A commitment
to a better tomorrow
American Savings Bank takes an active part in enriching the overall environment of Hawaii. ASB participates in many projects that focus on improving different aspects of the community. Three such projects include a computer donation program to Hawaii’s public schools, The Silent Invasion program that informs residents of the various foreign species invading our communities and the Partnership for the Environment.
Recently, Hawaii has been
criticized nationally for its failure to provide quality
public education. ASB found a way to help improve
that quality by donating hundreds of computers to
the public education system. The program began as
the annual 
American Savings Bank CARES department service project
for the bank’s Corporate Services Division. ASB was
in the process of upgrading many of their computers
and rather than discarding the old computers, Brian
Jaber, Assistant Vice President of Corporate Services,
and his staff seized the opportunity to refurbish
the computers and donate them to schools and nonprofit
organizations. The division contacted Computer Aided
Technologies International, who worked with the Department
of Education to research where needs existed.
So far, ASB has donated more than 80 computers to various schools and organizations. King Intermediate received 40 computers in order to begin a summer school program. An additional two computers and a printer were provided for Kailua Intermediate, 35 computers to Friends of the Library for the state library system, and four computers to the Ellison Onizuka Space Center. The request list for future donations is long, but the division is doing everything possible to accommodate as many organizations as they can. Although the IBM PCs are 10-year-old machines, ASB updated them to the 486 class. The Corporate Services Division maintains their personal involvement by ensuring that the computers are clean and in working condition. ASB also helps with servicing the machines at very low or no cost. ASB is also involved in The Silent Invasion 1999 program. The program’s goal is to reduce the amount of unwanted pests that become established in Hawaii. A major tool in attaining the goal of reducing unwanted pests is the KITV Silent Invasion television campaign. The campaign also promotes the Bishop Museum’s “Backyard Aliens” exhibit. The exhibit is a hands-on presentation for both children and adults.
Although The Silent Invasion and the computer donation programs and ASB’s support to the Partnership for the Environment differ vastly in purpose, all are examples of American Savings Bank’s commitment to bettering our community. ASB believes that by working together on the community’s diverse needs, we can create a better tomorrow! | 
Recycling
paper in office buildings is commonplace by now—not just here
in Honolulu where it is required by law, but across the country—simply
because it makes economic as well as environmental sense. A
recycling challenge facing business at this time is what to
do with outdated technology. Those old computers are piling
up in storage rooms and warehouses. Businesses have found that,
although the computers are still usable, they can’t just donate
them to schools and organizations who are ill-equipped to refurbish
them for use. American Savings Bank, featured in this month’s
WasteLine, has developed a model program for recycling old computers
and supporting public education. My thanks to yet another member
of the Partnership for the Environment for leading the way.—Mayor
Jeremy Harris
About
the Partnership
