#food insecurity

To help Hawaiʻi Foodbank meet rising demand across the islands, Matson has increased its support for Hawaiʻi families in need by adding 100 containers to its existing pledge of in-kind shipping services for 400 containers annually through 2027 to serve Hawaiʻi Foodbank’s program for purchasing and transporting large quantities of food from the continental US. 

A new policy brief from the Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice urges leaders on the county level to address food insecurity as federal nutrition programs face significant funding cuts.

US Sen. Mazie K. Hirono joined the Senate Democratic Caucus in introducing the “Restoring Food Security for American Families and Farmers Act of 2025.” The legislation would repeal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

The University of Hawaiʻi Maui College and The Salvation Army Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division Maui County came together once again this year to provide a Thanksgiving meal for about 750 community members and UHMC students and staff at the college’s Pā‘ina Building on Wednesday.

In a show of community support, six Rotary Clubs across Maui helped Maui Food Bank collect enough donations to provide 5,443 meals during this year’s Holiday Food Drive on Saturday, Nov. 15. Volunteers were stationed at every Safeway location on the island from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., encouraging shoppers to give what they could during a season of rising need.

Through charitable shipping contributions valued at more than $1.55 million, Matson has donated freight services to transport 156 shipping containers carrying food and essential supplies to Maui since 2022, thereby making it one of Maui Food Bank’s largest and most impactful partners.

“On Maui, 41% of households are food insecure, a 10-point increase from last year,” said Maui Food Bank CEO Lisa Paulson. “The lingering effects of the Lahaina fires, combined with SNAP cuts and the government shutdown, continue to place extraordinary strain on our community. These findings shine a spotlight on the urgent need for continued investment, compassion, and collaboration to ensure no one in Maui County goes hungry.”

Gov. Josh Green and the Hawaiʻi Department of Human Services have announced that SNAP recipients should be able to spend the additional $250 in relief funds beginning Nov. 10, four full days earlier than anticipated. Recipients should be able to see the extra $250 in their accounts now, as a pending benefit.

Food boxes, donated meals and loan payment pauses have been geared toward helping folks afford over a month’s worth of lost paychecks and food stamps.

The Food and Nutrition Service notified states Friday that all November SNAP benefit allotments are suspended until sufficient federal funding is appropriated or the agency issues updated direction. 

Two Maui-based organizations and a Honolulu foundation are set to receive a boost in their efforts to combat food insecurity, after being named as grantees of the newly launched Indigenous Tomorrows Fund. The fund, a collaborative effort among Native Americans in Philanthropy, Newman’s Own Foundation and Novo Nordisk, is awarding $720,000 to tackle food insecurity in tribal […]

In response to the ongoing impacts of the federal government shutdown, volunteers across Maui have come together to host Operation Kokua Maui ʻOhana, a community food distribution taking place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Hawaiʻi Army National Guard Armory, 230th Engineer Company. It is located at 2701 Maui Veterans Highway.

The SNAP-Ed program could end without federal funding on Sept. 30, ultimately impacting community well-being and food security.

SB 1300 appropriates critical funding to expand access to free school meals and provide support for families classified as ALICE – Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed – working families who may not qualify for existing assistance programs but still struggle to meet their children’s basic needs. 

To take part, place non-perishable food items in a bag next to your mailbox before mail delivery on Saturday, May 10. Your letter carrier will collect the donations.

This April, Project Keiki returns to Foodland stores statewide to raise funds for Hawaiʻi’s local food banks dedicated to fighting food insecurity. Beneficiaries include Hawaiʻi Foodbank on Oʻahu and Kauaʻi, Maui Food Bank, and The Food Basket on Hawaiʻi Island.

The 12th annual “Fight Hunger. Spark Change.” food security campaign runs at Walmart and Sam’s Clubs locations nationwide from March 1-31, 2025.

The 24th annual Paddle For Hunger, held on Thanksgiving morning, concluded a successful fundraising effort for the Maui Food Bank, thanks to a crowd of nearly 200 community members. 

Rotarians and their supporters set up collection stations at four Safeway locations across the island on Saturday, Nov. 16, successfully gathering nearly 1,700 pounds of food and raising over $3,900 in donations, which combined will provide 17,006 meals to island residents in need.

This year, 23 businesses raised more than $8,800 and 1,761 pounds of food through the end of October, which combined will provide 50,710 meals to individuals and families across the Maui Food Bank’s network.