Grandparents Raising Grandchildren in Hawaii: Kinship Care, TANF, and Support

Written & Reviewed by

Analic Mata-Murray

Analic Mata-Murray

Managing Editor

Yolanda Taylor

Yolanda Taylor

Senior Healthcare Editor

Last updated: 7 April 2026

Bottom Line: Hawaiʻi does not appear to publish a separate statewide monthly kinship-only cash benefit for grandparents who privately take in a child. In real life, most older caregivers in Hawaiʻi piece together help through child-only TANF or TAONF cash assistance, SNAP food benefits, Med-QUEST health coverage, school enrollment tools, and family court guardianship. If the child is under Department of Human Services Child Welfare Services placement responsibility, the rules are different and a grandparent may be able to get foster or kinship-related payments, health coverage, clothing help, and respite.

Emergency help now

  • If the child is unsafe, abandoned, or you suspect abuse or neglect, call Child Welfare Services right now at 808-832-5300 on Oʻahu or 1-888-380-3088 from neighbor islands.
  • If you need food or cash fast, use Hawaiʻi’s PAIS benefits portal or call the DHS Public Assistance Information Line at 1-855-643-1643. If that line is failing, DHS says you can also try 808-201-6193.
  • If you are about to lose housing or utilities, call the Hawaiʻi Relief Program contractor for your island: 808-521-4357 for Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, and Hawaiʻi Island through Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi, or 808-243-4357 for Maui, Molokaʻi, and Lānaʻi through Maui Economic Opportunity.

Quick help box

Best first steps after a grandparent takes in a child

Start by finding out whether this is private family care or a formal DHS case. That one fact changes almost everything in Hawaiʻi. Private family care usually points you to child-only TANF, SNAP, Med-QUEST, school enrollment tools, and family court. A formal DHS kinship or relative placement can open the door to resource caregiver payments, Med-QUEST coverage for the child, clothing help, mileage, respite, and later permanency assistance.

Do not wait for the paperwork to “settle down.” In Hawaiʻi, older caregivers often lose weeks because the school wants one document, DHS wants another, and the doctor’s office wants proof of authority. Apply for the benefits first, then fix missing proof as fast as you can.

  • Make the child safe: if the parent left the child in danger, call Child Welfare Services.
  • Gather basic proof: your ID, the child’s name and date of birth, any school records, health cards, court papers, and proof the child now lives with you.
  • Ask for the right kind of case: if you do not need help for yourself, say clearly, “I want a child-only TANF or TAONF case as a non-needy caregiver.”
  • Protect school and health access: ask the school registrar what it needs right now and whether a caregiver affidavit or court paper is required.
  • Keep a call log: write down every worker’s name, date, phone number, and deadline.

Quick facts for Hawaiʻi grandparents raising grandchildren

  • Best immediate takeaway: a child-only TANF or TAONF case can help the child even when the grandparent gets Social Security or a pension, if the grandparent is treated as a non-needy caregiver.
  • Major rule: private kinship care and formal DHS kinship or foster care are not the same thing in Hawaiʻi.
  • Realistic obstacle: many caregivers get delayed because the case is coded as a full household instead of a child-only case.
  • Useful Hawaiʻi fact: Hawaiʻi’s TANF rules recognize many extended relatives and can also recognize a hānai parent in some cases if the relationship can be verified in a way DHS accepts.
  • Best next step: apply for benefits the same week the child moves in and ask every office what proof is still missing.

What this help actually looks like in Hawaiʻi

The main action item is to use the right doorway. Hawaiʻi does not offer one simple public “grandparents raising grandchildren” office. Help is split across DHS cash assistance, Child Welfare Services, Med-QUEST, the public school enrollment system, and the family courts. Island location matters too. Housing crisis help is split between Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi on Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, and Hawaiʻi Island, and Maui Economic Opportunity on Maui, Molokaʻi, and Lānaʻi.

