The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has signed off on nearly $3.96 million in emergency funding to help Native Hawaiian households and communities hit hard by recent heavy rains and flooding across the islands. The money is aimed at immediate relief, direct grants and home-repair help for families facing storm damage, with OHA trustees approving the move in an emergency meeting this week.
According to a press release from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the board is reallocating existing “I Ola” emergency funds through a contract amendment with the Hawaiian Council. That shift redirects up to $3.3 million from I Ola, including up to $2.9 million for verified Native Hawaiian households in highly impacted areas, up to $100,000 for community resource hubs statewide and up to $300,000 to assist federal civilian workers affected by the Department of Homeland Security shutdown. Trustees also approved $410,000 in direct disaster-aid grants and $250,000 for Mālama Honua home-repair grants that range from $10,000 to $20,000 for qualifying households that submit verified repair estimates or invoices.
Kaialiʻi Kahele, chair of the OHA Board of Trustees, said the rapid move was intended to get relief out “quickly and strategically” so communities can “rebuild with dignity and resilience,” as reported by Maui Now. Community groups and nonprofit partners, including the Hawaiian Council, are expected to help administer the assistance and steer funds into the neighborhoods with the most urgent needs.
How the money will be distributed
OHA’s Mālama Honua home-repair pilot is designed to reach income-qualified Native Hawaiian homeowners through nonprofit partners that will process applications and manage repairs, according to Ka Wai Ola. The grants prioritize health and safety work, including structural, plumbing and electrical repairs, and range from $10,000 for minor safety fixes to $20,000 for more critical remediation. OHA trustees have set aside $250,000 for the program this fiscal year while the office lines up nonprofit partners to administer the grants.
Where this fits in OHA's broader recovery work
The latest activation follows OHA’s earlier disaster-response efforts, including multimillion-dollar Kanaaho grants for Lahaina and Kula after the 2023 wildfires, underscoring the trust’s role as a local funding backstop, as reported by Maui News. Advocates have argued that flexible, locally controlled funds are crucial to fill gaps left by federal programs and to help families remain in their homes.
Details on how to apply for Disaster Aid Grants and Mālama Honua repair funding will be posted soon on the Office of Hawaiian Affairs website, the office said in its press release. Until application windows open, beneficiaries and community partners are being urged to monitor OHA and local resource hubs for updates and outreach events.
