The Office of Hawaiian Affairs - Promoting Economic Self-Sufficiency

As head of XQ Institute, education professional Matthew Lorin supports thousands of school builders across the country rethink american public high school. A resident of Hawaii, Matthew Lorin previously worked as head of research and planning for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

In the 1970s, Hawaiians of all backgrounds came together and voted to fund new programs for native Hawaiians. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) resulted from this effort in 1978, and it remains a public agency that operates locally with little outside interference.

In order to create a more sustainable future for native Hawaiians, economic self-sufficiency has become an important part of OHA's goal. The agency recognizes affordable housing as a major obstacle for many families, and has put programs in place to help.

In addition to working with like-minded organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, OHA set aside funds to help families rent homes or even purchase their own. Over the last year, nearly 50 families were able to purchase a home with down-payment assistance from the OHA.