Resources

CALL TO ACTION: Hawaiʻi’s Residents Need Electric Bill Forgiveness

Hawaiian Electric earned more in 2020 than any other year, despite thousands of unpaid bills. This shows that the utility can afford to forgive the bills, no questions asked.

The Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has extended the utility shutoff moratorium through May 31, 2021. It is important to note that this extension is for all utilities EXCEPT wireless telecommunication services.

The Sierra Club of Hawai’i is calling on residents to sign their petition calling on CEO of Hawaiian Electric Company, Mr. Scott Seu, to offer bill forgiveness. Sign the petition here.

COVID-19 Resources in Different Languages

COVID-19 Vaccine FAQ

Local 5 Statement re: COVID-19 vaccine

Free COVID testing

City & County of Honolulu – Free COVID-19 testing is offered to all Oahu residents through Saturday, September 4, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at Honolulu Airport

Free COVID-19 testing on neighbor islands – this news article lists all the free COVID-19 testing sites, as of August 5, 2021

COVID-19 Vaccine Providers and Clinics

Oahu vaccine clinics

CDC vaccine finder (nationwide)

Pacific Gateway Center FREE vaccine clinics in September 2021 – Flyers in English, Ilocano, Tagalog, Chuukese

Local 5’s COVID-19 Hardship Application

Hardship assistance for Hotel & Travel Industry Federal Credit Union Members: https://www.htifcu.com/coronavirus-update/

Financial counseling available to current Hotel and Travel Industry FCU members. If you want to become a credit union member you may open an account with $25. You can call the Credit Union, M-F from 8am-4pm (808) 942-5115 ext 230. They are working remotely so please leave a message and someone will get back to you.

The Emergency Broadband Benefit can help eligible households with internet bills and in some cases, buy laptops, desktops, and tablet computers.

Hawaii Unemployment Insurance Benefits estimate calculator

CDC eviction moratorium applies to all Hawaii counties, which expires on October 3, 2021

Resources for those who are facing eviction (Legal Aid Hawaii)

Rent, Mortgage, and Utility Relief Programs

• City & County of Honolulu Rent and Utility Relief Program – Applications are paused, but you can sign up for email notifications on their website for when the program reopens.
• Kaua‘i 2021 Coronavirus Rental and Utility Assistance Program – Applications are open
• Maui County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (MERA) – Applications are open
• Hawaii County Emergency Rental Assistance Program – Applications are open
• Department of Hawaiian Home Lands Rent Relief Program (DHHLRRP) – Applications are open for those on the DHHL Waiting List

Landlord/Tenant FAQ’s from Consumer Protection (3/30/20)

Templates for letters to landlords or lenders

• Hardship Letter Template to Landlords or Lenders
• Letter Template to Landlords for Rent Forgiveness
• Letter Template to Landlords for Rent Reduction

Have you lost your healthcare coverage or are about to lose it? Read this detailed PDF flyer we created with guidance on healthcare coverage.

COBRA Toolkit

Are you eligible for no-cost health insurance? (AlohaCare)

Lost Health Insurance due to COVID-19 (Hawaii Helps)

For Maui residents – assistance from Kokua Services Partnership with applying for healthcare

List of community partners for in-person assistance with applications for Medicaid or HealthCare.gov

Information on applying for Med-QUEST (State of Hawaii)

Hawai’i Food Bank – Emergency Food Assistance

SNAP Benefits Application (Download Fillable PDF)

The State Department of Human Services created these flyers with information on applying for food assistance (SNAP), Med-QUEST health insurance, and childcare subsidies:

• Oahu (PDF)
• Maui (PDF)
• Kauai (PDF)
• Hawaii Island (PDF)

50% discounts for SNAP cardholders at Times Super Market – Any persons receiving SNAP (Food Stamps/EBT) benefits are eligible to receive 50% of locally grown produce at participating grocery stores when they present DA BUX card. Most current SNAP holders should have automatically received a Double Up Food Bucks card in the mail sent by DHS. If you have not, please contact Latonya Smith at (808)201-3937 x 14.

If your child was getting free or reduced-price school lunch during the school year, you are eligible for food purchasing assistance. Read more here.

All domestic violence shelters in Hawaii are open as usual during COVID-19. Domestic violence victims are NOT required to stay at home during COVID-19 if home is unsafe.

See the list below of the domestic violence shelter hotlines for each island. You can also download these flyers to share with your loved ones or post on social media (Flyer 1, Flyer 2, Flyer 3):

• Oahu: 808-266-7233
• Hilo: 808-959-8864
• Kona: 808-322-7233
• Kauai: 808-245-6362
• Maui: 808-579-9581
• Lanai: 808-563-0216
• Molokai: 808-567-6888

Employee Assistance of the Pacific

24/7 hotlines:

• If you are experiencing an emergency or believe you are a danger to yourself and/or others, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room for immediate assistance.
• Crisis Text Line – text ALOHA to 741‐741
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1‐800‐273‐TALK (8255)
• Crisis Line of Hawai‛i – 832‐3100 on O‛ahu; 1‐800‐753‐6879 on neighbor islands

15-minute morning meditations: 6 AM live and recorded

Free yoga classes: Iyengar Yoga Honolulu, Open Space Yoga, CorePower Yoga

Stay Fit, Stay Healthy, Stay Happy

Mindfulness during Challenging Times

Five minutes of daily poetry on The Slowdown

Art therapy sessions creating daily connections

Compilation of streamed concerts

Free Things That Weren’t Free Before Coronavirus

Free audiobooks for children (multiple languages)

Free online virtual visit to 17 museums in Europe (in French)

Free online books from Cambridge Publishing until end of May

Online Broadway Musicals, all FREE

Live nature network with webcams around the world

Stream the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s performances for free

Over 3,000 free virtual museum tours

Federal Student Loan relief extended to at least September 30, 2021

Our Kupuna

Free Delivery Services for Kupuna, Quarantined Individuals and Families & Others In Need

Child Care Connection Hawaii – Subsidy for Child Care Services

Hawaii Statewide Essential Childcare

Direct Payments

Paid Leave Employees

Individual Tax Relief

In-person citizenship workshops are on hold at this time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you need citizenship assistance, please contact The Legal Clinic at (808) 737-3330.

The Legal Clinic – free immigration legal services to financially-eligible immigrants and COFA* citizens in Hawaii

Flyer on Citizenship Assistance (PDF)

Immigrant Eligibility for Public Programs During COVID-19

Available classes online through HARIETT

Kaiser Permanente Health Equity Scholarship Program ($5,000), 4/15/21