Tens of thousands of Hawaii residents who rely on federal food assistance face renewed uncertainty after the Trump administration on Saturday ordered states to reverse recent full SNAP payments, following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling Friday that paused lower court mandates.
State Department of Human Services officials moved quickly Friday morning to disburse the aid after U.S. Department of Agriculture officials said they were releasing full SNAP funding in response to a lower court’s order that the federal money be disbursed. Late Friday, however, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson issued a two-day stay on the ruling, raising questions about whether funds released by Hawaii and a few other states would be available.
Late Saturday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture directed states to undo the distributions and warned of financial penalties for noncompliance, telling states they must “immediately undo” any actions providing full benefits to low-income families.
The memo, obtained by The New York Times, stunned state leaders, prompting some to explore legal options to prevent further disruptions. The administration, meanwhile, told a court that states would be “responsible for the consequences” if they ignored the order.
U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz (D,
Hawaii) condemned the decision as “inhumane and illogical,”
emphasizing the availability of funds.
“The money is there, and we should use it to feed hungry Hawaii citizens,” Schatz said in a written statement. “Tens of thousands of families rely upon this benefit to put food on the table, and multiple federal courts have determined that using the contingency fund is not just allowed but required. We need to put politics aside and make sure everybody can eat.”
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The reversal leaves millions of Americans — including roughly 165,000 people in Hawaii, representing about 85,000 households — in limbo as the record-setting government shutdown on Sunday reached 40 days, marking the first time in the 60-year history of SNAP that benefits have lapsed entirely.
Joseph Campos, deputy director of DHS, said in a written statement Sunday that the state remains committed to providing emergency aid to affected families.
“Due to the uncertainty surrounding the Supreme Court pause and the use of federal dollars, the state can assure you that on Monday, Nov. 10, your EBT card will have the state funds of $250 per individual as part of its Hawaii Emergency Food Assistance Program (HEFAP),” Campos said. Late last month, Gov. Josh Green announced the program to provide the state money to each Hawaii SNAP recipient.
Campos advised residents on Sunday that the state-funded HEFAP benefits will be drawn down from their accounts before any new federal SNAP aid becomes available.
He also said additional guidance on SNAP will be released once federal instructions are reviewed and potential state actions are assessed. DHS also urged recipients to check its website, humanservices.hawaii.gov, for the latest updates and information on food and nutrition assistance programs.
State officials did not respond to questions Sunday about whether the federal funds already deposited into residents’ SNAP accounts on Friday would be available.
The U.S. Senate took steps Sunday night toward ending the federal shutdown, but the U.S. House and President Donald Trump must agree to any Senate measure. The political wrangling in Washington means that the potential reopening of the U.S. government could be days away.
Amy Miller, president and CEO of Hawai‘i Foodbank, said the organization is preparing for increased demand as the uncertainty deepens.
“There is a great deal of uncertainty right now regarding the status of SNAP benefits, and we understand how unsettling this is for families who rely on them,” Miller said. “While questions at the federal level remain, our focus is unchanged: making sure families have access to food.”
Kayla Keehu-Alexander, Aloha United Way’s vice president of community impact, said that “removing assistance from those in our community who need it most will only create more unnecessary harm and hardship.”
Both Miller and Keehu-Alexander stressed their organizations’ commitment to helping the community. Miller said the Foodbank will continue expanded statewide distributions “for as long as the community needs extra support,” while Keehu-Alexander noted that AUW’s 211 line remains available to connect residents with assistance.
The Office of Hawaiian
Affairs also will begin distributing $6.1 million in emergency assistance to Native Hawaiian beneficiaries affected by the SNAP suspension and the ongoing federal shutdown.
Starting today, eligible Native Hawaiians can apply for grocery gift cards of up to $350 or direct checks of up to $1,200 for furloughed federal civilian workers through hawaiiancouncil.org/oha-
relief. Applications are are accepted by phone at 808-596-8155 or in person at the Hawaiian Council’s Kapolei office, 91-1270 Kinoiki St. Applicants must provide proof of Native Hawaiian ancestry, a Hawaii photo ID and documentation verifying either SNAP benefits or federal employment affected by the shutdown.
Distributions are expected to begin Tuesday.
Kuhio Lewis, CEO of the Hawaiian Council, which will administer the program, said in a statement,”We are grateful to OHA for entrusting us with this responsibility and are moving quickly to ensure kokua reaches those who need it most — our kupuna, working families and federal workers facing hardship.”
The initiative was approved by OHA trustees last week in Hilo and is aimed at Native Hawaiian households who may not qualify for other state or federal assistance.
OHA Board of Trustees Chairperson Kaiali’i Kahele said the situation highlights the fragility of federal safety net programs and the urgency of community-based support.
“The uncertainty of the federal government — evidenced by recent statements from national leaders and Friday’s Supreme Court decision regarding SNAP benefits — instills little confidence that meaningful assistance will reach those who need it most,” Kahele said. “According to federal guidance issued on Saturday, any state that transmitted full SNAP payment files for November 2025 did so without authorization and must immediately reverse or correct those actions.”
U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda (D, Hawaii) criticized the Trump administration’s move, saying it weaponizes SNAP benefits and punishes “states like Hawaii for doing the right thing.”
“I’ve been at food distributions across our state,” she said. “I’ve seen the need, and it’s heartbreaking. No parent should have to skip meals so their keiki can eat, and no kupuna should have to choose between food and medicine. That’s the reality this administration’s actions are creating.
“This isn’t leadership — it’s cruelty. Enough is enough.”
For now, Hawaii officials urge residents to check their EBT balances regularly and apply for state or nonprofit relief programs if their SNAP payments are delayed or reduced.
