The Office of Hawaiian Affairs has expanded its Ka Wailele Emergency Financial Assistance Program to include emergency funding for car repairs, funeral costs and out-of-pocket medical expenses.

What You Need To Know

  • Previously, the program was limited to mortgage, rental or utility payments

  • The program started in June 2021 with $1M in funding from OHA

  • The expansion recognizes additional financial hardships brought on by COVID-19

  • Recipients are eligible for financial counseling and other services

OHA also increased maximum awards to $2,000 from $1,500. The program previously covered only mortgage, rental and utility expenses.

The changes are effective as of Tuesday.

The program started in June 2021 with $1,044,253 in funding from OHA to provide emergency financial relief to Native Hawaiians. It is administered by Hawaii Community Lending, a nonprofit organization that specializes in providing loans to Native Hawaiians who cannot get loans from mainstream banks and credit unions.

The expansion of eligible uses for the funding came as a result of community listening sessions, including one with the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Hawaii COVID-19 Response, Recovery and Resilience Team that identified transportation, funeral and medical costs as significant contributors to financial strain on Native Hawaiian families.  

“We confirmed with data that applicants needed assistance with transportation to travel to work and school,” said HCL executive director Jeff Gilbreath. “Unfortunately, at the same time, family deaths and medical expenses directly or indirectly related to COVID-19 were becoming increasingly apparent as a need.”

Recipients can now use emergency funds for vehicle repairs and maintenance as well as funeral-related expenses such as caskets, embalming, cremation and funeral services (including food and flowers).

Native Hawaiians who are at least 18 years old and in financial hardship are invited to apply. Individuals are limited to one emergency grant every two years. 

Payments are made directly to landlords, mortgage lenders, utility providers, car repair shops, medical providers, or funeral homes. Approved applicants also have access to financial counseling, additional grants or affordable loans, as well as career coaching through Financial Opportunity Centers run by Hawaiian Community Assets, HCL’s parent corporation.

To apply, visit oha.org/emergencyaid or kawailele.org or call HCL at 808-587-7656 to request a paper application or complete an application over the phone.