Food Equity
Food equity is the overarching principle advocating for universal access to healthful, affordable, and culturally significant foods–ensuring that all community members have the ability to grow, procure, trade, and understand the sources of their food in a manner–that prioritizes cultural integrity, fair access to land, just pricing and wages, human health, and ecological sustainability. At its core, food equity requires democratic control over food systems, allowing community stakeholders to actively shape policies influencing their local food landscape.
Our mission is to advance food equity in Hawai‘i by fostering a collaborative, community-driven approach that ensures all individuals have access to healthful, affordable, and culturally significant foods. Through coalition building, policy and advocacy, community engagement, and data-driven research, we strive to create a more inclusive and democratic food system that prioritizes cultural integrity, equitable access to land, fair prices and wages, human health, and ecological sustainability.
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Universal Free School Meals (UFSM) is a critical initiative that recognizes the significance of school meals as essential tools for our keiki’s academic success and overall well-being. Research unequivocally demonstrates that access to nutritious breakfast and lunch at school significantly improves student attendance, academic performance and health. These meals bridge the nutritional gap between children from lower- and higher-income households and, in many cases, provide the healthiest meal of the day for students. Despite this, Hawaiʻi’s keiki currently face inequitable and revocable access to this essential school supply, with as little as a $5 meal debt putting them at risk of going hungry and making it harder to learn.
The implementation of UFSM represents an opportunity to promote equity, economic justice, and combat childhood food insecurity in Hawaiʻi. Drawing upon the legacy of community-based initiatives and learning from the success of states that have already embraced UFSM, Hawaiʻi can take significant steps toward ensuring that no child experiences hunger at school. This policy investment ensures that all keiki have equal opportunities to succeed and thrive, regardless of their family’s economic circumstances.
Get involved with the Hawaiʻi Hunger Action Network by signing up for food equity policy and advocacy updates.
A bill to provide universal free school meals in Hawaiʻi is once again in jeopardy at the state Legislature.