Kahuku-based 101 Financial has been ranked No. 437 by Inc. magazine on its annual list of the 500 fastest-growing private companies in the United States.

The financial education and services company becomes only the third Hawai'i company in 20 years to make the magazine's list. NovaSol, formerly called Innovative Technical Solutions, ranked 391 in 2004; Lion Coffee reached 447 in 1989.

101 Financial was founded in 2002 by Alan Akina and has more than 6,000 clients and 300 instructors statewide.

The company provides financial classes and counseling to middle-income residents in Hawai'i. It uses in-home visits by instructors to provide budgeting techniques, banking strategies, debt management and credit building services.

"We are honored to be part of an elite group of successful companies that are fast-growing by servicing their customers' needs and creating new jobs as their companies grow," said Akina, president of 101 Financial.

The list is a comprehensive look at the country's most successful entrepreneurs.

This year's 500 list, the 27th annual, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000/ (Inc. also lists the top 5,000). The online site includes company profiles and a list of the fastest-growing companies that can be sorted by industry and region.