Policy & Public Affairs > Business Resilience

Oahu Kona Low Business Recovery

Chamber of Commerce Hawaii is partnering with the State of Hawaii Department Business, Economic Development, & Tourism (DBEDT) to distribute $3.35 million in grant funding made available by the State of Hawaii to support non-agriculture small businesses on Oahu that have been impacted by the March 2026 Kona Low storms.

Oahu Kona Low Business Recovery Grant

In partnership with the State of Hawaii Department Business, Economic Development, & Tourism (DBEDT), the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii will distribute $3.35 million in grant funding made available by the State of Hawaii to support non-agriculture small businesses on Oahu that have been impacted by the March 2026 Kona Low storms.

Grant Amounts

Tier 1 – Micro Enterprise Grant: $5,000
annual gross revenue under $250,000, 1-10 employees including owner

Tier 2 – Small Business Grant: $10,000
annual gross revenue $250,000-$5,000,000, 11-500 employees

*Annual Revenue size will be the deciding factor if mixture between revenue and employee count between Tier 1 & 2 (i.e. $1M business with 8 employees will be Tier 2).

Watch the Informational Webinar

Apply for an Oahu Kona Low Business Recovery Grant

Applications are open. For questions or application assistance, contact (808)210-6839 or konalow@cochawaii.org.

Who qualifies?

Non-agricultural, for-profit businesses impacted by the Kona Low Storms from March 10-23, 2026
Small businesses with less than 500 employees and less than $5,000,000 annual gross revenue
At least one owner is a Hawaii resident and the applicant was physically operating on Oahu prior to March 10, 2026
The applicant was registered with DCCA prior to March 10, 2026
The applicant must be current in state and federal taxes
The applicant sustained material, economic, or physical harm directly caused by the Kona Low storm event
Claims must be from unmet storm related needs not already covered by insurance or other public/private recovery assistance

How to Apply

Visit the application portal at https://chamberofcommercehawaii.submittable.com/submit. No mail in applications will be accepted.
Create an account.
Complete the application thoroughly. Incomplete or inaccurate applications will not qualify.
Grant awardees will be notified within 15 days of application completion.

Application forms & assistance will be available in Japanese, Mandarin, Korean, Tagalog, Hawaiian, Spanish and Vietnamese.

For questions or application assistance, contact (808)210-6839 or konalow@cochawaii.org.

* Application assistance is available with Hawaii Small Business Development Center. Please contact Robbie Melton, Center Director, at robbie.melton@hisbdc.org for more details.*

Apply for an Oahu Kona Low Business Recovery Grant

Applications are open. For questions or application assistance, contact (808)210-6839 or konalow@cochawaii.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

Eligibility

What are the eligibility requirements?

Please see the requirements HERE.

Can nonprofits apply?

Unfortunately, the Kona Low Business Recovery Grant Program’s eligibility criteria, set by our contract with the State (DBEDT), is limited to non-agricultural small businesses meeting the federal SBA small-business definition, which does not include nonprofit organizations. We’re not able to expand eligibility unilaterally. Nonprofits are available to apply for Hawaii Emergency Management Agency public assistance, however the deadline to apply has passed effective June 14. Recommending to contact Peter Kawamura, HIEMA Project Specialist Lead for more information at 808-983-2546 or peter.kawamura@hawaii.gov.

Can home-based businesses apply?

Yes, provided they meet all program eligibility requirements and were operating on Oahu before the storm.

I received insurance or other disaster assistance. Can I still apply?

Possibly. Applicants must disclose any insurance payments or disaster assistance received or pending. Grant funds cannot duplicate benefits already received for the same losses.

Application

How do I apply?

Applications will be submitted online through the program application portal. The portal will allow applicants to upload required documentation and track the status of their application. Portal: chamberofcommercehawaii.submittable.com/submit

* Application assistance is available with Hawaii Small Business Development Center. Please contact Robbie Melton, Center Director, at robbie.melton@hisbdc.org for more details. *

Is there an application deadline?

Yes, 11/15/26 11:59 p.m. Applications will be reviewed in the order they are received, and grants will be distributed until funding is exhausted up to the application deadline. Funding is limited, so eligible businesses are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

How are applications reviewed?