Hawaiʻi also has a strong relative-care culture, but the paperwork still matters. State TANF rules use the term specified relative and include grandparents, great-grandparents, many other relatives, and in some cases a hānai parent. That is helpful. But DHS still wants proof of the relationship and proof that the child lives with you. Cultural family care alone does not automatically create school authority, medical consent, or foster payments.

Who qualifies in plain language

You may qualify for help in Hawaiʻi if all or most of these are true:

  • You are a grandparent, great-grandparent, aunt, uncle, adult sibling, another qualifying relative, or a caregiver whose relationship may fit Hawaiʻi’s specified relative rules.
  • The child lives with you and you are the person providing day-to-day care.
  • The child is under 18, or under 19 and still a full-time secondary school student for TANF purposes.
  • You want help for the child, even if you do not want or need cash for yourself.
  • You can show some proof of identity, relationship, and Hawaiʻi residence, even if you are still trying to replace missing papers.
Legal custody vs kinship care vs informal caregiving in Hawaiʻi
Care arrangement Who is in charge? Main help that may be available Big limitation
Informal private caregiving Family handles care without a court order Child-only TANF or TAONF, SNAP, Med-QUEST, school tools, housing help No foster board payment just because the child moved in
Caregiver consent affidavit Caregiver has limited authority for school and some medical decisions Can help with enrollment and basic access while you sort out court papers It is not the same as legal custody or guardianship
Family court guardianship or custody The court gives you legal authority Stronger authority for school, medical care, and many agencies Usually no foster payment unless the child is also in a DHS case
Formal DHS kinship or resource caregiver placement DHS and the court keep placement responsibility Possible foster board payment, Med-QUEST, clothing help, respite, and later permanency assistance More oversight, licensing steps, and ongoing case requirements

Financial help for grandparents raising grandchildren

Child-only TANF for grandparents raising grandchildren

  • What it is: Hawaiʻi’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Temporary Assistance for Other Needy Families (TAONF) can be set up as a child-only case when the grandparent is not asking for cash for themselves. Hawaiʻi’s latest certified TANF plan says child-only households do not use up the TANF time limit.
  • Who can get it or use it: A specified relative living with the child. The Hawaiʻi TANF state plan says a specified relative who does not need assistance may be excluded from the household for benefit calculation. If citizenship rules block TANF, ask DHS to screen for TAONF, Hawaiʻi’s state-funded mirror program.
  • How it helps: This is the most important cash path for many older caregivers because the grandparent’s own Social Security or pension usually should not be used to deny a true child-only case. It can also help open the door to school meal benefits and other child-centered support.
  • How to apply or use it: Apply through PAIS, use the paper DHS 1240 application from the TANF page, or call 1-855-643-1643. Say the exact words: “I want to apply as a non-needy caretaker for child-only TANF or TAONF.”
  • What to gather or know first: Your ID, proof the child lives with you, proof of your relationship to the child, the child’s Social Security number if available, and any court, school, or medical papers you already have. If the child is hānai, bring every document you have that helps prove the caregiving relationship.

Important: Hawaiʻi’s public DHS maximum benefit table is not labeled “child-only.” But because a child-only case usually has no work-eligible adult in the assistance unit, the public March 2025 DHS table for non-work or other eligible TANF/TAONF households is often the closest public guide. Ask DHS to confirm your exact amount in writing.

