Keeping Native Hawaiian families rooted in Hawaiʻi takes more than hope, it takes resources, guidance, and access to funding. That’s where Hawaiʻi Community Lending and Hawaiian Community Assets come in. Founded by Native Hawaiians and built to serve Hawaiʻi residents with a focus on kānaka maoli, these sister organizations are teaming up to break down the barriers that keep homeownership feeling out of reach.
Hawaiian Community Assets, established in 2000, began with HUD certified housing counseling and culturally grounded financial education, including its Kahua Waiwai curriculum. That one-on-one support helps families map out next steps, from budgeting and savings strategies to credit and debt management. Over time, those counseling sessions revealed a repeated roadblock: too many local families were being turned away by traditional lenders.
This was the motivation behind Hawaiʻi Community Lending when created in 2002. Growing into Hawaiʻi’s premier nonprofit mortgage lender and a U.S. Treasury certified native CDFI. HCL offers specialized loan programs designed for Hawaiian Home Lands, including options that may allow zero down mortgages with interest rates below 5% for qualified borrowers in low to moderate income areas. Since the work is mission driven, HCL also has flexibility to collaborate with partners and investors to fund innovative programs that support buyers, builders, and homeowners.
You can learn more and apply for loan programs at HawaiiCommunityLending.com, and sign up for financial workshops at hawaiiancommunity.net/. Follow along on Instagram and Facebook @hawaiicommunitylending.