Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 37, Number 5, 1 May 2020 — Support for Native Hawaiian Small Businesses and Non-profits [ARTICLE]

Support for Native Hawaiian Small Businesses and Non-profits

To better assess the needs of 'ōiwi small businesses and non-profits, in early April OHA and the Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce (NHCC), launched the "Native Hawaiian Business COVID-19 Impact Survey." The survey closed on April 19th and results will be used to identify the critical needs of small business owners and their staff, and to determine how best to help businesses navigate the current crisis and obtain relief from available state and federal resources. The data collected will also help to inform OHA's efforts to advocate for Native Hawaiian business owners now and in the future. OHA and the NHCC also collaborated in mid-April to offer a free webinar panel for Native Hawaiian business owners to share information about the resources available to them for COVID-19 relief including the Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program, Eeonomie Injury Disaster Loans, as well as tips to navigate the Federal Grants process. Panelists included OHA CEO Dr. Sylvia Hussey and NHCC's Joseph Lapilio, along with Noela Napoleon of the Patsy T. Mink Center for Business, Becky Soon of Solutions Paeihe, Esther Kia'aina of the Paeihe Basin Development Council, Andreana Reyes of Lili'uokalani Trust and Ku'ulani Keohokalole of People Strategies, LLC.