Hawaii Native Species Conservation and Recovery Act of 2025

This bill creates a new grant program to protect and restore Hawaii’s native plants, fungi, and animals. The Interior Department, through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, must set it up within 180 days after funding is provided. The money can go to the State, counties, Native Hawaiian organizations, nonprofits, businesses, and universities to do on‑the‑ground projects. These projects can fight invasive species and disease, respond to climate change, fix damaged habitats, rebuild native populations, improve science and monitoring, and engage the public through education and community work .

Each year, the program will set clear funding priorities with input from federal agencies (NOAA, EPA, USDA) and Hawaii leaders, then publish a call for project proposals. Proposals will be ranked using standard criteria. If the State or a county applies, their representatives must sit out of the decision for those applications. Native Hawaiian organizations must be consulted on projects that affect the Native Hawaiian community. The Interior Department can also offer technical help to grantees. Funds must add to, not replace, other conservation funds already in use. An annual report to Congress will list funded projects and their status .

• Who is eligible: the State, local governments, Native Hawaiian organizations, nonprofits, businesses, and colleges.
• Cost share: most grants cover up to 75% of project costs; some can cover 100%—projects by Native Hawaiian organizations, projects that build youth job skills, or small grants up to $50,000. At least 5% of yearly funds must go to these types. Non‑federal match can be in‑kind (staff time, materials, land access).
• Funding: authorizes $30 million per year for the first fiscal year after enactment and the next nine years; up to 5% can be used for admin costs.