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What are we doing for those families left houseless by the Maui fires?
Eō Series: Interview with Jeff Gilbreath

Hawai‘i Community Lending Executive Director Jeff Gilbreath recently shared his mana‘o in the latest Hawai‘i Community Foundation Eō Series: “Housing Maui Fire Survivors.” The program shared updates on the progress of three major programs designed to provide interim and permanent housing solutions for the people and places affected by the Aug. 8, 2023, disaster.

HCL Executive Director Jeff Gilbreath

Hosted by HCF, the webinar was moderated by Michelle Ka‘uhane, HCF senior vice president and chief impact officer; and featured Maui Strong Fund partners Kūhiō Lewis, CEO of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement; and Kimo Carvalho, executive director of HomeAid Hawai‘i; along with HCL’s Gilbreath.

Gilbreath’s key points:
1) Homeowners do not have enough money to rebuild. HCL is working hard to secure funds so that homeowners can rebuild on their land.
2) Homeowners must go through the process in the right order or they could lose thousands of dollars, time and energy. HCL prevents these losses by walking them through every step.
3) The most impactful step homeowners need to take (in the right sequence) is to do a comprehensive lot survey. HCL is working on programs to help residents do that!

The team at HCL is proud to work with and support our community partners HCF and CNHA to help solve Hawai‘i’s housing crisis.

Watch Gilbreath’s talk here.


Watch entire webinar here.


Eō is HCF’s thought leadership webinar series which convenes local experts and community leaders for perspectives on building a better, more vibrant Hawai‘i. For more information, visit www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/eo-series.

About Aikū’ē Kalima

Aikū’ē Kalima, former Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund Manager for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, joins Hawaiʻi Community Lending as its lending director.
Kalima comes to HCL with more than 25 years of experience in community development and mortgage lending. In his new position, Kalima will direct HCL’s consumer, construction, mortgage and small business lending.
“As a native Hawaiian and Hawaiian Home Lands beneficiary, I understand the financial needs for economic development and quality housing for kānaka is great,” said Kalima, who led OHA’s deployment of $9.8 million in loans to 286 native Hawaiians statewide over the last five years. “For over 25 years, I have worked tirelessly at the grassroots level, educating kānaka on the skills necessary to achieve the dream of homeownership and providing resources to achieve financial sustainability. I plan to continue serving the lāhui empowering ‘ohana and communities as the lending director for Hawai‘i Community Lending.”
Kalima takes the reins of HCL’s $16-million revolving loan fund and will oversee a team of seven staff members statewide. “HCL is honored to have Aikū’ē join us in our mission to help tackle our housing crisis by funding native Hawaiian and local families to build, buy and save homes from foreclosure,” said HCL Executive Director Jeff Gilbreath. “He has proven leadership in both the public and private sectors and has the passion to get families on the land through homeownership.”

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About Nikki

Nikki Hollern is a mother of five, born and raised in Upcountry Maui, but she spent the last 15 years in the beautiful town of Lahaina. Lahaina stole her heart, with the people and the town being unlike any other. After the fire, her family had to relocate to Kahului.

Her heart remains in Lahaina, and her goal is to help this amazing community get back to where they belong. She feels blessed to have the opportunity to be part of the HCL ‘ohana, helping navigate this incredibly hard time and hopefully serving as a guiding light to assist the community in returning home and coming back even stronger.

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