HONOLULU — While school is out for the summer, families of school-aged children will receive a single payment to help provide meals for their keiki thanks to a collaboration between the Department of Human Services and Hawaii Department of Education.

What You Need To Know

  • Each eligible child will receive a single payment of $177

  • Most eligible families will not need to fill out an application to get SUN Bucks, but some parents will need to apply

  • Families need to make sure mailing addresses are up-to-date with their child’s school and SNAP and TANF case record since SUN Bucks will be issued to EBT cards that will then be mailed to the address provided in their child’s school student record or the SNAP or TANF case record

SUN Bucks, also known as Summer EBT, provides grocery benefits to eligible families with school-aged children when school is out for the summer, according to a news release.

Each eligible child will receive a single payment of $177. Most eligible families will not need to fill out an application to get SUN Bucks, but some parents will need to apply.

Families need to make sure mailing addresses are up-to-date with their child’s school and SNAP and TANF case record since SUN Bucks will be issued to EBT cards that will then be mailed to the address provided in their child’s school student record or the SNAP or TANF case record.

Children in the following categories will automatically receive SUN Bucks:

  • Student-aged children whose households received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits at any time from July 1, 2023, to Aug. 4, 2024.
  • Children who applied and were individually approved to receive free or reduced-price school meals through the National School Lunch Program during the 2023 to 2024 school year.

Children in the following categories may be eligible to receive SUN Bucks, but will need to apply:

  • Children experiencing homelessness.
  • Migrant children.
  • Children who receive free or reduced-price school meals but did not complete an NSLP application. For example, if the child attends a Community Eligibility Provision school where all students are provided free or reduced-price meals without applying.

Officials advise families to check the DHS website throughout June for additional information.