Statewide Hawaiʻi WUI wildfire risk reduction grant program

Establish funding for a statewide competitive grant program, modeled after the U.S. Forest Service's Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) competitive grant program, to support shovel-ready wildfire risk-reduction projects across Hawaiʻi. Funding could support hazardous fuels reduction, vegetation management, community protection projects, wildfire planning and education, and other locally identified activities that reduce wildfire risk.

Hawaiʻi has already piloted this model for two years, demonstrating strong demand and successfully funding locally driven wildfire mitigation projects. Federal WUI funding is highly competitive and cannot meet the full scale of Hawaiʻi's needs. A recurring Hawaiʻi-funded program would provide a reliable pathway for priority projects that are ready to move forward.

Funding should also support the technical assistance and grant-management capacity needed to administer the program and help recipients succeed. Ongoing investment is essential as fuels regrow, conditions change, and new wildfire mitigation priorities emerge statewide.