Food equity means everyone in Hawaiʻi has access to healthy, affordable, and culturally meaningful food. It means Hawaiʻi’s farmers have access to land, just wages, and sustainable practices. Food equity demands community control over food systems so that it is the people that shape policies that affect their food sources. We work to advance food equity in Hawaiʻi through collaboration, advocacy and research. Together, we can build an inclusive food system that honors cultural values, supports fair pricing and land access, and promotes health and sustainability.

2026 Legislative Priorities

Require that the state Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) office apply for the Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP) and the pre-release waiver.
The Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP) extends the recertification period to every 3 years and allows kūpuna and adults with disabilities to waive recertification interviews. Implement a prerelease waiver allowing eligible incarcerated individuals to apply for SNAP benefits before release.
We continue to look for opportunities to expand free school meals to all students in Hawaiʻi, including charter school students, as well as making Act 139 permanent.
Implement a direct certification process that automatically qualifies children receiving Medicaid for free or reduced-price school meals, even if they don’t fill out an application.
Provide funding for food banks in the wake of federal cuts through investments in the State Emergency Food Assistance Program (SEFAP). Build on the success of the “Farm to Families” model.