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Native Hawaiian Farmers Encouraged to Apply for Renter and Homebuyer Programs

    Hawaiian Community Assets

    Wailuku, Maui, HI (July 27, 2021) – Hawaiian Community Assets (HCA) is aiming to fill a critical need in the community with a new financial assistance program for native Hawaiian farmworkers. Farmers are encouraged to apply and receive practical help in a variety of areas.

    Among other possible benefits, applicants to the program may: get help to qualify for rental and mortgage loans; access loans up to $100,000 for home buying costs (income and other program restrictions apply); qualify for up to $11,500 in grant funds for home purchase; and learn about HCA’s grants for first month’s rent/deposit up to $4,000.

    Through the program, native Hawaiian farmers will receive free tools and training from HCA’s certified counselors. Tools include career coaching, assistance with monthly budget planning, childcare finance match, and more—all designed to help farmers qualify for financial assistance.

    To do so, HCA is reaching out to Hawai‘i Farm Bureau and its 11 county chapters, and Hawai‘i Farmers Union United and its 12 county chapters. The native Hawaiian Farmers program is open to all ages statewide, and the deadline to register is Sept. 30.

    The program is part of a series of targeted plans that HCA offers for renters, homeowners, families and now farmers. With Financial Opportunity Centers on Maui, O‘ahu, Kaua‘i and Hawai‘i Island, HCA provides benefits such as financial/renter education workshops, individualized housing counseling, and access to financial products.

    Hawaiian Community Assets is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, HUD-approved housing counseling agency and community lending institution. HCA builds the capacity of low- and moderate-income families to achieve and sustain economic self-sufficiency, with a particular focus on native Hawaiians.

    To apply, please contact HCA toll-free (866) 400-1116, or visit www.hawaiiancommunity.net.

    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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