Maui County Kamaʻāina Credit Pilot for ALICE Households
October 11, 2026
October 11, 2026
Maui United Way to offer monthly payments to working households
For many working families in Maui County, having a steady job doesn’t always mean being able to comfortably cover the cost of everyday necessities. A new pilot program hopes to provide some additional breathing room for local residents facing that challenge.
Maui County, in partnership with Maui United Way, is launching the Kamaʻāina Credit for ALICE Households Pilot Program, which will provide monthly financial assistance to approximately 910 qualifying households for one year.
Applications are expected to open in mid-October.
Households selected for the program will receive monthly payments for 12 months:
That means qualifying households could receive between $6,000 and $9,600 over the course of the year.
The program is designed specifically for residents who are working but still struggling with Maui County's high cost of living.
ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.
Simply put, ALICE households earn more than the federal poverty level but still may not make enough to consistently afford necessities such as housing, food, transportation, childcare and healthcare.
These households can face an additional challenge: while their income isn't enough to comfortably meet their expenses, they may earn too much to qualify for some traditional assistance programs.
The issue affects a significant portion of Maui County.
According to Aloha United Way, 53% of Maui County households were below the ALICE Threshold in 2024. Of those households, 43% were classified as ALICE and another 10% were living below the poverty level.
To be considered for the Kamaʻāina Credit pilot program, applicants must:
Residents of Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi are eligible to apply.
The application will be available online at no cost and offered in English, Spanish, Ilocano, Tagalog and Marshallese. Audio support and additional application assistance will also be available.
One important detail for applicants: this is not a first-come, first-served program.
Maui United Way will oversee the county grant and establish the program's eligibility and selection requirements. AidKit will handle applications, verify eligibility and conduct a computer-generated selection process intended to represent different household and community-need groups.
Meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee selection or payment.
The pilot program comes at a time when affordability continues to be a major concern for residents throughout Maui County.
Mayor Richard Bissen said the program recognizes that financial security involves more than simply being employed. The goal is to give working families a greater opportunity to build and maintain their lives in Maui County.
Maui United Way CEO Jeeyun Lee also emphasized the importance of supporting the people who keep Maui's communities running—from educators and caregivers to hospitality workers, retail employees, county workers and nonprofit staff.
The program was funded by Maui County with support from the Maui County Council, including Councilmember Gabe Johnson, who represents the Lānaʻi residency area.
For households caught between earning too much to qualify for traditional assistance and not earning enough to comfortably meet Maui's cost of living, the Kamaʻāina Credit for ALICE Households Pilot Program could provide meaningful support over the coming year.
Residents interested in applying should watch for additional information from Maui United Way as the mid-October application period approaches.
Photo courtesy of https://mauiunitedway.org/
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