Mālama Honua Disaster Fund will support Native Hawaiian homeowners impacted by March kona low storms

Office of Hawaiian Affairs at the end of this week will launch a new fund dedicated to helping Native Hawaiian homeowners whose homes sustained minor damage from the back-to-back March 10-24 kona low storms that struck the islands.

Mālama Honua Disaster Fund opens Friday, May 22, and will provide a limited number of $10,000 repair grants to eligible homeowners.

An informational Zoom webinar about the new program is scheduled at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 20. Those who want to attend can register here.

Mālama Honua Disaster Fund is designed to help Office of Hawaiian Affairs beneficiaries address disaster-related cleanup and home repair needs for principal residences located in Office of Hawaiian Affairs-identified highly impacted communities throughout Hawaiʻi.

The grants are intended for homes that remain safe to live in where non-structural repairs or cleanup is required because of flooding, water damage or other storm-related impacts.

“The Mālama Honua Disaster Fund reflects [Office of Hawaiian Affairs’] commitment to supporting Native Hawaiian families as they recover from the devastating impacts of the flooding and storms in March,” said Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees Chairperson Kaialiʻi “Kai” Kahele in an announcement about the new program. “Many homeowners continue to face significant financial burdens tied to cleanup and repairs, and this program is intended to help fill critical recovery gaps.”

The program is open to Native Hawaiian homeowners not otherwise eligible for Office of Hawaiian Affairs March 2026 Kona Low General Disaster Assistance Program facilitated by Hawaiian Council.

Applicants must provide verifiable quotes, invoices or other acceptable cost documentation for repairs or cleanup necessitated by the storms.

Eligible applicants must:

• Be Native Hawaiian with verification through the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Hawaiian Registry Program.
• Own the impacted residence.
• Have occupied the residence as their principal residence at the time of the kona low storms.
• Reside within an Office of Hawaiian Affairs-identified highly impacted area.
• Demonstrate minor storm-related damage to the home.
• Provide documentation for cleanup or repair costs.
• Submit a current and complete Internal Revenue Service Form W-9.

Applicants will also be required to submit documentation including identification, homeownership, principal residency, photos and descriptions of storm damage.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs will use available storm impact data and recovery indicators to ensure grant awards are distributed fairly and proportionately on impacted islands and communities.

Contact the team at Office of Hawaiian Affairs Strategy and Implementation Housing via email at SIHousing@oha.org or the team at Office of Hawaiian Affairs Grants via email at grantsinfo@oha.org for additional information.