State officials are putting fresh cash on the table to keep neighborhoods from burning. A new round of wildfire mitigation funding is now open, with $1.5 million available statewide for shovel‑ready projects that cut hazardous fuels where communities sit up against wildlands. The grants will support vegetation management, fuel breaks, defensible‑space work and native‑species restoration, with awards capped at $300,000 per project. Applications are open now and due April 20, with award notifications expected in May and projects allowed to run for up to 12 months. Because the program requires a 25% cost share, community groups are being urged to line up matching dollars or in‑kind help fast.
“Reducing hazardous fuels in areas where communities and wildlands meet is an important step we can take to reduce wildfire risk in Hawai‘i,” DLNR Acting Chairperson Ryan Kanakaole said in a statement, according to Hawaii News Now. The grants are being offered through the Hawai‘i Wildfire Management Organization in partnership with the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of Forestry and Wildlife.
Program details and rules
The Hawai‘i Urban Interface (HUI) Wildfire Grant Program is administered by the Hawaiʻi Wildfire Management Organization in partnership with DLNR‑DOFAW, and a program overview from HWMO lays out the $1.5 million in statewide funding, award limits and match rules. Projects may request up to $300,000, must provide a 25% cost share, and can cover hazardous fuels reduction, firebreak construction, defensible‑space improvements, landscape resilience planning and native‑plant restoration over a project period of up to 12 months. The program is aimed at “high‑impact, shovel‑ready” work that directly reduces risk to communities and improves firefighter access.
Built on last year’s pilot
The HUI program builds on a 2025 pilot that funded nine projects across four islands and, officials say, helped make more than 8,000 homes safer while treating over 12,500 acres. A virtual information session is scheduled for April 2 at 11 a.m. HST, and applications close April 20 with award notifications expected in May, according to Hawaii News Now.
2025 winners show what gets funded
The pilot round featured projects ranging from managed grazing and native‑plant green breaks to infrastructure protection. In testimony to state lawmakers, officials highlighted recipients such as Kaʻala Farm (Oʻahu), the Honolulu Board of Water Supply and the Hawaiʻi Farmers Union Foundation on Maui, along with several island coalitions and community associations. Those early awards combined vegetation removal, coordinated grazing and access‑road or firebreak work to protect homes and critical systems, per public hearing records (Civil Beat).
How to apply
Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, homeowner associations and local government agencies. All funded projects must provide a 25% match, and applicants should be ready to show how state dollars will be paired with local resources. For full guidelines, the RFP, downloadable application materials and registration for the April 2 info session, visit the program page at HWMO, or send questions to [email protected]. Award decisions are expected in May and projects are slated to start in June, creating a short window for budgeting and contracting if you plan to apply.
