Presenting the Community Education Pualu Award to Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union President/CEO James Takamine (right) are J. William Sanborn, chairman of the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce Board, and Vivian Landrum, president/CEO of the chamber. (Photo courtesy of HCFCU)

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The Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union was honored June 25 with a Community Education award by the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce at the Chamber’s annual luncheon.

The award, accepted by the Credit Union’s President/CEO James Takamine, recognizes the Credit Union’s ongoing commitment to financial education and its newest savings program that targets elementary-age students.

The chamber annually recognizes outstanding businesses, organizations and individuals in the West Hawaii region with Pualu Awards.

This is the fourth Pualu Award for the Credit Union since 2004 and its second recognition for Community Education. Other categories of honor have been Business Innovation and Culture & Heritage.

The Community Education award is presented to organizations or individuals that promote and support education and enrichment programs which develop personal skills and lifelong learning.

Hawaii Community FCU has begun working with students at Konawaena Elementary to introduce them to the “culture of savings.”

The Children’s Savings Project is a savings plan pilot program initiated by a University of Hawaii professor aimed at elementary-age children.

Hawaii Community FCU’s track record in financial education and especially its programs which focus on Hawaii youth made them a perfect partner for the program, said Laverne Omori of the Hawaii County Department of Research & Development, who was charged with identifying financial institution partners on the Island of Hawaii.

Knowing Hawaii Community FCU had three existing on-campus student savings programs at West Hawaii high schools, Omori knew the organization was already committed to the “culture of saving” for youths.

She correctly assumed the Credit Union would willingly participate in this new program and make it their own.

“Our long term goal is to help our children recognize the value and importance of saving and how it can affect their choices in their future,” said Nellie Medeiros, Marketing Officer with Hawaii Community FCU.

She is one of three staff members from the credit union that has committed to being present at the twice-monthly Deposit Days at the school.

The Chamber recognized the Credit Union for implementing an “innovative project” and “teaching our youth to recognize the value and importance of savings and how it can affect their choices for their future.”

Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union has been serving its members for 73 years. It is a not-for-profit credit union, wholly owned by its 37,000-plus members, with branches in Kealakekua, Kailua-Kona, Kaloko, Kohala and Honokaa.

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www.hicommfcu.com