Program to Provide Emergency Aid to Low-Income Native Hawaiians

Photo by Wendy Osher.

The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) recently launched its new Kahiau Community Assistance Program, a statewide grant to provide emergency financial assistance to low-income Native Hawaiians.

Through a one-time emergency financial assistance of up to $2000, the Kahiau Community Assistance Program (KCAP) provide stability for Native Hawaiians facing hardship due to unexpected crises or emergency situations.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs awarded a $1.66-million grant to the program.

“Our Native Hawaiian community lives paycheck to paycheck, and when an emergency happens they are left without support at the time that they need it most,” CNHA president Kūhiō Lewis said in a press release.

“This is why programs like Kahiau are so important, because it gives aid directly to the people who need it.”

KCAP aims to assist Native Hawaiian beneficiaries whose incomes are at or below 300 percent of the Hawaiʻi Federal Poverty Guidelines. This program will address unexpected crises that impact Native Hawaiians such as loss of income, loss of employment by layoff, debilitating illness or injury or other unanticipated circumstances. With KCAP, direct financial assistance will be provided to qualified individuals and families with emergency funding to stabilize their situation.

KCAP also support recipients’ economic well-being by providing financial literacy counseling, case management services and referrals to other service providers to help Native Hawaiians get on a path to long-term financial stability.

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