Taking policy local: how to shape county action on food security

Food Equity
Written By Genevieve Mumma

When discussing food security, the spotlight usually lands on federal programs like SNAP. But here in Hawaiʻi, counties have the potential to be immediate players in determining whether families can reliably access food. And with traditional food assistance programs at risk now more than ever, it’s important to see how local level decisions shape the systems we rely on to feed us and our community.

The scale is bigger than one might think. County budgets can range anywhere from about $347 million for Kauaʻi County to over $3.9 billion for the City & County of Honolulu. While of course much of these funds break down into systems that keep our everyday lives going, the counties in Hawaiʻi have been paying more attention to food security, with programs that might now be necessary in the face of federal uncertainty.

Counties Stepping Up to Lead: Four Key Levers

As the closest form of government to the local community, counties have unique levers that can make an immediate impact on Hawaiʻi’s food systems when it comes to addressing hunger. And being in a state where county lines are not invisible but separated by ocean, it's essential that counties are able to support their own community when state and federal support is delayed or lacking.

  1. Disaster Preparation & Planning: In times of disaster, it becomes clear that having a feeding plan that coordinates across all stakeholders—county agencies, key community organizations, businesses—is essential. A living document with a connected task force or mobile arm is what becomes critical when a disaster strikes, to ensure families aren’t left struggling or without resources.

  2. Summer Feeding Programs: While school is out, counties have the opportunity to support families through feeding programs either at sites or distribution. By leveraging existing federal child nutrition programs, they are able to maximize resources and dollars to ensure that our keiki are fed year-round.

  3. Kūpuna Feeding Programs: All counties support our kūpuna with feeding programs that offer meals on site and delivered to their home; a key resource for the growing population of older adults in Hawaiʻi, who require alternative methods of support. Counties can go further and fund the expansion of these feeding services to feed those across our islands.

  4. Direct Support for Food Banks: Food banks and their networks have proven to be a key resource amidst federal changes that are beginning to strain our state agencies, and despite loss of federal funding themselves. Counties can’t do everything to fill the gaps, but they can support key organizations like the food banks that are already serving our island communities. 

Each of these areas offers tangible, achievable steps counties can take—starting with the budgets they craft each year.

Our new policy brief, County Leadership in Combating Food Insecurity: Seizing Local Levers in Uncertain Times, offers more insights on what counties are already doing, including details from each county’s Food Access Plan. The brief is available here.

Pathways for Shaping County Action

There are multiple pathways for influencing county decisions, from engaging directly with departments and community processes, to working with the county council, to changing the rules themselves through the county charter. Below, we break down these three pathways and share practical ways to get involved in your county at each level.

Pathway 1: Administrative and Community Planning

Hawaiʻi’s four counties have already shown their commitment to ensuring food security by developing countywide food access plans. These plans, which were largely sourced from assessments of the community’s needs, are far broader than the four recommendations listed above; they are a blueprint and a tool for advocacy and accountability on all things related to the county food system. 

Some of the plans call on key partners to undertake the initiatives while others focus on direct county actions. Explore your county’s food access plan using the links below.

Pathway 2: County Council Advocacy

County decisions are often more accessible—and more influential—than people realize. Unlike the Hawaiʻi State Legislature, all four county councils—the legislative bodies for each county—are in session all year, with committees usually meeting at scheduled times of the month. Like the State, these committees hear testimony from the community and determine the fate of specific bills, known as ordinances. 

In the spring months leading up to June, the county councils go through their budget process for the upcoming fiscal year. This is a key time to advocate for policies with dollars attached.

The best way to learn more and get involved at your county council is by reaching out to your County or City Council member. It is always helpful to lead with your story—why this issue is personal to you. From there, you may ask them to draft a bill that strengthens one of the four county levers listed above, or identify what further research is needed on the issue. 

It may also be helpful to explore relevant committee agendas to find out what’s currently being debated. The following links can help you get started on how to find and contact your councilmember, track bills through meeting agendas, and provide testimony:

Pathway 3: Charter Amendments

Finally, each county has what’s known as a county charter, which basically operates like a constitution. While ordinances shape day-to-day policy choices (like creating programs, setting zoning rules, or deciding how money is spent), charters lay out how county government is structured, who has power, and what processes must exist. 

All four counties periodically revisit plans, codes, and emergency protocols, creating additional windows for community leadership. Notably, the Honolulu City Charter Review process on Oʻahu—which convenes only once every 10 years—is currently underway, offering a rare chance to embed food resilience into the City’s constitution. 

    • How often does the Charter Review Commission convene?

      Once every 10 years

    • When is the next convening?

      2028

    • How often does the Charter Review Commission convene?

      Once every 10 years

    • When is the next convening?

      2031

    • How often does the Charter Review Commission convene?

      Once every 10 years

    • When is the next convening?

      Convening Now

Counties may not always be centered in the food security conversation, but they are some of Hawaiʻi’s most powerful leaders in combating hunger. By funding kūpuna meals, strengthening emergency feeding plans, supporting community food networks, and investing in farm-to-family pathways, counties build the foundation of a more resilient Hawaiʻi.

Genevieve Mumma

Hawaiʻi Appleseed Food Equity Policy Analyst

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