Jason T. Okuhama is a government lending specialist and has originated and processed over $250 million in USDA Rural Development, SBA and USDA Farm Service Agency guaranteed loans.
In the early 1980’s, Jason began his commercial, consumer and SBA lending career the old fashioned way — by working at the branches of two local Hawaii banks in their loan platform area and as Assistant Branch Manager. This provided him with the fundamental skills for underwriting loans adhering to strict bank credit guidelines. He also worked several years at the State Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, administering various State loans programs such as: Hawaii Capital Loan Program, Large & Small Vessel Loan Programs, High Tech Loan Program, Community-Based Economic Development Loan Program, and several other unique loan programs.
In 1994, Jason joined Bank of America’s Community Development Banking Group as Vice President, and was responsible for SBA, USDA Rural Development and other government loan programs in Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands. His work background and experience provided him with the knowledge in a wide range of industries; background in government, commercial real estate, residential and consumer lending; strong credit underwriting skills; loan originating, processing and loan closings; and contacts with federal & state agencies, banks and non-profit organizations in Hawaii related to lending.
In January 2000, Jason formed his own company, Commercial and Business Lending, and has focused primarily on USDA Rural Development Business & Industry and Community Facilities loan programs, SBA loan programs, USDA Farm Service Agency and conventional Agricultural loan programs. Over the years, Jason has worked on financing restaurants, recreation facilities, hotel/motels, vessels, aircraft, a wide variety of agriculture businesses, aquaculture, health industry, schools and other types of businesses.
Jason serves and has served on two Governor-appointed State of Hawaii boards (Hawaii Community Development Authority and Aloha Tower Development Corp.), has been the President of a non-profit organization, Hawaii Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development, for the past 19 years, and is the President of his Condominium Association Board. He has lived in Hawaii his entire life and resides with his wife Dawn in Honolulu.