Honoring Charity Figuerres for Her Commitment to Lāna‘i

Charity Figuerres, CEO of Lāna‘i Federal Credit Union, recently received a Women Who Mean Business award from Pacific Business News (PBN) for her dedication to the community. This recognition highlights the vital role of credit unions in rural areas like Lāna‘i.

Charity reflected on her work, saying, “It’s not just about me — it’s about the entire team and the community that supports us.” She recalled moments when members in need turned to the credit union for help. “I remember when members came in crying because their power had been turned off, and we helped them with emergency loans to keep the lights on. That’s what we do— help people.”

Her award followed her participation in a PBN roundtable, where she discussed how the credit union supported the island after the closure of First Hawaiian Bank. “It solidified that I’m where I’m supposed to be,” she said.

Charity also advocated for credit unions during a recent trip to Washington, D.C., where she and nearly 6,000 colleagues met with lawmakers, including Senators Ed Case, Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz. She emphasized that credit unions reinvest profits back into the community. “We can make decisions that directly benefit our members, without needing approval from a corporate office,” she said.

With the closure of First Hawaiian Bank, Lāna‘i has become a “banking desert.” Charity said, “We’re committed to offering services that meet the needs of our community.”

She hopes her recognition will inspire younger generations, particularly women, to embrace leadership and service. “There are so many women doing great work, and I hope this serves as inspiration for others,” she said. She also worked with Congresswoman Tokuda to bring Social Security services to the island for kūpuna, saying, “It wasn’t about credit unions. It was about helping our kūpuna transition their Social Security deposits. We made it happen.”

Having led the credit union for ten years, Charity remains committed to Lāna‘i. “I do this because I believe in it,” she said. “I’ll keep doing this for as long as I can.”