URIDA lists 73 programs for people in Hawaii: 52 from government agencies, 21 from nonprofits, foundations, utilities and other private groups. Each one was checked against its official page. Some serve only part of the state, and dates and rules change, so look on the official page before you apply.
URIDA is not a government agency. Each program's operator takes applications and decides eligibility.
Rules and ways to apply show what the official pages name, and there can be others. Words in quotation marks are copied from the official page. FPL means the federal poverty level.
Free and Reduced Priced Meals Program (Hawaiʻi State Department of Education)
Run by Hawaiʻi State Department of Education
Who it is for
Hawaiʻi public school students. For 2026-27, free meal eligibility expanded to households at or below 300% of the federal poverty level (ALICE) under Act 139 (SLH 2025), e.g., $113,850 annual for a family of 4. CEP schools serve free meals to all students.
Oʻahu and Kauaʻi kūpuna: at least 60 years of age; self-declared household income at or below 150% of the U.S. Federal Poverty Income Guidelines for Hawaiʻi (e.g., $27,540 annual for 1 person); must reside in the service area applied to.
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) – Hawaii
Who it is for
State of Hawaii (all four counties). Individuals or households must have a total gross income no greater than 300% of the amount specified in the Federal Poverty Eligibility Guidelines.
City Rehabilitation Loan Program for Owner Occupants (City and County of Honolulu)
Who it is for
Oʻahu (City and County of Honolulu): owner-occupant homeowners with incomes up to 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for Oʻahu; brochure limits revised 6/01/2026 (e.g., $86,250 for 1 person, $123,200 for 4).
County of Maui Rental Assistance Program (RAP) — Maui Economic Opportunity Housing Assistance
Run by Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc. (MEO)
Who it is for
Individuals and families in Maui County who are at-risk of homelessness (unable to pay rent), in a dangerous or desperate situation, or moving out from emergency or transitional housing.
Run by Hawaiʻi Housing Finance & Development Corporation (HHFDC)
Who it is for
State of Hawaiʻi (statewide). Borrowers must be first-time homebuyers, 18+ years old, Hawaii Residents, and U.S. Citizens or Resident Aliens, with household income and purchase price within limits; the property must be located within the State of Hawaii.
Hawaiʻi Relief Program (TANF Support for Housing and Utility Payments)
Run by Hawaiʻi Department of Human Services (DHS)
Who it is for
Statewide Hawaiʻi. Families with a dependent child under 18 (or a pregnant woman in the third trimester), all members residents of Hawaiʻi, total gross income at or under 300% of the 2025 Hawaiʻi Federal Poverty level (e.g., $113,850 annual for a family of 4).
HPHA Federal Public Housing on the Neighbor Islands
Run by Hawaii Public Housing Authority (HPHA)
Who it is for
Neighbor islands of Hawaii (Hawaii County, Kauai County, and Maui County). Public housing is limited to low-income families and individuals; HUD defines low-income as earning 50% or less of the median income for a given county or metropolitan area.
Institute for Human Services (IHS) Emergency Shelters
Run by The Institute for Human Services (IHS)
Who it is for
Oahu (Honolulu): Men's Shelter on Sumner Street (up to 120 men per night) and Women's and Family Shelter on Kaaahi Street (up to 80 single women and 100 family members).
Kauai County Housing Agency Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)
Who it is for
Kauaʻi County: low-income families within the 2026 Applicable Income Limits (e.g., $47,600 for 1 household member, $67,950 for 4, $89,700 for 8); one application per household.
Area
This program may cover only part of Hawaii. Look on the official page for the area it serves.
Hawaii Home Energy Assistance Program (H-HEAP, formerly LIHEAP) — Energy Crisis Intervention
Run by State of Hawaii Department of Human Services, BESSD
Who it is for
Eligible Hawai`i households; ECI is for households whose electric or gas service has been or will be disconnected, with a disconnect notice. One type of H-HEAP payment per program year (October 1 – September 30).
Residential customers of Hawaii Water Service (single home or apartment) whose total gross household income is at or below 200% of the State Median Income Guidelines; outstanding balance of at least $100 required.
Statewide Hawaii. A potential participant must be within the 200% Federal Poverty Guideline; priority is given to elderly (60 years old and older), persons with disabilities, families with children, high residential energy users, and households with high energy burden.
