and resources they need to become sufficient. This year, we are excited to publicly launch our Pathway of Hope initiative and will keep you posted on further announcements via this blog. You’ll also  see how the work that you do on a daily basis fuels a movement within our Corps and Programs that will change lives in 2015. Lani and I are deeply grateful for your service alongside of us and we look forward  to your continued partnership to support our mission to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

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Happy New Year!

The work that The Salvation Army - Hawaiian & Pacific Islands has done for our community in 2014 would not have been possible without all of you! Mahalo Nui Loa and Hau'oli Makahiki Hou! 

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Live Nativity cancelled tonight due to the weather forecast.

The Salvation Army Live Nativity in Manoa has been cancelled tonight due to the weather forecast. Performances will resume tomorrow and Wednesday evenings from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. 

Stay safe. Mahalo!

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Jason P. Lester completes 72-hour run with 216 miles and money for presents for keiki this Christmas

On Friday, our Divisional Leader, Major John Chamness, was able to run a few miles with ultra-endurance athlete Jason P. Lester to raise money for presents for keiki this Christmas through The Salvation Army's Angel Tree Program in Kona. 

And this Sunday morning...Jason is finally pau! 72 hours later, 216+ miles, and hundreds of lives changed. 

Mahalo to Jason Lester for showing dedication, perseverance, and love to our keiki in most need this Christmas Season!

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A 72-hour run for keiki Christmas gifts

Instead of a mad dash for the latest holiday sale, one Kona man challenged to himself and others to run for a good cause: to bring every keiki in need a gift for Christmas through The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Program. Endurance athlete and 2009 ESPY Award Winner Jason P. Lester will run for 72 hours straight to raise awareness for children in need in his community and raise money to buy them gifts for Christmas. 

His challenge begins tomorrow morning (Dec. 11) at 8 a.m. at the Loloku Street and Ha’a intersection in Kailua-Kona. “For every mile I run, I would like to provide a gift to a child for Christmas,” said Lester. For those who prefer to donate cash, Lester will have The Salvation Army’s red kettle on hand. 

  Lester shares his reason for running to give back to kids in Kona, he is inspired to run in honor of his dear friend Kaleo Opiopio, who lost his fight to cancer.

  The Salvation Army Hawaiian & Pacific Islands would like to thank Mr. Jason P. Lester for his big heart and courage to take on this huge challenge to raise awareness about the families that are not able to buy their children Christmas presents this year. 

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Clear vision for those on their way to sobriety

Gerald, John Lee, Jr., Jaime and Richard are all clients at The Salvation Army Rehabilitation Center. 

It has been ten years since 52-year-old John Lee, Jr. had an eye exam. It was never really one of his priorities. Today LensCrafters provided free eye exams and glasses for Lee and his friends at The Salvation Army (TSA) Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC) in addition to other TSA programs such as the TSA Adult Treatment Services and the TSA Family Treatment Services. It is a charitable program, called OneSight, that provides vision care through LensCrafters for those who cannot afford it.

  Jaime and Lee pick new frames. 

For Lee, getting new glasses is a privilege. “We’re pretty lucky, yeah,” he tells one of his friends from ARC, “we get to pick what we want and it’s free.” Lee is four months into Phase 1 of the rehabilitation program. He struggles with an addiction to crystal meth and says his family left him.  His wife and 10-year-old daughter now live in Oregon, where he keeps in touch with them through Facebook.  “I have a plan, “ Lee says as he scans the bins full of frame samples, “once I graduate from the second phase of the program, I will go back to school, find a job and see my daughter after she graduates from high school.”  

  For Lee and his friends, Gerald, Richard and Jaime, receiving an eye exam and getting new glasses is all part of the rehabilitation process. They’re learning how to live healthy, take care of themselves and move onto better things. “Having an eye exam every year is so important because it can detect so many different things about your health, there are things that could be going on internally that you would never know unless you got an eye exam,” said LensCrafters Pearlridge General Manager, Holly Finley. “Today we are helping 61 people…through our One Sight program, we feel it’s important to make sure that vision care is taken care of for everyone.” 

Mahalo to LensCrafters’ OneSight program for providing our clients with eye exams and glasses! 

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Share your #RedKettleReason

Donating or volunteering can be life-changing. #RedKettleReason is our holiday campaign that encourages others to not only give but share their reason for helping others. Here we will post photos of those who share their reason for helping Hawaii's families in need through The Salvation Army. What is your #RedKettleReason?

Here are a few of our favorites from our Red Kettle Kickoff:

American Savings Bank CEO Richard Wacker shares that he gives back because we are all part of ONE BIG COMMUNITY. 

