HAWAII

Hawaii Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

Hawaii TANF provides temporary cash assistance to financially needy families with children and is designed to help low-income families work toward self-sufficiency.

To qualify for cash assistance, an applicant must be responsible for a child under age 19. Pregnant women may also qualify during pregnancy.

As a condition of eligibility, work-ready participants must participate in Hawaii’s First-To-Work (FTW) program for a specified number of hours per week, unless exempt.

How much is cash assistance in Hawaii?

Hawaii offers the poorest families of three with up to $985 per month for the first two months, including a housing supplement of up to $500 per month to eligible households.

How do I apply for cash assistance in Hawaii?

You may apply for benefits in person at a DHS Processing Center near you or through Public Assistance Information System  (PAIS) for faster processing.

Adults without minor dependents ages 18—64 who are temporarily disabled and who do not qualify for public assistance may apply for Hawaii’s General Assistance.

Hawaii Department of Human Services
Public Assistance Information Line
(855) 643-1643

Hawaii Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Hawaii SNAP helps put healthy food within reach for low-income Hawaiians, including working families, older adults, and people with disabilities.

Due to a higher cost of living, Hawaii boasts the highest monthly SNAP benefit per household member. For example, a family of three in Hawaii with little or no income may receive as much as $1,307 in monthly benefits.

SNAP benefits are distributed through the state’s Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) system which can be used at any grocery store and for services like meals-on-wheels.

What is the income limit for SNAP in Hawaii?

Hawaii allows households with income up to 200% of the state’s poverty guidelines to qualify for SNAP benefits. For a family of three, this equals $5,237 in gross monthly income or $2,618 in net monthly income.

Those who have less than $150 per month in income and $100 or less in cash may apply for Emergency SNAP and have their first benefits within 7 days.

Hawaii Department of Human Services
Public Assistance Information Line
(855) 643-1643

Hawaii SUN Bucks

Summer EBT, which is rebranded as SUN Bucks, is a new and permanent program to provide benefits to households with school-aged children to purchase food during the summer.

In Hawaiʻi, households with school-aged keiki (ages 6—18) will receive a SUN Bucks EBT card loaded with $189 per eligible child, to be spent during the summer months.

SUN Bucks can be used to purchase the same foods approved for SNAP, including

• Breads and cereals
• Fruits and vegetables
• Meats, fish and poultry
• Dairy products
• Seeds and plants which produce food for the household to eat
• Soft drinks, candy, cookies, snack crackers and ice cream
• Seafood, steak and bakery cakes

Applications for SUN Bucks can be submitted online  for anyone who did not receive the benefit through the automated process.

For questions or help with the application, contact
SUN Bucks Customer Service
(888)-975-7328

Hawaii Med-QUEST

Medicaid is known as Med-QUEST in Hawaii. QUEST stands for Quality care, Universal access, Efficient utilization, Stabilizing costs, and Transforming the way health care is provided to recipients.

Hawaii Med-QUEST provides Medicaid coverage to low-income Hawaii residents, including adults, children, pregnant women, and people with disabilities, based on specific income and asset limits.

Once eligible for Medicaid, Med-QUEST assigns you to a health plan right away. You have the option to either stick with the assigned plan or select an alternative within 15 days.

There are five health plans currently available to choose from:

1. AlohaCare
2. Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA)
3. Kaiser Permanente
4. ‘Ohana Health Plan
5. UnitedHealthcare Community Plan

‘Ohana and UnitedHealthcare cover all counties, including Hawaii, Honolulu, Kalawao, while Kaiser Permanente is focused on the islands of Oahu and Maui.

What is the income limit for Hawaii Med-QUEST?

Hawaii adopted Medicaid expansion through the Affordable Care Act, extending eligibility for Medicaid to adults age 19—64 with income up to 138% of the poverty level.

Children under age 19 in families with income up to 313% of the poverty level or about $8,195 per month for a family of three are eligible for Med-QUEST.

