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| Quarterly Newsletter |
July 2010 |
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Our Mission |
Hawaiian Community Assets (HCA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that builds the capacity of low and moderate income communities to acheive and sustain economic self-sufficiency with a particular focus on Native Hawaiians.
Hawaii Community Lending (HCL) is the mortgage arm of HCA and Hawaii's first non-profit mortgage broker. |
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SAVE
THE
DATE!
| Join HCA at its
Annual Luncheon
 Celebrating families and communities committed to building, strengthening, and sustaining foundations for future generations! - Oct 13, 2010
- Hawaii Convention Center
- 12 - 1:30p
Individuals and organizations interested in attending and/or sponsoring the luncheon may contact HCA Operations Manager, Laura Matsuoka at 587.7652 or via email at
laura@hclending.com
for more information.
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Hawaiian Community Assets (HCA) offers this quarterly newsletter to provide you with updated information on current programs and services.
HCA's mission is to build the capacity of low and moderate income communities to achieve and sustain economic self-sufficiency with a particular focus on Native Hawaiians. HCA programs include: - Homebuyer Education and Pre-Purchase Counseling
- Post-Purchase Education and Counseling
- Foreclosure Prevention and Loan Modification Services
- Youth Financial Education
- Mortgage Financing
- Loan Packaging
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Community Supports Kealoha's Journey to Homeownership
HONOLULU, HI - Peter and Pamela Kealoha (pictured above next to Winona Kauhane) had been applicants for
Hawaiian Homelands since 1995. Their journey to homeownership was long, but
rewarding, and HCA stayed with them every step of the
way.
Informational Meeting
The Kealoha's journey started when they attended a
Department of Hawaiian Homelands' Informational Meeting for the Kanahelii II
subdivision in Kapolei. At the meeting they were instructed to get
"pre-qualified" to make sure they were financially qualified to purchase a
home.
Pre-Qualification
To receive their pre-qualification the Kealohas contacted Winona Kauhane
at Hawaii Community Lending, HCA's nonprofit mortgage brokerage that provides
access to home loan financing for low- and moderate-income families. Winona worked closely with
the family to gather their personal financial information. Once the information
was gathered, a pre-qualification letter was completed informing the Kealohas
that they had to overcome two of the four loan requirements before they could
qualify to purchase a home. These requirements included re-establishing their
credit so it would be acceptable to the lender and saving for down payment and
closing costs.
Homebuyer Education and Individualized Counseling
Winona referred the Kealoha family to HCA's first-time homebuyer workshop where
they were considered the advantages and disadvantages of buying a home, established a spending plan, and set savings
goals. Following the workshop, the Kealohas signed up for individualized budget and
credit counseling through HCA. Working with the organization's certified
housing counselors, the family setup a spending plan to help pay off debt and
pay their bills on time. After 1 year the Kealohas had stayed committed to
their plan. They successfully paid down their debt and re-established their
credit.
Saving for Down Payment and Closing Costs
The dream of homeownership was within reach for the
Kealohas. They saved some money, but not enough to cover all down payment and closing
costs. As the deadline for being financially qualified approached, the family
almost gave up. Then a miracle happened. The United Gospel Fellowship Church, where the Kealohas have attended for years, offered them $8,000 in gift funds to cover the remaining down payment and closing costs!
Getting a Home Loan
The Kealohas came back to Hawaii
Community Lending and Winona helped them get a 184A home loan through Bank2, a Native-owned bank in Oklahoma. Through personal attention and serving as an advocate, Winona was able to lock in a loan that was perfect
for the Kealohas and their financial situation.
Moving In
On March 12, 2010 the Kealohas got keys to their 4 bedroom, 3
bathroom home in the Kanahelii II subdivision in Kapolei where they now live with their 2 children. In the
end, it took a community of people to get the Kealohas into their
home.
"The best part of being a homeowner is being able to have a place to call our
own," says an elated Pamela Kealoha.
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Do you or someone you know need a mortgage loan?
Call Hawaii Community Lending (HCL) today!
 HCL
is Hawaii's only nonprofit mortgage broker with experience helping low-
and moderate-income families on and off Hawaiian Homestead find home
financing that fit their needs. Revenue generated through HCL goes to support HCA's free financial education services for families statewide.
HCL provides:
*Personalized attention
*Access to free financial education workshops and pre- and
post-purchase counseling through HCA
*Referral to down payment and closing cost assistance
programs
*Over 50 years combined mortgage lending experience
CURRENTLY AVAILABLE:
Loan approvals and financing for Laiopua (Kona) and Kumuhao (Waimanalo) Homestead projects
Contact an HCL mortgage lender today!
