Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards serve as a lifeline for many individuals and families in Hawaii, allowing them to purchase food via the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Besides their basic function of enabling grocery shopping, EBT cards in Hawaii come with a variety of additional benefits and discounts. These discounts aim to support low-income residents by providing more affordable access to educational resources, cultural experiences, and basic amenities.
Various institutions across Hawaii participate in offering concessions to EBT cardholders, ensuring these benefits reach a broad audience. Museums, botanical gardens, and educational centers often provide reduced admissions, while select utility companies may offer discounts on services. These programs are designed to promote inclusivity, making it possible for SNAP beneficiaries to enjoy experiences that might otherwise be financially out of reach.
Museum Discounts
Cardholders can benefit from reduced admission fees to participating museums through the Museums for All initiative. For instance:
- Bishop Museum offers a discounted entry fee of $3 per person for up to 4 individuals per EBT card.
Location: 1525 Bernice Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96817
Contact: (808) 847-3511 - Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center allows for a discounted rate of $2 per person for up to 4 guests per card.
Location: 1601 East-West Road John A. Burns Hall, Honolulu, Hawaii 96848
Contact: (808) 944-7177
Amazon Prime EBT Discount
Residents of Hawaii who have an EBT Card can now take advantage of a special offer to access Amazon Prime at a discounted rate. This allows them to enjoy the myriad benefits of Prime membership without paying the full price.
Membership Cost
- Regular Price: $14.99 per month
- Discounted Price for EBT Cardholders: $6.99 per month (More than 50% off)
Amazon participates in the USDA’s pilot program, permitting the use of food stamps for online grocery purchases. This initiative includes Amazon Pantry, enabling Prime members to order groceries online for delivery in designated areas.
What Does Amazon Prime Offer?
Considering the Amazon Prime EBT Discount? Here’s a summary of the benefits that come with your Prime membership:
- Free, Fast Delivery:
- Free shipping on over 50 million eligible items on Amazon.com.
- FREE Same-Day Delivery in select metropolitan areas on over a million items.
- FREE 2-hour delivery with Prime Now on daily essentials and groceries.
- Instant Streaming:
- Instant access to thousands of movies and TV shows at no additional cost.
- Stream on select Smart TVs, Roku, Xbox, Amazon Fire TV, iPhones, tablets, and Android devices.
Additional Benefits
- Online Grocery Shopping: Use your EBT Card to buy groceries through Amazon Pantry for delivery (available in select states).
- Music Streaming: Over two million songs and thousands of playlists and stations without ads.
- Unlimited Reading: Books, magazines, and more with unlimited reading on any device.
- Audible Original Series: Unlimited listening to original audio series from Audible.
- Twitch Prime:
- Free game content every month.
- Exclusive discounts and more.
- Photo Storage: Free unlimited photo storage.
Public Transportation Fares
Reduced public transportation fares are available to EBT cardholders. Some examples include:
- TheBus, Honolulu’s transit system, offers a discounted Bus Pass rate to those who present their EBT card when purchasing a pass.
- Hele-On Bus, serving the Island of Hawaii, provides a reduced fare with proper documentation, which may include the EBT card.
Discounted Communication Services in Hawaii
Residents of Hawaii have access to various discounted communication services through programs like Lifeline and the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). These programs aim to make cell phone, home phone, and internet services more affordable for eligible participants.
Discounted Cell Phone Services
Participating cell phone providers in the Lifeline program offer discounted services. See the table below for details:
| Company Name | Contact Number |
|---|---|
| Sandwich Isles Communications, Inc. | 888-955-7274 |
| enTouch Wireless | 866-488-8719 |
| Tempo Telecom, LLC | 877-822-8501 |
| Safelink Wireless | 800-723-3546 |
Discounted Home Phone Services
For discounted home phone services under the Lifeline program, refer to the following providers:
| Company Name | Contact Number |
|---|---|
| Hawaiian Telcom, Inc. | 808-643-3456 |
| Sandwich Isles Communications, Inc. | 888-955-7274 |
Discounted Internet Service
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) supports EBT Cardholders by offering a monthly discount on internet services, alongside a one-time discount for purchasing eligible devices.
- Monthly Internet Discount: $30 off your internet service bill each month.
- One-Time Device Discount: Up to $100 off on the purchase of a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet.
Additionally, you have the option to combine the $30 ACP internet credit with your Lifeline phone service, potentially increasing your savings on both phone and internet services each month.
Educational Resources
EBT cardholders have access to discounted educational programs and services. Specific discounts include:
- Public libraries across Hawaii may offer waived or reduced fees for cardholders on services such as book rentals and internet access.
- Discounted rates for certain tutoring and enrichment programs that accept EBT for payment.
Online Shopping
EBT cardholders in Hawaii can also use their benefits for online grocery shopping. This is a convenient way to access food at potentially lower prices, without the need to travel. The USDA has approved certain online retailers for this program, providing more shopping options.
Approved Retailers:
- Amazon
- Walmart
Note: Costs for delivery may not be covered by EBT benefits, so it’s important to check delivery fees.
Other Assistance Programs
In Hawaii, EBT cardholders may also benefit from various other assistance programs aimed at providing support for childcare and housing expenses.
Childcare Assistance
Hawaii offers Childcare Connection Hawaii (CCH), which provides subsidies to eligible low- and moderate-income families. This assists them in affording quality childcare while engaged in work or educational activities. Eligibility is based on size of the family and income, with the program giving priority to families with the greatest need.
Housing and Utilities Subsidies
The State of Hawaii provides housing assistance through the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program. This program is designed to help low-income individuals and families afford safe and decent rental housing. The payment standards for this program are set based on the fair market rents in the area.
To assist with utilities, eligible families may apply for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). LIHEAP offers financial assistance to manage energy bills and can help with heating or cooling homes, based on the benefit type for which the household qualifies.
Be sure to check out our other articles about Hawaii Food Stamps and EBT.