Hawaii allows children under age 6 to receive uninterrupted Medicaid coverage until their 6th birthday, and children ages 6 to 19 receive coverage for two years at a time.

How do I apply for Med-QUEST Hawaii?

You can apply for Med-QUEST online through My Medical Benefits  or in person one of the Med-QUEST Division eligibility offices located on Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, or Hawaii Island.

Hawaii Department of Human Services
Med-QUEST Customer Service
(800) 316-8005

Hawaii Special Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

Hawaii WIC is a nutrition program that provides eligible Hawaii residents with supplemental foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support and referrals to health and social services.

It serves pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, and infants and children up to age 5 who are determined to be “at nutritional risk”.

Applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible for WIC:

1. Live in Hawaii.
2. Be a pregnant, postpartum or breastfeeding woman, an infant or a child under 5 years old.
3. Have a household income less than 185% of the federal poverty limit.
4. Have a nutritional need or risk.

What’s the income limit for WIC in Hawaii?

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in Hawaii, WIC eligibility is based on household income at or below 185% of the federal poverty level.¹ That’s about $4,844 per month for a family of three.

How to apply for WIC in Hawaii?

In Hawaii, there are 15 local agencies operating 28 WIC clinics statewide. To apply for WIC, locate the nearest WIC clinic  to schedule an appointment.

Hawaii Department of Health
Main WIC Office
(808) 586-8175

Maui WIC Clinic
781 Kolu Street, Room A-1
Wailuku, HI 96793
(808) 984-8225

Child Care Connection Hawaii (CCCH)

Child Care Connection Hawaii (CCCH) provides subsidized child care for eligible families with children under 13 who meet the income eligibility and activity requirements.

The amount of subsidy varies based on the family’s gross monthly income, family size, and the type and cost of care. Because it is a subsidy, the parent may also be required to pay a portion of the child care costs on a sliding scale.

What is the income limit for child care assistance in Hawaii?

A family is considered “income eligible ” when their gross monthly income is at or below 85% of the State Median Income (SMI) for the family size. For example, a household of three may have an income of $7,998 or less per month and still qualify.

Is child care assistance available on Maui?

Yes, families on Maui can apply for Child Care Connection Hawaii (CCCH) and Preschool Open Doors, which are statewide child care subsidy programs that serve all islands, including Maui County.

Eligibility is based on factors like income, family size, and parents’ work or training status, not on which island you live, so Maui families follow the same basic rules.

The Alu Like Native Hawaiian Child Care Assistance Program is another resource available for Hawaiian families and can be reached at 535-1300.

How do I apply for child care subsidy in Hawaii?

Applications for child care subsidy are accepted statewide, year-round, at your nearest CCCH office , except for the Preschool Open Doors (POD) program which has a limited open enrollment period during the spring of each year.

A completed application along with supporting documents, and an intake interview is required before eligibility can be established.

Families may also apply online through Hawaii Child Care Subsidy Portal  or download the Application for Child Care Services (DHS 911) and mail the application along with supporting documents to:

Child Care Subsidy Unit
94-275 Mokuola Street, Room 105
Waipahu, Hawaii 96797
(808) 675-0650

Hawaii Preschool Open Doors (POD)

The application period for 3- and 4-year-olds for the 2026—2027 school year will close at 4:30 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time (HST) on May 31, 2027.

Hawaii’s Preschool Open Doors (POD) program is a separate subsidy program for eligible families with children in the two years before they enter kindergarten.

POD helps children ages 2–4 attend preschool by helping families pay preschool costs, with priority given to under-served or at-risk children. Families will have co-payments capped at 3% of their gross monthly income or $45 per month, whichever is lower.

What is the income limit for preschool open doors Hawaii?

Eligibility for POD has been raised to 500% of the federal poverty level, effective January 1, 2026, making it accessible to more middle-income households.²

The application period is open year-round, but there is a priority application period in the spring. Families may apply through Hawaii Child Care Subsidy Portal  or call PATCH Hawaii to request an application.

