Native Hawaiian Organizations (NHOs) are non-profit organizations, managed by Native Hawaiian individuals and principally serving Native Hawaiians, which have majority ownership of an 8(a) designated for-profit firm. Through their ability to receive sole-source contracts above the 8(a) ceiling, NHO 8(a)s offer a highly valuable time and cost effectiveness to the contracting process, which, coupled with the ingenuity and agility of customer response offered by small firms, makes NHO 8(a)s attractive vendors and business partners.

However, what makes NHOs most unique, is their ultimate mission to serve their communities. Profits generated by the 8(a) firms, are dispersed to their parent firm, which engages in activities to benefit the Native Hawaiian community. NHO missions range across social and community objectives including: youth programs, access to legal defense, leadership development, innovative youth education, specialized job training, health, financial literacy, business development, cultural engagement, community development, and other community needs.