The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement has been awarded $4 million in financial support from Oweesta Corporation, whose mission includes contributing to economic independence and strengthening sovereignty for all Native communities.

CNHA will use the $4 million to grow its loan program from currently at $12 million, to $16 million. More specifically $3 million will be utilized for new home construction loans for Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) beneficiaries building a home on an awarded lot. The additional $1 million in loans will be for women-owned businesses. Details of the funds are still being worked out. When available, information on how to apply for new home construction or women-owned business loans will be available on CNHA’s website.

“Being awarded incremental funding from Oweesta is an incredible honor for CNHA. Their work and long-standing commitment to Native communities across North America and Hawai‘i is uncompromised,” Kūhiō Lewis, CEO of CNHA. “We truly appreciate Oweesta’s continued partnership that allows us to support our community.”

“Oweesta is honored and proud to partner with CNHA with the distribution of our largest investment to date of $4 million dollars to support Native Hawaiian asset building initiatives,” said Chrystel Cornelius, CEO of Oweesta. “CNHA is an institutional pillar of support for Native Hawaiian people and we are incredibly pleased to have the opportunity to partner in their incredible efforts supporting Native Hawaiian economic inclusion and advancement.”

As a Certified Native Community Development Financial Institution, CNHA’s Loan Fund provides access to loan capital, financial education and individual financial counseling services for Hawai‘i-based small businesses, non-profit organizations, and low- and moderate-income families. 

CNHA will use the $4 million to grow its loan program from currently at $12 million, to $16 million. More specifically $3 million will be utilized for new home construction loans for Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) beneficiaries building a home on an awarded lot. The additional $1 million in loans will be for women-owned businesses. Details of the funds are still being worked out. When available, information on how to apply for new home construction or women-owned business loans will be available on CNHA’s website.

“Oweesta is honored and proud to partner with CNHA with the distribution of our largest investment to date of $4 million dollars to support Native Hawaiian asset building initiatives,” said Chrystel Cornelius, CEO of Oweesta. “CNHA is an institutional pillar of support for Native Hawaiian people and we are incredibly pleased to have the opportunity to partner in their incredible efforts supporting Native Hawaiian economic inclusion and advancement.”

As a Certified Native Community Development Financial Institution, CNHA’s Loan Fund provides access to loan capital, financial education and individual financial counseling services for Hawai‘i-based small businesses, non-profit organizations, and low- and moderate-income families.