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Financial Loʻi (Fall Session)

Waianae Economic Development Council

Wai‘anae, O‘ahu & Virtual

Mākua & Kūpuna

Fall 2022

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Testimonials:

Kalia Novajosky
“Once finishing all the paperwork to finalize my little business I felt I needed more guidance and knowledge to pursue my goals. That's when I looked into Waianae Economic Development Council and found they offered small business zoom meetings and the Financial Lo'i program. I was overflowed with knowledge, experience, guidance, and a growing network. From having my 10 year come back at Waianae Westside Mākeke May 7th to now doing over 20+ Farms Markets, crafts Fairs, and pop-ups. I can confidently say I have reached many goals and more, with the help of Waianae Economic Development Council, Financial Lo'i Program. I can't thank them enough for all they have done to help the community rise up and help small local businesses like mine get the knowledge, guidance, and support needed to reach our dreams.”

PROGRAM OUTCOMES:

Outcome 3: A network of ‘ōiwi leaders across ʻāina-based and educational institutions, community, and businesses that exists to achieve common goals


  • Outcome 3 Measures:

  • 3.1 # of networks of ‘ōiwi leaders working towards common goals that your organization is a part of

  • 3.2 # of other partners involved in the network


  • Narrative: Financial Loʻi provides a safe space for Native Hawaiians and other members of the community to learn and talk about finances from a cultural perspective. Our program provides the beginnings of a network where participants can work towards similar financial goals. Participants can get to know each other and network within the workshops, however, we find that with one-on-one coaching and credit repair, this series provides more opportunities for individual/ʻohana growth towards similar goals and becoming knowledgeable and capable financial leaders of their ʻohana instead of building a network at the community level. Yet, our experience shows that some Financial Loʻi participants have continued on to Maolipreneur, our culture-based business development series, and build important networks and leadership skills there. Maolipreneur participants have asked for more opportunities to get together after their workshop series has ended to continue learning and growing and we are working on building that out.

 

Outcome 5: Native worldwide views, practices, and tools utilized in expanding interconnected ‘āina-based education


  • Outcome 5 Measures:

  • # of initiatives/projects utilizing native practices as foundational to their work.


  • Narrative: Financial Loʻi utilizes Hawaiian values, metaphors, and moʻolelo in its delivery of financial literacy knowledge and skills. This is what makes our program unique and effective to our target audience of Native Hawaiian individuals and families as well as other families that call Hawaiʻi home. All participants in series 4 and 5 found the cultural aspects of Financial Loʻi as helpful to building their confidence to manage their finances. More specifically, 83% found cultural values extremely helpful and 100% found moʻolelo extremely helpful in building their confidence in financial management. Lokelani Kahoʻopiʻi, a graduate of Series 4 Financial Loʻi stated that her biggest takeaway was, “Poverty is not a kanaka value and don’t catch all your fish!”

 

Outcome 6: Hawaiʻi is seen as a world leader in defining and affecting sustainability from an indigenous lens.


  • # of initiatives/projects that have demonstrated contributions to progress on sustainability.


  • Narrative:  Native Hawaiians were known for their resource management skills, such as managing the loko iʻa and loʻi. Our kūpuna created systems for sustainability and efficiency. The Financial Loʻi curriculum connects the participants to the ‘ike of their kūpuna. As Native Hawaiian learners, we are learning to create partnerships with the environment and our natural resources. The learners are learning how to manage their financial resources in the modern-day environment the same way.

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