OHA approves up to $6.1 million in emergency aid for Native Hawaiians affected by federal shutdown
November 08, 2025 | Task Force Created by Act 170, Executive , Hawaii
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The Office of Hawaiian Affairs on Nov. 6 approved the administration’s plan to provide up to $6,100,000 in emergency assistance to Native Hawaiians affected by the Oct. 2025 federal government shutdown, including people who lost SNAP benefits and furloughed federal civilian workers.
The board voted to adopt the administration’s Option 1, which splits funds into two targeted tranches: an “essential needs” stipend for beneficiaries receiving SNAP but excluded from the state relief program, and an income‑bridge stipend for furloughed Native Hawaiian federal employees. Trustees approved the plan after hearing that OHA’s administration identified unspent carryover budget balances from prior fiscal years and liquidated $6.1 million to make the funds immediately available.
Why it matters: staff said many Native Hawaiians were left out of state relief or faced delayed state or federal payments. The board and administration framed the disbursement as a stopgap to prevent immediate food and housing insecurity while other public assistance systems mobilize.
What the plan would do: the administration recommended setting about 80 percent of the funds (roughly $4.88 million) for essential needs stipends—up to $350 per verified Native Hawaiian beneficiary without child dependents, including kupuna and disabled adults, to cover food, medicine and other immediate needs. That tranche was reported to target roughly 14,000 individuals. The remaining 20 percent (about $1.2 million) was set aside for a one‑time income‑bridge stipend—up to $1,200—for approximately 1,000 verified Native Hawaiian federal civilian workers who have been furloughed and earn no more than 400 percent of the federal poverty level (about $72,000 a year for an individual at 400% FPL). The administration said applications would be released and intake begin as soon as Monday, Nov. 10, contingent on board approval and vendor procurement.
Administration and trustee comments: Interim Administrator Summer Silva said the recommendation was developed rapidly by program, fiscal and research teams and in coordination with community partners so OHA could “distribute swiftly, equitably and with dignity.” Poni Askew, who helped design the outreach and eligibility framework, said the initiative aims to fill gaps left by other relief programs and avoid duplication with state aid.
Trustees asked about fund source and accountability. The administration said the money came from unspent, unencumbered carryover balances in prior fiscal years (FY22–FY24) previously budgeted for grants and core operating items and currently held in OHA’s Native Hawaiian Trust Fund portfolio; the board would withdraw the funds for immediate liquidity. Trustees also asked whether OHA would use a third‑party administrator; staff said they expected to engage a vendor to process applications and payments to move quickly.
Who qualifies: staff said applicants must be registered in OHA’s Hawaiian Registry Program (required verification). For the income‑bridge tranche, eligibility was defined as furloughed federal civilian employees with household income at or below 400% of the federal poverty level (the staff table in the board packet lists the 400% FPL threshold for household sizes; 400% FPL ≈ $72,000 for a single individual). For the SNAP tranche, staff targeted low‑income adults without dependents who receive SNAP but are excluded from the state relief program, or who were awaiting delayed payments.
Vote and next steps: the board adopted the administration’s Option 1 by roll call; the motion passed with the board recording five yes votes and one abstention. Staff said funds had been made liquid and, if the board’s motion was approved (it was), applications would be released immediately and disbursement begin as soon as next week. Procurement and counsel will finalize vendor arrangements and communications outreach.
Provenance: The emergency relief recommendation and details were presented in the administration’s slide materials and discussed at length during the action item (transcript evidence: 01:10:56–02:06:10).
The board voted to adopt the administration’s Option 1, which splits funds into two targeted tranches: an “essential needs” stipend for beneficiaries receiving SNAP but excluded from the state relief program, and an income‑bridge stipend for furloughed Native Hawaiian federal employees. Trustees approved the plan after hearing that OHA’s administration identified unspent carryover budget balances from prior fiscal years and liquidated $6.1 million to make the funds immediately available.
Why it matters: staff said many Native Hawaiians were left out of state relief or faced delayed state or federal payments. The board and administration framed the disbursement as a stopgap to prevent immediate food and housing insecurity while other public assistance systems mobilize.
What the plan would do: the administration recommended setting about 80 percent of the funds (roughly $4.88 million) for essential needs stipends—up to $350 per verified Native Hawaiian beneficiary without child dependents, including kupuna and disabled adults, to cover food, medicine and other immediate needs. That tranche was reported to target roughly 14,000 individuals. The remaining 20 percent (about $1.2 million) was set aside for a one‑time income‑bridge stipend—up to $1,200—for approximately 1,000 verified Native Hawaiian federal civilian workers who have been furloughed and earn no more than 400 percent of the federal poverty level (about $72,000 a year for an individual at 400% FPL). The administration said applications would be released and intake begin as soon as Monday, Nov. 10, contingent on board approval and vendor procurement.
Administration and trustee comments: Interim Administrator Summer Silva said the recommendation was developed rapidly by program, fiscal and research teams and in coordination with community partners so OHA could “distribute swiftly, equitably and with dignity.” Poni Askew, who helped design the outreach and eligibility framework, said the initiative aims to fill gaps left by other relief programs and avoid duplication with state aid.
Trustees asked about fund source and accountability. The administration said the money came from unspent, unencumbered carryover balances in prior fiscal years (FY22–FY24) previously budgeted for grants and core operating items and currently held in OHA’s Native Hawaiian Trust Fund portfolio; the board would withdraw the funds for immediate liquidity. Trustees also asked whether OHA would use a third‑party administrator; staff said they expected to engage a vendor to process applications and payments to move quickly.
Who qualifies: staff said applicants must be registered in OHA’s Hawaiian Registry Program (required verification). For the income‑bridge tranche, eligibility was defined as furloughed federal civilian employees with household income at or below 400% of the federal poverty level (the staff table in the board packet lists the 400% FPL threshold for household sizes; 400% FPL ≈ $72,000 for a single individual). For the SNAP tranche, staff targeted low‑income adults without dependents who receive SNAP but are excluded from the state relief program, or who were awaiting delayed payments.
Vote and next steps: the board adopted the administration’s Option 1 by roll call; the motion passed with the board recording five yes votes and one abstention. Staff said funds had been made liquid and, if the board’s motion was approved (it was), applications would be released immediately and disbursement begin as soon as next week. Procurement and counsel will finalize vendor arrangements and communications outreach.
Provenance: The emergency relief recommendation and details were presented in the administration’s slide materials and discussed at length during the action item (transcript evidence: 01:10:56–02:06:10).
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