NAFCU Journal May June 2021

“Music with Aloha,” a series of Facebook Live events we sponsored to showcase local musicians and give people at home some welcome entertainment. The opening of our Kilauea Branch in September is emblematic of our mis- sion to strengthen the social fabric of the island. We live the mantra—“of Kauai, for Kauai, dedicated to those who build, teach, protect and care for our island”—celebrating the artists, musicians, farms, chefs, ranchers and business owners that comprise our community. Artist Maxine Longoria cre- ated a 30-foot wall mural in the branch depicting 12 deeply resonant scenes and stories of Kauai, embellished with the handprints of local keiki (children). Such installations become legacy, enjoyed by future generations. Various historical artifacts are on display, shared with us by the Kauai Museum. It has always been about the community, 100%. Our December confirmation as a Com- munity Development Financial Institu- tion (CDFI)—Kauai’s first—opens up access to a lifeline of U.S. Treasury funds that will recirculate in the local economy and provide jobs. The economic rele- vance of CDFIs is unquestionable. CDFI credit unions consistently outperform their peers in growth, earnings, and ser- vices and manage more than $70 billion in combined assets across 46 states. CDFI partner Inclusiv has reported that CDFIs leverage $12 in private equity for every $1 of public investment capital. We thus have at our disposal a powerful model for economic growth with the potential to heal this divided nation and create a more sustainable economy, put- ting people over profit. My challenge to you is to find the resolve. Know that you have the tools to create equitable change. Know that the moment of preparedness is at hand—our mem- bers, our funders, a new generation of millennial thinkers and the majority of human beings on this planet desire change. Social entrepreneurship is the backbone of this change. 36 THE NAFCU JOURNAL May–June 2021