 Kui Meyer
808.587.7655
kmeyer@hclending.com
Ms.
Meyer is a Sr. Mortgage Consultant with HCL. She graduated from
Kamehameha and has 20 years experience in the mortgage industry.
 Winona Kauhane
808.587.7624
wkauhane@hclending.com
Ms.
Kauhane is a Sr. Mortgage Consultant with HCL. She has over 30 years
experience in the mortgage industry steeped in her commitment to
homestead financing.
Building, Strengthening, and Sustaining Foundations for Future Generations
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HCA Celebrates National Homeownership Month in June
 HONOLULU,
HI - In celebration of June as National Homeownership Month, HCA
participated in Oahu's 7th Annual Homeowner Fair at Kapolei Hale on
June 19th. The event featured information booths and workshops on home
buying and retention.
"With the downturn of the housing market
it is important now more than ever to connect families with the
resources they need to become - and stay - successful homeowners," says HCA Operations Manager, Laura Matsuoka (pictured far right with HCA counselors). "Our
hope is that families carry this information with them so they can make
wise financial decisions when purchasing a home or fighting off
foreclosure."
Ms.
Matsuoka presented workshops on homebuying basics, getting a mortgage,
and foreclosure prevention counseling. The event attracted both
current and prospective homeowners from across the island.
To
sign-up for one of HCA's free homebuyer financial education workshops or individualized budget/credit counseling please contact the
organization at (toll-free) 1.866.400.1116.
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HCA's Filimoeatu Receives Faith and Democracy Award for Excellence in Serving Maui Residents
 PAUKUKALO, HI - In June, Faith Action for Community Equity (FACE) presented HCA's Maui Community Services Specialist, Pono Filimoeatu (pictured right) with their first ever Faith and Democracy Award. Ms. Filimoeatu was recognized in front of 389 individuals for her courage, positivity, and consistency in providing credit and foreclosure prevention counseling to island residents.
"HCA is a really important ally," says FACE Maui Lead Organizer, Terri Erwin. "[I]n our (FACE Maui) discussions, we wanted
specifically to recognize Pono because she has been so committed to helping Maui
residents."
 Ms. Filimoeatu works out of HCA's Paukukalo office. As a teenager, she was part of the movement that started HCA from its grassroots beginnings and has since assisted local families to become financially qualified to purchase and retain homes. Her work in foreclosure prevention counseling is part of the organization's statewide Call Us We Can Help Prevent Foreclosure Campaign. Since the start of the campaign in early 2009, HCA has received 570 phone calls through its call center, coordinated 361 counseling sessions, and secured 276 loan modifications to help families stay in their homes.
"Our partnership with FACE continues to grow," says HCA Executive Director, Michelle Kauhane referring to the statewide Family Financial Education Initiative launched by both organizations in April 2010. "Recognition of folks like Pono who are on the ground everyday is yet another way to build awareness within our families and communities of the need to address the state's foreclosure crisis together."
If you or someone you know is at-risk of foreclosure, please Call Us ~ We Can Help (toll-free) 1.866.400.1116.
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CALL US ~ WE CAN HELP
PREVENT FORECLOSURE
 (808) 587-7886 or
1-866-400-1116
Free Help With:
* Loan modifications
* Work out plans
* Reducing payments
* Lowering interest rates
Nothing is worse than doing nothing |
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HCA Welcomes New Employees to Honolulu and Kauai Offices
 HONOLULU, HI - HCA is proud to welcome 2 new employees, Penny Tomacdor (right) and Dorothy Samau (left), to its team. They were hired in June to enhance HCA's work in providing financial education services to communities statewide.
Penny Tomacdor, Community Services Specialist (Kauai) Ms. Tomacdor joins HCA with thirteen years experience in the tourism industry. She was born and raised in Kauai as the oldest of five children. She graduated from Kauai High School in 1992 and now lives in Lihue with her three children, ages 4 to 14.
"The reason I want to work with HCA is because I want to give back to the people of Hawaii," says Ms. Tomacdor. "Making sure our families receive quality financial services is what motivates me."
As HCA's Community Services Specialist on Kauai, Ms. Tomacdor is responsible for providing credit and foreclosure prevention counseling, assisting with homebuyer workshops, and managing the Anahola office's day-to-day operations.
