← Back to search

HRS §209-28

What disaster recovery loans can be used for

This section explains what commercial and personal loans from the disaster loan program can pay for. Commercial loans help businesses recover from a disaster, and personal loans help individuals and families with disaster-related costs. Loans cannot be used to start a very different business.

businesses

The statute, as written — Purpose of loans

(a) Commercial loans may be made for the following purposes: to purchase inventory, equipment, and machinery; to construct, repair, or restore buildings; to provide operating funds; and to refinance outstanding business loans on equipment and buildings; provided that the loans shall be used to rehabilitate the business of the disaster victim as nearly as possible to its predisaster level; and provided further that the loans shall not be used to begin a business substantially different from the one the disaster victim was engaged in before the state disaster. Business concerns which were nonowners of buildings before the state disaster shall not be precluded from obtaining building loans under this part. (b) Personal loans may be made for the purpose of meeting necessary expenses or to satisfy serious needs of individuals and families including reciprocal beneficiaries which arose as an immediate and direct result of a disaster.
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.