Update: Hawaiian Council To Provide Onsite Assistance for OHA’S I Ola Emergency Relief Fund on Maui & Hawaiʻi Island
The Hawaiian Council is continuing its statewide effort to assist Native Hawaiian beneficiaries applying for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) I Ola: OHA’s Emergency Relief Fund.
Next week, members of the Hawaiian Council’s outreach team will be on Maui and Hawai‘i Island to provide in-person assistance for eligible Native Hawaiian residents currently receiving SNAP benefits. Up to $350 in grocery gift cards per person will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
To date, more than $443,000 in grocery gift cards has been distributed across the pae ʻāina.
Community members who believe they qualify are strongly encouraged to come in person. Hawaiian Council’s staff will be on site to help applicants determine eligibility and complete the application process.
Click to View Maui & Hawaiʻi Island Locations & Times
MAUI
Tuesday, Feb. 3, noon – 4 p.m.
Foodland Pukalani
55 Pukalani St., Makawao, HI 96768
Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Foodland Kaʻahumanu
90 Kane St., Kahului, HI 96732
HAWAIʻI ISLAND
Thursday, Feb. 5, 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.
KTA Super Stores — Waimea
65-1158 Mamalahoa Highway, Waimea, HI 96743
Friday, Feb. 6, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
KTA Super Stores — Puainako (Hilo)
50 E. Puainako St., Hilo, HI 96720
Click to View Required In-Person Documents
Applicants will need to bring the required documents:
• Proof of Native Hawaiian ancestry (e.g., OHA’s Hawaiian Registry Program card, birth certificate, etc.)
• Government-issued photo ID showing Hawai‘i residency
• Benefits verification letter for SNAP recipients
• Official letter or statement from your federal agency (e.g. furlough notice or leave and earnings statement)
The Hawaiian Council is administering the Office of Hawaiian Affairs’ (OHA) $6.1 million Emergency Assistance Program to support Native Hawaiian beneficiaries impacted by the ongoing federal government shutdown and the suspension of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits.
There are two separate applications:
Native Hawaiians who have lost or experienced reduced SNAP benefits, and
Native Hawaiian federal civilian workers who have been furloughed or are experiencing pay interruptions due to the current federal shutdown.
One-Time Relief Amounts:
Local grocery store gift cards up to $350 will be issued to verified Native Hawaiian beneficiaries, with no dependents, who receive SNAP benefits but are excluded from the state’s Hawai‘i Relief Program. (Foodland gift cards will be provided for residents on O‘ahu, Maui, and Kaua‘i; KTA gift cards for residents on Hawai‘i Island; and due to the remote locations, residents on Lāna‘i and Moloka‘i will receive a direct assistance check)
Checks up to $1,200 will be issued to verified Native Hawaiian federal civilian (nonmilitary) employees furloughed or not receiving pay during the shutdown who earn no more than 400% of the Federal Poverty Level.
How to Apply:
Applications will be accepted in the following ways:
By phone: Call the Hawaiian Council at 808-596-8155 to fill out an application over the phone. Call center hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:30pm. After hours appointments are available by appointment if needed.
In-person: Submit an application at 91-1270 Kinoiki Street in Kapolei during regular office hours, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. To schedule an after-hours appointment (5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.), contact the call center at 808-596-8155 for an appointment.
Government-issued photo ID showing Hawai‘i residency
Benefits verification letter for SNAP recipients
Official letter or statement from your federal agency (e.g. furlough notice or leave and earning statement)
Applications will be reviewed as they are received, with distribution expected to begin Nov. 11.
The OHA Board of Trustees approved the $6.1 million emergency assistance plan during its November 6 meeting in Hilo and announced its partnership with the Hawaiian Council to oversee the program’s implementation, including application intake, eligibility review, and benefit distribution statewide.
