Funding

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Funding Resources

Overview

The County of Hawaiʻi has secured funding sources and is pursuing additional resources to help communities recover from the 2018 Kīlauea eruption. Funding resources will be implemented strategically alongside the recovery Planning Process to meet recovery goals and objectives.

At a Glance

In total, Hawaiʻi County could receive nearly $300 million in State and Federal funding to support the 2018 Kīlauea eruption response and recovery.
Many funding sources remain pending.
Funds are used to replace public infrastructure, address housing needs, restore economic well-being and to craft and implement the Kilauea Recovery and Resilience Plan.
Funding sources are subject to unique uses, regulations, guidelines and time constraints.

Funding Uses

Infrastructure

Sources

Federal Emergency Management Agency

75% of damage assessment

Funds provided on reimbursement basis

$61.5 million for roads
$30 million for water infrastructure
$3.6 million for parks and recreation

State Loans

25% of damage assessment (local match)

$20.5 million for roads
$10 million for water infrastructure
$1.3 million for parks and recreation

Federal Highway Administration

$5.75 million for Highway 132 restoration

County Grants

$595,708 awarded for private road repairs/access through Kīlauea Recovery Grant Program. Funds sourced from State assistance.

Private Donations

$100,000 awarded to support private access to isolated homes and farms.

Housing, Economic & Social Support

Sources

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

$107.56 million awarded through two grants
Funds supporting Voluntary Housing Buyout Program and Housing Relocation Services

County Grants

Puna Strong

$380,000 awarded to 26 nonprofit organizations and partnerships leading community-driven projects. Funding for Puna Strong is sourced from the County's Kīlauea recovery funds and HCF’s Hawai‘i Island Volcano Recovery Fund.

Kīlauea Recovery Grant Program

$3.7 million awarded through Kīlauea Recovery Grant Program to serve disaster relief, recovery, mitigation or remediation assistance for physical damages or losses suffered by the 2018 Kīlauea eruption.

U.S. Economic Development Agency

$2.25 million to explore wastewater solutions for Puna town centers.
$250,000 to support creation of the Economic Recovery Plan.

U.S. Department of Agriculture

$225,000 Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge Grant.

Expected Funding Sources

Some funds are expected but not received. For example, grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for infrastructure are provided on a reimbursement basis.

Funding table 2022

Note: $40 million allocation from State Legislature was authorized as a loan to match Federal grants.

Recovery Fact Sheet

The below fact sheet provides a snapshot of how funds are being invested to support road access, the economy, and housing needs as of August 2021. Check out the following links to learn more about funding sources and how they are being used.

Road Access

Water Infrastructure

Parks Projects

Recovery Grants

Voluntary Housing Buyout Program

Case Management

Charitable organizations also have been providing direct assistance to those affected by the eruption through the Case Management program. The County awarded the Case Management contract, funded by a FEMA grant, to Neighborhood Place of Puna in September 2019. Their role was to connect residents with resources that can help them.

As of February 2021, $835,088 in assistance was provided through this program to 109 households, primarily from local nonprofit organizations. Clients were accepted until May 31, 2020. The program closed in February 2021.