Christine Kaakua, a property claims specialist at Island Insurance, took over the reins this year as president of the company’s Ho'ohana Club. Its name means value-driven, intentional work, which is what the group aims to do under the company’s charitable arm, Island Insurance Foundation.
“There’s a really good foundation here with the club,” Kaakua told Aloha State Daily. “Leadership is very involved in the community, so we try to support whatever events come up annually.”
Collaboration and connection are top-of-mind for her, she noted, adding, “I try not to think of myself as the president of this because to me, this is everybody’s club, I just have some administrative stuff that I need to do.”
She said the volunteer club, which started in 2018, currently has about 20 members. Focus areas include education, environment and social services, among others.
Kaakua joined Island Insurance in January 2024 and said her co-worker invited her to join the Ho'ohana Club. She hopes to continue to grow the group in the same way.
“It’s a way to meet new people across departments, so part of the goal is to empower employees to foster teamwork,” she said. “A lot of it is just asking your neighbor you sit next to, ‘hey, do you want to join the club?’ It’s not a requirement and it is open enrollment — anyone can join at any time. It’s a revolving door.”
In 2025, Island Insurance employees volunteered more than 350 hours of their time. The Ho'ohana Club distributed free school supplies to hundreds of keiki at the Towers of Kūhio Park, helped organize food at The Pantry by Feeding Hawai‘i Together, participated in Helping Hands Hawaiʻi’s Adopt-a-Family program and The Genki Ala Wai Project, and supported the Hawaiʻi Heart Walk and Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
To kick off 2026, Kaakua said the club was was set to volunteer at The Pantry on Feb. 13.
“Our volunteers report back that the work is very rewarding,” she added, “For me, it’s connection with employees and leadership at Island Insurance, as well as with members of nonprofit organizations and the community. It’s rewarding to hear stories from people from all walks of life and establishing that connection.”
“Personally, I’m not new to this industry, but where I came from, our company was more national, so it wasn’t as hands-on in the local community,” she continued. “This is new territory for me; I'm realizing how big the nonprofit sector is and how many opportunities there are. Our goal is to help when we can and do our best to meet the need.”
Island Insurance Foundation also donated about $515,000 to nearly 50 nonprofits in 2025.
“We believe that our donations to these nonprofits make tangible differences in the lives of the local residents who need it most,” said Dana Tokioka, Island Insurance Foundation president, in a recent announcement. “By supporting these worthy organizations that do so much good, we are helping to make Hawai‘i an even better place for Island families.”
Since 2003, the foundation has donated more than $15 million to organizations statewide.
“I’m grateful to be part of a local company that values giving back and being involved in the community,” Kaakua told ASD. “I’m excited for all our events to get out and support our community. That’s where our company was founded, and where everything comes from.”
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Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros can be reached at kelsey@alohastatedaily.com.
