The Hawaiʻi Agricultural Foundation and Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau have awarded a total of $552,380 in disaster relief grants to farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural food producers impacted by the 2026 Kona Low storms.
Recipients of the grants, which are funded by the Hawaiʻi Farmers Disaster Relief Fund, each received up to $10,000. Funds were contributed through the generosity of individual donors, private foundations, corporations, and community partners.
More than 300 applications were received from Hawaiʻi agricultural producers. Applications were reviewed by the Hawaiʻi Agricultural Foundation and Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau, with assistance from the North Shore Economic Vitality Partnership, to identify recovery needs and direct funding to impacted producers.
“The response from our community has been tremendous,” said Denise Yamaguchi, executive director of the Hawaiʻi Agricultural Foundation. “Every donor who contributed helped make these grants possible. We are incredibly grateful for their generosity and for the opportunity to put those dollars directly toward helping Hawaiʻi’s agricultural producers recover and rebuild.”
The grants come as Hawaiʻi’s agricultural community continues to face significant weather-related challenges. Since the Kona Low storms, Hurricanes Lala, Lowell, and Nolo have brought additional heavy rain, flooding, and damaging winds to communities across the islands, underscoring the vulnerability of agricultural operations to severe weather.
“Recovery doesn’t happen overnight, and unfortunately our farmers and ranchers continue to face one weather event after another,” said Brian Miyamoto, executive director of the Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau. “The fund has provided meaningful help, but the need doesn’t end with this round of grants. Continued support gives us the ability to stand with our agricultural community when the next challenge comes.”
The fund remains open for contributions as the Hawaiʻi Agricultural Foundation and Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau continue efforts to support Hawaiʻi’s agricultural community in the face of ongoing and future disasters.
To support the Hawaiʻi Farmers Disaster Relief Fund, visit the Hawaiʻi Agricultural Foundation website.
