Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 14, Number 11, 1 November 1997 — LOANS: OHA's Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

LOANS: OHA's Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund

By Gerald Honda KAUILA MAXWELL, named for owner Susan Fernandez Kopper's sons, Kauila and Maxwell, is a popular spot for Windward Mall shoppers looking for traditional and contemporary Hawaiian arts and crafts as well as quality Hawaiian gift items. Not many customers know this thriving specialty shop got started with a loan from the Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund. Kopper, a University of Hawai'i graduate and marketing consultant with an Masters in Business Administration, used her loan proceeds on inventory, equipment and other costs of opening the business. "It's made my business possi-

ble because Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund helps businesses that can't get a loan anywhere else even though they're viable," Kopper said. Kauila Maxwell proved so viable that Kopper recently introduced her own line of home fumishing whieh she manufactures locally. The Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund, part of OHA's Eeonomie Development Division, was

launched eight years ago to provide loans to Hawaiians like Kopper who are unable to obtain financing from conventional sources. Funded by OHA and the federal govemment, it has made loans totaling more than $13 million to 293 loeal businesses, among them manufacturing, retailing, eonstmction agriculture and services. Hawaiians of any blood quantum doing business in Hawai'i may apply for Native Hawaiian

Revolving Loan Fund loans of up to $75,000 whieh ean be used for equipment, inventory, working capital and leasehold improvements. The loans cannot be used for real property acquisition, building constmction, investments or for loan consolidation. Qualified applicants must be experienced in the proposed business, have a good credit history and show that they cannot obtain similar financing through commercial banks. "It was a positive experience from beginning

to end," said Kopper, of the application process. Consultants are available to assist loan applicants with their business plans and instmct them in basic business skills, as well as provide borrowers with fol-low-up support through individual consultation and group workshops. The Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund is a unique program designed to foster eeonomie independence among Hawaiians through

entrepreneurial development by way of financial, management and īeehnieal assistance. Anyone interested in applying for a loan or obtaining more information ean eall the Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund office at 594- 1 92 1 . ■

^ ^ Funded by OHA and the federal government, [NHRLF] has made loans totaling more than $13 mih lion to 293 loeal businesses*

Susan Kopper and an employee showcase some of the fine koa creatlons featured at Kauila Maxwell.

PHOTOS: JAYSON HARPER Shoppers find Hawaiian elegance at Kauila Maxwell on Windward Mall s second level.