Tracy Taylor from First Hawaiian Bank rings her bell and donates to The Salvation Army because giving back MAKES A DIFFERENCE!

Bank of Hawaii's Director of Human Resources Jean Hamakawa simply says: IT FEELS GOOD to give back!

To see more of the #RedKettleReason(s) we snapped on the street, visit our Facebook page. 

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What are you thankful for? 

Our 44th Annual Thanksgiving Dinner on Oahu will be held at the Neal S. Blaisdell Exhibition Hall from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. We look forward to seeing you there. 

Mahalo to those who have helped us make this possible. 

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Join us Downtown on the corner of Bishop Street and King Street for our Red Kettle and Angel Tree Kickoff on Monday, Nov. 24!

Share your #redkettlereason!

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Pizza for Pahoa

Order pizza online at www.papajohnshawaii.com and use the promo code PAHOA1 for two large two topping pizzas for $25. One dollar for every order will be donated to The Salvation Army's efforts to assist Pahoa residents affected by the lava flow. Offer expires 11/17. 

Feed the family tonight and contribute to our local cause at the same time. Mahalo!

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Our friends Zippy's and Anna Miller's join in on the holiday season with their Buy a Pie program! You can purchase a pie at any Zippy's location or at Anna Miller's to be donated to our Annual Thanksgiving Dinner for families in need. Ask a server for details and share the holiday spirit. Mahalo. - The Salvation Army

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The Salvation Army Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division prepared to respond to pending hurricanes

With two hurricanes/tropical storms approaching, The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services today announced that they are prepared to respond with community assistance as needed on the major Hawaiian Islands. 

“The Salvation Army has an established presence on Hawaii, Maui, Molokai, Oahu and Kauai and we are in place to respond in our island communities as needs arise,” said Major Mark Gilden, Divisional Secretary for Business for The Salvation Army Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division. “The public is encouraged to help in advance by supporting emergency disaster services efforts via monetary donations via our website or our Divisional Headquarters in Manoa on Oahu. 100 percent of the donated funds will be used to support our emergency disaster services in Hawaii.”

Online donations may be made at www.salvationarmyhawaii.org or by calling The Salvation Army Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Divisional Headquarters at 808-988-2136.

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Celebrate National Donut Day

Tomorrow is National Donut Day! We are thrilled to once again partner with Regal Bakery on this delicious holiday. National Donut Day was created 77 years ago to bring awareness to our social services efforts in the community and honors our "Donut Lassies," female volunteers who, during WWI, served troops on the front line (including handing out donuts and coffee!).

From 6 am - 2 pm, visit any of the Regal Bakery locations on Oahu to get a free donut! For our service members, Regal Bakery is also providing donuts to the USO locations on Oahu, so you can pick one up at either the Honolulu Airport or at the Hickam AMC Terminal! Regal Bakery is donating a portion of the day's proceeds to The Salvation Army!

Join in our conversation by posting your Donut Day pictures on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram with #HawaiiDonutDay!

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Happy National Salvation Army Week!

It's National Salvation Army Week! This week, we celebrate our wonderful donors, volunteers, and supporters who make the work we do possible. It is because of you that we are able to help one in 10 people in Hawaii. Mahalo for all that you do!

A special mahalo to Governor Neil Abercrombie and Mayor Kirk Caldwell of Honolulu for proclaiming this week Salvation Army Week in Hawaii! We are blessed to continue to work here and do good for the wonderful people of the Aloha State for the last 120 years - here's to another 120 (and more!) years to doing the most good!

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Do you have a story to share?

We're always looking for stories on how The Salvation Army has impacted lives and we want to know: do you have a story to share? If you do, fill out this quick form and let us know! You might see your story right here!

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You're Invited!

Join us on March 14th for our Partners in Community Service Awards Luncheon! The luncheon will be held at the Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki and will be honoring the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Philip Russell, Linda Rich, and Larry Williams. Our special keynote speaker is Micheal Flaherty, president of Walden Media (which has produced many major motion pictures!).

Tickets are on sale now! Reserve your seats today!

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Join us for NFL Play60!

Start the new year off right - with 60 minutes of activity to keep you active and healthy! On Saturday, we held a NFL Play60 event at the Aloha Stadium for kids grades K-8 along with the YMCA Honolulu. The kids had a great time!

If you missed the event on Saturday, don't worry! We are going to be holding another Play60 at our Kroc Center in Ewa Beach on Thursday, January 23rd - we invite you to join us!

Registration begins at 4:30 pm and the activities will run from 5:00 - 6:30 pm.

The event is free. All children do need to be accompanied by a chaperone to the event. Sign up today! Hurry and sign up soon - tickets are going fast!