DHS ANNOUNCES SNAP REPLACEMENT BENEFITS FOR HOUSEHOLDS IMPACTED BY HURRICANE NOLO AND A SUBSEQUENT WILDFIRE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 2, 2026
HONOLULU — The Hawaiʻi Department of Human Services (DHS) is announcing that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households affected by Hurricane Nolo, as well as a subsequent wildfire, may apply for replacement SNAP benefits for food lost during these events.
Under standard federal rules, households have 10 days to report disaster‑related food loss. However, due to the extended power outages and wildfire-related impacts beginning September 25 and 26, respectively, the USDA Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA) has authorized DHS to accept timely reports of food loss through October 15, 2026.
This approved reporting window applies to SNAP households in Hawaiʻi County, Maui County and ZIP code 96731 (Kahuku) on Oʻahu, where hurricane‑related outages and wildfire impacts caused significant food spoilage and disruption.
The wildfire on Maui affected areas including Olowalu, Haʻikū and Upcountry, contributing to prolonged outages and making it more difficult for households to report food loss within the usual timeframe.
Replacement benefits cover the value of food purchased with SNAP, that was destroyed in a household misfortune, up to the household’s monthly benefit amount. Households requesting replacements must submit a signed statement including:
• Name of the SNAP participant
• Date of food loss
• Estimated value of food lost
• Brief description of what occurred
• Participant contact information
A sample statement is available on the DHS website, but applicants are not required to use it and may submit their own written statement instead.
Statements may be submitted to any DHS Processing Center statewide. A signature from the SNAP participant is required.
For more information, visit https://humanservices.hawaii.gov/ or call the Statewide Public Assistance Information Line at 1-855-643-1643.
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