The Best Business Grants in Hawaii

Hawaii Eneergy

The Hawaii Energy EmPOWER Grant provides Hawaii small businesses, restaurants, and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations with reimbursement grants of up to $15,000 (which may cover up to 100 percent of eligible project costs) to fund the purchase and installation of energy-efficient equipment upgrades that reduce electricity use and lower operating costs. Administered by Hawaii Energy, the state's ratepayer-funded energy conservation and efficiency program (implemented by Leidos), the program has awarded nearly 1,500 grants totaling more than $7.7 million to 780 small businesses, restaurants, and nonprofits across Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi Island, Maui, Molokaʻi, and Lānaʻi since launching in 2020.

Eligible uses of grant funds include the purchase of new energy-efficient equipment (such as HVAC systems, window film, ENERGY STAR certified commercial kitchen appliances, and refrigeration upgrades like motor controls, doors on open cases, and anti-sweat controls), parts, accessories, and materials necessary for installation, and labor for removing old equipment, preparing the site, and installing new equipment. For appliance replacements, Hawaii Energy must be able to verify the existing equipment being replaced, and all installations must be completed by one of Hawaii Energy's participating Clean Energy Ally (CEA) contractors. Grants are competitively reviewed and disbursed as reimbursements after project completion, once all required documentation has been submitted, verified, and approved.

To qualify, applicants must be a commercial rate schedule account holder with an electric utility on Hawaiʻi Island, Lānaʻi, Maui, Molokaʻi, or Oʻahu, and must fall into one of the eligible business categories: a small business with a facility of less than 5,000 square feet, a small business receiving electric service under commercial rate Schedule G, a small business receiving electric service under a commercial rate schedule with demand of 30 kilowatts or less per month, an owner-operated non-chain restaurant, or a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis until program funds are exhausted, and preference is given to organizations that serve populations identified as ALICE (Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed) or rural and hard-to-reach communities, as well as to organizations that have not previously participated with Hawaii Energy.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$15,000

Chamber of Commerce Hawaii

The Kauai Hurricane Lowell Business Recovery Grant provides Kauai, Hawaii small businesses and nonprofit organizations affected by Hurricane Lowell with grants of $5,000 or $10,000 to support their recovery. Administered by the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii in partnership with the State of Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT), the program distributes $2 million in grant funding made available by the State of Hawaii. Grant amounts are tiered by business size: the Tier 1 Micro Enterprise Grant provides $5,000 to businesses with annual gross revenue under $250,000 and 1 to 10 employees (including the owner), while the Tier 2 Small Business Grant provides $10,000 to businesses with annual gross revenue of $250,000 to $5,000,000 and 11 to 500 employees. When a business's revenue and employee count fall into different tiers, annual revenue is the deciding factor.

To qualify, applicants must be a non-agricultural business or nonprofit organization physically operating on Kauai prior to September 7, 2026, and impacted by Hurricane Lowell on September 7 and 8, 2026. At least one business owner must be a Hawaii resident, the business or nonprofit must have been registered with the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) prior to September 7, 2026, and the applicant must be current on state and federal taxes. Applicants must demonstrate material, economic, or physical harm directly caused by Hurricane Lowell, and claims must be for unmet storm-related needs not already covered by insurance or other public or private recovery assistance. Home-based businesses that meet all other eligibility requirements are eligible to apply.

Applications are submitted online through the Chamber's Submittable application portal (mail-in applications are not accepted). The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii aims to complete application reviews within 15 business days, and approved grants are typically disbursed within 30 days after approval. Applications are reviewed in the order they are received, and grants are distributed until funding is exhausted. Applicants who receive a denial may submit an appeal with additional documentation within 10 business days. Application forms and assistance are available in English along with Hawaiian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. Additional application assistance is available through the Kauai Small Business Development Center.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$10,000

Kauaʻi Economic Development Board

The Kauaʻi Small Business Energy Efficiency Grant (SBEEG) provides Kauaʻi small businesses with rebates covering the labor costs associated with energy efficiency upgrades at their commercial facilities. Administered by the Kauaʻi Economic Development Board (KEDB) in partnership with the County of Kauaʻi's Office of Economic Development and the Kauaʻi Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC), the grant operates alongside KIUC's Commercial Retrofit Program, with KEDB funding labor costs and KIUC's program covering a percentage of materials costs for the same eligible projects. Together, the two programs are designed to reduce the upfront financial barrier that small businesses face when retrofitting their facilities for energy efficiency. Eligible upgrades include air conditioning, motors, lighting controls, and refrigeration.

