A look at the policy initiatives aimed at ending food insecurity: expanding SNAP access, funding Farm to Families, free school meals and more.
While grassroots efforts provide an essential lifeline, Hawaiʻi’s high rate of food insecurity — affecting 1 in 3 households — requires policy-driven solutions. For the 2026 State Legislative session, Hawaiʻi’s Food Bank Hui and Hawaiʻi Hunger Action Network (HHAN) are focused on three pillars of reform:
- SNAP Accessibility: We are pushing to strengthen the safety net for our most vulnerable residents.
- Economic & Nutritional Synergy: The “Farm to Families” program seeks increased funding to bridge the gap between local agriculture and food-insecure neighbors, stimulating the local economy while improving health outcomes.
- Educational Equity: Our goal is a phased-in Universal Free School Meal program, ensuring every keiki can learn without hunger.
We are also working with partners to explore ways to reduce or remove the General Excise Tax (GET) on groceries, a regressive tax that forces lower-income families to spend a larger share of their income on necessities.
Our advocacy efforts also extend to the county level, where right now, proposals are being considered before the Honolulu Charter Commission, a body that convenes only once a decade to review and amend the guiding policies of the city.
To ensure long-term, stable investment in our community’s health and well-being, we support Proposal 31 (The Right to Food) and Proposal 119 (The Food Security Fund). By shifting from reactive aid to intentional policy, we can ensure a resilient Hawaiʻi.
Proposal 31 formally recognizes the right of all residents to access food that meets their nutritional needs, financial means, and cultural heritage.
Proposal 119 turns property tax revenue into a sustainable funding model for food security. This proposal guarantees intentional investment in emergency relief and local farming initiatives, ensuring that healthy, locally grown food reaches our most vulnerable neighbors.
Federal cuts and economic uncertainty are looming, but Hawaiʻi can lead the way with a robust, homegrown safety net.
Read our Director of Advocacy Elia Herman’s column on Honolulu Civil Beat, and visit hawaiihungeraction.org for more information on this year’s legislative priorities.
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