Hawaii Small Business Grants, Loans and Funding: SBDC, HI-CAP, Enterprise Zones, OHA Loans and Film Credit

Hawaii does not offer a broad state grant program that covers most new or small businesses. Public money for Hawaii small businesses comes mainly in four forms: free advising from the Hawaii Small Business Development Center, loan support through participating banks, tax incentives tied to location or industry, and a few targeted loans from specific agencies. Grant money here tends to be short-lived and tied to particular counties or funding rounds, so treat this guide as a starting point and confirm every program before you plan around it.

Informational content only, not legal or tax advice. This guide describes programs in general terms. Rules, rates and deadlines change, and eligibility depends on your specific facts. Confirm current terms with the named agency before you apply, and talk to a qualified attorney or CPA before you choose a business structure or claim a tax incentive.

Start Here: The Hawaii Small Business Development Center

The Hawaii Small Business Development Center (Hawaii SBDC) has provided free, confidential business advising statewide since 1990. It does not give out cash. It helps you write a business plan, build financial projections and prepare a loan package that a lender will take seriously. For most first-time owners, it is the most useful free resource in the state, and it costs nothing to ask for help.

Hawaii SBDC offices include:

• Oahu: 677 Ala Moana Blvd, Suite 612
• Maui: 590 Lipoa Pkwy, Suite 264, in Kihei
• Kauai: 2970 Kele St, Suite 101
• Kona and Hilo: offices are also available. Confirm current addresses at the SBDC website before you visit.

The U.S. Small Business Administration also lists federal resources for Hawaii businesses on its district page at sba.gov/district/hawaii. Federal and state programs often work together, so it is worth reviewing both.

HI-CAP: Collateral Support Through Your Bank

HI-CAP, the Hawaii Capital Access Program, does not lend money directly. It provides collateral support through participating lenders, so you apply through your bank or credit union, not through a state office. Collateral is often the obstacle for small borrowers, and this support can help a lender approve a loan that might otherwise be declined.

Ask your lender whether it participates in HI-CAP and what terms apply. If your bank does not participate, ask the Hawaii SBDC which lenders do. Confirm current terms with the lender before you sign anything, because the program's details can change.

OHA Malama Business Loan

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) offers the Malama Business Loan to Native Hawaiian applicants. Current program terms are:

• Loan amount: $2,500 to $149,999
• Interest rate: 4.00% APR
• Term: up to 7 years
• Eligibility: Native Hawaiian applicants only

Because the rate is low, this loan is worth checking before you accept a conventional offer. Plan for documentation of your eligibility, and confirm the current application steps and required paperwork directly with OHA. A loan at this rate still has to be repaid on schedule, so compare the monthly payment against your projected cash flow, not just the rate.

Hawaii Enterprise Zones (HRS Chapter 209E)

Enterprise zones are a tax incentive for businesses located in designated areas. Under Chapter 209E of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, qualifying businesses can receive two main benefits:

• A General Excise Tax (GET) exemption on qualifying activity. GET is levied on the business's gross receipts, not on the customer, at 4.0 percent for most activities plus a 0.5 percent county surcharge, so an exemption can be meaningful.
• A declining income tax credit that starts at 80 percent of the tax due and decreases over the credit period.

The credit period is 7 years under the existing statute. Act 182 of 2026 extends the period to 9 years. Check with the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) for the effective dates before you plan around the longer period.

Eligibility is limited. Retailers and contractors are mostly ineligible, so if your business sells goods directly to consumers or performs construction work, confirm your status with DBEDT before you assume you qualify. Enterprise zone status depends on your location and business activity, so verify both before signing a lease or committing capital.

Film Production Tax Credit

Hawaii offers a film production tax credit for qualifying productions. The base credit is:

• 22 percent for productions on Oahu
• 27 percent for productions elsewhere in the state

Act 185 of 2026 adds 5 percent for productions where 80 percent of hires are local. Confirm with DBEDT how this add-on combines with the base credit and what documentation proves your local hiring. This credit is relevant if you produce film or television content in Hawaii. Eligibility rules are specific, so confirm them before you build a production budget around the credit.

County Programs: Maui and Honolulu

County programs change frequently, and several are currently unavailable:

• Maui County: small business grants of up to $30,000 closed for fiscal year 2027 on June 15, 2026. Check the Maui Office of Economic Development for the next funding round and its requirements.
• Honolulu: the Office of Economic Revitalization reportedly ceased operations in August 2026. Do not rely on it as a funding source. Confirm with the City and County of Honolulu directly before you assume any city program is available.
• Hawaii County and Kauai County: we have not verified current county grant rounds for these counties. Contact their economic development offices before you assume a program exists.

Grants: Set Realistic Expectations

Few Hawaii small business grants are available on a continuing basis. Most are tied to a specific county, a fiscal year or a limited funding round, and the application window can close before you hear about it. Do not build your launch budget around a grant you have not yet been awarded. The most reliable funding paths in this guide are the SBDC-supported loan package, a HI-CAP-backed bank loan, the OHA loan if you qualify, and any tax incentive you can document.

Funding Options at a Glance

Program	Type	Who it serves	Key terms	Where to confirm
Hawaii SBDC	Free advising	Any small business	No cost; confidential; offices statewide since 1990	hisbdc.org
HI-CAP	Collateral support	Borrowers at participating lenders	Apply through your bank	Your lender and the Hawaii SBDC
OHA Malama Business Loan	Loan	Native Hawaiian applicants	$2,500 to $149,999; 4.00% APR; up to 7 years	Office of Hawaiian Affairs
Enterprise Zones (HRS 209E)	GET exemption and income tax credit	Qualifying businesses in designated zones; retailers and contractors mostly ineligible	Credit starts at 80 percent of tax due; 7 years, extended to 9 by Act 182 of 2026	DBEDT
Film production credit	Tax credit	Qualifying film and television productions	22 percent on Oahu, 27 percent elsewhere, plus 5 percent with 80 percent local hires (Act 185 of 2026)	DBEDT
Maui County small business grants	Grant	Maui County businesses	Up to $30,000; FY27 round closed June 15, 2026	Maui Office of Economic Development

Before You Apply: A Practical Checklist

Most funding applications ask for the same core documents. Work through these steps in order:

1. Confirm your legal entity. Search for your business name in the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) business search at hbe.dcca.hawaii.gov/search-and-buy. If you have not formed your LLC or corporation yet, the filing fee is $50 plus a $1 State Archives fee for either the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) or the Articles of Incorporation (Form DC-1). File through Hawaii Business Express. Expedited review is not currently available because of the new registration system.
2. Get your General Excise Tax license. Every business doing business in Hawaii needs a GET license. It is a one-time $20 fee, applied for on Form BB-1 or through Hawaii Tax Online at tax.hawaii.gov. Lenders and agencies commonly ask for proof of it.
3. Build your plan with the SBDC. Schedule a free advising session before you talk to lenders. A reviewed business plan and clean projections make every other step easier.
4. Ask your bank about HI-CAP. Find out whether the lender participates and what collateral support applies to your loan.
5. Check program status with the named agency. Confirm open rounds, current rates and eligibility directly with DBEDT, OHA or the Maui Office of Economic Development before you submit an application.

Funding decisions carry real financial and legal consequences. This guide is informational content, not legal or tax advice. Before you accept a loan, pursue an enterprise zone designation or claim a film credit, consult a qualified attorney or CPA who can review your specific situation.