Hard money loans on Hawaiʻi Island
The most affordable entry points in Hawaiʻi and the widest range of deal types.
- Local property inspection
- Same-day quote
- $1,500 retainer to start
- Fee simple and leasehold
The Old King Kalākaua Building · 1407 Kalākaua Avenue, Honolulu · Open 7 days a week by appointment
Why Hawaiʻi Island investors borrow from us
Hawaiʻi Island is larger than all the other islands combined and its real estate reflects that range. Kona and Waikoloa carry resort and second-home values, Hilo offers older homes with deep renovation upside, and Puna has the lowest-priced buildable lots in the state.
We underwrite Big Island deals with an eye on lava zones, catchment water, and the true cost of getting contractors and materials to the site. When those factors are priced correctly, the island offers some of the best risk-adjusted flips and builds in Hawaiʻi.
The Hawaiʻi Island market right now
Hilo and Puna inventory moves on price and condition. Kona-side homes trade on views and proximity to the coast. Construction costs run higher than Oʻahu because of shipping and labor.
Neighborhoods and what works there
Waikoloa and Waimea
Golf-course subdivisions and Waimea ranch homes with strong resale.
Waikoloa loansPuna (Keaʻau, Pāhoa, Hawaiian Paradise Park)
Lowest-cost lots in the state, ground-up construction loans.
Puna loansCaptain Cook and Kealakekua
Coffee-belt properties with ag zoning and ohana potential.
Ocean View
Large affordable lots, construction and land loans.
Leasehold, permits and ADUs on Hawaiʻi Island
Leasehold on Hawaiʻi Island
Leasehold is rare in Hawaiʻi Island residential inventory outside a few resort condominiums in Kona and Waikoloa. Most single family purchases are fee simple.
Permitting
Hawaiʻi County processes permits through its EPIC online system. Rural subdivisions like Hawaiian Paradise Park have private road and catchment considerations that affect valuation. Lava zone classification affects insurability and therefore exit financing for your buyer.
ADU and ohana units
Hawaiʻi County adopted an ordinance in 2024 allowing additional dwelling units on most residential and agricultural lots subject to wastewater capacity. This has opened a wave of ohana builds in Hilo, Kona and Waimea that we finance in draws.
Opportunities, watch-outs and a worked example
Opportunities
- Entry prices allow a first flip with a smaller capital base.
- Kona-side renovations command large ARV spreads.
- New ADU rules create a build-to-rent path on existing lots.
What we watch for
- Lava zones 1 and 2 limit conventional financing for end buyers, which narrows your exit.
- Catchment water and cesspool conversion requirements add rehab cost.
- Contractor availability is tight; timelines run longer than on Oʻahu.
A three-bedroom in Hilo, illustrative numbers.
- Purchase
- $420,000
- Rehab
- $90,000
- ARV
- $690,000
- Our loan
- $366,000
- Down payment and unfunded rehab
- $144,000
- 8 months interest
- $29,280
Loan programs on Hawaiʻi Island
Fix and Flip Loans on Hawaiʻi Island
Up to 75% of after-repair value and 80% of rehab costs. Buy, renovate, sell, repeat.
ExploreBridge Loans on Hawaiʻi Island
Close now, refinance later. Up to 70% LTV while your long-term financing or sale catches up.
ExploreConstruction Loans on Hawaiʻi Island
Ground-up builds, major renovations and ADUs, funded in draws as work is inspected.
ExploreADU Loans on Hawaiʻi Island
Finance an accessory dwelling unit and turn one property into two incomes.
ExploreLand and Lot Loans on Hawaiʻi Island
Buy the lot now, build or entitle later. Private financing for raw and improved land.
ExploreMulti-Family Loans on Hawaiʻi Island
Duplexes, triplexes, small apartment buildings and value-add rentals.
ExploreCommercial Real Estate Loans on Hawaiʻi Island
Retail, office, mixed-use, industrial and hospitality properties across the islands.
ExploreLeasehold Property Loans on Hawaiʻi Island
We lend on leasehold. Most lenders will not.
ExploreCash-Out Refinance on Hawaiʻi Island
Unlock equity in property you already own to fund your next deal.
ExploreAuction and Foreclosure Loans on Hawaiʻi Island
Fast capital for courthouse steps, trustee sales and REO purchases.
ExploreProbate and Estate Loans on Hawaiʻi Island
Capital for heirs, trustees and buyers of inherited property.
ExploreCity and town pages
Read before you buy
How we fund on Hawaiʻi Island
Tell us about the property
Island, property type, purchase price, estimated after-repair value and your exit plan. Takes two minutes and needs no personal financial documents.
Same-day quote
We come back with loan amount, rate and structure. No committee, no runaround.
Property evaluation
We inspect the asset and verify title. Local knowledge means this step moves fast.
Fund and close
Sign documents, record the deed of trust, receive funds. Pay interest only until you sell or refinance.
Hawaiʻi Island lending questions
Straight answers. If yours is not here, call 808-523-2000 and talk to a decision maker.
Do you lend in lava zones on the Big Island?
We lend in zones 3 and above without restriction. For zones 1 and 2 we look closely at your exit, because end buyers often cannot get conventional financing there.
Can I get a construction loan for a lot in Puna?
Yes. Ground-up construction loans in Hawaiian Paradise Park, Keaʻau and surrounding subdivisions are common for us. We release funds in draws tied to inspections.
Do you lend on properties with catchment water?
Yes. Catchment is normal on Hawaiʻi Island and does not disqualify a property. We factor system condition into the valuation.
What is the retainer for a Hawaiʻi Island loan?
Outer-island loans carry a $1,500 retainer to begin paperwork once you accept a quote. Your written quote explains how it is applied at closing.
Get a same-day quote on Hawaiʻi Island
Two minutes. No credit pull, no documents. Get an instant estimate and a same-day quote from a lender that actually closes in Hawaiʻi.