Public Hawaiʻi TANF/TAONF maximum monthly amounts often used as the closest guide for child-only cases
Eligible children in the assistance unit Public DHS maximum monthly amount
1 $582
2 $784
3 $985
4 $1,187

Kinship care payments and kinship navigator help in Hawaii

  • What it is: Hawaiʻi uses Child Welfare Services for formal kinship placements. Public information for informal kinship families is still scattered, not one simple statewide grandparent portal. DHS’s 2026 Annual Progress and Services Report says the state uses Kinship Navigator funding to support ʻOhana Navigator services through Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi.
  • Who can get it or use it: Families already connected to Child Welfare Services, especially relatives caring for a child placed through DHS.
  • How it helps: It can mean better case navigation, referrals, training, support, and a clearer path to resource caregiver approval, guardianship, or permanency planning.
  • How to apply or use it: If the child is already in a DHS case, ask your social worker directly what kinship or ʻohana navigator support is available. If you are trying to become a formal relative caregiver, start with the resource caregiver portal and the foster and adoptive care page.
  • What to gather or know first: Ask for the child’s exact legal status in writing. You need to know whether DHS still has placement responsibility, because that decides whether kinship payments or permanency assistance are even possible.

Guardianship assistance for older caregivers

  • What it is: There are really two very different paths. One is a private family court guardianship. The other is permanency assistance tied to a DHS case when a child under DHS placement responsibility moves to legal guardianship.
  • Who can get it or use it: Older caregivers who need durable authority to care for the child. Permanency assistance usually matters only when the child is already in the child welfare system.
  • How it helps: A court guardianship can solve repeated school and medical consent problems. A DHS permanency assistance case may also include cash support and medical coverage, but only if DHS approves it under its child welfare rules.
  • How to apply or use it: Use the Hawaiʻi family courts page to find the right court for your island. If the child is in a DHS case, ask about permanency assistance before the guardianship hearing. Families can lose payment options when they finalize the wrong order first.
  • What to gather or know first: Birth certificates, any parent consent or notice information, proof the child lives with you, and a simple timeline showing why the parent cannot safely care for the child now.

Can grandparents get foster care payments?

  • What it is: Yes, but only in the right kind of case. If DHS formally places the child with you and approves you as a resource caregiver, you may be eligible for foster board payments and related support.
  • Who can get it or use it: Relative caregivers caring for a child under DHS placement responsibility through a formal kinship or foster arrangement.
  • How it helps: The last public DHS rate notice I could verify on the state site lists basic board payments of $575 for ages 0 to 5, $650 for ages 6 to 11, and $676 for ages 12 and up. DHS also said that relative or resource caregivers may receive clothing help, transportation help, activity support, Med-QUEST coverage for the child, and possible difficulty-of-care payments. Because the public site does not show a newer simple rate sheet, ask DHS for the current written rate.
  • How to apply or use it: Ask the child’s social worker whether this is a formal placement and whether your home needs approval through Hawaiʻi’s resource caregiver process. If the child came to you privately and DHS never took placement responsibility, foster board payments usually do not apply.
  • What to gather or know first: A list of everyone in your home, ID for adults, space and safety information about the home, and any paperwork showing DHS involvement.

School enrollment and medical consent issues

  • What it is: Hawaiʻi public schools require enrollment papers, proof of residence, and proof of the child’s identity. The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education enrollment FAQs say schools ask for the Student Enrollment Form, Home Language Survey, a valid photo ID for the adult enrolling the child, and proof of residency. The school may accept a notarized statement by a relative or friend for residency in some situations.
  • Who can get it or use it: Grandparents and other caregivers who need to enroll a child or handle school paperwork when custody is still unclear.
  • How it helps: Hawaiʻi’s caregiver consent affidavit can help with school enrollment and school-related medical care, and for some qualified relatives it can also help with broader medical consent. It is useful when the care situation changed fast and you do not yet have guardianship papers.
  • How to apply or use it: Start with the official enrollment FAQ page. If you cannot upload documents, the state’s online registration instructions tell families to take their documents to the local school for help. If the school or doctor asks for more than you have, ask whether a caregiver affidavit will work while you pursue court guardianship.
  • What to gather or know first: Your photo ID, proof the child lives with you, the child’s birth certificate or passport if available, school records, and any affidavit or court order you already have. Call the registrar before you go, because schools may handle caregiver papers a little differently.

