By Chelsie Evans Enos, executive director from Hawaiian Community Assets
When Tiffany Jackson moved home to Hawai‘i after years in Las Vegas, Nevada, she dreamed of giving her children something more — a place to call their own. That dream became a reality when she connected with Hawaiian Community Assets.
With free financial counseling and support through our Ua Hale A‘ela lease-to-own program, Jackson became a first-time homeowner in Hilo.
Stories like Jackson’s are at the heart of what we do. Founded in 2000 on Maui, HCA has helped close to 50,000 local residents achieve financial stability and housing security. As we celebrate 25 years this year and National Homeownership Month this month, we remain committed to our work: increasing affordable housing and economic self-sufficiency for Hawai‘i’s people, especially Native Hawaiians.
Our services are rooted in kahua waiwai, or “foundation for wealth,” a philosophy that blends traditional Native Hawaiian values with practical financial education. We believe that when people understand their finances through a cultural lens, they are more empowered to take action.
As the state’s largest U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-approved housing counseling agency, we offer, one-on-one financial and housing counseling, homebuyer education workshops, renter readiness and tenant rights training, and support for navigating Hawaiian Home Lands processes.
We also partner with Hawai‘i Community Lending, our nonprofit lending arm, to offer affordable loan products for families who may not qualify for traditional financing — because access to capital should never be a barrier to housing. Whether your goal is to rent, buy or build financial security, HCA is here to walk with you every step of the way. To honor our 25th anniversary, we invite you to join our movement by supporting our programs, attending our workshops or sharing our services with someone in need.
Learn more at hawaiiancommunity.net, follow us on social media (@hawaiiancommunityassets), call 808-587-7886 or email info@hawaiiancommunity.net.