HONOLULU (HI Now) - Hawaii Community Lending (HCL) has always been a leader when it comes to providing disaster recovery assistance to local and native Hawaiian families; but now HCL has expanded its reach to include even more people.
Jeff Gilbreath, chief executive officer of HCL, talks to HI Now Daily about new options for home repair to help families stay on the land, even after devastation caused by natural disasters. Previously reserved for Hawaiian Home Lands, HCL’s Pāhono Home Repair loan is now available to all local and native Hawaiian families who are in need of minor home repairs.
In addition, the Manaʻolana Rebuild Recoverable Grant helps owner-occupant homeowners close the funding gap in their rebuild after the Lahaina fires. HCL has secured a grant from the County of Maui to fund an estimated 100 families to prevent foreclosure and pay back special assessments in the next two years. This will allow them to free up resources to rebuild and return home. This will be leveraged with $7.5 million from Hawai‘i Community Foundation Maui Strong Fund whose funding will also support HCL’s delivery of technical assistance.
HCL’s Disaster Recovery Assistance programs are actively accepting applications, and all local and native Hawaiian homeowners who have experienced impacts from natural disasters are encouraged to apply at www.hawaiicommunitylending.com.
Learn more during a featured interview with Gilbreath on HI Now Daily airing October 26, 2026.
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Founded in 2002, HCL has grown into a U.S. Treasury-certified native community development financial institution (CDFI), specializing in providing loans for homebuyers, homebuilders and homeowners, along with technical assistance and grants to prevent foreclosure. HCL is Hawai‘i’s premier nonprofit mortgage lender, helping local and Hawaiian families navigate the path to homeownership. www.hawaiicommunitylending.com
Media Contact:
Charlene Ka’uhane
Ka’uhane Inc.
808-385-3530 / Charlene@KauhaneInc.com
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