Hawaii financial assistance directory
Low-Income Help and Resources in Hawaii
If household costs are hard to manage, Hawaii has programs that may help with food, housing, utilities, healthcare, child care, and other basic needs. Start with the statewide options below, then follow the island or county application route when a program is handled by a local agency or community provider.
Money Fit serves Hawaii residents statewide. If debt or monthly payments are also part of the problem, call 800-432-0310 or start a confidential debt review.
Where to start
The best starting point depends on whether the need involves a state benefit, island-specific housing or utility help, or another community service. Eligibility, funding, waiting lists, and application methods can vary.
Apply for SNAP or financial assistance
Hawaii's Public Assistance Information System is the current online route for SNAP and financial assistance, including TANF and other cash programs.
Find help anywhere in Hawaii
Aloha United Way 211 is Hawaii's statewide information and referral helpline, with resources for food, shelter, utilities, child care, health, transportation, kupuna care, disability services, and other needs.
Housing or energy assistance
H-HEAP, public housing, coordinated entry, weatherization, and homelessness services are handled through island, county, or program-specific providers.
Island and county routing matters in Hawaii. SNAP and financial assistance use PAIS, Medicaid uses Med-QUEST and KOLEA, child care assistance has a separate DHS application, and energy, weatherization, housing, and homelessness services depend on the island or county. The Public Assistance Information Line is 855-643-1643.
Food assistance
For ongoing grocery help, start with Hawaii SNAP or WIC when it fits the household. For food needed sooner, Hawaii Foodbank and its neighbor-island partners can help locate pantries and distributions.
Hawaii SNAP
SNAP provides monthly grocery benefits to eligible Hawaii households through EBT. New applications, renewals, document uploads, and issued-benefit information are available through the PAIS portal.
Public Assistance Information Line: 855-643-1643
Hawaii WIC
WIC provides healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals for eligible pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum participants, infants, and children under age five. Hawaii currently has local WIC agencies and clinics on multiple islands.
Hawaii Foodbank and neighbor-island food banks
Hawaii Foodbank provides food-assistance tools for Oahu and Kauai and links residents to partner food banks serving Hawaii Island and Maui. Local pantry dates, hours, and available food can change, so confirm details before traveling.
Housing, rent, and utility help
Hawaii housing and utility assistance is divided among island-based energy providers, community action agencies, public housing programs, coordinated-entry systems, and legal-aid organizations. Application windows and waiting lists can change quickly.
Hawaii Home Energy Assistance Program
H-HEAP may provide a one-time payment toward qualifying electric or gas costs. Energy Crisis Intervention accepts applications year-round for households facing a utility disconnection, although monthly approvals are limited. The regular Energy Credit application window is June 1 through June 30.
Hawaii Weatherization Assistance Program
Weatherization helps eligible low-income households reduce energy costs through approved efficiency improvements. Community Action Agencies on Oahu, Hawaii Island, Maui County, and Kauai administer services locally.
Hawaii Public Housing Authority
HPHA operates public housing statewide and Housing Choice Vouchers on Oahu. Oahu Section 8 and Oahu federal public housing waiting lists are currently closed. Federal public housing on Hawaii Island, Kauai, Maui, and Molokai currently uses paper applications through local property-management offices.
HPHA: 808-204-9042
Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions
People experiencing homelessness or at immediate risk of homelessness can use the state resource guide to find the coordinated-entry provider serving their area. Coordinated entry is the first step toward many shelter, rapid-rehousing, Housing First, and other homelessness services.
Legal Aid Society of Hawaii
Legal Aid Society of Hawaii provides civil legal help to eligible residents statewide, including landlord-tenant issues, evictions, subsidized housing, lockouts, utility shutoffs, public benefits, debt collection, and other covered matters. Advice or representation is not guaranteed.
Oahu intake: 808-536-4302
Neighbor Islands: 800-499-4302
Do not rely on old pandemic-era Hawaii rental-relief pages. Some former rent and utility programs still have pages online even though applications are closed or capped. For current housing help, use HPHA, coordinated entry, Hawaii 211, local county programs, or Legal Aid.
Healthcare coverage and clinics
Med-QUEST administers Hawaii Medicaid. The secured KOLEA system is the current online application route, while community health centers provide another way to reach local medical, dental, and behavioral healthcare.
Hawaii Med-QUEST
Med-QUEST provides Medicaid coverage through QUEST Integration and other programs for eligible children, adults, pregnant people, older adults, and people with disabilities. Apply online through KOLEA or contact Med-QUEST for phone and paper options.
Med-QUEST Call Center: 800-316-8005 | TTY: 711
QUEST Integration and other coverage groups
Hawaii Medicaid includes coverage pathways for adults, children, former foster youth, parents and caretaker relatives, pregnant people, and other eligible groups. Program rules differ by category.
Community health centers
Federally supported health centers provide primary care and may offer dental, pharmacy, behavioral health, substance-use, and other services. Health centers serve insured and uninsured patients and use sliding-fee programs based on income and family size.
Some Med-QUEST rules change January 1, 2027. Hawaii has announced new renewal and community-engagement requirements for some adults ages 19 through 64. Current members do not need to take action solely because of the future change unless Med-QUEST asks for information. Review current Med-QUEST change information.
