Hawaiʻi sees first school meal reimbursement rate increase in 40 years

A long awaited boost to federal child nutrition program funds announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in February, is now flowing into the state. 

Hawaiʻi’s reimbursement rate for school meals and other federal child nutrition programs has been increased to 30% above the continental US rates, which is projected to bring an additional $8 million a year to Hawaiʻi to support healthy meals for children.

With more than 50 additional cents per free lunch or supper served under the National School Lunch Program and Child and Adult Care Food Program, these increased rates will help Hawaiʻi K-12 schools, child care and early learning, afterschool, and summer programs provide meals and snacks to more than 100,000 children.

These nutritious meals and snacks are reimbursed by the federal government at a per-meal rate, set by the USDA. The new funding will be applied to all child nutrition programs in the state, which include the NSLP, the School Breakfast Program, the CACFP and the Summer Food Service Program.

With inadequate reimbursement rates long seen as a major barrier to Hawaiʻi’s participation in federal child nutrition programs, this rate increase for Hawaiʻi is the culmination of years of work by local anti-hunger organizations and child advocacy groups as well as the swift action at the federal level by Hawaiʻi’s congressional delegation and the USDA.

“Now with the increase in reimbursement, we encourage other youth service organizations and food vendors to join us in ensuring that no child goes hungry and has the nutritional support needed to thrive,“ said Greg Waibel, President and CEO of YMCA of Honolulu, one of the state’s longest-serving USDA meals site sponsors. “Families who are near the end of each pay period and have to choose rent over food for their children, single parents living paycheck to paycheck, and children not able to focus on their school work because they are hungry deserve and must have access to nutritious and well-balanced meals.”

Over the last 40 years as the chasm between the true cost of meals and the USDA reimbursement rate grew, the state and schools/organizations participating in these federal programs have had to struggle to make up the steep difference while meeting unprecedented need.

“Our emergency food system is experiencing increased demand like never before as pandemic-era flexibilities end, emergency relief funding wanes, and the cost of food continues to rise,” said Jordan Smith, Senior Policy Analyst For Anti-Hunger Initiatives at Hawaiʻi Appleseed. “With the help of anti-hunger advocates, state legislatures across the country have been passing innovative child nutrition policies that provide relief to working families and feed hungry children. This increased funding allows Hawaiʻi the perfect opportunity to follow suit.”