Native Hawaiian ʻohana in financial crisis have $1.66M available in emergency assistance

Two agencies serving Native Hawaiians statewide are working together to offer funding in support of Hawaiian families during times of financial crisis and help put them on a path for future long-term success.

Office of Hawaiian Affairs awarded Hawaiian Community Assets a $1.66 million community grant to administer the Kūkulu Kahua Emergency Financial Assistance Program, which launched earlier this month.

The statewide initiative is aimed at providing critical support for Native Hawaiian families facing urgent financial hardship.

It’s a partnership that reflects a shared commitment between the organizations to uplift Native Hawaiian ʻohana during times of crisis and build toward long-term financial stability.

“At the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, we understand that the well-being of our lāhui begins with the stability and dignity of each ʻohana,” Office of Hawaiian Affairs Chief Executive Officer Stacy Ferreira said in an announcement of the grant funding. “Through the Kūkulu Kahua Emergency Financial Assistance Program, [Office of Hawaiian Affairs] is committed to provide not only urgent financial relief but also pathways to long-term stability and healing.”

Ferreira added that the investment reflects the agency’s deep kuleana — its responsibility — to uplift the Hawaiian people in times of hardship and stand as a trusted source of support.

Hawaiian Community Assets — a Housing and Urban Development-certified nonprofit housing counseling agency with 25 years of service to Hawaiʻi communities — will administer the program and deliver culturally grounded financial assistance to eligible Office of Hawaiian Affairs beneficiaries.

Kūkulu Kahua offers onetime support for emergency needs — such as rent, utilities and funeral expenses — paired with access to financial counseling and wraparound services designed to empower families on their journey toward economic resilience.

“This partnership with [Office of Hawaiian Affairs] recognizes that impactful solutions come from within our communities,” Hawaiian Community Assets Executive Director Chelsie Evans Enos said in the announcement. “Together, we are responding to immediate needs while building the foundation for stronger, more resilient Native Hawaiian households.”

Click here for additional information about the Kūkulu Kahua Emergency Financial Assistance Program.