SR 31: requesting certain state AND COUNTY agencies, IN COORDINATION WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, to develop a comprehensive statewide food security strategy.

THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	31
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting certain state AND COUNTY agencies, IN COORDINATION WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, to develop a comprehensive statewide food security strategy.

 

 

     WHEREAS, according to the State of Food Insecurity in Hawaiʻi 2024–2025 report compiled by Hawaii Foodbank and its affiliates statewide, approximately thirty-two percent of the State's households experienced food insecurity, meaning they lacked consistent access to sufficient, nutritious, and affordable food, and more than one in five households reported "very low food security", with members skipping meals or going entire days without eating due to lack of resources; and

 

     WHEREAS, according to the report, thirty-four percent of children in the State live in households with food insecurity, an increase from prior reporting, indicating that more than one in three families struggle to reliably feed their keiki and demonstrating a worsening trend among families with children; and

 

     WHEREAS, young adults between the ages of eighteen and twenty-nine and households relying on federal nutrition assistance were also reported to have faced particularly high rates of food insecurity; and

 

     WHEREAS, food insecurity disproportionately impacts Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Filipino, and other historically marginalized communities in the State, who face higher rates of poverty, limited access to healthy and culturally relevant foods, and systemic barriers in both urban and rural areas; and

 

     WHEREAS, these populations often experience compounded challenges from geographic isolation and intergenerational inequities and are more vulnerable to the impacts of processed foods, climate change, and economic disruptions, underscoring the need for targeted strategies that honor cultural practices, support community-led food systems, and promote equitable access to nutritious and locally grown foods; and

 

     WHEREAS, individuals with disabilities and access and functional needs experience unique and often overlooked barriers to food access, and therefore, it is essential that any plan to address food security in the State consider the needs of these populations; and

 

     WHEREAS, food insecurity imposes serious consequences on health, dignity, community resilience, and long-term economic stability, including increased risk of diet-related illness, developmental and educational impairments for keiki, mental‑health stresses, and higher public-health costs, making food security a matter of public welfare, equity, and justice;

now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, that appropriate state agencies, including but not limited to the Interagency Food Systems Working Group; appropriate county agencies; Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism; Agribusiness Development Corporation; Department of Human Services; Department of Health; Department of Transportation; Hawaii Emergency Management Agency; and Office of Hawaiian Affairs, in coordination with community-based organizations, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander leaders, food access organizations, food security coalitions, organizations representing individuals with disabilities and access and functional needs, and other relevant stakeholders, are requested to develop a comprehensive statewide food security strategy; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the comprehensive statewide food security strategy is requested to be data-driven and equity-focused, and, at a minimum:

 

     (1)  Assess barriers to food access across the State's diverse communities, including economic, geographic, cultural, and programmatic barriers, and anticipate future food-security needs;

 

     (2)  Analyze economic, climatic, and demographic trends affecting food availability, affordability, and access, including the impacts of climate change, natural disasters, and supply-chain disruptions;

 

     (3)  Identify win-win strategies that decrease food insecurity and boost local agricultural production;

 

     (4)  Recommend policy, programmatic, and funding strategies to reduce food costs and expand access to sufficient, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food, including traditional Native Hawaiian and locally grown foods;

 

     (5)  Include mechanisms for community participation in food-system coordination, planning, and decision-making, with particular attention to Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Filipino, and other historically underserved communities;

 

     (6)  (A)  Consider the needs of individuals with disabilities and access and functional needs;

 

          (B)  Ensure alignment with existing programs that serve these populations, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Medicaid home and community-based services, and aging network supports, to reduce fragmentation and improve access;

 

          (C)  Incorporate emergency preparedness and disaster response considerations, recognizing that individuals with disabilities are disproportionately impacted by disruptions in food access during emergencies; and

 

          (D)  Support community-driven solutions that promote independence, dignity, and long-term stability for individuals and families; and

 

     (7)  Coordinate with existing county food-security and food-system resilience efforts, ensuring alignment with adopted county food plans and related planning documents to support statewide coherence and effective implementation; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that participating state and county agencies are requested to submit a report on the comprehensive statewide food security strategy, any findings and recommendations, and proposed implementation steps, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027, to inform future legislation, appropriations, and policy actions related to food security throughout the State; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Director of Human Services; Director of Health; Director of Transportation; Administrator of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency; Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Executive Director of the Agribusiness Development Corporation; Executive Administrator of the State Council on Developmental Disabilities; Executive Director of the Disability and Communication Access Board; and Mayor of each county.

