Starting or growing a business in Hawaii takes more than a good idea. Costs can be high, shipping can be difficult, and many founders have to build carefully while staying rooted in their local community. For women entrepreneurs, the right grant can make that next step feel more possible, whether that means buying equipment, improving production, recovering from a disaster, or joining a program built for women led businesses.
The good news is that Hawaii has several grant opportunities tied to local industries, including manufacturing, agriculture, export growth, technology, food systems, and community-based innovation. Not every program is designed only for women, but women founders who meet the rules can apply. Here are the top business grants for women in Hawaii.
Related post: 22 Best Business Grants for Women in 2026
Hawaiʻi FoundHer Program
Hawaiʻi FoundHer is one of the most direct funding opportunities for women entrepreneurs in Hawaii. It is a business accelerator for Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Asian women founders who are building businesses in Hawaii.
What it offers: The program includes a $20,000 non-dilutive grant, a $4,000 ʻohana care stipend, workshops, mentorship, and retreats.
Who qualifies: Applicants must be women founders in Hawaii who fit the program’s focus. The current program has two tracks: Pae ʻĀina for founders based anywhere in Hawaii and Kapalili for Hawaii Island founders in agriculture, food production, or food systems.
Tip: If your business is still young, do not assume you are not ready. Review how to know if you’re ready for funding before deciding whether to apply.
Manufacturing Assistance Program Grant
The Manufacturing Assistance Program (MAP) supports Hawaii based manufacturers that need help improving productivity, competitiveness, and growth. This can be useful for women who make food products, apparel, beauty products, packaged goods, or other manufactured items in Hawaii.
What it offers: MAP provides up to a 20 percent reimbursement on qualified expenses, with awards of up to $100,000.
Who qualifies: Eligible companies must be registered to do business in Hawaii, current on state tax liabilities, compliant through Hawaii Compliance Express, and classified as manufacturers under NAICS codes beginning with 31, 32, or 33.
Note: This grant is best for businesses that can show a clear use of funds, such as equipment, workforce training, energy efficiency, or production improvements. If you need help framing that result, read our guide on how to explain use of funds in business grant applications.
Related post: What funders mean by business impact
Hawaiʻi Small Business Innovation Research Program
The Hawaiʻi Small Business Innovation Research (HSBIR) Program helps local companies that are developing technology, research-based products, or innovation driven solutions.
What it offers: Phase 0 provides up to $3,000 in reimbursement for grant writing costs. Phase I provides up to a 50 percent match, or up to $75,000, for companies that receive a federal SBIR or STTR award.
Who qualifies: Applicants must be Hawaii companies pursuing or receiving federal SBIR or STTR funding. This is a better fit for research, technology, science, defence, health, energy, agriculture technology, software, and product innovation businesses than for general retail or service businesses.
Hawaiʻi State Trade Expansion Program Company Assistance
The Hawaiʻi State Trade Expansion Program Company Assistance (HiSTEP-CA) helps Hawaii businesses grow through exporting. This can be useful for local product businesses that want to enter overseas markets or expand into a new export region.
What it offers: New to Export companies may apply for up to $5,000. Market Expansion companies may apply for up to $15,000.
Who qualifies: New to Export applicants have little or no export experience, or have not exported recently. Market Expansion applicants are active or recent exporters expanding into a new country, region, customer segment, or product line. Market Expansion applicants are expected to have at least $200,000 in annual revenue.
Note: Do not apply to every grant you find. Focus on programs that match your location, industry, business stage, and funding need. A clear fit is better than a long list of weak applications. For further help, read our guide on how to find business grants for women.
Kauaʻi County Innovation Grants
Kauaʻi County Innovation Grants support projects that address local needs and create economic value on Kauaʻi. This is a good fit for women founders with projects in small business, technology, agriculture, local manufacturing, creative industries, workforce development, circular economies, or product development.
What it offers: Awards are expected to range from $15,000 to $50,000, with total funding capped at $480,000.