Medicaid and health insurance for grandchildren in a grandparent’s care

  • What it is: Hawaiʻi’s Medicaid program is run by the Med-QUEST Division. The state says Hawaiʻi’s Children’s Health Insurance Program is folded into Medicaid, not a separate child-only program.
  • Who can get it or use it: Many low-income children under 19 can qualify. Hawaiʻi’s Medicaid programs page also says children under 21 who receive foster care, kinship guardianship, or adoption assistance can qualify, and for those children there is no income limit under the children’s group rule.
  • How it helps: It gives the child health coverage, plan access, prescriptions, and mental health care. If the child is already in foster care or kinship guardianship assistance, coverage may be easier to keep than in a private family arrangement.
  • How to apply or use it: Start on the Med-QUEST get-started page. If you need to speak for the child, use the authorized representative form. For free language help, Med-QUEST says to call 1-800-316-8005 with TTY 711.
  • What to gather or know first: The child’s full name, date of birth, address, any existing insurance card, and any foster, guardianship, or court papers. If the child already has coverage, ask what plan the child is on and update the address right away.

Food help and child benefits for kinship families

  • What it is: Hawaiʻi runs SNAP through DHS. The PAIS portal also says that if any household member receives SNAP or TANF, all children in that household are eligible for free school meals if the school participates in the USDA meal program.
  • Who can get it or use it: Low-income grandparents and kinship families buying and preparing food together, including child-only TANF households.
  • How it helps: It helps with groceries on EBT and can make school meals easier once the school updates its records.
  • How to apply or use it: Apply through PAIS or the DHS SNAP page. After approval, tell the school office and ask how quickly the meal record can be updated. I could not verify final 2026 Hawaiʻi SUN Bucks details on the state site as of 7 April 2026, so check the DHS summer food page each spring for the latest year’s rules.
  • What to gather or know first: ID, address, rent and utility costs, and income proof. If your child-only TANF case is pending, ask whether DHS can still review SNAP without waiting on every TANF issue.

Housing help for seniors raising grandchildren

  • What it is: Hawaiʻi’s strongest state-specific housing path for families with dependent children right now is the Hawaiʻi Relief Program. The state defines a family broadly enough to include a grandparent or other adult specified relative living with a dependent child under 18.
  • Who can get it or use it: Grandparents and kinship families in financial crisis or an episode of need, including people facing eviction, utility shutoff, or homelessness. Your island matters because Hawaiʻi uses different contractors by region.
  • How it helps: The state’s FAQ says eligible families may get a one-time housing deposit up to $6,000, housing payments up to $6,000 for up to four months, utility deposits up to $3,000 for each utility source, and utility payments up to $2,000 for up to four months. Payments go to the landlord, mortgage holder, or utility company, not straight to the family.
  • How to apply or use it: On Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, and Hawaiʻi Island, use Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi at 808-521-4357. On Maui, Molokaʻi, and Lānaʻi, use Maui Economic Opportunity at 808-243-4357. The state says electronic and hard-copy applications are accepted, and processing may take up to 30 calendar days. Missing documents usually must be turned in within 10 calendar days.
  • What to gather or know first: ID, proof of Hawaiʻi residence, citizenship or immigration proof, income proof, rent or mortgage papers, utility account information, and any eviction or shutoff notice. A landlord may need to provide a W-9 and a Hawaiʻi General Excise Tax license, which is a common source of delay.

Child care help if you still work or are in training

  • What it is: Child Care Connection Hawaiʻi can help pay for child care. The state says the subsidy can cover legal child care settings, including care in the child’s home, care by relatives or friends in their home, before- and after-school programs, and preschools.
  • Who can get it or use it: Financially needy families who work or are in training, including grandparent caregivers.
  • How it helps: This can be critical for younger grandparents who still work, or older caregivers who take part-time work after a child moves in.
  • How to apply or use it: Use the child care subsidy application page or call 1-855-643-1643. Hawaiʻi says applications are accepted statewide year-round.
  • What to gather or know first: Work or training proof and the child care provider’s details. Even relative and friend providers need required background checks before DHS will pay the subsidy.

