New SNAP limits mean higher costs, fewer choices for Hawaiʻi families
HONOLULU, Hawaiʻi — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) waivers under the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative, which includes Hawaiʻi among six states set to impose new restrictions on what types of food can be purchased with SNAP benefits.
With nearly one in three Hawai‘i families already facing food insecurity, local anti-hunger and public health organizations are concerned that this new SNAP food restriction will place additional burdens on families, grocery retailers, and state administrators—all while doing nothing to guarantee better health outcomes.
Sugary products play a clear role in many preventable health conditions, but a SNAP-specific ban is not an effective public health strategy. The real barrier to healthy eating is affordability. Hawaiʻi families who already struggle to make ends meet can barely cover basics; this new limitation only restricts choice and attacks low-income people.
Targeting SNAP Recipients: Sugary products are a health concern for the entire state, and policies to decrease our state’s sugar consumption should be focused on all of our residents, not just those who receive federal SNAP benefits. Targeting only those who receive SNAP is an attack on their dignity and autonomy, and diverts attention from more comprehensive, evidence-based public health solutions.
Incentives Over Restrictions: There are proven, effective ways to strengthen SNAP and improve diets through expanding incentives for local, nutritious foods so that healthy options are more affordable than processed alternatives. Research has found no significant improvements in diet quality among SNAP participants subject to restrictions; however, increasing fruit and vegetable incentives amongst SNAP participants has been proven to increase fruit and vegetable purchases while also decreasing purchase of sugar-sweetened beverages. Programs like Hawaiʻi’s DA BUX are proven to be much more effective at producing healthy outcomes than restrictions, while preferred by the public.
Impact on Retailers: For many food retailers, SNAP makes up a significant portion of sales. While Hawaiʻi’s waiver is currently limited to soft drinks, it still would require retailers to reprogram cash registers and online systems, retrain staff, and manage a more confusing checkout process. Some retailers might decide to drop out of the program entirely – threatening access to food assistance in communities where grocery options are already limited. Costs will likely be passed on to all customers, potentially driving up the price of food across the board.
Administrative Burden: Additionally, the Department of Human Services (DHS), which administers SNAP in Hawaiʻi, is already scrambling to implement the recently passed federal budget reconciliation bill, which adds new costs and eligibility changes onto the state. This additional restriction only adds red tape and diverts staff time away from critical tasks like ensuring timely benefits and reducing error rates.
The USDA’s approval of SNAP food-restriction waivers for Hawaiʻi and other states does not strengthen this vital safety net—it complicates it, stigmatizes recipients, and threatens access for many who need SNAP the most.