On July 16, 2025, Locations Foundation volunteers gathered at Locations’ Pearlridge office to stuff brand-new backpacks full of supplies to help children in need across Oahu prepare for the upcoming school year. Thanks to the generosity of our agents, clients and friends, 500 keiki will start the school year with the supplies they need—and the confidence they deserve.

The backpacks were distributed through our trusted community partner organizations, including:

• Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii – NFL YET Nanakuli Clubhouse

• IHS – Kahauiki Village

• Partners in Development Foundation – Ka Pa’alana

• Weed and Seed Hawaii

• Women in Need Hawaii

This marks the 24th year of our annual Backpack to School initiative, which began in 2001 to support local nonprofit organizations serving children. Each backpack was filled with essential school items such as binders, pencils, crayons, notebooks, glue sticks and more—helping students feel ready to learn from day one.

Foundation volunteers included: Aileen Wada, Akie Kagawa, Ayumi Yamane, Bernadette Hanna, Cari Tanabe, Carol Hayashi, Christine Kim, Cindy Fullmer, Danson Honda, Erika Peralta, Evelyn Rooney, Hiroko Manuszewski, Jantzen Shinmoto, Judy Kumano, Jynnifer Canilao, Kumiko Burns, Marie Guerrero, Megumi Nekotani, Patrick Reeder, Priscilla Wassman, Chief Administrative Officer Renee Dona, Shiho Wang, Sunny Lee-Oshiro, Susan Onishi and Wayne Nishida.

Foundation President Kristin Mukai and Sales Coach Noa Hussey planned the backpack-stuffing event and ensured it ran smoothly and efficiently.

Mahalo to everyone who contributed to this year’s Backpack to School initiative. Thanks to their generosity, students across the island will walk into the classroom this year with backpacks full of supplies and hearts full of hope.