In an emergency meeting on October 27, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) Board of Trustees (BOT) approved $6.1 million in emergency funding to help Native Hawaiian beneficiaries employed by the federal government and impacted by the federal government shutdown as well as beneficiaries affected by the November 1 suspension of SNAP benefits.
The board directed OHA administrators to work out details of the benefits program, dubbed “I Ola,” to include determining eligibility requirements and potential partnerships ahead of a November 6 BOT meeting in Hilo.
At that meeting, the board approved a the administration’s recommendation to provide up to $350 per person to verified Native Hawaiian households without child dependents – beneficiaries that include kūpuna, disabled adults, and low-income adults who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits but are excluded from the state’s Hawaiʻi Relief Program (TANF Support for Housing and Utility Payments).
Trustees also approved a second tier of relief providing up to $1,200 per person to verified Native Hawaiian furloughed federal civilian workers earning no more than 400% of the Federal Poverty Level (approximately $72,000 for a single-person household) who are experiencing a pay interruption and are also excluded from the Hawaiʻi Relief Program.
I Ola was designed to reach Native Hawaiian households who are at-risk and who may not qualify for other state or federal assistance. “We are addressing the needs of some of our most vulnerable beneficiaries,” said OHA Board of Trustees Chairperson Kaialiʻi Kahele.
To expedite administration of the I Ola relief program, OHA partnered with Hawaiian Council and, on November 10, an online portal went live to receive and process applications from beneficiaries. The distribution of funds began the same week.
An estimated 14,000 Native Hawaiian beneficiaries qualify for the $350 direct payment to help meet food costs, and another 1,000 Native Hawaiian federal employees are eligible for the $1,200 relief payments.
“This targeted approach reflects our responsibility to deploy trust resources with intention and equity, avoiding duplication with existing state relief measures,” said OHA Interim Administrator Summer Sylva.
“Our lāhui continues to face real hardship, and together we are demonstrating what it means to care for our people with compassion, accountability, and unity,” added Hawaiian Council CEO Kūhiō Lewis.
Although the 43-day federal government shutdown ended on November 12, OHA’s I Ola funds continue to be distributed. To assist beneficiaries on the neighbor islands, Hawaiian Council deployed staff to Maui, Molokaʻi, Kauaʻi and Hawaiʻi Island the week of November 21 to get people signed up for relief funds.
As of mid-November, approximately 2,000 people had applied.
For more information go to:
hawaiiancouncil.org/oha-relief/.
SNAP
Local grocery store gift cards up to $350 are being issued to verified Native Hawaiian beneficiaries without dependents. Foodland gift cards will be provided to residents on Oʻahu, Maui, and Kauaʻi; KTA gift cards for residents on Hawaiʻi Island; and due to the remote locations, residents on Lānaʻi and Molokaʻi will receive a direct assistance check.
Federal Employees
Checks up to $1,200 will be issued to verified Native Hawaiian federal civilian (nonmilitary) employees not receiving pay during the shutdown who earn no more than 400% of the Federal Poverty Level.
 Board of Trustees (BOT) approved $6.1 million in emergency funding to help Native Hawaiian beneficiaries employed by the federal government and impacted by the federal government shutdown as well as beneficiaries affected by the November 1 suspension of SNAP benefits.){kind=link}