Founder’s Feed: Why I Started Changemakers CDFI

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A few years ago, I was standing at a local farmers' market talking with a small business owner who had an incredible product and a steady line of customers. People loved what she was making.

But when we started talking about growing her business, the conversation quickly changed.

She didn’t know where to find the capital.
She didn’t have mentors to guide her.
And traditional loans fell out of reach.

I remember thinking: How can someone with so much potential have so few resources to grow?

That moment stayed with me.

And it wasn’t the only time I saw it.

Across Hawaiʻi, I kept meeting Native Hawaiian entrepreneurs creating beautiful, purpose-driven businesses rooted in culture, community, and ʻike. They were doing remarkable work — often with little more than grit, vision, and relentless hustle.

But hustle alone should not be the price of opportunity.

Our communities deserve more than that.

That realization became the seed that eventually grew into Changemakers CDFI.

Rethinking What Business Support Could Look Like

When I began imagining Changemakers, I didn’t just want to create another loan program.

I wanted to create something that reflected the values many Native Hawaiian entrepreneurs already carry into their work every day — values grounded in responsibility, relationship, and long-term impact.

That vision led to the idea of the ʻĀinapreneur.

An ʻĀinapreneur builds a business around four core principles:

Place. People. Passion. Profit.

Place means caring for the land and community that sustain us.
People means investing in relationships and uplifting others along the way.
Passion means building from purpose, identity, and cultural connection.
Profit means creating something sustainable — a business that can grow, thrive, and endure.

These principles became the foundation for the ecosystem we’re building at Changemakers.

The First Believers

Turning a vision into reality takes partners who believe in the work early on.

One of the first organizations that stepped forward to support the creation of our loan fund was the Robert’s Foundation.

Their early support helped turn an idea into something tangible.

That kind of belief matters. It creates momentum. It opens doors. And it sends a powerful message that building new systems of opportunity for Native Hawaiian entrepreneurs is not only necessary — it is possible.

A Different Approach To Capital

One of the first decisions we made at Changemakers was to offer no-interest loans to Native Hawaiian small businesses.

Why? Because traditional financing can place heavy burdens on entrepreneurs who are already navigating enough barriers. Removing interest gives business owners more room to breathe, grow, and reinvest in what matters most.

It also helps keep more resources circulating within our communities.

But capital alone is not enough.

Building The ʻĀinapreneur Ecosystem

Entrepreneurs need more than funding to succeed. They need a network. They need guidance. They need people who understand both the challenges and the possibilities ahead.

That’s why Changemakers is building an ecosystem that supports Native entrepreneurs through:

• business training

• mentorship

• networking opportunities

• continuing education

This summer, we’ll launch mentorship programs designed to connect emerging entrepreneurs with experienced business leaders.

And this fall, we’re introducing the ʻĀinapreneur Business Recognition Certification — a new way to support businesses in operating with care for Hawaiʻi’s land, people, and culture.

Why This Work Matters

Native Hawaiian entrepreneurs are some of the most creative, resilient, and values-driven business builders I know.

They are not just launching products or services. They are creating opportunities. Preserving culture. Strengthening community. And building a future where business can be both successful and deeply rooted in aloha ʻāina.

Changemakers exists to support that vision.

Because when we invest in entrepreneurs who care about place, people, passion, and profit, we are doing more than helping businesses grow.

We are helping shape the future of Hawaiʻi’s economy.

Ready to support Native Hawaiian entrepreneurs?

Explore Changemakers’ programs, connect with our growing ecosystem, or make a contribution that helps build a stronger, more equitable future for Hawaiʻi.

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