NEWS RELEASE – DHS ANNOUNCES EXTENDED DEADLINE FOR SNAP RECIPIENTS REQUESTING REPLACEMENT BENEFITS AFTER TROPICAL CYCLONE LALA
STATE OF HAWAIʻI
KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI
JOSH GREEN, M.D.
GOVERNOR
KE KIAʻĀINA
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
KA ʻOIHANA MĀLAMA LAWELAWE KANAKA
JOSEPH CAMPOS II
DIRECTOR
KA LUNA HOʻOKELE
TRISTA SPEER
DEPUTY DIRECTOR
KA HOPE LUNA HOʻOKELE
LORI-LEI APONTE
DEPUTY DIRECTOR
KA HOPE LUNA HOʻOKELE
DHS ANNOUNCES EXTENDED DEADLINE FOR SNAP RECIPIENTS REQUESTING REPLACEMENT BENEFITS AFTER TROPICAL CYCLONE LALA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 20, 2026
HONOLULU — The Hawaiʻi Department of Human Services (DHS) is announcing an important update for current Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients who experienced food loss due to severe weather impacts from Tropical Cyclone Lala, including prolonged power outages, flooding and other household misfortunes.
Following DHS’s request submitted on August 17, 2026, the Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA) has approved a statewide waiver extending the deadline for households to report food loss and request replacement SNAP benefits. The waiver allows DHS more time to provide replacement benefits for impacted households throughout the state. The total SNAP caseload for Hawaiʻi currently sits at 84,889 households.
Under normal federal SNAP rules, households must report food loss within 10 days of the incident. The approved waiver extends this reporting period through September 3, 2026, giving families an additional 20 days after the disaster date to submit their signed, written statements. Reports made by September 3, 2026, will be considered timely.
Governor Josh Green emphasized that this extension is critical for communities still recovering from widespread outages and access challenges. “We know many SNAP households have faced significant hardship because of Tropical Cyclone Lala, including difficulties reaching county offices due to transportation barriers, damaged roadways and communication outages. This extended deadline ensures families have more time to request the replacement benefits they need.”
DHS Director Joseph Campos II added: “Our priority is ensuring that families across Hawaiʻi have access to essential resources as they rebuild. This waiver supports those efforts by giving households more flexibility to replace food lost during severe weather and prolonged power outages.”
How to Apply for SNAP Replacement Benefits
SNAP recipients statewide may apply for replacement benefits by submitting a signed, written statement that includes:
• The name of the SNAP participant
• Date of food loss (specific date required)
• Estimated value of food lost (specific dollar amount required)
• Description of what occurred
• Participant contact information
A sample statement is available on the DHS website, but households may submit their own written statement. Statements may be submitted to any DHS Processing Center statewide. Approved applicants will receive replacement benefits after validation.
A signed written statement is required. Another person may deliver or submit the statement on behalf of the SNAP recipient; however, the recipient must sign the statement and include their contact information so Eligibility Workers can verify the information directly if needed. If a statement is submitted without the recipient’s signature, DHS will need to contact the individual to obtain the required signature before processing the request.
Due to statewide impacts affecting communication lines, transportation routes and cellular networks — which continue to cause delays for many — the Kaʻū–Nāʻālehu and Kohala DHS offices on Hawaiʻi Island will remain closed until further notice. SNAP households should not mail or deliver documents to these locations at this time. Instead, participants should submit statements to any other DHS Processing Center statewide.
For more information, participants are encouraged to visit the DHS website or call the Statewide Public Assistance Information Line at 1-855-643-1643.
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