Support a Food Security Fund for Oʻahu!
Please take a moment to submit testimony in support of a charter amendment Food Security Fund for Oʻahu! On Tuesday, May 26 at 2:30 p.m., the full Honolulu Charter Commission will take a critical vote on whether to continue advancing Proposal P119: Create a Food Security Fund.
Please submit written testimony by Monday, May 25 and consider providing oral testimony by zoom or in person.
Instructions for submitting testimony, along with sample testimony from the Food Bank Hui are available here.
What is the Food Security Fund?
The Food Security Fund would support programs and grants, including grants to community organizations, that provide locally grown or produced food to Oʻahu residents experiencing food insecurity. It would also allow limited exceptions to purchase food from other sources during emergencies.
Funding would come from existing real property tax revenues — not through a tax increase — and is estimated to generate approximately $8 million annually.
Why is this important? Food insecurity on Oʻahu:
Nearly 250,000 people on Oʻahu struggle with food insecurity. Families are skipping meals, kūpuna are choosing between food and medicine, and keiki are going to school hungry.
The Food Security Fund would create an important, consistent source of revenue dedicated to strengthening our local food system and helping ensure everyone in our community has enough food to live an active, healthy life. Establishing the fund would be an investment in local farmers and producers, as well as in families and communities experiencing food insecurity.
What is the Charter Commission?
The Honolulu Charter Commission is a 13-member body that convenes once every 10 years to review how the City and County of Honolulu operates. This includes examining how the Mayor, City Council and city departments function, how decisions are made, and how services are delivered.
The current Charter Commission process presents a historic opportunity to address hunger and food insecurity on Oʻahu.
Mahalo for taking action to address food insecurity on Oʻahu!
In Solidarity,
The HAPA Team
