State lending data
SBA lending in Hawaii
589 SBA 7(a) loans went to businesses in Hawaii recently, at a median of $50,000. The lenders that made them, what they charged, and how the state is trending.
589 SBA 7(a) loans went to businesses in Hawaii in the most recent fiscal years, at a median of $50,000. The most active lender in the state was Central Pacific Bank, with 310 loans. Approvals are down 46.6% on the year.
SBA lending in Hawaii, by the numbers
Every figure here is computed from SBA 7(a) loan-level FOIA data released 2026-06-30 — loans actually approved to businesses in Hawaii, not advertised ranges.
| Measure | Hawaii | National |
|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 589 | 214,102 |
| Total approved | $147.9 million | $104.1 billion |
| Median loan | $50,000 | $150,000 |
| 25th – 75th percentile | $30,000 – $200,000 | $50,000 – $500,000 |
| Median term | 6 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 10.75% | 10.25% |
| Share to startups | 33.8% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010–19 | 7.0% | 7.1% |
| Jobs supported | 4,680 | 2,142,602 |
| Counties with recorded lending | 4 | — |
| Lenders active in the state | 50 | — |
Is SBA lending in Hawaii growing or shrinking?
Shrinking, along with almost every other state. Comparing December 2025 to June 2026 with December 2024 to June 2025, the same months a year earlier, 7(a) approvals to businesses in Hawaii went from 116 to 62 loans, down 46.6% — while the dollars approved went from $27.1 million to $13.1 million, down 51.5%. The average approval fell from $233,553 to $212,077, so the change is weighted toward smaller loans.
Hawaii is falling harder than most of the country: 51st of 51 for year-on-year change, against a national decline of 21.0%.
| Fiscal year | Loans in Hawaii | Loans nationally | State share |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2023 | 145 | 51,747 | 0.3% |
| FY2024 | 196 | 62,618 | 0.3% |
| FY2025 | 185 | 64,096 | 0.3% |
| FY2026 (part year) | 63 | 35,641 | 0.2% |
Which lenders actually fund businesses in Hawaii
Ranked by loans approved inside Hawaii. The median, startup share and rate columns describe each lender's own Hawaii loans, not its national averages — the same bank often writes very different business from one state to the next.
| Lender | Loans | Median loan | Startup share | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Pacific Bank | 310 | $40,000 | 50% | 10.50% |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 33 | $79,000 | 6% | 13.50% |
| Newtek Bank | 32 | $225,000 | 9% | 11.38% |
| Northeast Bank | 30 | $107,750 | 10% | 10.75% |
| BayFirst National Bank | 28 | $150,000 | 0% | 13.25% |
| Celtic Bank Corporation | 20 | $150,000 | 15% | 11.00% |
| Live Oak Banking Company | 18 | $590,000 | 11% | 9.92% |
| Lendistry SBLC, LLC | 15 | $150,000 | 0% | 12.00% |
What stands out about Hawaii
Reading the state's own figures against the national picture:
- Loans here run smaller than average. The median of $50,000 is 67% below the $150,000 national median. Smaller loans price higher under the SBA spread caps, and the rate here does run above the national median — see below.
- Startup share is close to average, at 33.8% against 33.6% nationally.
- Rates run higher here. The median initial rate of 10.75% is 0.50 points above the 10.25% national median. Most 7(a) lending is variable-rate, so treat this as a comparison between markets, not a quote.
- Terms are short, at a median of 6 years — shorter than the ten years typical of 7(a) lending, which points to equipment and working capital rather than property.
Who borrows in Hawaii
The industry mix of SBA borrowers here, led by restaurants and hotels.
| Sector | Loans | Share | Median loan | To startups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurants and Hotels | 123 | 20.9% | $50,000 | 31% |
| Construction | 95 | 16.1% | $50,000 | 19% |
| Retail | 63 | 10.7% | $69,900 | 35% |
| Admin Services | 50 | 8.5% | $68,500 | 38% |
| Healthcare | 45 | 7.6% | $75,000 | 53% |
| Personal Services | 43 | 7.3% | $50,000 | 37% |
| Professional Services | 35 | 5.9% | $50,000 | 23% |
| Wholesale | 28 | 4.8% | $150,000 | 29% |
| Arts and Recreation | 25 | 4.2% | $50,000 | 32% |
Where the money goes in Hawaii
SBA lending is more concentrated than state totals suggest, and Honolulu County alone accounts for 68% of the state's loans.
| County | Loans | Median loan | Total approved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu County | 399 | $50,000 | $95.3 million |
| Hawaii County | 77 | $50,000 | $23.0 million |
| Maui County | 75 | $50,000 | $17.8 million |
| Kauai County | 38 | $106,450 | $11.7 million |
SBA 504 in Hawaii
7(a) is the general-purpose program. 504 is the one for buying the building or the heavy equipment, at a long fixed rate — a different program with its own lenders, called Certified Development Companies.
| Measure | Hawaii 504 | National 504 |
|---|---|---|
| Projects approved | 59 | 22,192 |
| Median CDC share | $740,000 | $730,000 |
| Median total project | $1,640,000 | $1,642,000 |
| Median term | 25 years | 25 years |
- Which CDCs operate here, and on what terms: SBA 504 in Hawaii
- How the two programs differ: SBA 504 loans and SBA 7(a) loans
How to use this page
- Start from the lender table, not a search engine. Shortlist three whose median loan in Hawaii is near what you need. Size match beats brand.
- Follow your industry link in the sector table for the lenders that fund your kind of business in this state specifically.
- Then your county, if it is listed, for the local picture.
- Check the payment before you apply with the affordability calculator — lenders decline on cash flow more than on anything else.
- Filter the whole lender file yourself in the lender finder if you want to combine state, industry, loan size and business age at once.
Other states
- States of comparable lending volume: West Virginia, Vermont, Montana, South Dakota, Delaware, District of Columbia, California, Florida
Questions people actually ask
How many SBA loans are approved in Hawaii each year?
589 SBA 7(a) loans were approved to businesses in Hawaii across fiscal years 2023 to 2026, using data released June 2026, worth $147.9 million in total. Over the most recent comparable months the number of approvals ran down 46.6% year on year, while the dollars approved ran down 51.5%.
Which bank approves the most SBA loans in Hawaii?
Central Pacific Bank, with 310 loans approved to businesses in the state and a median loan of $40,000. That makes it the most active, not necessarily the best fit — a lender whose median is far from your number is usually the wrong call.
Do I have to use a lender based in Hawaii?
No. SBA lenders routinely lend across state lines and several of the largest are non-bank lenders with no branches at all. What the state data tells you is which institutions are already comfortable with businesses like yours here.