Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 39, Number 11, 1 November 2022 — Native Hawaiian-Owned Flavors of ltaly Receives a $250,000 OHA Business Loan [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Native Hawaiian-Owned Flavors of ltaly Receives a $250,000 OHA Business Loan

By Ed Kalama ANative Hawaiian, woman-owned business has been issued a $250,000 Hua Kanu loan through the OfHce of Hawaiian Affairs' Mālama Loans program. Desiree Kanae Loperfido, a Department of Hawaiian Home Lands beneficiary, and her husband - chef Donato Loperfido - operate Flavors of Italy LLC, a licensed importer and distributor of aleohol specializing in a wide range of wines and cheese. A loan signing ceremony was held at First Foundation, OHA's Hnaneial lending partner, at its offices in Restaurant Row in Kaka'ako on Sept. 26. "What makes Flavors of Italy such a good candidate for this loan is the strength of their business whieh has been in operation since 2005. Desiree and Donato have direct ties to Italy, whieh allows the business to import and distribute products competitively," said Aikuē Kalima, OHA's Mālama Loans manager. Flavors of Italy supplies it products to loeal restaurants, hotels such as the Four Seasons and to grocery stores including Foodland and Whole Foods Market. The company has grown from a humhle start in 2005 when they first imported just one pallet of goods to today where they currently bring in eight to 10 containers of wine and cheese eaeh year. Desiree Loperfido said the company will use the loan funds to expand the business by building inventory and purchasing additional equipment. The business is also expected to start manufacturing cheeses such as fresh mozzarella, eliminating transportation and shipping costs and making Hawai'i more sustainable. Loperfido, born and raised on a Nānāku11 homestead, said she attended training on how to apply for a Mālama Loan years ago, and remembered the OHA program as they were looking to build their business. "I spoke with my husband, and we decided to reach out to OHA and see if they could help us because we need that extra money to expand our business. The interest rates are great, and we are very appreciative of what

Donato Loperfido, Desiree Kanae Loperfido and Robert Crowell, loan processor for OHA Loan Programs. - Photo: lason Lees OHA and its Mālama Loans program does for the Hawaiian community. We're grateful for the help, because we really needed it," she said. "One of our strategic objectives is to increase the number of business loans to DHHL beneficiaries who are interested in starting a new business, or provide working capital to existing business owners. We're trying to assist these beneficiaries by increasing their hnaneial capabilities and building eeonomie self-sufhciency, and this business loan to Flavors of Italy is a great example of that work," said OHA Board Chair Carmen "Hulu" Lindsey. ■ OHA's Hua Kanu Business Loans offer highly qualified business owners seven-year low interest rate loans ranging from $150,000 to $1 million, while Mālama Business Loans target startup and small businesses with loans of $2,500 to $149,999. Mālama Mahi Ai Agriculture, Mālama Home lmprovement, Mālama Debt Consolidation and Mālama Education are the other OHA programs that comprise the Mālama Loans program. OHA's Mālama Loans program tap into a federal funding stream available through the Administration for Native Americans and makes the federal funds available locally to Hawaiians to expand their businesses, improve their homes and help pay for educational expenses. Learn more about OHA loans atoha.org/ loans or eall ( 808 ) 594-1924.