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Hawaii EBT news
Reviewed Hawaii-specific EBT and SNAP news items about benefit timing, eligibility, and program rules.
Updated on: September 9, 2026
Independent information tool. Not a government website.
Hawaii DHS announced automated SNAP mass replacement benefits after Tropical Cyclone Lala. Replacement benefits were scheduled to be available on EBT cards as early as September 3, 2026, and SNAP recipients outside the automatically approved areas may apply for replacement benefits through September 13, 2026.
Hawaii DHS announced an automatic mass replacement of 45% of August SNAP benefits for households in federally approved areas affected by Tropical Cyclone Lala, with replacement benefits scheduled to be available on EBT cards as early as September 3, 2026. SNAP recipients outside the automatic-replacement areas, and households seeking more than the automatic amount, may request replacement benefits through September 13, 2026.
Hawaii’s approved SNAP food restriction waiver has a target implementation date of August 1, 2026, restricting SNAP/EBT purchases of soft drinks.
Hawaii DHS received federal approval to extend the deadline for SNAP households statewide to report food loss and request replacement benefits after Tropical Cyclone Lala. Reports made by September 3, 2026, will be considered timely; approved applicants will receive replacement SNAP benefits after validation.
Hawaii’s USDA-approved SNAP food restriction waiver was originally set to start August 1, 2026 and would have restricted SNAP purchases of soft drinks. USDA says it approved Hawaii’s request on June 15, 2026 to move the implementation date to April 1, 2027, so the August 1 purchase-rule change did not take effect.
Starting August 1, 2026, Hawaii’s approved SNAP food restriction waiver bars SNAP purchases of soft drinks, defined as nonalcoholic carbonated beverages sweetened with more than 10 grams of sugar per serving. Beverages with milk or milk substitutes or more than 50% vegetable or fruit juice are excluded from the restriction.
USDA-approved SNAP food restriction waiver for Hawaii is listed with a target implementation date of August 1, 2026. The change restricts SNAP purchases of soft drinks, defined as carbonated nonalcoholic beverages sweetened with more than 10 grams of sugar per serving, with exceptions for milk/milk substitutes and beverages with more than 50% fruit or vegetable juice.
Hawaii’s approved SNAP food restriction waiver has a target implementation date of August 1, 2026. The waiver restricts SNAP purchases of soft drinks.
Hawaii’s SUN Bucks site says benefits became available starting June 10, 2026 for most returning eligible students, but remaining students, including new SUN Bucks students and foster children, were delayed due to technical issues. The Summer 2026 operating period runs through August 2, 2026.
Hawaii’s SUN Bucks site says benefits became available starting June 10, 2026 for most returning eligible students, but remaining students, including new SUN Bucks students and foster children, were delayed due to technical issues. The Summer 2026 SUN Bucks operating period runs through August 2, 2026.
Hawaii DHS reported that some SNAP households were mistakenly sent SUN Bucks cards instead of regular EBT Kokua cards due to an EBT vendor error that began around May 1, 2026. DHS estimated about 800 households may have been affected and said it was working to ensure impacted households continue to have uninterrupted access to benefits.