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New Ho‘ āmana grants offer up to $30K for Hawaiian Home Lands homeowners

    Keeping a home in Hawaiʻi can feel impossible when one storm, one setback, or one unexpected bill pushes a family behind. That is why Hawaiʻi Community Lending is shining a light on the Ho‘āmana Homeowner Assistance Program, a new resource designed to help eligible Hawaiian Home Lands lessees stay rooted on the land, even after hardships like the March 2026 Kona Low storms.

    Ho‘ āmana is a $10 million grant program funded by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and delivered in collaboration with Hawaiʻi Community Lending. If you qualify, grants of up to $30,000 can help cover past due essentials like mortgage payments, property taxes, utilities, HOA fees, and even certain insurance costs. The goal is simple and powerful, giving families breathing room now, so they can protect their home for the generations that come next.

    New Ho‘āmana grants offer up to $30K for Hawaiian Home Lands homeowners
    See HCL board president Billy Pieper discuss Ho‘āmana Homeowner Assistance Program on HI Now Daily.

    Since opening in January 2026, the program has already started making an impact. Hawaiʻi Community Lending has received 64 applications statewide, assisted 18 homeowners, and disbursed $159,925 in grants so far. Even if Ho‘āmana is not the right match, HCL encourages families not to count themselves out just yet. Their team can also walk applicants through other loan options and support programs tied to Hawaiian Home Lands.

    HCL is further continuing its work through the revived Kānaka Anti-Displacement Fund, created to help families recover and remain housed after major disasters. With dozens of families already requesting support after the Kona Low storms, the need is urgent and support is within reach.

    Learn more and apply at www.hawaiicommunitylending.com/hoamana/, and follow @hawaiicommunitylending on Instagram for updates and resources.

    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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