Aloha Medical Mission Dental Clinic (Project Vision Hawaiʻi)
Run by Project Vision Hawaiʻi (PVH)
Who it is for
Honolulu (200 N Vineyard Blvd, Suite B-120, Honolulu, HI 96817): uninsured adults and families at no cost; underinsured, Medicaid/Quest, low-income (typically 150% of the federal poverty level or below) at no or reduced cost.
Run by State of Hawaiʻi Department of Health, Behavioral Health Administration
Who it is for
Hawaiʻi: callers with an (808) area code reach Hawaiʻi CARES 988 by dialing 988; callers from non-Hawaiʻi numbers are routed to the local chapter by area code unless they use the direct number. Includes help for children & adolescents.
Kaneohe, Oʻahu provider for adults, teens and families; applicants who are pregnant and or intravenous drug users will be given first priority for treatment.
Specialty Support Program (Children and Youth with Special Health Needs Section)
Who it is for
Children and youth who are under age 21 years, reside in Hawaiʻi, have a health condition that will or may last one year or more, and are under the care of a specialist.
WCCHC Sliding Fee Scale and Patient Assistance Services (Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center)
Run by Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center (WCCHC)
Who it is for
Waianae Coast, Oʻahu (86-260 Farrington Highway, Waianae, HI 96792; walk-in clinics in Waianae and Kapolei): WCCHC patients who are uninsured or under insured.
Aid to the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (AABD) – Hawaii
Who it is for
Hawaii residents who are elderly (65 or older) or meet the SSA definition of disabled or blind; countable income below 34% of the 2006 Federal Poverty Level and resources not exceeding $2,000 (single) or $3,000 (couple). Households with a dependent child are referred to TANF/TAONF.
Hawaii adults ages 18 through 64, without minor dependents, temporarily disabled and not qualifying for Social Security; little or no income; certified by a DHS medical board as unable to work at least thirty hours per week for at least sixty days; assets not over $2,000 single / $3,000 couple.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Temporary Assistance for Other Needy Families (TAONF)
Who it is for
Hawaii families with at least one specified relative adult and a minor dependent child in the same home (TANF: U.S. citizens; TAONF: mixed citizens and non-citizens); gross income below $2,941 and adjusted net income below $1,590 for a family of three.
Child Care Subsidy (Hawaii DHS Child Care Program)
Who it is for
Statewide: children under 13 (or 13 to 18 if unable to do self care); parents/caretakers employed, attending school, or in job training (both parents in two-parent families); gross monthly income not over 85% of the State Median Income.
Run by A collaboration of state and local organizations
Who it is for
Statewide Hawaii (Oahu, Maui, Hawaii Island, Kauai). Job search assistance and resource center computers are free and available to anyone; additional services (in depth career counseling, skill testing, training) for those who meet federal eligibility guidelines.
Hawaii Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR)
Run by Hawaii Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), Department of Human Services
Who it is for
Individuals with disabilities ages 14 and above throughout the State of Hawaii; offices on Oahu (Honolulu, Kapolei), Hawaii Island (Hilo, Kona), Kauai and Maui.
Hawaii employees with at least 14 weeks of Hawaii employment (each paid for 20 hours or more) and not less than $400 earned in the 52 weeks preceding the first day of disability, and in current employment; some employees are excluded (e.g., federal government employees).
Hawaiʻi B Plus State Scholarship Program (at UH Hilo)
Run by University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Financial Aid Office
Who it is for
Graduating seniors from a public Hawaiʻi high school with at least a 3.0 high school GPA, who completed a rigorous high school curriculum, demonstrate financial need, are bona fide Hawaiʻi residents, and enroll full-time (at UH Hilo).
Hawaiʻi residents who enroll in six or more credits at a UH Community College, submit the FAFSA and make Satisfactory Academic Progress (e.g., 2.0 grade point average).
Hawaiʻi State Community Schools for Adults (Adult Education, GED/HiSET)
Run by Hawaiʻi State Department of Education (HIDOE)
Who it is for
Adults and the community statewide (campuses in Honolulu, Hilo, Kauai, Kona, Maui, Moanalua, Wahiawa, Waipahu, Windward). The Workforce Development Certificate program requires age 18 and older, or 16- to 17-year-olds released from school through the 4140 process.
Run by State of Hawaiʻi Department of Budget and Finance
Who it is for
Anyone, including friends, grandparents and other family members, can open an account for as little as $15; non-Hawaiʻi taxpayers are advised to consider their home state's plan benefits.
