Fueling ʻĀinapreneurs
Fueling ʻĀinapreneurs:
Why Investors and Donors Are Joining the Movement
In Hawaiʻi, a new generation of entrepreneurs is redefining business. They are ʻĀinapreneurs, builders rooted in ʻāina, culture, and community. Their ventures are not only about profit but about stewardship, balance, and sovereignty.
As this movement grows, investors and donors are taking notice. They recognize that the future of Hawaiʻi’s economy lies in enterprises that heal the land and strengthen communities.
WHAT IS AN ʻĀINAPRENEUR?
An ʻĀinapreneur grounds business in Hawaiian values such as mālama (care), kuleana (responsibility), and mālama ʻāina (stewardship). Through organizations like ChangeMakers Hawaiʻi, entrepreneurs weave cultural principles into every aspect of their work, operations, relationships, and growth. They build with three priorities: people, place, and purpose.
People come first. Employees, customers, and partners are treated as family.
Place matters. ʻĀinapreneurs protect the environment and honor ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi.
Purpose guides everything. Profit supports legacy, not the other way around.
WHY THIS MODEL MATTERS NOW
Conventional business models have left many Native Hawaiian entrepreneurs behind. While Native Hawaiians make up about 10 percent of Hawaiʻi’s population, they own only 4.2 percent of the state’s small businesses (U.S. Census, 2023). On average, Native Hawaiian–owned firms earn 35 percent less revenue annually, largely due to barriers in accessing capital and networks.
Conventional business models have left many Native Hawaiian entrepreneurs behind. While Native Hawaiians make up about 10 percent of Hawaiʻi’s population, they own only 4.2 percent of the state’s small businesses (U.S. Census, 2023). On average, Native Hawaiian–owned firms earn 35 percent less revenue annually, largely due to barriers in accessing capital and networks.
Hawaiʻi also ranks among the lowest states for SBA loan approvals, especially in rural areas. Culturally grounded ventures are often overlooked because they do not fit the typical “high-growth startup” mold. ʻĀinapreneurs are changing that narrative by proving that values-based business can thrive.
A SHIFT IN WHAT FUNDERS VALUE
Today’s investors and donors seek more than financial returns. They want impact. ʻĀinapreneurs deliver a “quadruple bottom line”: people, planet, profit, and culture. Each investment fuels community well-being, ecological restoration, and cultural renewal.
Programs like Changemakers Hawaiʻi are already seeing results. Businesses such as Nō Ke Ēwe, Hiro’s Cookies, and Blazin’ Snow Shave Ice are scaling on Hawaiʻi Island, creating jobs and circulating wealth locally. The model is proving itself, entrepreneurs can thrive without abandoning identity.
WHY FUNDERS ARE JOINING THE MOVEMENT
For Native, Indigenous, and place-based philanthropists, investing in ʻĀinapreneurs aligns money with values. It creates ripple effects: more food sovereignty, restored ʻāina, and self-determined economies. The Changemakers Revolving Fund allows capital to be repaid and reinvested, creating lasting impact.
Supporting ʻĀinapreneurs also tells a compelling story to communities and stakeholders: a shift from extractive giving toward regenerative investment.
A VISION FOR THE FUTURE
Imagine a Hawaiʻi where hundreds of ʻĀinapreneurs thrive, running regenerative farms, cultural enterprises, and community-based ventures that sustain both people and planet. To achieve this vision, we must expand flexible capital, open market pathways, and strengthen mentorship and peer networks.
The rise of ʻĀinapreneurs is not a trend; it is a blueprint for a regenerative economy grounded in culture and community.
If you are an investor, donor, or ally who believes in building a future rooted in ʻāina and equity, now is the time to act.
Join the ʻĀinapreneur movement. Partner with Changemakers Hawaiʻi to fund the next generation of Native-led innovation and help grow a resilient, values-driven economy for Hawaiʻi.
Invest with purpose. Invest in ʻĀina. Invest in Hawaiʻi’s future.
WANT TO SEE WHAT’S REALLY GOING ON?
We dropped some bold stats — but don’t just take our word for it. These reports provide rich insights into the challenges and opportunities facing Native Hawaiian business:
➡️ Small Business Economic Profile: Hawaiʻi (U.S. SBA, 2022)