December 24, 2025
The Salvation Army Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division made holiday wishes come true for thousands of keiki and kūpuna across Hawai‘i and Guam this December, sharing Angel Tree joy throughout numerous gift distribution events. Together with support from generous partners and gift donations from the local community, these distribution days were filled with bustling volunteers, joyful smiles, and Christmas gifts being passed out to families and individuals in need who had registered for The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program in October. Collectively, 16,435 youth and seniors were served division-wide to meet the growing need, with all Salvation Army corps locations reporting an increased demand in 2025, most notably for kūpuna.
Angel Trees bearing wish tags appeared at all Walmart stores and Central Pacific Bank locations throughout Hawai‘i this holiday season, along with other partner locations, amplifying the program’s reach. UPS was a critical logistics partner on Oʻahu, with managers donating their time and trucks to pick up thousands of donated gifts at all Central Pacific Bank locations, Aloha Pacific Federal Credit Unions, and other key locations. Each fulfilled tag brought Christmas cheer to individuals and families facing increasing financial hardships, with every gift serving as a meaningful message of care and dignity.
While the annual Angel Tree program has wrapped for 2025, the need continues for support beyond the holidays. The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle campaign not only rings in holiday hope, but supports critical community services year-round as the organization’s most significant fundraiser. Red Kettles are at local storefronts through Christmas Eve, and Virtual Red Kettles are available to donate to, create, or join online until December 31, 2025. Every dollar given at a kettle stays in the community in which it is raised, making a meaningful local impact in the face of increasing food and housing insecurity, limited resources for at-risk youth and kūpuna, and families struggling with addiction and financial hardships.
WHEN/WHERE: To set up or donate to a Virtual Red Kettle in your community, visit https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usa-western-territory/hawaiian-and-pacific-islands/virtual-red-kettles/. Now through December 31, donations to Virtual Red Kettles are matched dollar for dollar, up to $10,000 per kettle, thanks to a matching gift from The Salvation Army Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division. Angel Tree gift distributions were held at various events from December 10 –December 20, 2025, on Kaua‘i and across Hawai‘i and Guam.
On Kaua‘i, the Hanapēpē Corps served 373 keiki and kūpuna through Angel Tree, noting an increased demand of over 77% this year compared to last year, causing a shortfall in gifts to fill the need. Community partners Captain Andy’s and Sheraton Kauai Resort supported awareness throughout this year’s Angel Tree campaign and helped pass out gifts at the distribution.
The Līhuʻe Corps distributed gifts to over 1,000 keiki and kūpuna, with support from Kauaʻi County Mayor Derek Kawakami, local businesses and local families—including one single mom with many children of her own who wrapped gift baskets, one after the other, to help the effort. Her late son’s legacy inspires her spirit of service.
Also on Kaua‘i, the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program partnered with The Salvation Army to provide gifts for families through the Angel Tree program.
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About The Salvation Army – Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division
The Salvation Army Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division covers the state of Hawaiʻi and the Pacific Islands including Guam, The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Republic of the Marshall Islands and The Federated States of Micronesia. The Division offers a wide variety of programs throughout the islands including: affordable senior housing; at-risk youth services and housing; camp & conference center; family stores; food distribution and feeding programs; homeless services; The Kroc Center – Hawaii’s largest community center; preschools & day care services; social services – emergency assistance; substance abuse treatment; and work therapy & rehabilitation services. For more information, call 808-988-2136, visit hawaii.salvationarmy.org, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
