Since 2000, Hawaiʻi has missed out on more than $200 million in federal funding for the state’s school meal programs, according to a new joint report released today.

The report, “Feed our Keiki, Support our Schools, Help our Farmers,” was published by Hawaiʻi Appleseed, Hawaiʻi Children’s Action Network, the Hawaiʻi Afterschool Alliance and the Ulupono Initiative.

The “Feed our Keiki” report found the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing far less funding to Hawaiʻi than it should, resulting in a financial crisis for Hawaiʻi’s child nutrition programs.

“Because of this lack of federal funding, Hawaiʻi’s state government has to pay between $20 and $30 million annually to keep feeding kids,” said Nicole Woo, Director of Research & Economic Policy at Hawaiʻi Children’s Action Network. “Other school districts across the nation pay much less. This means that in Hawaiʻi, less funding is available to cover other important education costs, like pre-K programs, afterschool programs and better pay for teachers.”