From October 2023 through September 2026, Hawaii businesses received 460 SBA 7(a) loans totaling $106M, net of cancellations. That ranks 46th of 52 by number of loans and 52nd by dollars. The median loan was $50K at a median starting rate of 10.75%. In FY2026 alone, lenders approved 103 Hawaii loans for $25.2M before cancellations.
What stands out in Hawaii
One lender dominates
Central Pacific Bank approved 230 of Hawaii's 460 SBA 7(a) loans in FY2024 to FY2026, a 50.0% share. The top three lenders together made 62.6%. For comparison, the largest 7(a) lender nationally, The Huntington National Bank, holds 10.3% of all loans. In practice, a Hawaii business shopping for an SBA loan is likely to meet this bank first, so comparing at least one other lender's terms matters more here than in most states.
Smaller loans than average
The median 7(a) loan in Hawaii was $50K, below the national median of $175K. 73.0% of Hawaii loans were $150,000 or less (49.0% nationally) and 5.2% were $1 million or more (13.6% nationally).
A steeper FY2026 drop than the country
Hawaii approvals went from 231 in FY2025 to 103 in FY2026 (−55.4%), against −28.1% nationally. Dollar volume went from $53.4M to $25.2M (−52.8%).
Little startup lending
Loans to open a new business made up 4.6% of Hawaii's 7(a) loans, against 16.1% nationally; counting businesses two years old or younger, the share is 34.6%.
Higher rates than average
The median starting rate on Hawaii 7(a) loans was 10.75%, against 10.25% nationally, and 34.8% of loans carried a fixed rate (13.6% nationally). SBA caps the spread a lender can charge over the base rate, and smaller loans are allowed higher spreads, so a state's loan-size mix moves its median rate.
Lending clusters in one county
Honolulu County alone accounted for 67.6% of Hawaii's 7(a) loans (311 loans), and Honolulu was the most frequent borrower city with 150. The next county, Hawaii, had 13.7%.
Top SBA 7(a) lenders in Hawaii
| Lender | Loans | Share of state |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Central Pacific Bank | 230 | 50.0% |
| 2. Readycap Lending, LLC | 31 | 6.7% |
| 3. Northeast Bank | 27 | 5.9% |
| 4. Newtek Bank, National Association | 25 | 5.4% |
| 5. BayFirst National Bank | 23 | 5.0% |
| 6. Celtic Bank Corporation | 16 | 3.5% |
| 7. Live Oak Banking Company | 15 | 3.3% |
| 8. Lendistry SBLC, LLC | 13 | 2.8% |
| 9. First Hawaiian Bank | 11 | 2.4% |
What a typical Hawaii SBA loan looks like
| FY2024-FY2026, not cancelled | Hawaii | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Median loan | $50K | $175K |
| Average loan | $231K | $508K |
| Median starting rate | 10.75% | 10.25% |
| Variable-rate loans | 65.2% | 86.4% |
| Median term | 96 months | 120 months |
| Loans of $150K or less | 73.0% | 49.0% |
| Loans of $500K or less | 90.7% | 76.9% |
| Loans of $1M or more | 5.2% | 13.6% |
| Startups (loan opens the business) | 4.6% | 16.1% |
| Startups and businesses 2 years old or less | 34.6% | 32.0% |
| Change of ownership (buying a business) | 5.0% | 10.9% |
| Franchise businesses | 2.4% | 11.0% |
| SBA Express loans | 53.3% | 35.8% |
| Jobs supported (reported at approval) | 3,542 | 1,733,816 |
Hawaii SBA 7(a) loans by fiscal year
SBA fiscal years run October to September, so FY2026 covers October 2025 through September 2026. "Approved" counts every loan SBA guaranteed, the basis of SBA's own published totals; "not cancelled" drops loans that were later cancelled before or after funding. FY2026 loans are recent, so some of them may still be cancelled.
| FY2024 | FY2025 | FY2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 220 | 231 | 103 |
| Dollars approved | $54.8M | $53.4M | $25.2M |
| Loans not cancelled | 196 | 184 | 80 |
| Median loan | $50K | $50K | $86K |
| Median rate | 11.00% | 10.75% | 10.24% |
| Loans of $150K or less | 77.6% | 71.2% | 66.2% |
| SBA Express share | 60.2% | 48.4% | 47.5% |
FY2026 approvals in Hawaii changed by −55.4% from FY2025; nationally the change was −28.1%. See why SBA lending fell in FY2026.
