This may be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to pivot toward the kind of food system we want for Hawaiʻi’s future.

We need to stand up to the Trump Administration’s misguided attempts to weaken nutrition standards.

Advocates are backing a bill to provide state money to bolster the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program when its funds are spent on local produce.

The DOE is increasing local food in student meals as well as connecting our keiki with the ʻāina using local products from the agricultural community.

Nutrition incentive programs like SNAP help stretch budgets and put good food on tables.

Under the ʻĀina Pono initiative, schools are serving nutritious meals using locally sourced ingredients.

Low participation in summer meal programs robs the state of more than a million dollars a month in federal reimbursements for the meals.

Research shows that when students eat school breakfast they have lower rates of obesity and improved attendance, behavior and grades.