Support groups and respite help for older caregivers

  • What it is: Support in Hawaiʻi is real, but it is scattered. The easiest verified statewide options are the resource caregiver warm line, Aloha United Way 211, The Parent Line, and community legal and family support groups.
  • Who can get it or use it: Formal resource caregivers, kinship families, and grandparents under stress who need coaching, referrals, or a break.
  • How it helps: The resource caregiver warm line is open 7 days a week, 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. at 808-545-1130 on Oʻahu and 1-866-545-0882 for neighbor islands. Formal resource caregivers may also be able to access respite through the child’s social worker.
  • How to apply or use it: Call the warm line, use 211, or contact Family Programs Hawaiʻi at 808-521-9531 for family support connections. If legal stress is the main problem, use Volunteer Legal Services Hawaiʻi or Legal Aid Society of Hawaiʻi.
  • What to gather or know first: Your island, the child’s age, whether DHS is involved, and a short list of what is going wrong right now: money, school, medical consent, behavior, housing, or court.

How grandparents can apply for benefits in this state without wasting time

  • Figure out the child’s legal status first. Ask: Is this private family care, or is the child under DHS placement responsibility?
  • Use one benefits push, not five separate delays. Start with PAIS for child-only TANF or TAONF and SNAP, then move to Med-QUEST, school enrollment, and housing help.
  • Say “child-only” out loud. Do not assume the worker will guess what you mean. Ask if you are being treated as a non-needy caregiver.
  • Keep paper copies even if you upload online. Older caregivers in Hawaiʻi often deal with upload failures, mail delays, or missing notices.
  • Ask every office for the exact missing document and deadline. If you just hear “more proof is needed,” you will lose time.
  • Use phone and walk-in help if online systems are too hard. DHS, schools, legal aid, and housing contractors all still offer phone-based or in-person help.

What documents grandparents need

  • ☐ Your photo ID
  • ☐ Proof the child lives with you, such as mail, school papers, lease papers, or another residence document
  • ☐ Proof of relationship, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, guardianship papers, divorce papers, or other records DHS will accept
  • ☐ The child’s birth certificate, Social Security number, and health insurance card, if available
  • ☐ Any court order, DHS letter, police report, or safety plan
  • ☐ Income proof for the child and, if requested, the household
  • ☐ Rent, mortgage, utility bills, and any shutoff or eviction notice if you need housing help
  • ☐ School and medical records, including immunization records if you have them
  • ☐ A notebook or folder with worker names, dates, case numbers, and deadlines

Reality checks

  • Case coding matters: if DHS counts you in the cash case when you only wanted help for the child, your Social Security or pension may get counted the wrong way.
  • Informal care rarely gets foster money: taking in your grandchild privately does not by itself create a foster or resource caregiver payment.
  • Portal problems are real: save screenshots, confirmation pages, fax receipts, and copies of everything you submit.
  • Doctors and schools may not treat the same paper the same way: a form that works for one office may not satisfy another, which is why guardianship is often worth considering when care will last.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Waiting to apply because you think the parent may come back next week.
  • Asking for “TANF” without saying you want a child-only case.
  • Assuming school paperwork gives you full legal custody.
  • Forgetting to ask whether TAONF fits a mixed-status family.
  • Letting a housing crisis grow while you wait for another benefit to start.

Best options by need

What to do if denied, delayed, or blocked

  • Read the notice line by line. The denial reason is often fixable if it is really about relationship proof, residency, or missing documents.
  • Call back and ask specific questions. Ask: “Is my case child-only or full household?” “What exact proof is missing?” “What deadline is on my case?” “Can you read the note in the system to me?”
  • Submit missing proof fast and keep proof of submission. If you upload, save the confirmation page. If you fax, save the fax receipt. If you drop papers off, ask for a stamped copy.
  • Use appeal rights if the decision is wrong. DHS pages for Child Welfare Services and the department’s administrative rules page both point families to hearing and appeal options. Follow the deadline on your notice.
  • Get backup legal help. Call Legal Aid at 808-536-4302 on Oʻahu or 1-800-499-4302 from neighbor islands, or call Volunteer Legal Services Hawaiʻi.

