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Hawai‘i Community Lending nonprofit awarded $400K to aid Lahaina homeowner recovery [MauiNow]

Hawaii Community Lending nonprofit awarded $400K to aid Lahaina homeowner recovery

American Savings Bank’s flagship Maui location includes a new branch and training facilities for island teammates. PC: American Savings Bank.

In a significant boost to aid Lahaina homeowners affected by last year’s wildfires, American Savings Bank (ASB) and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines (FHLB Des Moines) have announced an allocation of $400,000 to Hawaiʻi Community Lending through the FHLB Member Impact Fund.

ASB’s donations to improve affordable housing, financial literacy and the revitalization of ʻAʻala Park and neighboring communities were amplified by FHLB’s $3 to $1 matching program to result in a $850,000 gift for six local nonprofits. Hawaiʻi Community Lending will receive the largest grant of $400,000.

“We send our deepest mahalo to ASB and FHLB Des Moines for their support,” said Jeff Gilbreath, executive director of Hawaiʻi Community Lending. “The funds will match other banks and funders to assist 500 owner-occupant Lahaina homeowners impacted by the fire with the goal of preventing displacement of our local people and getting them the funds needed to rebuild.”

FHLB’s Member Impact Fund, which was created in 2023, was established to provide critical support and funding to four states and three US Pacific territories – Hawaiʻi, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, Guam, American Samoa and Northern Mariana Islands. Building on last year’s $1.8 million award, ASB and FHLB Des Moines have infused a total of $2.65 million into Hawaiʻi communities.

“We are thrilled to partner with our members and local organizations to empower them to make their communities vibrant places to live and work,” said Kris Williams, president and CEO of FHLB Des Moines. “An important part of our mission is to enable our members to meet the housing, business and economic development needs of the communities they serve. The Member Impact Fund is another way we fulfill that.”

In addition to this grant, ASB recently released its 2023 Impact Report, highlighting other charitable contributions and long-term investments in initiatives that support a thriving Hawaiʻi. See article at Maui Now

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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