 

 

Report Title: 

Food Production; Food Insecurity; Comprehensive Statewide Food Security Strategy

 

THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	31
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting certain state AND COUNTY agencies, IN COORDINATION WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, to develop a comprehensive statewide food security strategy.

 

 

     WHEREAS, according to the State of Food Insecurity in Hawaiʻi 2024–2025 report compiled by Hawaii Foodbank and its affiliate foodbanks statewide, approximately thirty-two percent of the State's households experienced food insecurity, meaning they lacked consistent access to sufficient, nutritious, and affordable food, and more than one in five households reported "very low food security", with members skipping meals or going entire days without eating due to lack of resources; and

 

     WHEREAS, according to the report, among households with children, thirty-four percent experienced food insecurity, an increase from prior reporting, indicating that more than one in three families struggle to reliably feed their keiki and demonstrating a worsening trend among families with children; and

 

     WHEREAS, young adults (ages 18–29) and households relying on federal nutrition assistance were also reported to have faced particularly high rates of food insecurity; and

 

     WHEREAS, food insecurity disproportionately impacts Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Filipino, and other historically marginalized communities in the State, who face higher rates of poverty, limited access to healthy and culturally relevant foods, and systemic barriers in both urban and rural areas; and

 

     WHEREAS, these populations often experience compounded challenges from geographic isolation, intergenerational inequities, and are more impacted by processed foods, climate change, and economic disruptions, underscoring the need for targeted strategies that honor cultural practices, support community-led food systems, and promote equitable access to nutritious and locally grown foods; and

 

     WHEREAS, food insecurity imposes serious consequences on health, dignity, community resilience, and long-term economic stability, including increased risk of diet-related illness, developmental and educational impairments for keiki, mental‑health stresses, and higher public-health costs, making food security a matter of public welfare, equity, and justice; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, that appropriate state agencies, including but not limited to the Hawaii Interagency Food Systems Working Group; County Agencies; Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism; Agribusiness Development Corporation; Department of Human Services; Department of Health; Department of Transportation; Hawaii Emergency Management Agency; and Office of Hawaiian Affairs, in coordination with community-based organizations, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander leaders, food access organizations, food security coalitions, and other relevant stakeholders, are requested to develop a comprehensive statewide food security strategy; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the statewide food security strategy is requested to be data-driven, equity-focused, and at a minimum:

 

     (1)  Assess barriers to food access across the State's diverse communities, including economic, geographic, cultural, and programmatic barriers, and anticipate future food-security needs;

 

     (2)  Analyze economic, climatic, and demographic trends affecting food availability, affordability, and access, including the impacts of climate change, natural disasters, and supply-chain disruptions;

 

     (3)  Identify win-win strategies that both decrease food insecurity and boost local agricultural production;

 

     (4)  Recommend policy, programmatic, and funding strategies to reduce food costs and expand access to sufficient, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food, including traditional Native Hawaiian and locally grown foods;

 

     (5)  Include mechanisms for community participation in food-system coordination, planning and decision-making, with particular attention to Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Filipino, and other historically underserved communities; and

 

     (6)  Coordinate with existing county food-security and food-system resilience efforts, ensuring alignment with adopted county food plans and related planning documents to support statewide coherence and effective implementation; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that participating state and county agencies are requested to submit a report on the comprehensive statewide food security strategy, any findings and recommendations, and proposed implementation steps, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027, to inform future legislation, appropriations, and policy actions related to food security and the right to food throughout the State; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Director of Human Services; Director of Health; Director of Transportation; Administrator of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency; Chairperson of the Board of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Executive Director of the Agribusiness Development Corporation; and Mayor of each county.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

Food Production; Food Insecurity; Comprehensive Statewide Food Security Strategy