HONOLULU (KHON2) — The Hawaiʻi Emergency Food Assistance Program funds are going to be available ahead of schedule.
SNAP recipients can spend the $250 in relief funds as soon as Nov. 10, which puts the program four days ahead of the targeted date, Nov. 14, Hawaiʻi Department of Human Services and Gov. Josh Green announced.
On Nov. 6, relief funds will be displayed as pending in recipients’ accounts but will be available for use on Monday, Nov. 10.
The support for SNAP recipients was made available through the Hawaiʻi Emergency Food Assistance Program.
The program was created to support SNAP recipients after the federal government announced that the benefits would be disrupted on Nov. 1.
“We know this shutdown has placed many of our local families in an extremely difficult situation. Our goal is simple — ensure our families have the support they need to put food on the table,” said Governor Green.
About the Program
HEFAP is giving each member of a SNAP-approved household $250 to help purchase groceries through the ongoing government shutdown.
You can spend the HEFAP funds on the same EBT card system as SNAP. Officials say these funds are different from SNAP and are being provided form a state-funded program.
Household Benefit Examples:
| Household Size | HEFAP Benefit Amount |
|---|---|
| 1 | $250 |
| 2 | $500 |
| 3 | $750 |
| 4 | $1,000 |
| 5 | $1,250 |
| 6 | $1,500 |
| 7 | $1,750 |
| 8 | $2,000 |
No application is required for the program and all qualifying SNAP recipients who were approved for Nov. 2025, will automatically receive HEFAP benefits.
Families who were not enrolled in SNAP can still apply for the assistance program.
Starting Nov. 10, recipients who have any further questions can call at the statewide assistance hotline at 855-643-1643 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.