Hawaii County’s Emergency Resilience Loan Program opened last week with funding from the County of Hawai’i and Hawai’i Community Foundation. The program offers financial counseling and loans to ALICE (asset limited, income constrained, employed) residents who reside on Hawai’i Island and have lost income due to COVID-19. Maximum loans amounts are $2,500 for individual workers and $5,000 for self-employed persons.
In its first week, last week, Hawai’i County processed 121 applications and approved the first $28,700 for workers and entrepreneurs who have lost income due to COVID-19.
Local community development nonprofits Hawaiian Community Assets (HCA) and Hawai’i Community Lending (HCL) are administering the program on behalf of the County. HCL provides the loans, while HCA delivers financial counseling to every borrower.
To qualify, loan applicants must have been ALICE (asset limited, income constrained, employed) prior to COVID and have not received emergency grants due to COVID. See below ALICE income thresholds.
| # Household Members | Minimum Annual Household Income | Maximum Annual Household Income |
| 1 | $14,361 | $ 33,296 |
| 2 | $19,461 | $49,548 |
| 3 | $24,541 | $65,800 |
| 4 | $29,621 | $82,052 |
| 5 | $34,701 | $95,267 |
| 6 | $39,781 | $108,482 |
| 7 | $44,861 | $121,697 |
| 8 | $49,941 | $134,911 |
Online loan applications are available at www.HawaiianCommunity.net.
Individuals with no or limited access to the Internet or a computer may call 808-934-0801 for a paper application or complete an application over the phone. Funds will go to qualified applicants on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Applicants who have household incomes below ALICE will be referred to social service agencies for emergency grants.
Applicants who have household incomes above ALICE will be referred to their local credit unions and banks for personal loans.
To apply for a Hawai’i County Emergency Resilience Loan, visit www.HawaiianCommunity.net Persons without Internet access or a computer are encouraged to call 808-934-0801 to complete an application over the phone.
Other resources for grant and loan options available to Hawaii Island residents:
Emergency Grants
Hawai’i First Federal Credit Union
www.hawaiifirstfcu.com
Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement
808.784.4464
kahiau@hawaiiancouncil.org
https://hawaiiancouncil.org/kahiau
Liliʻuokalani Trust
808-466-8102
Emergency Loans
Hawaiian Community Assets
Hawai’i Community Lending
808-934-0801
www.HawaiianCommunity.net
Personal Loans
Call your credit union or bank to request more information about available loans.
