Mona Bernardino will take the helm of Hi'ilei Aloha LLC later this month. Photo: Blaine Fergerstrom

By T. Ilihia Gionson / Ka Wai Ola Loa

Mona Bernardino, currently the Deputy Administrator for Beneficiary Advocacy and Empowerment at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, was named Executive Director of Hi'ilei Aloha LLC on October 2.

Hi'ilei Aloha was created in 2007 to assist individuals and organizations dedicated to Hawaiian historical, archaeological, environmental, cultural, spiritual, and religious values, customs, practices, resources, and sites. Hi'ipaka LLC, which stewards O'ahu's Waimea Valley, and Hi'ipoi LLC, which operates Kaua'i's Makaweli Poi Factory, are the first two Hi'ilei Aloha ventures. Bernardino will be responsible for those two ventures, as well as expanding the number of start up ventures that Hi'ilei Aloha incubates.

Bernardino will transition to Hi'ilei Aloha later this month. Ka Wai Ola Loa sat down with her to discuss her new role.

KWOL: What role do you see Hi'ilei Aloha and its subsidiaries playing in the furthering the mission of OHA to better the condition of Native Hawaiians?

Bernardino: Hi'ilei Aloha LLC and its subsidiaries will help to further OHA's mission by helping Native Hawaiian businesses and non-profits to succeed. We intend to set up an incubator for businesses and non-profits. This will help them to build capacity and become stronger organizations so they can, first, sustain themselves, but also offer employment opportunities and help the Hawaiian community to grow economically. Statistics show that communities who have educational and economic opportunities can attain stability in housing and build strong families. They earn more money, they have better health, and they live longer.

KWOL: How will your new kuleana differ from your current kuleana?

Bernardino: My new kuleana will be more entrepreneurial in nature. My new kuleana will be more entrepreneurial in nature.  We are looking into the possibility of seeking permission to transfer the Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund/Mālama Loan program to Hi'ilei.  If possible, we'd also like to ask permission to move the Hawai'i Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), the Consumer Micro Loan Program, and maybe the Hālawa Luluku project. We will be seeking federal and private grants, not for OHA or Hi'ilei per se, but for the Hawaiian community. Right now there are many federal and private grants that are not being sought so we hope to have a grant writer who can assist businesses and non-profits in going after that funding.

KWOL: In what ways will it stay the same?

Bernardino: My kuleana will be the same in that we will still be servicing the Hawaiian community. Our beneficiary base will be the same. Our "reason for being" will be the same, and that's something from which we can derive great satisfaction: knowing that we are helping the Hawaiian community to move forward.

KWOL: What do you look forward to doing in your new role?

Bernardino: What I most look forward to is being able to apply entrepreneurial concepts to helping beneficiaries. In some ways, it's an empowerment model rather than an entitlement model. It's working with business owners and non-profit board members, and their staff, to see the various opportunities there are and put them to use for the Hawaiian community.

KWOL: Where do you see Hi'ilei Aloha in five years?

Bernardino: I would hope that within five years Hi'ilei Aloha will have helped Hi'ipaka LLC (Waimea Valley) and Hi'ipoi LLC (Makaweli poi mill) to be thriving, profitable entities that are contributing to their communities. Within five years we should have helped a set number of businesses and non-profits by helping them to obtain capital and/or grants, helping them to attain 501(c)(3) status if that is their goal, helping them to increase their sales or output, for example, and ensuring they can achieve these goals in a Hawaiian way that is compatible with our culture and values.

It is hoped that Hi'ilei will play a key part in getting Hawaiian businesses and nonprofits to a level where they are active participants in nation-building, they are players in driving Hawai'i's economic engine, and they see a role for themselves in providing economic stability for the Hawaiian community and nation. They will have a seat at the table at a statewide level when things like business, employment, education, and opportunity are discussed.