Hawaii First FCU staff with local religious leader, Kumu Koh'okele Crabbe (at center), following the blessing ceremony.
Hawaii First Federal Credit Union, a member of the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions, this week blessed its second community resource center.
The blessing was performed by Kumu Koh'okele Crabbe, a local religious leader.
Located next door to the Hawaii First’s Hilo branch, the new Hawaii First Community Resource Center will open to the public next Monday and will provide no-cost resources to any resident of the County of Hawaii.
Specific offerings include financial education, individual development accounts for home purchase, assistance to job seekers and employment training, small business startup assistance and development and foreclosure prevention assistance.
The center also boasts a computer lab and resource library open to the community.
“We are very excited for this expansion,” said Laura Aguirre, president/CEO of Hawaii First FCU. “We couldn't have done this without the continued support of the CDFI Fund, the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs."
She added, “Our team worked long and hard to make this a reality for our community members located in rural areas on the Hilo side of the Big Island.
The resources provided through the Hawaii First community resource centers are critical tools to help our members and our community to get ahead.”
The credit union opened its first community resource center in Kamuela in 2008.