PATCH Hawaii
560 North Nimitz Highway, Suite 218,
Honolulu, HI 96817
(808) 791-2130

Hawaii Section 8

Through Section 8 Program, the Hawaii Public Housing Authority helps eligible Hawaii residents with rental assistance to afford housing in the private rental market.

Under the program, subsidies are paid directly to landlords on behalf of participating households, which are then responsible for paying the difference between the subsidy and the actual rent.

Eligibility is income-based  and tied to Area Median Income (AMI) limits set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Generally, households must have income at or below 50% of AMI for their county to qualify, with priority often given to extremely low-income households below 30% of AMI.

Is Section 8 in Hawaii open?

Many local waiting lists for Section 8 vouchers in Hawaii are closed or periodically opened for limited application periods due to high demand and limited funding.

When the waitlist is reopened, there will be newspaper and website announcements. To check its availability, please call (808) 768-7096.

Hawaii Department of Community Services
Community Assistance Division
(808) 768-7096

Hawaii Home Energy Assistance Program (H-HEAP)

Hawaii HEAP helps pay home heating or cooling costs for low-income households, particularly those with the lowest incomes and the highest home energy costs, through either:

Energy Credit (EC)

To help eligible low-income households offset the cost of their regular home energy bills, such as electricity or gas, by providing a one-time credit applied directly to the utility account.

Applications for Energy Credit (EC) are accepted during the month of June only. Applications for the program year are currently closed and will re-open in June 1, 2027.

What is the income limit for HEAP in Hawaii?

H-HEAP serves those with a household income of no more than 60% of the State Median Income (SMI). That’s about $5,646 per month for a family of three.

How do I apply for HEAP in Hawaii?

Applications for HEAP are handled locally through agencies such as Honolulu Community Action Program (HCAP) on Oʻahu or Kōkua Kalihi Valley.

To apply for H-HEAP, contact the Hawaii LIHEAP Program Office to locate the Community Action Agency that serves your island.

Hawaii Department of Human Services
LIHEAP Program Office
(808) 586-5740

Is LIHWAP water bill assistance still available in Hawaii?

No. Hawaii’s Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) was a temporary program funded by the federal government, and that funding is no longer available. Households cannot currently receive LIHWAP benefits. If you need help with a water or wastewater bill, contact your water utility or dial 2-1-1 to ask about local assistance.

Hawaii Promise

Hawaii Promise is a last-dollar need-based scholarship program for eligible Hawaiʻi residents attending University of Hawaii (UH) Community Colleges.

For eligible students, Hawaiʻi Promise provides the “last dollar” to cover any remaining direct costs, like tuition, fees, books, and supplies, after other forms of financial aid are applied.

Scholarships are awarded if needed for any additional unmet costs and are based upon enrollment level, financial need, and other financial resources.

No separate application is required. Students are automatically considered for the Hawai‘i Promise when they submit their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Hawaii Earned Income Tax Credit (HI-EITC)

Hawaii EITC is a special tax credit for working families in Hawaii. It’s a simple idea that helps lower-income workers — especially single parents — keep more of what they earn.

The state’s EITC has been expanded from 20% of the federal EITC to 40%. This gives Hawaii one of the strongest state level EITCs in the nation.

For tax years beginning after December 31, 2022, the credit is fully refundable, meaning eligible filers can receive a refund for any amount of the credit that exceeds their income tax liability.

How much is Hawaii Earned Income Credit?

Can I get a refund if I owe no tax in Hawaii?

If your Hawaii EITC is $3,218 and you owe $2,000 in state income tax, the credit cancels your tax bill and you receive the remaining $1,218 as a refund as illustrated in the table below:

How do I claim the Hawaii EITC?

According to the Hawaii Department of Taxation, you claim the credit by completing Form N-356, Hawaii Earned Income Tax Credit, and filing it with your Hawaii resident income tax return (Form N-11).³

Hawaii Department of Taxation 
(808) 587-4242