2024 Annual Report

Our Four Program Areas

Fair & Sustainable Food Systems: Ways We Work

  • Research & Data Analysis

  • Legislative advocacy

  • Coalition Building

  • Pop-Ed / Communications

  • Organizing /Base Building

  • Legal Challenges 

2024 FSFS Key Accomplishments

  • We are Growing our Digital Organizing Reach & Impact:

    • HAPA mobilized the majority of supportive testimony for 50+ good food systems bills in our policy agenda (62%). 

    • Generated 30 FSFS action alerts 

    • 3 our Fair & Sustainable Food Systems bills passed! 

    • Launched Pesticides & Public Health Pop Education Series

    • Grew our digital organizing reach & awareness 

  • Growing a Base of Engaged Food Systems Leaders & Partners

    • Base building list of over 150+ activated food systems leaders

    • Provided first organizing training for food systems leaders

    • Growing partnership through our base building program

  • Growing food equity work, joined multiple coalitions

  • Chapter 343 Lawsuit is Holding Syngenta Accountable in West Kauaʻi

  • Almost Completed 2020-2021 Pesticide (RUP) Usage Research to share publicly

Ola Hawaiʻi: 

Partnership w/ UH School of Public Health

Map of Hawaii showing geographic features, city names, and various land types with points of interest marked across the islands.

  • Data Assessment & Research utilizing public health data sets & HAPA’s RUP data research

  • Focus Groups UH Partnership Project with Dr. Rosana Weldon

    • Impacted Community Groups (Central-N.Shore Oʻahu)

    • Indigenous & Regenerative Farmers

2024 Fair & Sustainable Policy Agenda

6 priority areas

10 introduced bills
50+ bills tracked

2024 Legislative Accomplishments

  • HAPA’s FSFS Policy Agenda: 

    • Included Support for/Tracking 50+ Food Systems Bills

  • We generated alerts for: 

    • 18 Good Tier 1 (pesticide reg.) + Tier 2 Bills (FSFS) (many of our bills didnʻt get hearings)

    • 3 Passed! (DA BUX & Food Bank $ inserted into budget, Fishpond leasing/restoration sent to Gov)

    • 62% of supportive testimony (687 total) are attributed to HAPA’s digital organizing

2024 Digital Organizing

  • 61 emails sent

  • 41% average open-rate

  • 317,370 opened (impressions)

  • 7,083 clicks/ actions

House Farm Bill & Federal Preemption

  • National Farm Bill

  • Call to Action to Contact Federal Representatives

  • Ongoing Push Against Preemption & For Home Rule

  • Working with National Partners & PPN

Call to Action to Contact Federal Representatives

Update: 1,608 Letters Sent!  |  Goal: 3,200 Letters  |  50%+ of goal

Coalition Building

  • Hawaii-wide Coalitions & Networks 

  • Hawaiʻi Hunger Action Network

  • Universal Free School Meals Coalition

  • SNAP Protections Coalition

  • Hawaiʻi Farmers Union

  • New Partnerships: Ke Ea Hawaiʻi, MAʻO Farms, Hawaiʻi Appleseed, 

  • National Partners (PPN)

2024 Community-Based Resource Stewardship Accomplishments

  • 13 Alerts to mobilize engagement for protection of ʻāīna, wai and kai

  • Increased support for de-militarization efforts

  • Continuing to watchdog and mobilize engagement around ADC lands (NPDES permits)

  • Supported a bill to address undue political influence at the Water Commission 

  • Ongoing support for streamflow restoration efforts across the pae ʻāina

  • Support for lokoʻia restoration bills at the legislature

Community-Based Resource Stewardship Ways We Work / Activities

  • Organizing, policy & coalition support for partner-led campaigns 

  • Red-Hill Organizing

  • Streamflow Restoration

  • I Ola Wailuanui

  • Support for Ahupuaa Restoration

  • Communications / Pop-Ed: events, panels, talks 

  • CBRS Blog/Library/Events

Protect Kaʻula Panel & Action Alert

  • Helped organize a last minute panel with Sierra Club, Ka Lāhui Hawaiʻi, Kamawaelualani & Earthjustice.

  • Combined action alerts generated over 3K public comments

Water Protection - West Kauaʻi

  • Run-off from agrochemical companies, a shrimp farm, landfill, water treatment plant and other operations leasing ADC lands in W. Kauaʻi routinely pollute waters.

  • Amplified Earthjustice & Surfrider’s action alert for NPDES permits to address pollution flowing from ADC Mānā lands/and ditches into the W. Kauaʻi waters.

  • Awaiting decision-making 

Six images showing river discharges and spills related to wastewater treatment. The first two images depict the Cox Drain discharging contaminated water into the ocean near Makua, with different angles. The next two images show a second ditch discharging polluted water into the ocean at Kīkīaola Harbor, with view angles from Makua seawards. The last two images are from a 2024 wastewater spill in Waimea, showing the contaminated water flowing into the ocean, one near a tree and the other with a 'Keep Out' sign.

