According to the report, children in low-income households have a better chance of eating healthier foods through federally-funded programs such as the National School Lunch Program or Summer Food Service Program. Participating organizations then receive reimbursement from USDA for meals served.

Hawaiʻi’s current reimbursement rate is 17% higher than the national average, but advocates say that is inaccurate, especially since the food and labor analysis used to calculate the adjustment has not been updated since 1979.

“We reran the analysis,” said Daniela Spoto, Director of Anti-Hunger Initiatives at Hawaiʻi Appleseed. “[Hawaiʻi is] now 62% higher, so we’ve exponentially widened the gap between how much food and labor costs are in Hawaiʻi versus the mainland. However, that 17% adjustment remains the same.”

Spoto said federal reimbursement typically covers 85%-90% of the meal programs’ operating costs on the mainland. However, Hawaiʻi’s reimbursement only covers 55% of operating costs. Hawaiʻi also ranks the lowest among states for participation in school nutrition programs.