Who qualifies: Projects must benefit Kauaʻi and show an innovative approach that can address a clear local problem or opportunity. Businesses, organizations, and project teams should check the current RFP for eligibility and documentation rules.
Tip: For grants like this, do not write only about what your business needs. Show how the project supports the local economy, customers, workers, producers, or community.
Maui Agricultural Micro Grant Program
The Maui Agricultural Micro Grant Program supports small farms and ranches in Maui County. This is especially relevant for women in food production, farming, livestock, lei making, plant production, and related agricultural businesses.
What it offers: The program offers grants of up to $25,000.
Who qualifies: The 2026 round was open to food producing farms on 12 acres or less and livestock ranches up to 40 acres. Applicants needed a State of Hawaii general excise license as of July 1, 2025. Preference was given to women and Native Hawaiian applicants, and a limited number of awards were set aside for flower, plant, and lei making farms.
Maui County Department of Agriculture Grants
Maui County Department of Agriculture Grants support farmers, ranchers, and agricultural projects across Maui, Molokaʻi, and Lānaʻi. These grants are useful for women entrepreneurs working in food production, livestock, farm infrastructure, land stewardship, and local food security.
What it offers: Award amounts vary by funding priority and grant cycle.
Who qualifies: Eligible applicants may include agricultural producers and nonprofits, depending on the specific opportunity. Current and upcoming categories include agriculture grants, niu, kalo, and ʻulu production, food access programs, and Lānaʻi based food stimulus efforts.
Hawaiʻi County Kona Low Business Recovery Grant
The Kona Low Business Recovery Grant helps Hawaii Island businesses recover from the March 2026 Kona Low storms.
What it offers: Businesses with gross annual revenue of $250,000 or less may receive $5,000. Businesses with gross annual revenue above $250,000 and up to $5 million may receive $10,000.
Who qualifies: Applicants must be non-agricultural businesses operating in Hawaiʻi County before March 13, 2026. They must have a physical business location in the county, 500 or fewer employees, and documented storm related physical damage or business interruption from the March 13 to 27 Kona Low events.
Amber Grant for Women
Hawaii specific grants should come first, but women entrepreneurs can also consider a few national programs when they fit. The Amber Grant for Women is one option because it is open to women owned businesses across the United States. If your business has little or no revenue, this guide to business grants for women with no revenue may help you decide how to present your stage honestly.
Pro tip: If you have applied before and did not win funding, read our tips on what to do if you keep getting rejected for business grants. Rejection does not always mean the business is not worth funding. Sometimes the application needs clearer positioning, better timing, or stronger proof that the business is ready.
Related post: 17 Best Business Grants for Black Women
Other Business Resources for Women Entrepreneurs in Hawaii
Useful programs don’t have to be business grants for women in Hawaii. Some resources can help you prepare a better application, organize your business, and understand which funding opportunities are worth your time.
The Patsy T. Mink Center for Business and Leadership provides training, counseling, workshops, and support for entrepreneurs and women leaders in Hawaii. It is a useful place to get help with business planning, leadership, and funding readiness.
The Hawaiʻi Small Business Development Center offers no cost confidential advising across the state. Women founders can use it for market research, business planning, financial projections, and growth planning.
The Oʻahu Business Connector connects entrepreneurs to free and low-cost support, including business planning, marketing help, funding resources, and local partner organizations. Maui founders can also look to the Maui Women’s Business Center, Maui County Business Resource Center, and Maui Economic Opportunity’s Business Development Center for counseling, classes, and business planning help.
Related post: How to Talk About Failure in Business Grant Applications: Tips for 2026
Conclusion
Business grants for women in Hawaii are available, but the best opportunities depend on your island, industry, business stage, and funding need. Start with Hawaii specific programs, especially those tied to manufacturing, agriculture, innovation, export growth, disaster recovery, and women led business support. Before applying, review the rules, prepare your documents, and make sure your funding request shows real business impact.
