A landscape view featuring a grassy field in the foreground, a blue ocean in the middle, and a bright blue sky with scattered white clouds in the background.

Federal Funding Opportunities

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A scenic view of green rolling hills with a dirt trail, scattered small houses, and cloudy sky.
A lush field of green grass with the ocean and blue sky with clouds in the background.

Community Wildfire Defense Grant (CWDG) Program

This federal grant program is intended to help at-risk local communities and Tribes; plan for and reduce the risk of wildfire. It prioritizes at-risk communities in an area identified as having high or very high wildfire hazard potential, are low-income, or have been impacted by a severe disaster that affects the risk of wildfire. The notice of the third round of funding is expected to come available next month with a deadline for submission sometime early next year. The program provides funding to implement projects described in the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) for your area.

Areas with a CWPP include:

  • South Maui

  • Leeward Haleakalā, Maui

  • North Shore, Oʻahu

  • Western Oʻahu

  • East Honolulu, Oʻahu

  • Molokaʻi

  • Kauaʻi

  • Northwest Hawaiʻi, Hawaiʻi Island

  • North Kona, Hawaiʻi Island

  • South Kona, Hawaiʻi Island

  • Kaʻu, Hawaiʻi Island

  • Hāmākua, Hawaiʻi Island

  • Upcountry Maui

  • Western Maui

Map showing the status of areas covered by community wildfire protection plans across Hawaii in 2023, with regions color-coded in completed, in process, and national park. Labels indicate the completion dates for specific regions, such as North Shore, West Maui, Upcountry Maui, Molokai, and others. The map includes islands of Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, Kauai, and Molokai, and logos of the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization and the Hawaii Management Organization.

Applications are due by February 28, 2025.

More information can be found on the USDA Forest Service website.

This federal grant program provides funding to eligible entities to mitigate risk from wildland fire within the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI).  Projects are awarded annually through a competitive process with emphasis on: hazard fuel reduction in the WUI; information and education; assessment and planning; and monitoring through community and landowner action. 

Projects that DO NOT qualify include suppression capacity building, such as purchasing fire department equipment. Applications must describe how the project connects with the goals of the Hawaii Forest Action Plan and a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP).

Applications are due by December 20, 2024.

More information can be found on the State Division of Forestry & Wildlife website. 

Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Program