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August 5, 2016
  • First Hawaiian Bank representatives Ben Akana, Joyce Borthwick, and Sharon Shiroma Brown congratulated students at the 2016 Summer Auto Academy graduation.
Photo above: First Hawaiian Bank representatives Ben Akana, Joyce Borthwick, and Sharon Shiroma Brown congratulated students at the 2016 Summer Auto Academy graduation.

For 12 years, the Hawai‘i High School Summer Auto Academy at Honolulu Community College has been giving high school students interested in the automotive industry the unique opportunity to hit the road to college running.

Through a generous grant from First Hawaiian Bank, the six-week program consists of an integrative curriculum in which students participate in an unpaid internship at a Cutter Auto dealership in the morning, then attend classes at Honolulu CC in the afternoon. Upon successful completion of the program, students receive four college credits toward an Associate of Applied Science degree in automotive technology.

“This program not only exposes high school students to the automotive industry, but it gives them a unique opportunity to experience a college-level learning environment,” explains Honolulu CC Chancellor Erika Lacro. “We are teaching them transferable skills that will translate in any workplace.”

Following the success of the program, First Hawaiian Bank renewed its commitment to the Summer Auto Academy through 2018 with a $22,500 grant.

“At First Hawaiian, we believe that education is the key to unlocking doors to future opportunities,” said Sharon Shiroma Brown, president of First Hawaiian Bank Foundation. “We are pleased to provide the funding so that high school students interested in exploring a career in the automotive industry can attend the auto academy’s 6-week course at no charge. This partnership is creating opportunities that could lead to successful careers for our kids right here in Hawai‘i.”

The innovative program began as a collaborative partnership between Honolulu CC, First Hawaiian Bank, Waipahu High School and the Cutter Automotive Group in response to a shortage of trained workers in the auto technology industry.

Since the program’s inception in 2004, the bank has committed more than $147,500, which covers the cost of tuition, tools and supplies.

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If you would like to learn how you can support UH students and programs like this, please contact us at 808 376-7800 or send us a message.