Plan B / backup options

  • If child-only TANF is delayed, keep the SNAP, Med-QUEST, and school enrollment pieces moving.
  • If the school or doctor will not accept your papers, move faster on guardianship instead of repeating the same argument at every office.
  • If you cannot manage the child’s health paperwork yourself, use the Med-QUEST authorized representative form so an adult child or trusted helper can assist you.
  • If you feel overwhelmed, call 211, the Parent Line, or the resource caregiver warm line to get unstuck.

Local resources in Hawaiʻi

Diverse communities in Hawaiʻi

Immigrant, mixed-status, and COFA families

If citizenship rules become a problem, do not stop at a TANF denial. Ask DHS to screen the child for TAONF, Hawaiʻi’s state-funded mirror program. The Hawaiʻi Relief Program FAQ also specifically includes lawfully residing COFA citizens in its eligibility language. For health coverage, use the Med-QUEST language line at 1-800-316-8005.

Rural seniors with limited access

Neighbor island caregivers should expect more split systems. Child Welfare Services offices exist on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, Kauaʻi, Maui, Molokaʻi, and Lānaʻi, but housing help is split by contractor, and some legal help depends on island intake lines. If online applications are too hard, use phone and paper options, and ask the local school, DHS office, or legal clinic to help you upload or copy documents.

Seniors with disabilities

If you cannot manage the child’s benefits by yourself, use the authorized representative form for Med-QUEST and bring a helper to school, court, or DHS. The Med-QUEST interpreter line works with TTY 711, and DHS child welfare pages say families can request bilingual or sign interpreter services.

Frequently asked questions

Does Hawaiʻi have a separate monthly kinship payment for grandparents outside foster care?

Not that the state publicly presents as a simple, stand-alone grandparent benefit. In most private family situations, older caregivers in Hawaiʻi use child-only TANF or TAONF, SNAP, Med-QUEST, school enrollment tools, and family court. If DHS has formal placement responsibility for the child, then foster or kinship-related payments may be possible through the child welfare system.

If I get Social Security, can I still get child-only TANF for my grandchild in Hawaiʻi?

Often, yes. The key is whether DHS sets the case up as a child-only case with you as a non-needy caregiver. Hawaiʻi’s TANF state plan says a specified relative who does not need assistance may be excluded from the assistance unit. That is why it is so important to say those exact words when you apply. The child’s own income can still matter, and DHS may still need household information for screening.

Can grandparents get foster care payments in Hawaiʻi?

Yes, but usually only when the child is in a formal Child Welfare Services placement and the grandparent is approved as a resource caregiver. A private family arrangement does not usually create foster board payments. The last public DHS rate notice I could verify is the age-tiered board payment notice, but you should ask DHS for the current written rate before relying on any amount.

Can I enroll my grandchild in a Hawaiʻi public school without custody papers?

Sometimes, yes, but expect questions. The official enrollment FAQ lists the basic documents schools want, including the enrollment form, home language survey, photo ID, and proof of residence. If you are not the legal guardian yet, ask the registrar whether a caregiver consent affidavit or a notarized residence statement will work while you move toward guardianship. If care will last more than a short emergency, a court order often saves time later.

Can I consent to medical care if I am not the legal guardian?

Possibly, but do not assume every provider will accept the same paper. Hawaiʻi’s caregiver consent affidavit can help with school-related medical care, and for some qualified relatives it can help with broader medical care too. For routine care, some offices may accept that affidavit. For major treatment, surgery, or plan paperwork, offices may still want a parent or legal guardian. If the child has Med-QUEST, use the authorized representative form to make plan communication easier.

