More than 50 Native Hawaiian groups are putting their might behind efforts to form their own credit union.

They have tapped a combined membership of about 4,500 for pledges to create the Prince Kuhio Federal Credit Union, which would be based in Kapolei.

The group said its immediate goal is to raise $3 million by this summer, then apply for a charter to operate from the National Credit Union Administration.
[...] The planned credit union for Native Hawaiians would have a field of membership consisting of the 2,500 people from the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs and 2,000 others from the Hawaiian Home Lands trust.

The business plan calls for the credit union to offer an array of financial services. Among the services they would enjoy are auto loans, lines of credit up to $10,000 and personal loans up to $50,000, [interim director Kekoa] Beaupre said.
[...]
The Native Hawaiian group has a 30-year lease on land in Kapolei from the Hawaiian Home Lands trust, near a proposed Hawaiian Home Lands development.

"This effort is about Hawaiians helping Hawaiians by pooling their resources to make financial resources available to those who need it," [point man in the effort Charlie] Rose said. "We want to serve the underserved."