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Hawaiian Community Assets Launches New Web Presence as Usage Ramps Up

Hawaiian Community Assets

HONOLULU, HI (November 22,2021) – With more grants and programs available every day to help Hawai‘i residents, Hawaiian Community Assets (HCA) is expanding its web presence to support an increased volume of users.

HCA’s revamped website (www.hawaiiancommunity.net) has a welcoming tropical look and feel, paired with useful links to all the latest programs, services and events. HCA’s sister lending institution, Hawai‘i Community Lending (HCL), also launched a new website with access to grants, loans and services.

In addition to its online presence, HCA is proud to welcome the community to one of four Financial Opportunity Centers (FOCs) on Maui, O‘ahu, Kaua‘i and Hawai‘i Island. At the centers, HCA’s professionally trained financial counsellors provide financial counseling, career coaching, and grants and loans to local residents. With nine counselors, HCA offers the largest number of HUD-certified counselors in the state.  

As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, HUD-approved housing counseling agency, HCA builds the capacity of low- and moderate-income families to achieve and sustain economic self-sufficiency, with a particular focus on native Hawaiians. In partnership with HCL, HCA offers a range of options for local families from access to down payment grants, to emergency loan funds, to matching funds for closing costs, HCA has a range of options for struggling families.

Hawaiʻi Community Lending is a nonprofit US treasury certified community development financial institution that specializes on providing loans to local residents who cannot qualify at mainstream banks and credit unions. HCL offers grants and loans to consumers, renters, homebuyers, nonprofits, businesses, and affordable housing builders. 

“Our doors are open to all Hawai‘i residents who are facing challenges with renting or owning a home in these tough times,” says Jeff Gilbreath, executive director of HCA. “We welcome community to come, go to our website or visit our centers. Whether you connect with us online or in-person we are here to help you and your ‘ohana realize the dream of homeownership.”

For more information, please contact HCA toll-free (866) 400-1116, or visit www.hawaiiancommunity.net.

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NEWS RELEASE

Contact:         
Charlene Ka‘uhane, President
Ka‘uhane, Inc.
(808) 385-3530                                                                            charlene@kauhaneinc.com

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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