Report questions Hawaiʻi’s low enrollment rate in after school supper program

Tens of thousands of low-income kids in Hawaiʻi are eligible for free after-school suppers under a federally-funded program.

But a new report from the Food Research and Action Center shows that only 259 students in the islands are signed up to get the meals, which in many locales are served during after-school activities.

That’s the lowest enrollment rate in the nation.

The Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice said by not serving after school meals, the Department of Education is leaving about $600,000 in federal reimbursements on the table.