Federal grants in Hawaii
Federal agencies awarded $29 billion in grants to recipients in Hawaii from fiscal 2021 to 2025. The largest program was Grants to States for Medicaid, with $11 billion.
- Hawaii ranks 42nd of the 50 states and DC for federal grant awards over five years.
- Federal grant money to recipients in Hawaii rose from $6.0 billion in fiscal 2021 to $6.9 billion in fiscal 2025.
- State and local governments received the largest share, 84%.
- Grants to States for Medicaid alone accounted for 38%.
Grants in Hawaii by type of organization
- Grants for state and local governments in Hawaii
- Grants for colleges and universities in Hawaii
- Grants for nonprofits in Hawaii
- Grants for businesses in Hawaii
- Grants for tribes in Hawaii
- Grants for small businesses in Hawaii
- Grants for individuals in Hawaii
Private foundations based in Hawaii: 464 foundations, with who accepts applications.
Project grants won in Hawaii
Most federal grant money is formula and block grants that go to the state by law: $18 billion in Hawaii, 61% of the total. Programs that pay project grants and cooperative agreements, which organizations apply for, brought $6.7 billion to recipients in Hawaii. These are the largest:
Largest federal grant programs in Hawaii
Largest grant recipients in Hawaii
| Recipient | Type | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Human Services Hawaii | State and local governments | 226 | $13 billion |
| Hawaii State Department of Education | State and local governments | 184 | $2.2 billion |
| The State of Hawaii Department of Transportation | State and local governments | 1,140 | $1.7 billion |
| County of Maui | Other | 35 | $1.7 billion |
| University of Hawaii | Colleges and universities | 1,321 | $1.4 billion |
| Hawaii Department of Health | State and local governments | 353 | $1.2 billion |
| Honolulu, City & County of | State and local governments | 36 | $1.1 billion |
| Hawaii Department of Defense | State and local governments | 65 | $1.1 billion |
| State of Hawaii, Department of Transportation | State and local governments | 62 | $608 million |
| Executive Office of the State of Hawaii | State and local governments | 8 | $296 million |
| State of Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations | State and local governments | 94 | $255 million |
| State of Hawaii Department of Land & Natural Resources | State and local governments | 314 | $251 million |
| Hawaii Public Housing Authority | Other | 110 | $227 million |
| Department of Hawaiian Home Lands | Other | 13 | $203 million |
| County of Hawaii | State and local governments | 45 | $179 million |
| University of Hawaii | Colleges and universities | 44 | $152 million |
| City & County of Honolulu | State and local governments | 42 | $144 million |
| Hawaii Department of Transportation | State and local governments | 38 | $136 million |
| Economic Development and Tourism, Hawai'i Department of Business | State and local governments | 15 | $135 million |
| Center for Cultural and Technical Interchange Between East and West, Inc. | Nonprofits | 35 | $110 million |
Browse all 295 federal grant recipients in Hawaii
Where the work happens
The totals above count grants by where the recipient is based. Counted by place of performance, where the funded work happens, grants in Hawaii came to $29 billion. Grants for statewide or multi-county work count in no county, so county totals add up to less.
| County | Awards | Grants |
|---|---|---|
| Honolulu County | 3,158 | $8.1 billion |
| Maui County | 410 | $2.2 billion |
| Hawaii County | 589 | $976 million |
| Kauai County | 330 | $546 million |
| Kalawao County | 8 | $3.2 million |