Empowering ʻŌiwi Businesses
ABOUT KŪ HANA
As resilient people we lean on the ‘ike of our kūpuna as we navigate our way forward. I ka wā ma mua, ka wā ma hope.
The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement is launching the next Kū Hana Business Program cohort - E Hoʻopaʻa, which means to solidify and to make strong. The E Hoʻopaʻa cohort is designed for businesses 1 to 4 years old.
The Kū Hana Business Program will provide business training & best practices, technical assistance services, and business tools class for businesses that address economic recovery, stability, and resilience.
This is a 12-week workshop series starting January 2021. All Hawaiʻi-based small businesses are welcome to apply, preference will be given to CNHA members and Hawaiian-owned businesses. Graduates of the program may be eligible for a business loan with CNHA. The registration fee for this class is $250, with a 50% discount for applicants that are CNHA Business Members.
E KŪKULU
to build and grow
Businesses 5+ years in operation.
Scale up! Learn to grow your company and take it to the next level with culturally-grounded business practices.
E HOʻOPAʻA
to solidify and to make strong
Start-ups 1 to 4 years in operation.
Solidify the foundation! Learn market research, cultural values, and sustainability integration to set a strong foundation from which to grow.
E Kūkulu Cohort 2020
2021 Kū Hana
Business Program Schedule & Overview
E Hoʻopaʻa 1 - Jan. 2021 - March 2021
Applications for businesses 1 to 4 years in operation are open now. Click here to read and download the syllabus.
E Hoʻopaʻa 2 - March 2021 - May 2021
Applications open in February 2021. Businesses must be 1 to 4 years in operation. If you canʻt join our first cohort, but are interested in joining the E Hoʻopaʻa cohort in March please fill out this form.
E Kūkulu - June 2021 - August 2021
Applications for businesses with 5+ years in operation will open April 2021. If you canʻt join our E Hoʻopaʻa cohorts, but are interested in joining the E Kūkulu cohort in June please fill out this form.
Program tuition fee is $250 and includes a CNHA business level membership for one year.
“We are so grateful to have been a part of the Kū Hana Business Program. All of the instructors were truly inspiring and experts in their fields. The program provided us with the tools, knowledge, and resources needed to grow our business to a new level while maintaining a foundation of our important Hawaiian values."
- Kailin Kim, Hoʻōla Honey
“Being a part of Kū Hana has completely changed my outlook on my business model, and has provided me new insights, business strategies, and connection to culture.”
- Wendy Awai-Dakroub, ʻŌhiʻa Technology Group
Meet the Program Manager
G. Max Mukai is a Program Manager at CNHA. He was raised in the East Honolulu Kona District of Oʻahu – He is a proud graduate of Kamehameha Schools class of 2010 and attended Pepperdine University Seaver College undergradutae program and Graziadio School of Business & Management for his graduate program. His passions can be found at the intersection of Hawaiian culture and economic development.
Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration