Office space available at CNHA’s nonprofit incubator

For three years, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement has hosted an incubator style office environment at its Kakaako headquarters at 1050 Queen St., Honolulu, where seven nonprofits share professional office space, Internet services, telephone systems and office equipment with CNHA.

“When we first looked at the concept of shared office space that could meet the needs of multiple nonprofits, it was a little daunting,” said Lilia Kapuniai, CNHA vice president and manager of Community Services.  “Every organization is like a person, with its own style and personality – so the thought of shopping for space and having to think beyond the needs of just ourselves [to] the needs of other organizations was very different.”

A Native Hawaiian firm, the Nakoa Companies, Inc., renovated the space on the corner of Kamakee and Queen streets, creating conference room, training space, a combination storage and break room with shower facilities and multiple offices. Today, nearly 25 employees share the location’s synergy, working for different firms.

“We wanted to create efficiencies for CNHA member organizations that have office space needs,” Kapuniai said.  “With seven different organizations, we have one board room instead of seven, which is a huge cost savings for everyone, yet we have the facilities we all need.”

The organizations sharing the offices include business and cultural organizations, social justice organizations and sovereignty initiatives. CNHA member organizations that don’t need full-time office space can also reserve use of meeting rooms and teleconferencing capabilities.  For more information about available office spaces or reserving the facilities, contact Terri Lemmer, (808) 596-8155 or info@hawaiiancouncil.org.