HR136 HD2

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 eighteen to 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 certain 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 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 House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, that the Chairperson of Agriculture and Biosecurity, or the Chairperson's designee, is requested to collaborate with appropriate state and county agencies, including but not limited to: The Hawaii Interagency Food Systems Working Group; county agencies; 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, 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 individuals with disabilities and access and functional needs, ensuring that the assessment includes economic, geographic, cultural, and programmatic barriers and anticipates future food-security needs;

(2) For individuals with disabilities and access and functional needs, align strategies 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;

(3) 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;

(4) Align strategies and findings with the statutory mandates established by Act 151, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019; Act 175, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021; and Act 176, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021;

(5) 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

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

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity is requested to submit the comprehensive statewide food security strategy to inform future legislation, appropriations, and policy actions related to food security and the right to food throughout the State, including any findings, recommendations, proposed implementation steps, and any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2028; 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; Chair of the Hawaii Interagency Food Systems Working Group; and Mayor of each county.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	136
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026		H.D. 2
STATE OF HAWAII