OHA-UH partnership Native Hawaiians can now develop or fine-tune their business skills through a partnership between the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the University of Hawaii College of Business.
helps groom businesses
Native Hawaiians can get
scholarships to develop their skillsBy Pat Omandam
pomandam@starbulletin.comOHA's Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund program, a business lending program for Hawaiians, will provide $250 scholarships to Hawaiians who participate in a new six-week business boot camp program offered by the college's Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship and E-business program. The fee is $500.
Faculty and successful businesspeople will work with participants in hands-on programs to develop their business plans, learn what works and why, and avoid common mistakes of new businesses.
"The college is honored to be partnering with OHA in this venture to build entrepreneurial skills in the native Hawaiian community, and we're very much looking forward to the interaction of our faculty with native Hawaiian business owners," said business Dean David McClain.
Such training is a key component in the success of native entrepreneurs, said Kaulana Parks, fund program manager.
"This will give us greater capacity to reach our beneficiaries in the Hawaiian communities statewide (and help) toward making their dream of owning their own business become a reality," Parks said.
The first boot camp started Saturday at the UH-Manoa campus and runs through July 27. No business background is needed. Call OHA at 594-1921 or PACE at 956-5083.
University of Hawaii Office of Hawaiian Affairs