Applications undergo a multi-step review process to verify: business eligibility, required documentation, revenue information, storm-related impacts, and compliance with program requirements. Additional information may be requested if needed.

What documents do I need to apply?

List of required documents:

1. DCCA business registration: https://hbe.dcca.hawaii.gov/
1. 2025 Annual GET return (Form G-49)
1. Federal or Hawai’i income tax returns, if applicable
1. Signed W-9 form: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw9.pdf
1. NAICS code (from tax return)
1. 2025 4^th quarter Form 941, or attestation letter from PEO stating < 500 employees (or if no employees, complete signed attestation form: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hTR_FDz9QEXUYyVd2SlkL9WizpdGt6xEEPVuH3uSfsM/edit?pli=1&tab=t.0)
1. Federal & Hawai’i tax clearances (not over 60 days old)
1. Certificate of Good Standing (COGS) – not over 60 days old: https://hbe.ehawaii.gov/documents/search.html
1. 1. Certificate of Vendor Compliance includes both #7 & 8, as an alternative: https://vendors.ehawaii.gov/hce/
1. At least one form of corroborating damage documentation (photos, contractor estimates, insurance records, closure notices, utility outage records, etc.).
1. Primary business owner’s driver’s license or state ID
1. Banking information for ACH deposit of grant funds

What if I’m missing the correct information/documentation in my application?

The applicant will have 10 business days from the date of request for additional information and/or documentation to be provided. The date the applicant submits the requested information and/or documentation shall become the new application submission date. If the applicant fails to respond and provide the requested information within 10 business days, the application will be denied.

What if I don’t have a current Certificate of Good Standing (COGS)?

Due to delays in the processing of annual filings and issuance of Certificate of Good Standing (COGS) by the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, in lieu of providing COGS and/or Hawaii Compliance Express (HCE) Certificate, you may submit your DCCA filing receipt and DCCA record showing their business’ Filing Year 2026 as “pending”.

Applications submitted with these documentations will be deemed complete provided that no other required documentation is missing.

Grant disbursement will be withheld until the updated COGS and/or HCE Certificate is received. You have forty-five days from submission of application or by December 11, 2026, whichever comes first, to provide the actual COGS and/or HCE Certificate.

If you fail to provide the actual COGS and/or HCE Certificate by the allotted time, the application shall be subject to the application denial and appeals process.

After Application Submission

How long will it take to receive a decision?

The program aims to complete application reviews within 15 business days, depending on the completeness of the application and applicant responsiveness.

When will grant payments be issued?

Approved grants are expected to be disbursed within 30 days after application approval.

What if my application is denied, and I do not agree with the decision?

Applicants may submit an appeal with additional documentation within 10 business days of receiving a denial notice. Appeals will undergo additional review before a final determination is made.

Additional Questions

Will my personal and financial information be protected?

Yes. Applications are submitted through a secure online platform, and all applicant information is handled in accordance with applicable federal and state privacy and security requirements.

Is assistance available if English is not my primary language?

Yes. Language assistance will be available to help eligible businesses navigate the application process. Additional information on available languages and how to request assistance will be provided when the program launches.

What if I'd like to assist an eligible business owner with their application?

Thank you for your interest in supporting local businesses through this program! If you would like to see if you qualify to assist an applicant with the application process, please email tfetui@cochawaii.org for more information.

Who can I contact if I have additional questions?

Call (808)210-6839 Monday thru Friday at 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. excluding holidays or email konalow@cochawaii.org.

Business Relief Fund

The Hawaii Chamber of Commerce Foundation is raising funds to assist the small businesses on the North Shore of Oahu affected by the recent Kona Low storms. Devastating floodwaters swept through the area’s communities, leaving businesses and homes in ruin.

Your donation will support small businesses in immediate need for flood relief. Funds collected through the Hawaii Chamber of Commerce Foundation will be distributed as direct financial assistance to affected small businesses to help cover immediate recovery and operating expenses, including repairs, equipment replacement, payroll and other essential costs.

Donate by check: Checks made payable to “Hawaii Chamber of Commerce Foundation Relief Account”.

Mail to 733 Bishop St. Suite 1200 Honolulu, HI 96813

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