Hawaii SBA lending, from federal loan records
SBA Lenders Actively Funding Businesses in Hawaii
Since FY2020, 68 lenders have funded 983 SBA loans worth $309M for businesses in Hawaii. Borrowers reported 7,288 jobs supported by those loans. Below is who actually writes them, how big they run, and which Hawaii businesses get funded.
Most active SBA lenders in Hawaii
Ranked by loans funded for Hawaii projects since FY2020, not by advertising budget. A lender headquartered elsewhere that funds heavily in Hawaii beats a local name that rarely writes SBA loans.
| Lender | Program | HI loans since FY2020 | Since FY2025 | Median loan | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Pacific Bank | 7(a) | 496 | 110 | $40K | 8.99% |
| HEDCO Local Development Corporation | 504 (CDC) | 99 | 14 | $519K | n/a |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 7(a) | 36 | 18 | $65K | 12.38% |
| BayFirst National Bank | 7(a) | 33 | 9 | $150K | 12.75% |
| Newtek Bank, National Association | 7(a) | 32 | 16 | $225K | 11.38% |
| Northeast Bank | 7(a) | 30 | 18 | $108K | 10.75% |
| Celtic Bank Corporation | 7(a) | 25 | 8 | $150K | 10.75% |
| Mortgage Capital Development Corporation | 504 (CDC) | 22 | 21 | $1.0M | n/a |
| Live Oak Banking Company | 7(a) | 21 | 10 | $635K | 9.85% |
| First Hawaiian Bank | 7(a) | 17 | 9 | $75K | 10% |
| The Huntington National Bank | 7(a) | 16 | 2 | $268K | 8.88% |
| Lendistry SBLC, LLC | 7(a) | 15 | 9 | $150K | 12% |
| Commonwealth Business Bank | 7(a) | 13 | 2 | $270K | 6.75% |
| Newtek Small Business Finance, Inc. | 7(a) | 9 | 0 | $150K | 7.5% |
| Hawaii National Bank | 7(a) | 8 | 5 | $321K | 7.75% |
| Five Star Bank | 7(a) | 7 | 0 | $225K | 6% |
| Bank of Hawaii | 7(a) | 7 | 2 | $50K | 4.75% |
| United Midwest Savings Bank National Association | 7(a) | 6 | 1 | $150K | 6.75% |
| Byline Bank | 7(a) | 5 | 0 | $1.4M | 10.75% |
| U.S. Bank, National Association | 7(a) | 5 | 3 | $48K | 8.49% |
| 22nd State Bank, A Division of 22nd State Banking Company | 7(a) | 5 | 1 | $700K | 9% |
| Grow America Fund, Incorporated | 7(a) | 4 | 1 | $426K | 11.25% |
| First Bank of the Lake | 7(a) | 4 | 3 | $885K | 9.62% |
| CenTrust Bank, A Division of SmartBiz Bank National Association | 7(a) | 4 | 4 | $150K | 11.25% |
| Gather FCU | 7(a) | 3 | 0 | $544K | 8.75% |
504 loans are written by Certified Development Companies alongside a bank first mortgage. The 504 file reports no interest rate, so CDC rows show none.
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Start your funding profile →How big Hawaii SBA loans run
Share of Hawaii 7(a) loans by approval size, next to the national split. If your ask sits in a common band, it is the kind of loan lenders here fund every week.
| 7(a) loan size | HI | US |
|---|---|---|
| Under $150K | 68.1% | 40.4% |
| $150K to $500K | 19.9% | 31.9% |
| $500K to $1M | 6.3% | 12.9% |
| $1M and up | 5.7% | 14.9% |
Who gets funded in Hawaii
Business age on Hawaii 7(a) loans. 5.3% funded a change of ownership, against 11.1% nationally. Buying a business? See the acquisition lender shortlist. Starting one? See startup-friendly lenders.
