UPDATE: HAWAIIAN COUNCIL TO PROVIDE ONSITE ASSISTANCE FOR THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN AFFAIRS I OLA EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND ON MOLOKAʻI
Up to $350 in grocery assistance available for eligible Native Hawaiian SNAP recipients
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.
The program, funded by OHA, is designed to support Native Hawaiian SNAP recipients without minor dependents who experienced financial hardship during the 2025 government shutdown.
Eligible applicants may receive up to $350 in grocery stipend check, distributed on a first-come,
first-served basis. To date, more than $500,000 in grocery assistance has been distributed across
the pae ʻāina.
Members of the Hawaiian Council outreach team will be on Molokaʻi to provide in-person
assistance to eligible Native Hawaiian residents. Services will be available in Central Molokaʻion Monday, March 2, followed by outreach in East and West Molokaʻi on Tuesday, March 3.
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Monday, March 2
• 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Department of Health (65 Makaena Place, Kaunakakai, HI 96748)
Tuesday, March 3
• 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at Manae Goods & Grindz (8615 Kamehameha V Hwy, Kaunakakai,
HI 96748)
• 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. at Maunaloa General Store (200 Mauna Loa Hwy, Maunaloa, HI
96770)
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must:
• Be Native Hawaiian
• Live in Hawaiʻi
• Be a SNAP recipient during the government shutdown (October-November 2025)
• Have no minor dependents
Applicants must also bring the following documents:
• Government-issued photo ID
• Proof of Hawaiʻi residency
• Proof of Native Hawaiian ancestry
• Copy of SNAP benefits letter
A dedicated informational briefing for interested Molokaʻi residents will be held virtually on Thursday, February 26 at 6:00 PM. This session will provide an overview of Hawaiian Council and
the I Ola Program ahead of the upcoming in-person outreach visit. Participants will learn about program details, eligibility requirements, what documents to bring, and how to obtain a paper
application in advance if needed.
Community members who believe they may qualify are strongly encouraged to attend the inperson outreach event and bring all required documents. Hawaiian Council staff will be on site to assist applicants in determining eligibility and completing the application process. Individuals may also apply online in advance to receive pre-approval. Those who are pre-approved may pick up their grocery stipend check at the event. Grocery stipend checks will be provided while supplies last.
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.