Kuleana Academy to date has … 

7 Cohorts

120 Graduates

48 Ran for Public Office

64 Alumni have supported Electoral Campaigns

94 Alumni had engaged in advocacy or organizing campaigns in their community

10 Alumni serve(d) on Oʻahu Neighborhood Boards

7 Alumni serve(d) on local Boards & Commissions

14 Elected to public office to date

Kuleana Academy Alumni Network

  • E-newsletter

  • Biennial Convening 

  • County Mixers

  • Alumni Video Profiles

  • Webpage

Kauaʻi Alumni Gathering

Hāʻena w/ Hui Makaʻāinana o Makana & Limahuli Gardens

Group of people sitting in a circle on the grass in a lush outdoor area with trees and plants, participating in a gathering or workshop.
Three children are working in a lush, green garden with large leafy plants. They are shirtless and wearing shorts, and appear focused on planting or tending to the plants.
Group of people working together in a lush green farm or garden, some holding plants or tools, surrounded by tropical trees and plants.

Good Government Campaign

  • Launched a campaign to build support for amendments for House and Senate procedures and bills to increase govʻt transparency and accountability.

  • Mobilized testimony for 3 good government bills at the legislature.

  • Passing resolutions in support of good gov reforms at Oʻahu Neighborhood Boards, community organizations, state-level DPH and RPH

  • Coordinating one community organizer on each island to build a base of local support (each responsible for 60 commitments)

A screenshot of an online petition titled '202409 - Joint Petition - Democratic Reforms - Hawaii State Legislature'. The petition urges for pro-democracy reforms in Hawaii, and shows a total of 1,600 signatures. There are options to view, edit, duplicate, tag, or unpublish the petition, along with a share section and a signature count highlighted in green.

  • 1,600 Petition Signers

  • 18 Organizations signed onto support letter

Clean Elections Hawaiʻi

4,294 Actions Taken to get #BigMoneyOut of Politics

519 Volunteers Activated

1,000 Pages of Supportive Testimony Generated

36 Organizations Endorsing Legislation

Dozens Media hits, Op-eds, and Letters to the Editor

Passed comprehensive legislation for the full public financing of elections out of both the House & Senate

FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER! 

Paepae Pōhaku Conference

Hawaiian Charter School Student Leadership Camp in Conjunction with “He Aliʻi ka ʻĀina” Educator Conference 

Ka ʻAi Kamahaʻo

Organizer and Empowerment Trainings for Hawaiʻiʻs Food Systems Leaders in partnership with Hawaiʻi Appleseed

Social & Economic Justice Key Accomplishments 

  • Mobilized support for 9 coalitions/partner campaigns/actions

    • Hawaiʻi Workers Center / Coalition

    • Kapiolani Nurses Strike & Wilcox Actions

    • Ceasefire Reso/ Solidarity with Palestine

    • De-Mil efforts (opposing lease renewals & UARC, conference)

    • Chamber of Sustainable Commerce (fiscal sponsorship)

    • Tax Fairness Coalition 

    • Reimagining Public Safety Coalition (ACLU)

    • Paid Family Leave Coalition

    • Lāhainā Strong Lobbying Efforts - Housing Bill

  • Generated 24 action alerts

  • 22 Actions/Rallies/Marches - participated/promoted/tabled

A protest or demonstration setup under a tent with signs promoting unity, love, and God's natural law. The signs include messages like 'UNITY IN THE LAW = UNITY in the PEOPLE', 'LOVE', 'GODS Natural Law', and references to the Hawaiian Declaration of Rights. A few people are sitting nearby, and a Hawaiian flag is visible to the right of the tent.
Protesters at a rally holding signs with messages of international solidarity, including one large sign that reads 'LONG LIVE INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY!'. The crowd appears to be demonstrating support for Gaza, with other signs advocating for Palestinian rights and global unity, amidst trees and urban buildings.
A large group of protesters gathered under a modern structure, holding various signs and banners advocating for workers' rights, fair contracts, and better staffing. Some signs read 'ORGANIZE. DONT AGONIZE.', 'FAIR CONTRACT NOW!', 'DEFEND WORKERS RIGHTS!', and 'WE WANT SAFE STAFFING NOW!'. The crowd includes diverse individuals, many wearing yellow shirts, with some wearing sunglasses and hats, and a young girl standing in front.
A large crowd of people gathered for a protest or march, holding signs and waving flags with a Union Jack design. The crowd includes diverse individuals, some wearing red shirts, and they walk underneath a large, sprawling tree with green foliage.

Social & Economic Justice: Ways We Work & Activities

  • Policy Advocacy in Legislative Session & Coalition Organizing

    • Continue to create connections & relationships w/partners

    • Support for partners & coalitions

    • Attend/table at in-person events Generated 24 action alerts

  • Communications

    • Blog/Library/Events

    • Amplifying partner alerts

    • Creating unique alerts for partner led campaigns

  • 8.8k Instagram followers

  • 18k Email list subscribers

January 24’

December 24’

  • 11.4k Instagram followers

  • 20k Email list subscribers