Senator Brian Schatz has collaborated with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack to initiate an update process. The USDA will be seeking input from community stakeholders on food costs and their impact on residents until March 4.
The cost of food in Hawaii has always been significantly high due to the state's reliance on imported food. According to a news release by Senator Schatz on January 18, nearly 200,000 residents depend on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to feed themselves and their families. "For many in Hawai‘i, SNAP is a lifeline, helping families put food on the table. But to make sure this program continues to help those who rely on it, SNAP benefits need to keep up with the real cost of food across the state. I thank the USDA and Secretary Vilsack for working with us to update SNAP benefits for Hawai‘i so that those who need it can continue to access this critical federal program," Schatz said in the release.
Feeding America provides some additional context. According to their data, 32.7% of households receiving SNAP benefits in Hawaii have children. Furthermore, the $448,431,408 distributed in SNAP benefits resulted in a $762,333,394 boost in the economy. These figures are based on the Map the Meal Gap Study's most recent update in 2021. The study also revealed that forty-five percent of state residents live below the thresholds for SNAP and other nutrition programs.
On May 4, 2023, The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported about ongoing food insecurity issues even after support systems established during COVID-19 had ceased. Daniela Spoto, director of Anti-Hunger Initiatives at the Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice commented that people are not only going without food but are also resorting to cheap and easy-to-make foods due to high grocery prices, which have increased by 25% between February 2020 and February 2023.
A Business Insider article also highlighted the steep increase in food prices. For instance, a gallon of milk at Safeway in Honolulu costs $7.50, almost a dollar more than in 2022; a dozen large eggs is priced at $8.50, marking a $4 increase from the previous year.