Three Hawaii groups awarded federal funds for betterment of Native communities

Three Hawaii organizations were awarded a total of $737,047 in federal funds from the U.S. Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund.  Recipients include Hawaii First FCU, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, and the Kanu o ka Aina Learning Ohana.

The funding is aimed at better addressing the community development and capital access needs of Native communities.  In announcing the funding today, Senator Daniel Akaka of Hawaii said, “These federal resources will strengthen our Native Community Development Financial Institutions and create additional economic empowerment opportunities for Native Hawaiians.”

“We must do all we can to aid the advancement of Native Hawaiian communities, a historically underserved segment of Hawaii’s population.  These funds will help expand educational opportunities, seed financial institutions and improve access to home and small business loans,” said Senator Daniel K. Inouye, who joined in making the announcement.

The Hawaii organizations are among 45 institutions nationwide selected to share more than $10 million in NACA Financial and Technical Assistance awards for Fiscal Year 2010.