The County of Maui Department of the East Maui Water Authority (EMWA) is accepting applications for its FY2027 Grant Program, supporting projects that directly benefit East Maui source-water communities and watersheds from Huelo and Honomanu through Keʻanae/Wailua Nui and Nāhiku.
Funding and deadline
EMWA anticipates individual awards of $2,500 to $30,000. The program uses a cost-reimbursement structure. Cost sharing or matching is not required or expected and is not used as a merit-review factor.
Applications opened August 12, 2026 and are due October 1, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. HST. The estimated 12-month contracting period is expected to begin around February 2027, subject to the County’s award and contracting process.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants must operate within Maui County. The FY2027 guide identifies Hawaiʻi-incorporated for-profit organizations, IRS-recognized nonprofit organizations, and sole proprietors as eligible entity types, subject to State and federal good-standing and County contracting requirements.
Priority projects
Eligible work must directly benefit the Maui Hikina communities of Nāhiku, Keʻanae, Honomanu, and Huelo and their watershed. Priority areas include watershed restoration and stewardship, community education and cultural knowledge-sharing, and data collection, monitoring, and research such as stream, rainfall, and water-quality work.
Allowable costs and restrictions
The official guide permits project-specific personnel salary and wages, payroll taxes and fringe benefits, approved professional and consultant services, approved subcontractors, certain project expenses, essential grant-dedicated equipment, and qualifying in-state air travel. Administrative professional and consultant services may account for up to 15% of administrative cost. Equipment must be essential to the project, dedicated solely to the grant, inventoried with EMWA, and becomes County property. Unallowable examples include entertainment and unrelated public-relations or social expenses, incidental meals, beverages, tips and gratuities, employee commissions or bonuses, and first-class airfare.
Application and submission
Applicants should use the official FY2027 Grant Application Information, Checklist, Narrative, and Budget Proposal forms published by EMWA. Applications may be submitted by email, by hand delivery, or by mail. Mailed applications must be postmarked on or before October 1, 2026, and electronic or hand-delivered applications must reach EMWA no later than 5:00 p.m. HST that day.
Atlas analysis
Atlas Opportunity Score: 82/100. The opportunity is current, locally administered, well-documented, and accessible to nonprofit, for-profit, and sole-proprietor applicants with credible East Maui watershed or community-benefit projects. N9+ Fit: 0/100 and QC Healthcare Fit: 0/100. Although essential project equipment can be allowable with EMWA approval, the verified funded purpose is watershed stewardship, cultural knowledge-sharing, and water-related research, so N9+ should not be forced into this opportunity.
Official sources: County of Maui — East Maui Water Authority Grants Program and the linked FY2027 Grant Application Guide and application forms.