By Sherry Menor

When a natural disaster hits, the impact on a small business can go far beyond the damage we can see.

A flooded storefront, damaged equipment or lost inventory can disrupt months of hard work. Even after the rain stops and the waters recede, business owners are often left figuring out how to reopen, replace what was lost, and keep their employees and customers moving forward.

We saw this firsthand after the March 2026 Kona low storms, which brought a significant disruption to communities across Oʻahu.

For many of our small businesses, recovery has not been as simple as cleaning up and getting back to business.

That is why the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii is partnering with the state Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism to help through the Oʻahu Kona Low Business Recovery Program.

The program provides $3.35 million in grant funding for eligible non-agricultural, for-profit small businesses on Oʻahu that experienced economic, material or physical harm related to the March 10-23 Kona low storms.

Grants of $5,000 or $10,000 can help address unmet recovery needs and give business owners some much-needed breathing room as they rebuild.

For a small business, that support can go a long way. It could help replace equipment, recover inventory, address storm-related damage or simply help a business regain its footing after the unexpected setback.

This work also reflects a larger priority we have through our 2030 Blueprint for Hawaiʻi: building a stronger, more resilient economy for our people and our state.

Resilience does not mean we can prevent every challenge. It means that when challenges come, our businesses and communities have the ability to respond, recover and keep moving forward. Supporting businesses through recovery is an important part of that effort.

Applying for assistance may feel like one more task at a time when business owners already have enough on their plates. We want to make this process as straightforward as possible, and our team is available to help businesses understand the program and navigate the application process.

I encourage you to learn more at oahukonalowrecovery. org. Funding is limited, and applications are being accepted now through Nov. 15.

Together, we can help Hawai ʻi’s small businesses recover, rebuild and continue moving forward.

See the story here.