Dorothy Samau, Financial Services Assistant (Honolulu)
Ms. Samau joins HCA as an intern through the Honolulu City and County Summer Youth Employment Program. The program connects youth in the community with island employers with the purpose of building young workers' job experience and skills. Her responsibilities as Financial Services Assistant include answering phones, in-taking families, writing press releases, assisting with family and youth financial education, and improving organization's web presence. If you are in the Kakaako area, please stop by and say "aloha".
Hi, my name is
Dorothy Samau.
I graduated from
McKinley High School in 2005. My favorite subjects were aqua marine science and
social studies. My favorite sports are volleyball and basketball. I have recently
completed the Pacific Nurses Aide Class, where I learned how to do vital,
documentation, charting, medical and also clinical work. In August, I will leave for Alaska where I'll be working as a senior care giver and will also receive my certificate to be a certified nurse assistant. When I return to Hawaii I hope to attend Hawaii Pacific University or Leeward Community College. My goal is to be a Registered Nurse, because
it's my passion to make a difference in people's lives.
I am honored
to be working with the HCA. I'm excited to learn new skills and I know it will
be a fun experience. |
 Recycle for Financial Education
HCA, in partnership with Faith Action for Community Equity and 40 organization partners implementing and/or supporting community-based financial education across the islands, has launched a statewide Family Financial Education Initiative. This initiative will help break the cycle of poverty by providing the tools necessary to make wise financial decisions today and tomorrow!  Please invest in Hawaii's future generations by donating your old electronics today (i.e. computers, cell phones, MP3 players, etc).
Proceeds raised will go toward direct costs of providing free financial education workshops and counseling to youth and families.
Visit Gazelle to make your cost-free electronic donation to support HCA financial education programs today!
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Big Island Youth and Family Financial Education Pilot Project Announces Completion
HILO, HI - HCA, in partnership with YWCA-Hawaii Island and Bank of Hawaii, has
announced completion of their joint Big
Island Youth and Family Financial Education Pilot Project. The pilot was developed to provide free financial
education workshops to YWCA youth in the organization''s Teen Court program and families served through
its Healthy Start and Sexual Assault Support Services programs.
"This financial literacy
pilot project has succeeded beyond our expectations. We are proud of our teens and families who
completed the program," said YWCA-Hawaii Island CEO Jeanine Atebara. "We extend a huge 'mahalo' to Bank of Hawaii
and Hawaiian Community Assets, our partners who made this project possible."
Pictured above are adults from East Hawaii communities who participated in financial education workshops through the pilot project.
 | The adult workshops took
place on April 17th and 24thKahua Waiwai: Building a Foundation
of Wealth Staff members
from YWCA, Bank of Hawaii, Office
for Social Ministry, and Hawaii County Economic Opportunity Coalition also attended
with the intention of implementing their own programs in specific communities
throughout Hawaii Island. and featured training on
money management, banking strategies, building credit, and budgeting using
HCA's curriculum.
"Bank
of Hawaii is committed to helping the people in our community
receive a good financial education that will enable them to make wise decisions
for a better life," remarked Bank of Hawaii Sr. Vice President and Hawaii Island Manager Roberta Chu. "We are delighted by the results of this pilot program, and look
forward to continuing to partner with agencies that offer people a better
future through financial literacy." YWCA youth graduates display their certificates of completion from the pilot project. Graduates include (from left to right): Korey Yoshida, Michelle Ritualo, Shayci Cabison-Kaleo, Shantei Paranada, Samson Ah Yo, Kelly Benford, Clare Allen, Zachery Matthews, Makana Racpan (not pictured - certificate acceptedy by younger sister).
 | Through a more comprehensive,
eight-week workshop series, the YWCA youth concluded their work with a graduation
on May 18. As part of the program, the youth participated in the Department of
Treasury's first-ever National Financial
Capability Challenge with six recording scores above or near the national
average of 70 percent. In addition,
students opened savings accounts to better manage their money, identified
long-term savings goals, created lists of college scholarships to apply for, and
completed sample micro-business plans for mock business ventures.
"Both the youth and adult
workshops were great avenues for engaging individuals and communities in basic
money management," said HCA Executive Director and workshop trainer, Michelle
Kauhane. "More importantly, (the
workshops) served as stepping stones for families to begin positive discussions
around money that in the long-run will help them address financial stress and
promote self-sufficiency within their own households." For more information about
the Big Island pilot project or to receive training on how to implement youth and family financial education programs using Kahua Waiwai, contact HCA Program Coordinator, Jeff Gilbreath at
587.7653 or via email at
jeff@hawaiiancommunity.net. |
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