Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 34, Number 7, 1 July 2017 — OHA's Malama Loan Program [ARTICLE]

OHA's Malama Loan Program

"I think that people, especially Native Hawaiians, feel like small businesses are out of reach, that creating a business is out of reach, it's not even possible," says Ku'ulei Hanohano, 27, the first business owner in her family. "You don't even think about it." The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, however, encourages Hawaiians to heeome entrepreneurs with low-interest loans up to $20,000 and 7-year terms. While a regular bank turned down the Mo 'Ono owners' loan application, OHA surprised them with quick approval. "Lor me, the main part is we get to work for ourselves," Hanohano says. "It's way longer hours and it's really stressful, but it's a good stress and I love doing it because it's for ourselves, it's 100 percent from scratch and just us." ■