Firewise Community Mitigation Cost-Share Program

How it works

The Firewise Community Mitigation Cost-Share Program is a community-based funding source for Firewise USA® sites in Hawaiʻi. HWMO says it supports locally driven wildfire risk reduction projects, with Firewise site leaders identifying community mitigation needs each year and working with HWMO on projects that reflect local conditions and priorities.

What the money covers

The page explicitly says the program can support shared priorities such as:

• Vegetation management
• Defensible space
• Home hardening
• Community preparedness

The page also says projects funded through the program have included hazardous vegetation removal, home hardening, defensible space improvements, community education, invasive species removal, and efforts to strengthen evacuation routes.

Amounts and matching

No award amount, reimbursement cap, or matching requirement is stated on the page reviewed. The page does say the program is supported by Hawaiʻi State Legislature funding administered through the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife.

How to apply

The page does not provide a standalone homeowner application. It says the funding is used through Firewise communities, and that HWMO works with Firewise site leaders to identify needs and support projects. For communities interested in starting Firewise, the page directs users to contact firewise@hawaiiwildfire.org.

Timing and deadlines

The page does not list a general opening or closing date for the cost-share program. It does reference seasonal reports and projects, including Spring 2026, 2025, and 2024 community mitigation funding reports, but no application deadline is given.