SBA loans by state
SBA loans in Hawaii: 103 approvals in FY 2026, median $107,400
Business purchases were rare, 5% of loans. Start-ups took only 6% of approvals.
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Hawaii: 7(a) loans approved last year
103
| Your rate vs. last year’s loans of this size, all states | about the median for this size |
| Hawaii: median rate at approval, $50,001 to $250,000 | 9.75% |
| Hawaii: median 7(a) loan last year | $107,400 |
| Payment over 10 years, SBA fee added to the loan | $1,438/mo |
Last year’s loans: the 7(a) loans SBA approved from October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026 (fiscal year 2026), in SBA’s public loan file of September 30, 2026. Rates at approval were set when prime was 6.75% or 7.00%; today: prime rate 7.00% on November 2, 2026. Your rate is compared on its margin over prime, so the change in prime since last year does not count against you.
Hawaii, FY 2026: 103 SBA 7(a) approvals for $25.2 million (48th of the 50 states and DC, SBA file of September 30, 2026). Business purchases were rare, 5% of loans. Start-ups took only 6% of approvals. The state used 504 loans heavily: 24 approvals for $19.5 million. Central Pacific Bank alone made 32% of the loans. Loans were small: the median was $107,400, against $220,000 nationally. Few loans ran past 15 years: 4%. Franchises took only 4% of loans. Businesses under two years old took 30% of loans. 13% of variable loans were priced at the SBA maximum. Borrowers were small teams, 6.8 jobs per loan. 22% of approvals were later cancelled. Honolulu County had 66% of the state’s loans. Today’s cap on a $107,000 variable loan: 13.00%.
Fee notices read and loan file counted by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
| Lender | FY 2026 loans | Median loan | Median variable rate | Lender’s home state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Pacific Bank | 33 | $30,000 | 10.75% | Hawaii (in-state) |
| Northeast Bank | 17 | $150,000 | 9.75% | Maine |
| Newtek Bank | 11 | $175,000 | 9.75% | Florida |
| Live Oak Banking | 8 | $492,500 | n/a | North Carolina |
| Celtic Bank | 5 | $107,400 | n/a | Utah |
Acquisitions are rare
Only 5% of Hawaii’s loans financed the purchase of a business, the lowest among the 50 states and DC. Expansion and working capital for current owners made up the bulk.
Lending to going concerns
Hawaii ranks the lowest among the 50 states and DC for start-up lending, with 6% of loans to businesses not yet open; 59% went to firms more than two years old.
A leading 504 state
Relative to its 7(a) volume, Hawaii uses 504 debentures more than almost anywhere: 24 of them for $19.5 million, a ratio to 7(a) loans 6th highest among the 50 states and DC. The Mortgage Capital Development Corporation arranged 17 on its own. Building owners here can count on a CDC that knows the local market.
Central Pacific Bank dominates
Central Pacific Bank alone made 32% of Hawaii’s SBA loans, a share for one lender 6th highest among the 50 states and DC, with a median loan of $30,000. The five busiest together made 72%.
| Loan size | Loans | Median variable rate, FY 2026 | SBA maximum today |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 or less | 42 | 10.88% | 13.50% |
| $50,001 to $250,000 | 33 | 9.75% | 13.00% |
| $250,001 to $350,000 | 14 | 9.75% | 11.50% |
| over $350,000 | 14 | 9.25% | 10.00% |
Among the smallest SBA loans in the country
A median of $107,400 makes Hawaii’s loans 6th lowest among the 50 states and DC in size. 41% were for $50,000 or less, the band where SBA lets the rate reach prime plus 6.5 (13.50% today) and charges 2% on an 85% guaranty.
Short terms dominate
Only 4% of Hawaii’s loans ran 15 years or more (13% nationally); the median term was 10 years. Loans under 15 years can be repaid early with no SBA fee.
Few franchise loans
Franchise units took 4% of Hawaii’s approvals, below the 14% national share; independent businesses took nearly all the rest.
Young firms get a big share
Businesses open two years or less received 30% of Hawaii’s SBA loans, the highest among the 50 states and DC. With little history to show, these borrowers are judged largely on the owners’ experience, their personal credit and the projections in the business plan.
Counties with the most approvals: Honolulu (68), Hawaii (19) and Maui (12). Trades: limited-service restaurants (6), offices of all other miscellaneous health practitioners (5), all other amusement and recreation industries (5), gift, novelty, and souvenir retailers (4) and all other specialty trade contractors (4).
All states compared.