Child care, family, and cash assistance
Hawaii uses separate online systems for child care subsidies and financial assistance. Families can also use Head Start and Preschool Open Doors when those programs fit.
Child Care Subsidy Program
Hawaii's Child Care Subsidy Program may help eligible families pay for child care while parents work, attend school, or participate in job training. DHS currently reports no programmatic changes related to federal child care funding.
Child Care Subsidy help: 855-643-1643, option 7
Preschool Open Doors
Preschool Open Doors is a separate statewide subsidy for eligible families using approved preschool programs. Unlike the general child care subsidy, parents do not need an employment, education, or training activity, but annual application periods and funding limits apply.
TANF and TAONF
Hawaii's TANF and state-funded TAONF programs provide monthly cash assistance and employment-related support to eligible families with children. Applications can be submitted through PAIS.
Head Start and Early Head Start
Head Start programs provide early learning, health, nutrition, and family support for eligible young children and families. Local programs handle eligibility, applications, openings, and waiting lists.
Locator help: 866-763-6481
Work, legal help, and essential services
Job loss, a legal problem, or loss of affordable phone or internet service can quickly affect housing, healthcare, and the ability to apply for other assistance.
Hawaii unemployment insurance
Eligible workers who lose work through no fault of their own may be able to receive temporary unemployment benefits. Claims are filed and managed through Hawaii's online unemployment insurance system.
American Job Centers and HireNet Hawaii
American Job Centers in all four counties provide free job-search help, career counseling, skills training, HireNet support, and resource-center access. HireNet Hawaii is the state's online job-matching and workforce system.
Legal Aid Society of Hawaii
Legal Aid Society of Hawaii helps eligible residents statewide with housing, public benefits, consumer debt, family matters, immigration, and other civil legal problems. Services range from advice and brief help to representation in some cases.
Oahu intake: 808-536-4302
Neighbor Islands: 800-499-4302
Federal Lifeline benefit
Lifeline may reduce the monthly cost of qualifying phone or broadband service. Eligibility can be based on income or participation in programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, or Federal Public Housing Assistance.
Lifeline Support Center: 800-234-9473
Older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers
Hawaii's aging and disability network can help residents locate meals, transportation, caregiver support, long-term services, benefits counseling, cash assistance, and safety resources.
Hawaii Aging and Disability Resource Center
The statewide ADRC connects older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers with long-term supports and services. Local ADRCs operate through the four county Area Agencies on Aging.
Statewide ADRC: 808-643-2372
Aid to the Aged, Blind, and Disabled
AABD provides state cash assistance to some low-income Hawaii residents who are age 65 or older, blind, or meet disability requirements and receive little or no federal Social Security assistance. Applications use the public-assistance system.
Hawaii Adult Protective Services
APS provides crisis intervention, investigation, and emergency services for vulnerable adults who are reported to be abused, neglected, financially exploited, or seriously endangered by self-neglect. Anonymous phone reports are accepted.
Statewide APS reporting line: 808-832-5115
Crisis, safety, and disaster resources
If someone is in immediate danger, has a life-threatening medical emergency, or cannot stay safe, call 911.
Hawaii CARES 988
Call, text, or chat 988 for free, confidential, 24-hour support involving emotional distress, mental health, suicide, or substance use concerns. Hawaii CARES 988 uses local counselors and a statewide crisis network.
Call or text: 988
Direct / toll-free: 800-753-6879
Local domestic violence programs
The Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence maintains current island and county resources, including 24-hour shelter and crisis hotlines on Oahu, Hawaii Island, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, and Kauai.
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233
Aloha United Way 211
AUW 211 is Hawaii's only comprehensive statewide information and referral helpline, with resources on every island and in every ZIP code. It also supports disaster-response and recovery referrals when events affect local communities.
Call: 211 or 877-275-6569
Local: 808-275-2000
Hawaii and federal disaster assistance
The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency posts current recovery resources for active hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes, storms, and other disasters. FEMA Individual Assistance may also become available after a federal declaration for eligible losses in designated areas.
HIEMA: 808-733-4300
FEMA Helpline: 800-621-3362
Review the household budget and unsecured debt together
Public assistance may help with food, housing, healthcare, child care, or utilities while credit cards, medical bills, collections, personal loans, or payday loans continue taking money from the rest of the budget. Money Fit nonprofit credit counseling can help Hawaii residents review income, expenses, debts, and possible next steps.
A debt management plan may help organize eligible unsecured debts into one monthly payment to Money Fit, which then sends payments to participating creditors. It is not a new loan or debt settlement. Creditor participation, concessions, account treatment, fees, and payment changes can vary.
Money Fit does not provide cash assistance, food benefits, rent assistance, utility benefits, government benefits, or emergency grants. The counseling form below is for help reviewing debt and monthly payments.
Open the Money Fit debt review form
Share a few details so Money Fit can respond to your request. Your information stays with Money Fit and is not sent to a marketplace of lenders or debt companies.
Related Money Fit resources
These resources can help with debt, housing, financial education, and assistance in other states.
