While 43 states and the District of Columbia experienced drops in the number of low-income residents receiving federal food stamps, Hawaii and six other states saw their food stamp enrollments increase between March 2013 and March of this year.

As of April, the state Department of Human Services said that just under 91 percent of all eligible low-income Hawaii residents — or 193,392 people — now receive food stamps.

This year, Hawaii is on track to administer $519,408,288 worth of food stamps, which are fully funded by the federal government, according to the state Department of Human Services.

By comparison, the department administered $413 million worth of federal food stamps to 159,644 recipients in 2011.

That was the same year that the Hawaii Appleseed Center on Law and Economic Justice blasted Hawaii for dropping from 46th in the country in its delivery of food stamps to 49th.

The Hawaii Appleseed Center blamed the 2011 decline on progress by other states, coupled with Hawaii’s inability to create an easy online application process and better work with nonprofit groups that deal directly with low-income residents.

DHS director Patricia McManaman told the Star-Advertiser that Hawaii’s 2011 numbers were partly the result of staff reductions, hiring freezes and "archaic and inefficient business processes."

But in 2012, according to the latest figures, Hawaii saw a dramatic improvement and was ranked 11th best in the nation in providing food stamps to eligible residents, McManaman said. That same year, Hawaii received a $724,139 federal bonus for having the country’s most-improved access, McManaman said.

The Legislature also helped increase Hawaii’s food stamp participation by providing money to integrate the state’s "antiquated" Hawaii Automated Welfare Information system with a more modern "KOLEA" system that now allows welfare recipients to apply for benefits online and use an online tool to help them determine which benefits they’re eligible for, McManaman said.

To further reach out to low-income residents to make them aware of benefits, DHS also is now working with various nonprofit groups, including Helping Hands Hawaii on Oahu and Maui; Child and Family Service on Kauai; and HOPE Services Hawaii, McManaman said.

"We have made tremendous gains in the administration of the (food stamp) program since 2011," McManaman said. "As of April 2014, 193,392 individuals are receiving (food stamps). This is an increase of 33,748 individuals over 2011 or a 21 percent increase in the number of individual beneficiaries. … Combined with our continued emphasis on reaching immigrants, the elderly and the working poor, Hawaii is well positioned to continue on its pathway to success."