Will my grandchild qualify for Med-QUEST while living with me?

Many children in low-income households do. Hawaiʻi says CHIP is part of Medicaid, and children under 19 can qualify through the regular children’s group. If the child is already receiving foster care, kinship guardianship, or adoption assistance, the Med-QUEST programs page says children under 21 in those categories can qualify, and that group does not have an income limit. Use the child’s existing plan card if one exists, and update the address right away.

Can a hānai caregiver apply for TANF in Hawaiʻi?

In some cases, yes. Hawaiʻi’s current TANF state plan specifically mentions a hānai father or hānai mother in the specified relative rules. But this is one of the places where proof matters a lot. Bring every record you have that shows the caregiving relationship, and ask DHS exactly what it will accept before you assume the case is impossible.

Resumen en español

En Hawái, no parece existir un pago mensual separado y sencillo solo para abuelos que crían a sus nietos fuera del sistema foster. La ayuda más práctica suele venir de TANF o TAONF para el menor solamente, SNAP, Med-QUEST, la inscripción escolar y, si hace falta, la tutela en la corte de familia. Si usted no pide ayuda en efectivo para sí mismo, diga claramente que quiere un caso de child-only como cuidador no necesitado.

Si el niño llegó a su casa por una intervención de Child Welfare Services, pregunte si existe una colocación formal con responsabilidad del DHS, porque eso puede cambiar todo y abrir la puerta a pagos de foster, cobertura médica y otros apoyos. Para ayuda con vivienda o utilidades, revise el Hawaiʻi Relief Program. Para problemas legales, llame a Legal Aid Society of Hawaiʻi o a Volunteer Legal Services Hawaiʻi. Si necesita idioma, Med-QUEST ofrece intérprete gratis al 1-800-316-8005.

About This Guide

This guide uses official federal, state, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources mentioned in the article.

Editorial note: This guide is produced based on our Editorial Standards using official and other high-trust sources, regularly updated and monitored, but not affiliated with any government agency and not a substitute for official agency guidance. Individual eligibility outcomes cannot be guaranteed.

Verification: Last verified April 7, 2026, next review August 7, 2026.

Corrections: Please note that despite our careful verification process, errors may still occur. Email info@grantsforseniors.org with corrections and we respond within 72 hours.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not legal, financial, medical, tax, disability-rights, immigration, or government-agency advice. Program rules, policies, deadlines, office practices, and availability can change. Always confirm current details directly with the official Hawaiʻi program, school, court, health plan, or contractor before you act.

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About the Authors

Analic Mata-Murray

Analic Mata-Murray

Managing Editor

Analic Mata-Murray holds a Communications degree with a focus on Journalism and Advertising from Universidad Católica Andrés Bello. With over 11 years of experience as a volunteer translator for The Salvation Army, she has helped Spanish-speaking communities access critical resources and navigate poverty alleviation programs.

As Managing Editor at Grants for Seniors, Analic oversees all content to ensure accuracy and accessibility. Her bilingual expertise allows her to create and review content in both English and Spanish, specializing in community resources, housing assistance, and emergency aid programs.

Yolanda Taylor

Yolanda Taylor, BA Psychology

Senior Healthcare Editor

Yolanda Taylor is a Senior Healthcare Editor with over six years of clinical experience as a medical assistant in diverse healthcare settings, including OB/GYN, family medicine, and specialty clinics. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor's degree in Psychology at California State University, Sacramento.

At Grants for Seniors, Yolanda oversees healthcare-related content, ensuring medical accuracy and accessibility. Her clinical background allows her to translate complex medical terminology into clear guidance for seniors navigating Medicare, Medicaid, and dental care options. She is bilingual in Spanish and English and holds Lay Counselor certification and CPR/BLS certification.