News Release – DHS Notifies SNAP Participants of EBT Card Issuance Error

Posted on May 22, 2026 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

 

STATE OF HAWAIʻI 

KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

 

JOSH GREEN, M.D.

GOVERNOR

KE KIAʻĀINA

 

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

KA ʻOIHANA MĀLAMA LAWELAWE KANAKA

 

JOSEPH CAMPOS II

ACTING DIRECTOR

LUNA HO’OKELE KŪIKAWĀ

 

TRISTA SPEER

DEPUTY DIRECTOR

KA HOPE LUNA HOʻOKELE

 

DHS NOTIFIES SNAP PARTICIPANTS OF EBT CARD ISSUANCE ERROR

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 22, 2026
 
HONOLULU — The Hawaiʻi Department of Human Services (DHS) is notifying Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applicants and participants that some households may have inadvertently received a SUN Bucks card instead of a regular EBT Kokua card due to an error by the state’s Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) vendor, Fidelity Information Services (FIS).
 
DHS estimates that approximately 800 households may have been impacted since the issue began around May 1, 2026. DHS is actively working with FIS to address and resolve the issue.
 
Although SUN Bucks cards will still function at retailers that accept EBT, SNAP participants who received a SUN Bucks card in error are encouraged to contact their nearest DHS Processing Center to request an exchange for a regular Kokua card.
 
“We understand this issue may cause confusion for some households and we appreciate the public’s patience as we work with our vendor to resolve the matter as quickly as possible,” said DHS Acting Director Joseph Campos II. “Our priority is ensuring impacted households continue to have uninterrupted access to their benefits.”
 
DHS has notified staff statewide and Processing Centers are assisting clients who need replacement cards.
 
SNAP participants with questions about their EBT card may contact:
  • Fidelity Information Services (FIS) at 1-888-328-4292
  • DHS Public Assistance Information Line at 1-855-643-1643
For more information about SUN Bucks (Summer EBT), visit:
https://sunbucks.dhs.hawaii.gov

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