Maui Nonprofit Directors’ Association honors Hawaii Petroleum.

Hawaii Petroleum was recently recognized by the Maui Nonprofit Directors Association, which awarded it the “Community Business Award” at its recent 2016 Legislative Pau Hana event.

The award recognizes Hawaii Petroleum’s impressive work as an outstanding business leader in the non-profit community. Hawaii Petroleum has a long history of community giving, donating thousands of dollars to charitable organizations and fundraising events throughout the Big Island and Maui County.

One such program is Hawaii Petroleum’s popular Ohana Fuels “Fuel up. Do good.” program. Ohana Fuels partners with nonprofit organizations serving the needs of the local community by donating a portion of the proceeds of every gallon of gasoline sold at its stations in that community. Donations from gasoline sales during the first half of this year on the islands of Maui and the Big Island were more than $30,000.

In addition to its donations from the “Fuel up. Do good.” program, so far in 2016 Hawaii Petroleum has donated $77,499 to local communities, $45,000 of which is their contribution to Saltchuk’s Hawaii Regional Giving Program. Hawaii Petroleum is a subsidiary of Saltchuk, a Seattle-based privately-owned family of diversified transportation and distribution companies. Saltchuk prides itself on its commitment to community giving and support, calling it the very heart of the company’s culture.

Over the past decade, Saltchuk companies have given an average of $2.5 million each year, totaling more than $20 million in cash and in-kind support to the communities in which they operate. Hawaii Petroleum is proud to support local organizations and their missions that are important to their customers.

“It’s an honor to receive this award. As you know, community giving is a big part of our culture, both personally and professionally,” said Kimo Haynes, Hawaii Petroleum president. “As a local company, our business only exists because of our community, and we feel it’s important to give back.”

“The Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of Maui was fortunate along with numerous other nonprofits to financially benefit from the generosity of Hawaii Petroleum,” Paul Tonnessen, president of the Maui Nonprofit Directors Association said. “We have completed a variety of educational projects that have impacted the children of abuse and neglect dramatically. Hawaii Petroleum is always reaching out to the nonprofits in various ways including the ability to participate in their quarterly give back from the fuel sales. This also allows the nonprofits the use of the Minit Stops to conduct car washes which brings not only additional revenue to the agencies but also gives them exposure in the community.”

He added, “I am honored to have not only recommended Hawaii Petroleum for the ‘Community Business Award’ but to also see that the rest of the Maui nonprofits felt the same during the voting process. The nonprofit community recognizes the difference they have made and how they continue to impact the lives of those in need in our community. Hawaii Petroleum has and continues to show us all the true meaning of giving.”