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OHA trustees consider making Mahiʻai Micro Fund more flexible to aid Kona‑impacted farmers
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Summary
Office of Hawaiian Affairs staff told trustees the Mahiʻai Micro Fund — designed to give up to $5,000 to roughly 28 Native Hawaiian farming businesses — is ready to launch but may be adjusted to prioritize Kona‑impacted farmers, expand the number of recipients and reallocate $100,000 from Kulana Aina to bring total program resources to about $240,000.
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs presented trustees with a status update on the Mahiʻai Micro Fund and asked whether the board would support adjustments to help farmers hit by recent Kona conditions.
Tony, the program presenter, told trustees the program was designed as a narrowly targeted stabilization tool that provides up to $5,000 to about 28 Native Hawaiian farming businesses. The design, he said, was tied to a board‑approved May 2024 budget line and a contract executed with Hawaiian Council on March 20. He said the program was operationally ready to launch but that on‑the‑ground conditions have shifted due to recent storm and low‑water impacts.
"This program provides up to $5,000 to approximately 28 native Hawaiian farming businesses," Tony said, adding that applications would be processed using an online intake, a standardized evaluation rubric and joint review with Hawaiian Council while OHA retains final award authority.
Tony reported that recent Kona conditions have affected roughly 380 farms statewide, nearly 3,500 acres and about $23,000,000 in self‑reported losses; he described those figures as the program's rationale for a short‑term course correction. He proposed removing strict use restrictions to permit more flexible recovery support, adjusting award size and beneficiary counts, and reallocating $100,000 from Kulana Aina to bring total program funding to about $240,000 without requesting new money from the board.
Trustee Souza said she supported altering deployment to match the time of need and welcomed bringing a formal action back to the committee for vote. Trustee Aquino asked whether the reallocation would increase per‑farmer awards or expand the number of recipients; Tony said the priority would be to increase the number of farmers served first and that award amounts could be adjusted after intake data are collected.
Trustee Galateria asked whether the proposal duplicates state relief. Tony said OHA's fund is standalone and that the state Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (DAB) had run a separate, short emergency program that provided $1,500 to 333 applicants from about 1,700 applications during a three‑day window. Trustee Lindsey asked about caps and how the program would account for differing farm sizes; Tony said the committee would rely on the program rubric and priority scoring, noting most eligible farms are small (generally under 10 acres).
Presenter and staff said Hawaiian Council will support intake, document handling and disbursement while OHA sets eligibility and final awards. Staff signaled they could postpone a mid‑April launch to early May to allow the committee to consider any recommended adjustments.
Next steps: staff asked whether trustees were open to (1) making the fund more flexible, (2) supporting the proposed reallocation to the Mahiʻai Micro Fund, and (3) returning to Budget & Finance on April 18 with a formal action item. Trustees expressed general support for bringing an action back to a future meeting.