University of Hawaiʻi System Common Scholarship Application
Run by University of Hawaiʻi System Scholarship Office
Who it is for
Students of the University of Hawaiʻi campuses (applicants indicate a home campus and second choice campus); individual scholarships have their own criteria. Meeting the requirements does not guarantee a scholarship.
Island-wide on Oahu. Meal service is typically available to homebound individuals ages 60 and older who cannot shop for or prepare their own meals, spouses who are primary caregivers in need of respite, and younger individuals with disabilities in the household.
Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) – Hawaii
Run by State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Workforce Development Division
Who it is for
State of Hawaii. At the time of application: 55 years old or older; reside in Hawaii; unemployed upon enrollment and eligible to work; family income at or below 125% of the federal poverty level; one or more barriers to employment.
Assistive Technology Resource Centers of Hawaiʻi (ATRC)
Run by Assistive Technology Resource Centers of Hawaiʻi (ATRC Hawaiʻi)
Who it is for
All islands of Hawaiʻi (Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi Island, Maui, Kauaʻi, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi); for individuals with disabilities, caregivers and families, healthcare professionals, and students and educators.
Office of Veterans' Services — Benefits and Services (Veterans Services Counselors)
Who it is for
State of Hawaiʻi: veterans, their family members, dependents or survivors; offices on Oʻahu (Honolulu, Kapolei), Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi Island (Hilo, Kealakekua) and Maui (serving Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi).
Eligible indigent immigrants living in the State of Hawaii, e.g., immigrant victims of domestic violence, human trafficking or other violent crimes, Citizens of the Freely Associated States, and legal permanent residents seeking to naturalize.
Run by University of Hawaiʻi Elder Law Program at the William S. Richardson School of Law
Who it is for
Residents of Oʻahu who are 60 years or older and have limited income and assets, or caregivers of an older person on Oʻahu needing information/referral; priority to the most needy; no criminal, business, probate or personal injury cases.
State of Hawaii; a qualifying individual taxpayer files a federal return claiming the federal earned income credit and a Hawaii return with the same filing status and dependents; part-year residents and nonresidents use the Hawaii AGI to federal AGI ratio.
Exemption—Homes of totally disabled veterans (City and County of Honolulu real property tax)
Who it is for
City and County of Honolulu (Oahu): homes of totally disabled veterans due to injuries sustained while on active duty with the U.S. Armed Forces; continues while the widow or widower of the totally disabled veteran remains unmarried.
State of Hawaii; taxpayers filing an individual return, including those with no income, whose federal AGI is less than $60,000 (less than $40,000 if Single), for each qualified exemption present in Hawaii for more than nine months.
Run by Department of Health, Disability and Communication Access Board (DCAB), State of Hawaii
Who it is for
State of Hawaii; applicants select the county where they reside (City and County of Honolulu, County of Hawaii, County of Maui, County of Kauai) for how to apply.
Run by Department of Community Services (honolulu.gov)
Who it is for
Honolulu (TheBus and TheHandi-Van fares): eligible households with Total Family Household Annual Gross Income not to exceed 30% of the Annual Median Income (e.g., $32,350 for 1 person, $46,200 for 4).
Business Counseling — Patsy T. Mink Center for Business & Leadership (YWCA Oʻahu)
Run by Patsy T. Mink Center for Business & Leadership (MCBL) at YWCA Oʻahu
Who it is for
Prospective entrepreneurs and small business owners in Hawaii, at any stage from prospective to established; center at 1040 Richards Street, Suite 105, Honolulu, HI 96813.
Hawaiʻi Small Business Development Center (Hawaiʻi SBDC) — No-Cost Business Advisory Services
Run by Hawaiʻi SBDC
Who it is for
State of Hawaiʻi (the only statewide business assistance organization in Hawaiʻi; locations in Hilo, Kona, Kauaʻi, Maui, Oʻahu): existing business owners and entrepreneurs who plan to open a new business.
State of Hawai‘i residents who are U.S. Citizens of Native Hawaiian ancestry, at least 18, credit score 600 or higher, debt-to-income no more than 45%; business registered with DCCA and in good standing.
Remission of Taxes in Case of Natural Disasters (City and County of Honolulu)
Who it is for
City and County of Honolulu (Oʻahu) property owners whose home or land is damaged by a natural disaster, e.g., damage during the Mayor's State of Emergency Proclamation period beginning August 13, 2026 (Tropical Storm Lala, Hurricane Lowell, or other storms).