Kona disaster loan center opens in Kailua-Kona for storm victims

Kailua-Kona now has a new place to seek storm aid as the U.S. Small Business Administration opened a Disaster Loan Outreach Center at Hanama Place, 75-5706 Kuakini Highway, Suite 101, on April 29. The center is helping Big Island businesses, private nonprofits, homeowners and renters apply for disaster loans and answer questions tied to the March 10-24 Kona Low damage.

The Kailua-Kona center is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and walk-ins are welcome. Residents can also schedule in-person appointments in advance. In Hilo, the Business Recovery Center remains open at the Hawaii County Office of Aging Conference Room, 1055 Kinoole St., Suite 101, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The SBA says its disaster assistance applies to losses from severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides. Businesses and private nonprofits may borrow up to $2 million for physical disaster damage. Homeowners may borrow up to $500,000 to repair or replace a primary residence, and homeowners and renters may borrow up to $100,000 for personal property losses.

County Civil Defense has been pushing the same message across Hawaii Island since April 24, with outreach stops planned in Nā‘ālehu, Pāhala, Hilo, Puna, North Kona, South Kona and South Kohala. Mayor Kimo Alameda said the application window is only open for a few weeks and the county wants to make sure eligible people get help. Civil Defense administrator Talmadge Magno said the programs can be confusing because they require specific documentation of losses, making records, photos, insurance papers and repair estimates especially important.

The deadlines are close. FEMA individual assistance registration is due June 14, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. SBA physical-damage loan applications are due June 10, 2026, and SBA economic injury loan applications are due January 7, 2027. Hawaii Emergency Management Agency says the Kona Low incident period ran from March 10 through March 24, and statewide recovery help is also available through 2-1-1.

The storm brought flooding, landslides, mudslides, road closures, power outages and rescues across the island. Hawaii Public Radio reported more than 230 rescues, county officials estimated at least $30 million in damage to county government assets and response costs, and one April estimate put Hawaii Island storm damage above $59 million. Konawaena High School was badly flooded and shifted to distance learning for the rest of the school year, underscoring how wide the damage spread beyond homes and businesses. Civil Defense is also asking residents and businesses to report residential, commercial and agricultural damage so officials and nonprofit partners can better measure the disaster and connect people with aid.