Matson increases support for Hawaiʻi Foodbank, helping local families with food security

To help Hawaiʻi Foodbank meet rising demand across the islands, Matson has committed to providing in-kind shipping services for up to 600 containers over the next three years, with a total donated shipping value of up to $6 million.

The support comes at a critical time of recovery following this summer’s active Hurricane season, and will serve Hawaiʻi Foodbank’s program for purchasing and transporting large quantities of food from the continental US.

The new three-year agreement replaces the prior shipping agreement for shipments beginning Jan. 1, 2026, and covers both westbound and eastbound services between Hawaiʻi and the continental US. This continued commitment enables Hawaiʻi Foodbank to allocate more funds to the purchase of food for people in need. 

“With food insecurity affecting nearly 1 in 3 households in Hawaiʻi, it’s clear that this problem is affecting individuals and families in every community,” said Matt Cox, Chairman and CEO of Matson. “Recent Kona lows, hurricanes and other natural disasters have underscored the importance of ensuring communities have access to critical resources during times of need, which is why we chose to provide an additional $1 million in support. We are proud to support the work of Hawaiʻi Foodbank and its partners by doing what we do best, moving critical supplies quickly and efficiently, to help ensure families across Hawaiʻi have access to food.”

By absorbing these trans-Pacific shipping costs, Matson enables Hawaiʻi Foodbank to redirect critical resources not only toward purchasing more food, but also supporting distribution statewide, maximizing impact at a time when demand remains high. These savings are especially impactful given Hawaiʻi Foodbank’s ability to stretch every dollar through its partnership with Feeding America, where bulk purchasing and national discounts dramatically increase buying power. 

Beyond donated ocean transportation, Matson will continue to assist with shipment bookings and coordination of container pickup and ground transportation. It also provides assistance under established stop-in-transit regulations for mainland shipments when a portion of the cargo is destined for an island beyond Oʻahu.

“This partnership with Matson has a profound impact on our ability to serve our community,” said Hawaiʻi Foodbank President and CEO Amy Miller. “Matson’s support allows us to redirect precious dollars toward purchasing nutritious food at deep discounts and bring more food into Hawaiʻi. With many local families just one or two paychecks away from food insecurity, Matson’s commitment will help tens of thousands of people across our islands.”

According to The State of Food Insecurity in Hawaiʻi 2024-2025, 32% of Hawaiʻi households experienced food insecurity during the reported period. To read the full report, visit hawaiifoodbank.org/who-we-are/food-insecurity/.