Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement gets a new name

The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement is now Hawaiian Council, a change the nonprofit announced on Monday, Aug. 11. The rebranding also includes a new tagline: “Hawaiians Advancing Hawaiʻi.”

“Our new name, Hawaiian Council, reflects our work and our commitment, grounded in collective leadership,” said Kūhiō Lewis, the chief executive officer of the Hawaiian Council, in a written statement. “It immediately tells people who we are and who we serve. It also eliminates the confusion that came with the acronym ‘CNHA’ and better reflects our kuleana to lead with unity, intention and pride in our lāhui.”

The nonprofit has been known as CNHA for 25 years, according to representatives of the group. The new logo draws inspiration from ʻaha, "a cord of many strands woven together — symbolizing the collective strength of the Hawaiian people,” according representatives of the nonprofit. It was designed in-house by the Hawaiian Council’s creative team.

“This isn’t a departure from our mission — it’s a deeper alignment with it,” Lewis said. “As we continue to grow and expand our reach, we wanted our identity to reflect who we are today and where we’re headed.”

Hawaiian Council has headquarters in Kapolei. The nonprofitʻs mission is to “enhance the cultural, economic, political and community development of Native Hawaiians,” according to its website. It is also a Native Community Development Financial Institution certified by the U.S. Department of Treasury and a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development certified housing counseling agency.

Katie Helland can be reached at katie@alohastatedaily.com.