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Hawai‘i Community Lending held virtual workshops to help homeowners prevent foreclosures. [MauiNow]

The County of Kauaʻi announced that its Homeowner Assistance Fund program has closed after successfully assisting 369 Garden Isle homeowners prevent foreclosure since its launch in November 2021.

The County of Kauaʻi announced that its Homeowner Assistance Fund program has closed after successfully assisting 369 Garden Isle homeowners prevent foreclosure since its launch in November 2021.

The HAF program was administered by local nonprofit Hawaiʻi Community Lending (HCL), which disbursed over $2.65 million in financial assistance for past due mortgages, HOA fees, property taxes, homeowners’ insurance, and utilities. HCL also worked with mortgage servicers to obtain loan modifications for homeowners who were unable to afford their monthly payment.

“Four years ago, the world was rocked by COVID-19 and while we didn’t know it at that time, our lives would never again be the same. During the pandemic, in addition to ensuring the health and safety of our loved ones, people were also faced with not knowing whether they could keep a roof over their families’ heads. But finding hope in the midst of uncertainty is what keeps our community moving forward and that’s exactly what the Homeowner Assistance Fund provided for our people. Through this program, Hawai‘i Community Lending helped households avoid foreclosure here on Kauaʻi. We are truly grateful for their support as they guided our residents through financially challenging situations and gave them hope for their future,” said Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami.

“Many of our Kaua‘i homeowners struggled financially in the aftermath of the pandemic, and they had fallen behind on their mortgage payments. We thank Hawai‘i Community Lending for working diligently to launch this program, helping hundreds of families avoid foreclosure and being with them every step of the way,” Said Kaua’i County Housing Director Adam Roversi.

HCL Servicing Director Kahaunani Mahoe-Thoene expressed her gratitude for the financial assistance the Kaua‘i community received. “During the pandemic, financial support was a lifeline, turning uncertainty into hope and helping us bridge the gap from survival to recovery,” Mahoe-Thoene said. “It wasn’t just support, it was a beacon of hope that showed we are not alone in this struggle.”

“I am immensely proud of our HCL team’s dedication and compassion,” she continued. “Their tireless efforts in administering financial assistance have not only provided vital support to those in need but have also been a testament to our collective commitment to making a difference during these difficult times.”

The numbers of homeowners assisted by the Kaua‘i HAF program points to the tremendous need for housing help in our islands. HCL offers not only grants and programs, but low-cost mortgage loans, construction loans, debt consolidation and more—all aimed at helping kānaka keep their homes, build homes or buy homes.

With the HAF financial assistance having been fully expended, the County will continue to fund HUD housing counseling and legal services to help homeowners who are still at risk of foreclosure.

Homeowners who are at risk of foreclosure are encouraged to contact the following agencies to receive support:

Hawaiian Community Assets
3116 Akahi Street, Līhuʻe, HI 96766
808-587-7886
kauaifoc@hawaiiancommunity.net

Legal Aid Society
2970 Haleko Road, Ste. 101, Līhuʻe, HI 96766
800-499-4302

If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability, contact 877-477-5990 as soon as possible. Requests made as early as possible will allow adequate time to fulfill your request. Upon request, this notice is available in alternate formats such as large print, Braille, or electronic copy.

For more information about the impact of the Kauaʻi County HAF program, visit www.HawaiiCommunityLending.com/haf/

See full article at MauiNow

About Chanel Josiah

Chanel was born and raised on Oʻahu and now resides on Kaua’i with her husband and seven children. As a 5th-generation Hawaiian Home Lands lessee and homeowner, she has firsthand knowledge of the challenges families face in accessing housing, financial opportunities and resources both on and off homesteads. Her lived experiences and professional expertise inspire her passion for supporting others and strengthen her commitment to helping local and native Hawaiian families secure and sustain homes on their ancestral ‘āina, building lasting stability for themselves and generations to come.

Chanel also serves as the Board President of Pa‘a Lima, a nonprofit organization that offers support services and education to address houselessness, mental health challenges, financial literacy, and income instability. The organization is committed to breaking generational cycles and changing lives, with a special emphasis on supporting youth aging out of foster care.

As Operations Director, Chanel oversees marketing, community engagement, technical assistance, and operations. A key aspect of her role is connecting directly with communities to understand their needs and challenges. Drawing on her personal and professional experiences, Chanel approaches these challenges holistically, blending diverse perspectives to create innovative strategies that drive meaningful and lasting change for the communities she serves. “I’m grateful to be able to share our organization’s moʻomeheu (culture), moʻolelo (story) and kaunu (passion) with communities across Hawaiʻi, partners and investors who believe in the work we do.”

Chanel is inspired by her keiki, motivating her dedication to ensuring they can build their futures here in Hawai’i. She is also inspired by her tūtū kāne, Robert William Kalanihiapo Wilcox. “He was a fearless kānaka ‘ōiwi champion who encompassed the spirit of aloha ‘āina – the love of his land, and home just as we do now.” Outside of work, Chanel enjoys reading, practicing hula, and spending time at the beach with her ʻohana.

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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 Sean

Sean Perez loves hearing about the great things Hawai‘i Community Lending is doing for the Hawaiian community. And now as HCL’s new director of finance, he is excited to be part of the team making it happen.

“I enjoy hearing the success stories of new homes that we will soon be building and finding for these families,” he says. “HCL’s mission resonates well with me and my passion to help others and assist our community.”

To this end, Sean will manage HCL’s finances, accounting, compliance, and information technology matters; working with HCL Executive Director Jeff Gilbreath and supervising three division managers. He comes to HCL with over eight years of experience in financial management in the nonprofit and private, for-profit sectors having worked in the legal, social service, health, and telecommunications industries as well as with the US Attorney’s Office of Guam and CNMI. In his previous job as director of operations for the Hawai‘i State Bar Association where he was responsible for directing the organization’s finances, Sean grew his experience in nonprofit financial management and gained extensive background in accounting, grants management, IT and human resources. These skills, in conjunction with his drive to work with the Hawai‘i community through nonprofit assistance, led Sean to HCL.

Currently living in Honolulu, Sean was born in Tamuning, Guam. When he was 10 years old, he moved to Oxnard, Calif., where he attended school and eventually community college. The Air Force Reserves beckoned him after graduation, leading him to serve three and a half years as an aircrew flight equipment technician at March Air Reserve Base. After his military service, Sean returned to his childhood home of Guam, where he went to college to obtain a degree in finance and economics, and then to pursue an MBA.

On O‘ahu, Sean enjoys family life with his fiancée and toddler son; fishing and surfing in his time off. “I look forward to accomplishing great things with HCL and creating new success stories,” he says.

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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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