OHA opens $10,000 repair grants for Big Island storm damage

Native Hawaiian homeowners on the Big Island with storm damage that did not knock their houses out of commission got a new source of help Friday as the Office of Hawaiian Affairs opened the Mālama Honua Disaster Fund.

The fund offers a limited number of $10,000 repair grants for principal homes still safe to live in but scarred by flooding, water intrusion or other March 2026 kona low damage. OHA said the money is meant for cleanup and non-structural repairs, the kind of work that can keep a small leak or soaked wall from turning into mold, rot or more expensive rebuilding later.

To qualify, applicants must be Native Hawaiian and verified through the OHA Hawaiian Registry Program. They must own and occupy the damaged home as their principal residence and live in one of the OHA-identified highly impacted communities. Homeowners also need to show proof of damage and repair costs, including quotes, invoices, photos and a current W-9.

The grant is separate from OHA’s March 2026 Kona Low General Disaster Assistance Program, which is being administered through Hawaiian Council and is aimed at a broader group of households. OHA previously activated about $3.96 million in disaster aid for Native Hawaiian households and communities affected by the floods and rains, including up to $15,000 for eligible homeowners, up to $7,500 for renters and an earlier $250,000 set aside for Mālama Honua home repair grants.

The need remained plain across Hawaii Island after the storm system that ran from March 10 to March 24. Federal disaster records list an April 7 declaration date for the Hawaii Kona Low Weather Systems disaster, and National Weather Service summaries said the system brought flooding, landslides, power outages, road closures and roof or structural damage. Wind gusts reached 60 to 75 mph, with higher gusts above 100 mph on Puu Waawaa and Mauna Kea Summit.

Local reports said more than 230 people had to be rescued during the flooding, hundreds of homes were damaged and some schools and a hospital were affected. The County of Hawaii’s March 12 emergency proclamation remained in effect, a sign that the island was still dealing with saturated ground and ongoing recovery needs well after the worst weather passed.

OHA Board of Trustees Chair Kai Kahele said the fund reflects the agency’s commitment to helping Native Hawaiian families recover from the storms and easing the financial burden many households still face months later. For homeowners in Puna, Kona and other hard-hit parts of Hawaii Island, the new fund fills a narrow but urgent gap: help for houses that were damaged enough to need repairs, but not damaged enough to fit the bigger disaster-aid categories.