Native Hawaiian Opportunity: What It Means for Our Community

Aloha kākou,

Each month, our Executive Director shares insights in his Ka Wai Ola column, highlighting key issues shaping Native Hawaiian business, leadership, and community.

This month’s column, “NHO = Native Hawaiian Opportunity,” explores how Native Hawaiian Organizations (NHOs) are creating long-term economic stability while reinvesting in our lāhui.

Key Takeaways

1. NHOs create long-term economic stability
Native Hawaiian Organizations are structured to generate consistent revenue through federal contracting, creating a more stable economic foundation that supports long-term growth.

2. Opportunity is reinvested back into the community
Rather than extracting value, the NHO model ensures that resources are directed toward education, workforce development, and strengthening Native Hawaiian communities.

3. Economic opportunity helps address displacement
By creating career pathways and leadership opportunities in Hawaiʻi, NHOs help increase the likelihood that Native Hawaiians can build successful futures while remaining connected to their communities.

What This Means

This month’s column highlights an important shift: building systems that create long-term opportunity, not just short-term success.

As noted by Jeanine DeFries, the impact of NHOs goes beyond funding. They show up in classrooms, on boards, and in community spaces, staying engaged long after initial investments are made.

For business owners and leaders, this reinforces that long-term impact is not just about capital. It is about presence, partnership, and sustained commitment to community.

As Hawaiʻi continues to evolve, models like NHO demonstrate what is possible when economic success is tied directly to reinvestment, leadership development, and mālama i ka lāhui.

How NHCC Supports This Work

At the Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce, we continue to support this work through:

• Workshops and business education

• Programs like Project Hoʻomana

• Building connections across our business community

👉 Continue reading Andrew’s full column in Ka Wai Ola:
https://kawaiola.news/columns/e-hoololi-i-ke-kulana/nho-native-hawaiian-opportunity/

About the Column

This monthly column in Ka Wai Ola, the newspaper of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, shares perspectives on economic development, leadership, and the future of Native Hawaiian enterprise.