| Business stage | HI | US |
|---|---|---|
| Established, more than 2 years | 60.8% | 55.2% |
| New, 2 years or less | 27.5% | 16.9% |
| Startup, loan opens the business | 6.4% | 16.8% |
| Change of ownership (buying a business) | 5.3% | 11.1% |
Industries Hawaii SBA lenders fund most
Share of all Hawaii SBA loans by industry, and how that compares with the national mix.
| Industry | HI loans | Share | Compared with US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurants and hotels | 182 | 18.5% | 1.4x the national share |
| Construction | 180 | 18.3% | 1.5x the national share |
| Retail | 97 | 9.9% | 0.8x the national share |
| Healthcare | 79 | 8% | 0.8x the national share |
| Business support services | 70 | 7.1% | 1.3x the national share |
| Professional services | 68 | 6.9% | 0.7x the national share |
| Personal and repair services | 68 | 6.9% | 0.7x the national share |
| Recreation and fitness | 40 | 4.1% | 1.2x the national share |
The most common specific business types funded in Hawaii: full-service restaurants (57), limited-service restaurants (49), plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors (29), residential remodelers (29), snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars (26), mobile food services (23).
Where in Hawaii the loans go
| County | SBA loans since FY2020 | Share of state |
|---|---|---|
| Honolulu | 645 | 66% |
| Maui | 159 | 16% |
| Hawaii | 123 | 13% |
| Kauai | 56 | 6% |
7(a) or 504 in Hawaii
13% of Hawaii SBA loans are 504 loans, against 12% nationally. A 504 loan funds owner-occupied real estate or major equipment, with a median of $577K here. A 7(a) loan covers almost anything else, including working capital and buying a business. The busiest 504 lenders in Hawaii:
- HEDCO Local Development Corporation: 99 504 loans, median $519K
- Mortgage Capital Development Corporation: 22 504 loans, median $1.0M
Hawaii SBA lending by year
| Fiscal year | 7(a) loans | 504 loans | Dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | 66 | 25 | $30M |
| FY2021 | 101 | 23 | $40M |
| FY2022 | 103 | 17 | $29M |
| FY2023 | 145 | 10 | $54M |
| FY2024 | 196 | 13 | $63M |
| FY2025 | 185 | 23 | $70M |
| FY2026 (through June 30, 2026) | 63 | 13 | $22M |
The SBA fiscal year runs October through September.
Free SBA help in Hawaii
Before you apply, these offices help with loan packaging and lender questions at no cost.
- SBA Hawaii District Office. 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 1-306, Honolulu, HI 96813. Phone 808-541-2990. The SBA office for Hawaii: lender lists, program questions and local events.
- Hawaiʻi Small Business Development Center. Confidential one-on-one advising at no charge, a program of the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. Useful for loan packaging, projections and cash-flow prep before you apply.
- SCORE Orange County and Hawaii. Free mentoring for businesses on all the Hawaiian Islands, through a chapter shared with Orange County, California.
Contact details verified October 24, 2026.
Common questions
Who is the most active SBA lender in Hawaii?
By funded loans since FY2020, Central Pacific Bank leads Hawaii with 496 loans.
How big is a typical SBA loan in Hawaii?
The median 7(a) loan in Hawaii is $50K, and the middle half runs from $30K to $170K. The median 504 loan is $577K. Nationally the 7(a) median is $200K.
What interest rate do Hawaii SBA borrowers get?
The median starting rate on Hawaii 7(a) loans since FY2020 is 9.99%, against 9.25% nationally. 69% of those loans carry a variable rate, which moves with the prime rate.
Can a startup get an SBA loan in Hawaii?
Yes. 34% of Hawaii 7(a) loans with a reported business age went to startups or businesses two years old or younger, against 34% nationally. Lenders still expect a solid plan, owner equity and usually collateral.
Sources and limits. Derived from U.S. Small Business Administration 7(a) and 504 FOIA loan-level records, FY2020 through June 30, 2026, for projects located in Hawaii. Cancelled approvals are excluded. Jobs supported are as reported by borrowers. Figures describe past lending activity only and are not offers, quotes, or qualification decisions. Big Brain Funding is not a lender and is not affiliated with any lender listed.