Industries that borrow most in Hawaii
| Sector | Loans | Share | Median loan | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurants and hotels | 91 | 19.8% | $50K | 10.50% |
| Construction | 73 | 15.9% | $50K | 11.00% |
| Retail | 53 | 11.5% | $75K | 10.50% |
| Health care | 42 | 9.1% | $77K | 10.38% |
| Administrative and support services | 37 | 8.0% | $50K | 10.99% |
| Other services (repair, personal care) | 35 | 7.6% | $52K | 11.00% |
| Professional services | 30 | 6.5% | $50K | 11.00% |
| Wholesale trade | 20 | 4.3% | – | – |
Where in Hawaii the loans go
| County | Loans |
|---|---|
| Honolulu | 311 |
| Hawaii | 63 |
| Maui | 55 |
| Kauai | 31 |
| City | Loans |
|---|---|
| Honolulu | 150 |
| Kailua Kona | 26 |
| Kapolei | 25 |
| Aiea | 20 |
| Waipahu | 19 |
| Ewa Beach | 18 |
| Wailuku | 15 |
| Kailua | 15 |
Counts only, and only places with at least 10 loans. No individual businesses are listed.
SBA 504 loans in Hawaii
The SBA 504 program finances owner-occupied real estate and long-life equipment. A certified development company (CDC) lends up to 40% of the project with an SBA-backed debenture, a bank typically lends about 50%, and the business puts in the rest. The amounts below are the CDC portion.
| Hawaii | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| 504 loans, FY2024-FY2026 (not cancelled) | 60 | 18,076 |
| 504 dollars | $63.7M | $20.82B |
| Median 504 loan | $726K | $742K |
| Jobs supported (reported at approval) | 498 | 190,338 |
| Most active CDCs | 504 loans |
|---|---|
| The Mortgage Capital Development Corporation | 30 |
| Hedco Local Development Corporation | 27 |
SBA district office for Hawaii
Hawaii loans are overseen by the SBA Hawaii District Office. District offices do not make loans; they support lenders and borrowers and point businesses to local resource partners. Contact details are on SBA's local assistance page.
Comparing SBA and other funding in Hawaii
An SBA loan is often the cheapest long-term money a small business can get, but approval takes weeks and the 2025 and 2026 rule changes narrowed who qualifies. FSE (Funding Solutions Experts) is an independent commercial finance brokerage. We are not an SBA lender and are not affiliated with the U.S. Small Business Administration; one application lets us compare SBA and non-SBA options from our funding partners side by side.
- No fee to your business: we are paid a commission by the funding partner.
- No credit check to apply.
- To be considered, a business generally needs at least 1 year in business and $10,000 or more in monthly revenue.
Read what an SBA loan is and how the programs work or our SBA and term loans guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many SBA loans were made in Hawaii?
Lenders approved 220 SBA 7(a) loans for Hawaii businesses in FY2024, 231 in FY2025 and 103 in FY2026, before cancellations. Net of cancelled loans, the three years total 460 loans worth $106M, plus 60 SBA 504 loans worth $63.7M.
Which banks make the most SBA loans in Hawaii?
In FY2024 to FY2026 the most active 7(a) lenders in Hawaii were Central Pacific Bank (230 loans, 50.0%), Readycap Lending, LLC (31 loans, 6.7%), Northeast Bank (27 loans, 5.9%).
What is the typical SBA loan size and rate in Hawaii?
The median 7(a) loan in Hawaii was $50K and the average was $231K. The median starting interest rate was 10.75%, 65.2% of loans had a variable rate, and the median term was 96 months.
Source and method
Figures come from the U.S. Small Business Administration's 7(a) and 504 FOIA loan files (as of September 30, 2026), aggregated by FSE. Loans are assigned to Hawaii by project state. Profile figures cover FY2024-FY2026 loans that were not cancelled. We publish aggregates only: no borrower names or addresses, and no figure based on fewer than 10 loans. Full details are in the methodology, and every state's figures can be downloaded as CSV.
Compare nearby states by volume: Montana, West Virginia, Vermont, District of Columbia, or see all states.