SNAP Recipient Assistance: Eligible applicants will receive a grocery gift card (up to $350) to purchase food and essential household items at participating local grocery stores.

• Oʻahu & Maui: Foodland gift cards
• Hawaiʻi Island: KTA gift cards
• Kauaʻi: Foodland or Times gift cards
• Lānaʻi & Molokaʻi: Due to limited grocery options, recipients will receive a direct assistance check instead of a gift card.

Federal Workers Assistance:

Eligible applicants will receive a one-time direct assistance check of up to $1,200 to help cover essential expenses during the federal government shutdown.

You can still apply by submitting:

• Your birth certificate showing Hawaiian ancestry, and
• A recent headshot photo (a selfie is fine).

In some cases, additional documents may be requested — for example, a marriage certificate to confirm a name change or a biological parent’s birth certificate if you were adopted.

These documents will be shared with OHA.

This SNAP-eligible assistance is available only for individuals without dependents. If you don’t qualify, please see the FAQ titled “Where else can I get help if I don’t qualify for these programs?” for other available resources.

There are two types of assistance available:

Option 1: SNAP Assistance

• A one-time grocery gift card of up to $350 for:
• Native Hawaiian individuals
• Hawaiʻi residents
• Current SNAP (food stamp) recipients
• Applicants with no dependents
• Individuals not eligible for the State of Hawaiʻi Relief Program

Option 2: Federal Worker Assistance

A one-time cash payment of up to $1,200 for:

• Native Hawaiian federal civilian (non-military) employees
• Hawaiʻi residents
• Employees not receiving pay due to the federal government shutdown
• Individuals earning at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Line

For All Applicants

• Government-issued photo ID (State ID or driver’s license)
• Proof of Hawaiʻi residency (State ID, lease, utility bill, or mortgage statement)
• Proof of Native Hawaiian ancestry
  • Preferred: OHA Hawaiian Registry ID card or approval email
  • If not registered with OHA: Birth certificate showing Hawaiian ancestry and a recent photo (selfies accepted)

Additional Documents for SNAP Applicants

• Proof of current SNAP benefits (Benefit Verification Letter from DHS)

Additional Documents for Federal Worker Applicants

• Proof of furlough or nonpayment (furlough letter, paystub dated Oct. 1, 2025 or later, agency shutdown notice, or employer verification)
• Most recent paystub

Gift cards are the primary form of assistance. Cash may only be provided in special circumstances—for example, if there are no participating grocery stores available on your island.

If your application is approved, your gift card or check will be mailed to the address you provide. Please make sure your mailing address is accurate when applying — replacement cards or checks may not be issued if the address is incorrect.

In-person pickup may also be available for those who can collect their award at the Hawaiian Council’s main office in Kapolei. If you’d prefer to pick up your award in person, please contact your case manager to make arrangements.

Yes. These programs are specifically for Native Hawaiian individuals, and you must be able to verify your Native Hawaiian ancestry to qualify for assistance.

Yes. If your situation qualifies you for both programs, you’re welcome to apply for each. Just be sure to meet the eligibility requirements for both.

The OHA Federal Relief Program is being managed by the Hawaiian Council, in partnership with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA).

Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis and will remain open until all funds are distributed — so we encourage you to apply early.

You can apply in three easy ways:

Online

Visit www.hawaiiancouncil.org/oha-relief to submit your application. The online portal opens Monday, November 10, 2025, at 9:00 AM (HST).

By Phone

Call the Hawaiian Council at (808) 596-8155 to complete your application over the phone.

Call Center Hours:

• Monday–Friday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
• Saturday: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Apply in person at:

Hawaiian Council 91-1270 Kinoiki Street, Kapolei

Office Hours:

• Monday–Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM

After-hours appointments:

• Monday–Friday: 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
• Saturday: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Call (808) 596-8155 to schedule an appointment.

You can easily get a copy online!

1. Go to https://pais-benefits.dhs.hawaii.gov/
2. Click on “View My Issued Benefits.”
3. Follow the prompts to download or print your verification letter.
4. Upload a copy to your application

Food Assistance

SNAP Outreach Providers

• The Department of Human Services (DHS) partners with eight local nonprofits that help families apply for SNAP and connect with local food resources.

Aloha United Way 2-1-1

• · Call 2-1-1 for free, statewide referrals to food assistance and other community resources.
• Aloha United Way can also connect you with SNAP outreach providers.

Hawaiʻi Foodbank

• Provides food support through a network of community partners.
  • Oʻahu: (808) 836-3600
  • Kauaʻi: (808) 482-2224

The Food Basket (Hawaiʻi Island Food Bank)

• Offers food pantries and soup kitchens across Hawaiʻi Island.
  • Phone: (808) 933-6030

Maui Food Bank

• Distributes millions of pounds of food each year to Maui County residents.
  • Phone: (808) 243-9500

Housing & Utility Support

Hawaiʻi Relief Program

• Provides housing and utility assistance for families with dependent children.
• Apply through:
  • Maui, Molokaʻi, and Lānaʻi: Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc.
  • Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi Island, and Kauaʻi: Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi

Additional Support

Vibrant Hawaiʻi

• Offers additional community resources for those impacted by the federal shutdown.
  • Visit www.vibranthawaii.org

Our team at the Hawaiian Council knows how important this support is and is working quickly to review all applications. Because this program is designed to offer immediate help, we’re processing applications as fast as possible while ensuring every request is handled carefully.

Among the key ways OHA fulfills its purpose is by providing resources towards improving conditions for Native Hawaiians. For example, each year OHA awards $500,000 in scholarship money. Similarly, nearly 2,000 Native Hawaiians have borrowed more than $34 million from OHA within the past decade to start businesses, improve homes, consolidate debts and continue their education. In addition, OHA awards more than $9 million in grants annually to community-based organizations that support the focus of the strategic plan. And as the state’s 13^th largest landowner, OHA manages more than 27,000 acres of lands set aside largely for cultural and agricultural endeavors.

At OHA, facilitating collaboration is among its core values. This is critical to the organization’s ability to energize relationships and earn the trust of important community partners. As a result, OHA has built formal relationships with various organizations to help achieve broad, lasting change in the Hawaiian community. Among them was the Native Hawaiian Justice Task Force, which was created by the Hawaiʻi Legislature to support comprehensive solutions to concerns about the disproportionate number of Native Hawaiians who are in prison in Hawaiʻi and the U.S. At the same time, OHA is working closely with the Nā Limahana o Lonopūhā Native Hawaiian Health Consortium to improve health.