HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	100
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

urging the department of education to strengthen farm-to-school initiatives.

WHEREAS, Hawai‘i currently imports nearly eighty-five to ninety percent of its food, making the State vulnerable to external supply chain disruptions; and

WHEREAS, farm-to-school programs provide an opportunity to increase local food procurement and resilience, reduce Hawai‘i's reliance on imported goods, and strengthen the State's agricultural economy; and

WHEREAS, Act 175, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, established a goal for at least thirty percent of school meal ingredients to be sourced locally by 2030; and

WHEREAS, significant barriers continue to stifle progress in meeting the local food procurement goal, including procurement regulations, distribution logistics, and inconsistent farmer-school partnerships; and

WHEREAS, expanding local farm procurement in farm-to-school initiatives would support Hawai‘i's small and medium-sized farms; and

WHEREAS, prioritizing the procurement of locally grown Native Hawaiian crops, such as kalo, ‘uala, and ulu, aligns with Hawai‘i's commitment to food sovereignty, climate resilience, and indigenous agricultural practices; and

WHEREAS, increasing local farm procurement in schools would provide stable, institutional markets for Hawai‘i farmers, thereby fostering economic growth and workforce development in the State; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the Department of Education is urged to take immediate action to strengthen local farm-to-school initiatives; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to:

(1) Streamline the procurement process to make it easier for small- and medium-scale farmers to sell to schools, including simplifying contracting requirements and increasing flexibility in sourcing policies;

(2) Develop a statewide database of local farms that are eligible and interested in supplying food for school meals to facilitate farm-to-school connections;

(3) Increase financial incentives for schools to purchase locally sourced food through grant programs, subsidies, or farm-to-school budget allocations; and

(4) Ensure culturally appropriate foods, such as kalo, ‘uala, and ulu, are incorporated into school meal programs; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to submit a report on its progress, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2026; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Superintendent of Education, and Chairperson of the Board of Education.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Department of Education; Farm-to-School Initiatives