STATE OF HAWAII
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
BENEFIT, EMPLOYMENT AND SUPPORT SERVICES DIVISION
PUBLIC NOTICE
Pursuant to sections 91-3(b) and 91-4(b)(2), Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), notice is hereby given that the Department of Human Services (DHS) has adopted emergency rules chapter 17-803.6 relating to the Maui Relief Program (MRP) for Wildfire Disaster Survivors.
The emergency rules were adopted on December 5, 2025, and shall be in effect for 120 days pursuant to section 91-3(b), HRS. The emergency rules as adopted are as follows:
CHAPTER 17-803.6 MAUI RELIEF PROGRAM (MRP) FOR WILDFIRE DISASTER SURVIVORS
The proposed new chapter re-establishes the NRST benefits and renames the program to the Maui Relief Program (MRP). In addition, the new chapter expands the target population to include adult-only households, which the previous chapter did not include.
The MRP addresses the specific crisis situation and episode of need for families with dependent children and adult-only households who were directly affected by the 2023 Maui wildfire disaster. The benefits are not intended to meet a household’s recurring needs and will not extend beyond four months. The benefits include costs for short- and long-term housing, transportation, utility sources, clothing, and school supplies. The chapter defines the eligibility criteria that households must meet to receive these benefits; disposition of applications received from households; due process if a household disputes a determination or benefit amount; and the repayment process if benefits were overpaid to households.
1. §17-803.6-1, Purpose. This section states the purpose of the chapter, the effective date of the rules, and identifies the funding sources for benefits paid to families with dependent children and adult-only households.
2. §17-803.6-2, Definitions. This section provides definitions to the following terms which are referenced within the chapter:
A. Adult
B. Applicant
C. Automobile
D. Department or DHS
E. Department’s designee
F. Dependent child
G. Disaster assistance organization
H. Excluded individual
I. Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA
J. Fraud
K. Household
L. Household member
M. Long-term housing
N. Maui Relief Program benefits or MRP benefits
O. Non-federal funds
P. Primary residence
Q. School-aged
R. Specified relative
S. Short-term housing
T. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or TANF
3. §17-803.6-3, General requirements. This section specifies the general requirements that must be met to receive an MRP benefit which includes the experienced property loss or damage or reduction in earnings or employment loss as the direct result of the wildfire emergency; household members are residents of the state; citizenship or qualified immigration status is met; and the household’s gross income does not exceed the established threshold. The section also states that MRP benefits cannot duplicate other disaster relief efforts that a household received from government or disaster assistance organizations.
4. §17-803.6-4, Application processing requirements. This section outlines the application requirements; describes the ineligibility criteria when an MRP benefit was already received or may be a duplication of other assistance; and outlines the requirements for an application disposition and the timeline in which a determination is to be made.
5. §17-803.6-5, MRP benefits. This section lists the types of MRP benefits available and their maximum amounts; provisions to which the benefits may be received; how benefits are calculated if an eligible household shares an expense with an excluded individual; and how the benefit payments may be issued to an eligible household.
6. §17-803.6-6, Disposition of application. This section defines the date of eligibility; describes when adjustments are made for duplication of MRP benefits or ineligibility; establishes the timeline when a benefit payment is issued following eligibility determination; and describes the notification requirements when an application disposition is made.
7. §17-803.6-7, Application determination dispute. This section describes the requirements when an applicant disputes a determination of ineligibility or an MRP benefit amount and requests a departmental review.
8. §17-803.6-8, Review process and decision. This section describes the departmental review process including the method(s) in which the review may be conducted and the timeframe the departmental review will be processed.
9. §17-803.6-9, Overpayment and fraud. This section describes the reasons for overpayments; notification to the household when an overpayment claim is made; how repayment to the State is made including collection via tax setoff; and penalties under federal and state laws if an applicant or household commit fraud.
10. §17-803.6-10, Termination, denial, or reduction for insufficient funds. This section outlines the options available to the department if there are insufficient funds to continue the MRP benefits described in the chapter.
A copy of the emergency rules will be mailed at NO COST to any interested person by requesting a copy by calling (808) 586-0975 or by writing to:
Department of Human Services
Benefit, Employment and Support Services Division
Attention: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program Office
1010 Richards Street, Room 512
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
The emergency rules are available for public viewing at the following website:
https://humanservices.hawaii.gov/admin-rules-2/admin-rules-for-programs/
Upon request, this notice is available in alternate formats such as large print, Braille, or electronic copy.
RYAN I. YAMANE
DIRECTOR
(TGI1515211 1/07/26)
