Strengthening food security across the islands

HONOLULU — Kaiser Permanente in Hawaii has awarded grants totaling $263,000 to four local nonprofits dedicated to improving food security and health equity across the islands. The Food Basket received $75,000, the Hawaii Good Food Alliance received $50,000, Aloha Harvest received $43,000, and the Hawaii Food Bank will be receiving $95,000.

The grants are part of Kaiser Permanente’s ongoing efforts to address the social needs that affect health, both within and outside of the health care system. When communities have consistent access to healthy food and other essentials, everyone in Hawaii has a better chance to thrive and achieve good health.

Nearly one-third, or 30%, of Hawaii households and close to half, 48%, of Hawaii families with children are experiencing food insecurity. Together, Kaiser Permanente’s food security investments will expand access to healthy, locally sourced foods for thousands of families statewide, leading up to the holiday season.

The Food Basket, based on Hawaii Island, is the island's food bank and a leading advocate for equitable access to healthy, locally produced food. Through its DA BUX Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Nutrition Incentives for Community Supported Agriculture Produce program, the organization helps families afford locally grown fruits and vegetables while supporting area farmers. The $75,000 grant will subsidize the cost of DA BUX CSA produce subscriptions for SNAP participants, matching SNAP dollars to provide a 50% discount on each subscription. This initiative directly increases access to fresh, locally grown produce for low-income households, improves food security in underserved rural communities, and strengthens local agriculture across Hawaii County.

The Hawaii Good Food Alliance is a coalition of community-based organizations working to build sustainable food systems and strengthen local agriculture. Its ʻAi Pono: Advancing Health Equity Through Culturally Relevant Food Is Medicine Programs in Hawaii initiative focuses on improving health outcomes for Medicaid members who have ongoing diseases through access to culturally relevant, locally sourced foods. The $50,000 grant will fund personnel costs for program coordination, reporting, and implementation by HGFA staff. Most of the funding will go toward distributing 720 nutrition “prescription” boxes filled with locally grown produce to Medicaid patients at Waimanalo Health Center. The project is part of a statewide effort to connect local agriculture with health care and inform future Food Is Medicine programs under Hawaii’s 1115 Medicaid waiver.

Aloha Harvest is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing access to healthy food on Oahu by rescuing and redistributing surplus food to people in need. Through its Increasing Access to Healthy Food on Oahu program, the organization collects and delivers fresh, nutritious food to food pantries and community partners serving low-income individuals and families. The $43,000 grant will be used to partially support three staff positions; cover vehicle costs including leasing, repairs, insurance, and supplies; and fund program implementation to expand deliveries to partner agencies across the island.

Hawaii Food Bank operates the state’s largest hunger relief network and will use its $95,000 grant to support its Kupuna Fresh – Produce Distribution Program. This initiative purchases fresh, culturally relevant produce for low-income older people on Oahu and Kauai, ensuring that 1,500 seniors receive a monthly bag of fruits and vegetables that are easy to prepare and not too heavy to carry. The grant also partially funds the Farm to Family program, which offsets costs for local farmers who grow and distribute produce donated to the food bank. Through a network of 275 hunger relief partners and direct service programs, Hawaii Food Bank works to eliminate barriers to food access and strengthen local agriculture while meeting the nutritional needs of Hawaii’s most vulnerable residents.

“Access to healthy, affordable food is essential to total health,” said Ed Chan, MHA, RD, FACHE, market president for Kaiser Permanente in Hawaii. “By partnering with trusted community organizations across the state, we’re helping families put nutritious meals on the table, supporting local farmers, and improving long-term health outcomes.”

Kaiser Permanente is committed to providing high-quality, affordable health care services and improving the health of the communities it serves. These grants are the latest in a series of contributions from Kaiser Permanente in  Hawaii to help residents throughout the state receive vital support services that impact their overall well-being. In 2024, Kaiser Permanente invested more than $38 million to expand access to care, increase affordable housing, support health care workforce development, and provide nutritious food to vulnerable people in Hawaii — including $6.1 million in community grants and scholarships.