To qualify, a business must be classified under KIUC Rate Schedule J or G. Grant amounts vary based on the scope of the project, with prior awards ranging from a few hundred dollars to roughly $9,000 per business depending on the upgrade. The program operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Interested businesses begin the process by submitting an interest form to KIUC, after which KIUC conducts an energy audit at the business, identifies eligible retrofits, and recommends materials costs it can cover. The business then solicits a contractor quote for installation work, which KEDB reviews to determine the grant amount before the business signs a grant agreement and proceeds with installation. KIUC conducts a final site visit upon completion, after which the business receives its rebate from KEDB.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$10,000

Chamber of Commerce Hawaii

The Oahu Kona Low Business Recovery Grant provides Oahu, Hawaii small businesses affected by the March 2026 Kona Low storms with grants of $5,000 or $10,000 to support their recovery. Administered by the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii in partnership with the State of Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT), the program distributes $3.35 million in grant funding made available by the State of Hawaii. Grant amounts are tiered by business size: the Tier 1 Micro Enterprise Grant provides $5,000 to businesses with annual gross revenue under $250,000 and 1 to 10 employees (including the owner), while the Tier 2 Small Business Grant provides $10,000 to businesses with annual gross revenue of $250,000 to $5,000,000 and 11 to 500 employees. When a business's revenue and employee count fall into different tiers, annual revenue is the deciding factor.

To qualify, applicants must be a non-agricultural, for-profit business physically operating on Oahu prior to March 10, 2026, and impacted by the Kona Low storms of March 10 through 23, 2026. At least one business owner must be a Hawaii resident, the business must have been registered with the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA) prior to March 10, 2026, and the business must be current on state and federal taxes. Applicants must demonstrate material, economic, or physical harm directly caused by the storm event, and claims must be for unmet storm-related needs not already covered by insurance or other public or private recovery assistance. Home-based businesses that meet all other eligibility requirements are eligible. Nonprofit organizations are not eligible (as the program's eligibility, set by the State contract, is limited to non-agricultural small businesses meeting the federal SBA small-business definition).

Applications are submitted online through the program's application portal. The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii aims to complete application reviews within 15 business days, and approved grants are typically disbursed within 30 days after approval. Applications are reviewed in the order they are received, and grants are distributed until funding is exhausted. Applicants who receive a denial may submit an appeal with additional documentation within 10 business days. Application forms and assistance are available in English along with Japanese, Mandarin, Korean, Tagalog, Hawaiian, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$10,000

FoundHer

The FoundHer accelerator program focuses on Hawaii-based women entrepreneurs. Accepted participants to the six-month program will receive $20,000 grants, a $4,000 care stipend, weekly educational workshops, and monthly learning and networking retreats. Businesses must be early-stage, for-profit and at least 51% Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander-owned to qualify.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$20,000

Hawaii Technology Development Corporation

HTDC’s Manufacturing Assistance Program (MAP) offers Hawaiʻi-based manufacturers up to a 20% reimbursement (up to $100,000) on qualified expenses to help Hawaiʻi manufacturers enhance productivity, competitiveness, and growth in Hawai‘i’s manufacturing sector.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$100,000

Hawaii Technology Development Corporation

HSBIR provides matching grants to help companies further develop new products that solve critical issues for the nation. Applicants must have received Federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) /Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grants or contracts to qualify for the state matching grant program. The HSBIR program provides up to 50% match for companies receiving SBIR/STTR awards. Companies may apply also for reimbursement for grant writing costs for their initial Federal grant application (Phase 0).

The Hawaiʻi SBIR matching grant program is the longest state funded SBIR matching program in the United States. Initially the grant program only funded companies that received Phase I grants but in 2016, the program was expanded to help companies who are moving their advanced technology products from research into the market. Hawaiʻi’s SBIR Phase II and Phase III winners are creating the best technology solutions in the nation.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$500,000

Maui Economic Opportunity

Applications for the popular Agricultural Micro Grant Program 6.0 – which offers up to $25,000 in grants to Maui County small farmers and ranchers – will be available January 2026.

The $3 million Maui County – funded program, administered by Maui Economic Opportunity’s Business Development Center, is open to food producing farms on 12 acres or less, and livestock ranches up to 40 acres, possessing a State of Hawaii general excise license as of July 1, 2025.

Preference will be given to women and Native Hawaiians. A limited number of grants will be set aside for flower/plant, lei making farms.

$ GRANT AMOUNT

$25,000