Department of Human Services

DHS applied for and received another approval to extend the SNAP Hot Food Program waiver through November 13, 2023.

This means SNAP participants may purchase hot foods and hot food products prepared for immediate consumption with their benefits at authorized SNAP retailers statewide through November 13, 2023.

Extending the SNAP Hot Foods waiver is critical as many individuals remain in temporary lodging situations where they may not have access to cook and prepare meals.

See additional information below from the USDA,

Hawai`i Media Contact:
State of Hawai`i Department of Human Services
Amanda Stevens – Public Information Officer
[email protected]

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Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

• On Oct. 11, 2023, FNS approved Hawaii Department of Human Services (DHS) request to extend the expiration date to waive the statutory definition of “food” under Section 3(k)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended and accompanying regulations at 7 CFR 271.2. The initial waiver approved on Aug. 16, 2023, includes all five counties in Hawaii (Hawaii, Honolulu, Kalawao, Kauai, and Maui) and allows SNAP households to purchase hot foods with SNAP benefits through Sept. 14, 2023. The wavier was amended on Sept. 8, 2023, to extend the expiration date to Oct. 14, 2023. This waiver approval allows SNAP households to continue to purchase hot foods with SNAP benefits through Nov. 13, 2023, in order to increase access to food after power outages as a result of wildfires that began Aug. 8, 2023.
• On Sept. 13, 2023, FNS approved the Hawaii DHS request to operate Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) in Maui County in response to the impact of wildfires that began on Aug. 8, 2023. This approval is limited to individuals who lived or worked in the following Maui County zip codes: 96761, 96767, 96790. President Joseph R. Biden issued a major disaster declaration designating Maui County as eligible for federal individual assistance on Aug. 10, 2023. The state plans to operate D-SNAP from Monday, Sept. 18, 2023, through Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, on Maui Island. Due to the displacement of evacuees from the wildfires, the state will operate in Hawaii County, Honolulu County, Kauai County, and other islands in Maui County from Monday, Sept. 18, 2023, through Friday, Sept. 22, 2023.
• On Sept. 8, 2023, FNS approved the Hawaii DHS request to issue mass replacements to impacted households. This waiver approval allows households to receive replacement of benefits as stated in the approval due to power outages as a result of the wildfires that began on Aug. 8, 2023. The waiver applies to Maui County.
• On Sept. 8, 2023, FNS approved Hawaii DHS extension request to waive the statutory definition of “food” under Section 3(k)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended and accompanying regulations at 7 CFR 271.2. The initial waiver approved on Aug. 16, 2023, includes all five counties in Hawaii (Hawaii, Honolulu, Kalawao, Kauai, and Maui) and allows SNAP households to purchase hot foods with SNAP benefits through Sept. 14, 2023. This waiver approval allows SNAP households to continue to purchase hot foods with SNAP benefits through Oct. 14, 2023, in order to increase access to food after power outages as a result of wildfires that began Aug. 8, 2023.
• On Aug. 17, 2023, FNS approved the Hawaii DHS request to extend certification periods and waive periodic reporting requirements for ongoing SNAP households in Hawaii for up to six (6) months due to the impact of wildfires that began on Aug. 8, 2023.
• On Aug. 16, 2023, FNS approved Hawaii DHS request to waive the statutory definition of “food” under Section 3(k)(1) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended and accompanying regulations at 7 CFR 271.2. The waiver applies to all five counties in Hawaii (Hawaii, Honolulu, Kalawao, Kauai and Maui). This waiver approval allows SNAP households to purchase hot foods with SNAP benefits through Sept. 14, 2023, in order to increase access to food after power outages as a result of wildfires that began Aug. 8, 2023. Retailers may need as much as 24-36 hours to make changes that will allow for the sale of hot foods.
• On Aug. 11, 2023, FNS approved the Hawaii DHS request to waive the 10-day reporting requirement for food purchased with SNAP benefits that was lost as a result of power outages due to wildfires that began on Aug. 8, 2023. This waiver applies to following seven zip codes in Maui County and Hawaii County: 96743, 96753, 96755, 96761, 96768, 96788 and 96790. The waiver is in effect through Sept. 15, 2023.