Hawaiian Council Assisting OHA's Emergency Fund

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The Hawaiian Council is continuing its statewide effort to assist Native Hawaiian beneficiaries applying for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs I Ola: OHA's Emergency Relief Fund, which provides grocery stipends to SNAP recipients without minor dependents who experienced financial hardship during the 2025 government shutdown. The council's outreach team will be on Molokai on March 2-3 to help eligible residents apply for the assistance.

Why it matters

The I Ola program aims to support Native Hawaiian SNAP recipients who were impacted by the 2025 government shutdown, providing much-needed grocery assistance during a difficult time. The Hawaiian Council's outreach efforts ensure that eligible residents on Molokai can access this emergency relief fund.

The details

The I Ola program provides eligible applicants with up to $350 in grocery stipend checks, distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. To date, more than $500,000 in assistance has been distributed across Hawaii. The Hawaiian Council's outreach team will be available in Central Molokai on March 2, followed by East and West Molokai on March 3, to help residents apply for the program. Applicants must be Native Hawaiian, live in Hawaii, have been SNAP recipients during the 2025 government shutdown, and have no minor dependents.

• The I Ola program was launched to assist Native Hawaiian SNAP recipients impacted by the 2025 government shutdown.
• The Hawaiian Council's Molokai outreach will take place on March 2-3, 2026.

What’s next

Eligible Molokai residents are encouraged to attend the in-person outreach events on March 2-3 to apply for the I Ola grocery stipend. Those who are pre-approved may pick up their checks at the events, which will be provided while supplies last.