Take action to end hunger in Hawai‘i

Hunger continues to be a major issue in Hawaiʻi, where the cost of food on a thrifty budget is some 80 percent higher than the average on the continent—the highest food costs in the United States. Vulnerable populations, including keiki and kupuna, are at particular risk of being food insecure.

To address this critical issue, the Hawaiʻi Hunger Action Network (HHAN) works on select priority issues each year within four areas of advocacy: economic supports, public benefits, emergency food innovation and disaster preparedness.

State Policy Priorities

2024 Legislative session

DA BUX Double Up Food Bucks

Paid Family Leave

Other priorities

Click below for sample testimony

  • A state child tax credit—or Keiki Credit—would provide families with economic support to raise families in Hawaiʻi where the costs for raising kids is significantly higher than on the continent. As an “upstream” solution to food insecurity, this credit would help keep keiki fed.

  • Many of Hawaiʻi’s keiki don’t meet the eligibility thresholds for free school meals, yet their families are still struggling to put food on the table. Providing school breakfast and lunch without charge to ALL public school families–regardless of income–is a crucial strategy to guarantee that every child receives the necessary nutrition for growth and well-being.

    This session, join us to call upon Hawaiʻi leaders to support Universal Free School Meals (UFSM), ensuring that no child experiences hunger at school, and that all keiki have equal opportunities to succeed and thrive.

  • Many Hawai‘i families who struggle to afford their monthly grocery bills still fall outside of the strict eligibility thresholds for SNAP. In many cases, a small increase in wages could trigger a total loss of benefits, resulting in a net decrease in the household’s monthly budget. This session, leaders are deliberating on a measure that would continue to provide benefits for families over the federal limit, covering all families considered Asset-Limited, Income Constrained, and Employed (ALICE)

  • Aloha Chair, Vice Chair, members of the committee,

    Thank you so much for the opportunity to testify in SUPPORT of HB2430, which would help our state implement a new federal program to feed keiki during the summer months, known as Summer EBT.

    Unfortunately, childhood hunger spikes during the summer, when kids no longer have access to shool breakfast and lunch. Summer EBT is a federal benefit that would give cash to families to purchase food during the summer months when they need it most.

    HB2430 would provide support to DOE and DHS to set up this new program. This small investment would have an enormous return on investment—an estimated 18 million in federal dollars to 100,000 eligible Hawaii children.

    Thank you so much for your consideration of this bill. It is an investment in our local economy and also our future.

Federal Advocacy

Opportunities

Tell the USDA: Neighbor island food costs need to be considered!

What’s going on?

  • The USDA updated Hawai’i’s Thrifty Food Plan costs, which decides the maximum monthly SNAP benefits for families based on food costs.

  • Hawai’i is the only state in the nation that will see a drop in monthly benefits — 20% over the next five years.  

  • No neighbor island stores were considered in the analysis. This is due to an old regulatory rule–that we have the opportunity to change.

Key messages

  • Every month, SNAP adds an average of $53 million to the grocery buying power of Hawaiʻi families. These cuts will harm families relying on SNAP to survive, local businesses, farmers, and food producers that depend on local businesses

  • Neighbor islands have higher food costs than Honolulu, and that needs to be considered.

  • Rural and neighbor island businesses/residents will be disproportionately harmed by this rule.

  • Many Hawaiʻi shoppers rely on small, family markets, particularly on the neighbor islands.

  • The Thrifty Food Plan market basket is not culturally representative of the foods many Hawaiʻi families eat.

What can I do to help?

The USDA is asking for your help to find more accurate data about food costs in Hawaiʻi. Key messages and more information can be found below.

Comments are due March 4. 

Our Advocacy Areas

Economic Supports

Public Benefits

Emergency Food Innovation

Disaster Preparedness