Deployment Redeployment Support Program (DRSP): Through the Deployment Redeployment Support Program, USO of Hawaii volunteers and staff organize resources to provide Aloha to our soldiers who are deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan and when they come home. Volunteers and staff provide refreshments and support while the soldiers await their aircraft and then while they wait to return to their families upon their arrival back to Hawaii. USO Hawaii works closely with all branches of the military and dedicated volunteers and staff remain on call as flight arrivals and departures change at a moments notice. USO Hawaii is the only agency allowed to interact with the troops during these times when they are awaiting departure or returning home. Nearly 20,000 troops are reached through this program annually.
Gate Pass Program: USO Hawaii along with TSA at the Honolulu International Airport offer family and command members the opportunity to meet or escort their Warrior arriving or departing for IOF or OEF on domestic flights.
United Through Reading Program: Deploying troops contact USO Hawaii and set up a session to be taped reading a children’s book. USO Hawaii will supply recording equipment, books and packaging materials, and will mail a copy of the book, along with the DVD and instructions, as well as information on United through Reading to the family following the deployment. Everyone involved will benefit from the increased morale of the entire family and enhanced feeling of connectedness that this program promotes.
Military Appreciation Day at the Honolulu Zoo: USO Hawaii provides a free day at the Honolulu Zoo including food, entertainment and educational activities for our military and their families based in Hawaii. Approximately 8,000 military and their families attended this annual event.
Base Race Series USO Run: Established a decade ago as a fundraising event for USO Hawaii, the Base Race Series is a 5K Run/Walk and 10K Run that rotates between the military bases in Hawaii. The Run is open to the public and allows the civilian and military communities to come together in showing appreciation for our freedoms and for the beautiful running routes the bases in Hawaii have to offer.
Operation Birthday Cake: USO Hawaii will assist in delivering a birthday cake and baloon to that special active duty someone with our “Operation Birthday Cake” for a donation of $25. Order form: http://www.uso.org/Hawaii/files/Operation Birthday cake.pdf
Operation Enduring Care: Nationally the USO established this program in 2006 which also has been setup in Hawaii. Picnics, outings and other activities are customized to meet the needs of the wounded warriors in Hawaii. USO Hawaii also provides personal supplies and other items to Tripler Army Medical Center and families of wounded warriors.
Messages from Home: Is your loved one deployed? USO Hawaii will record a DVD message and send it to your deployed loved one.
Thanks for Giving Events and Volunteer Salute: Logging an average of over 1,200 hours a month combined, the volunteers are the lifeblood of USO Hawaii. The Thanks for Giving Events and the Volunteer Salute are events that allow the volunteers to gather and celebrate their own good work. Awards and tokens of recognition are provided to the volunteers during these events.
Entertainment: In coordination with worldwide operations USO Hawaii provides celebrity entertainment periodically throughout the year. Local entertainment is also provided to meet specific requests from our Hawaii based Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guard.
Operation Holiday Trees: USO Hawaii provides miniature decorated trees to Wounded Warriors and those staying at the Fisher House during the Holidays.
Yellow Ribbon Message Tree: USO has yellow ribbon message cards to write and hang on our Yellow Ribbon Tree.
Operation Santa: Operation Santa includes support to several different military events around the island to give away holiday items and gifts. USO Hawaii works in collaboration with family groups at each base and local elementary schools to provide these holiday surprises which sometimes include a USO Santa.
