The Office of Hawaiian Affairs will provide evacuation aid to Native Hawaiians who live in the path of the June 27 lava flow in the Puna District.
The Office of Hawaiian Affairs will provide evacuation aid to Native Hawaiians who live in the path of the June 27 lava flow in the Puna District.
OHA’s Board of Trustees recently approved $300,000 in relief aid to help up to 600 households that could be forced to evacuate the area in the coming days as lava from Kilauea volcano nears their homes.
Native Hawaiian families forced to evacuate will be eligible for one-time aid of $500 per household from OHA, which is making the assistance available until June 30, 2015.
To qualify, the primary residence must be located within a mandatory evacuation zone designated by Hawaii County. Also, permanent residents must be Native Hawaiian; however, applications will be accepted from anyone in a household who is a parent or legal guardian of Native Hawaiian children younger than 18.
Forms that will be accepted as proof or verification of Hawaiian ancestry include a birth certificate and an OHA Hawaiian Registry Card. To prove residency, an eligible household would have to provide any two of the following documents:
• A utility bill.
• Mortgage statement.
• Rental agreement.
• Rent receipt (with address).
• Letter from landlord.
• Bank statement.
• Car registration.
• 2013 tax return.
• Voter registration form.
For more information, call OHA offices in Hilo at 920-6418 or Kona at 327-9525.