6 Maui Schools Serving Free Summer Meals

Sixty-three public schools in Hawaiʻi, including six in Maui County, will serve meals through the Hawaiʻi State Department of Education’s summer food service program, Seamless Summer Option.

This upcoming school year, HIDOE will expand the USDA CEP free meal program from seven public schools to 30 across the state.
Photo Credit: Department of Education

Maui County schools included on the list are: Hāna High & Elementary; Kahului Elementary; Lihikai Elementary; Waiheʻe Elementary; Wailuku Elementary; and Molokaʻi High.

The SSO program is now available at public schools around the state free of charge to all children 18 years and under. Meals will be served at select locations Monday through Friday, except June 12 and July 4. Most schools will serve both breakfast and lunch.

Parents are advised to call their child’s school directly if the start and end dates for the program aren’t listed, and to find out the specific times for meal service.

SSO is funded by the US Department of Agriculture and was established to ensure that low-income children continue to receive nutritious meals during the summer. An eligible school must have 50% or more of its regular enrolled students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunches and some type of summer program on campus; however, meal recipients do not have to be enrolled in those classes to be served.

“Economically disadvantaged students often come to school hungry and rely on programs like the Department’s Free and Reduced Price Lunch, which is why we continue to offer support during the summer months that would otherwise be a gap period,” said Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi. “In addition to serving their own students, these schools are also offering meals to other children in the community and we thank them for their support as well as the USDA whose funding is so critical for this program.”