REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE DETAILING FARM-TO-SCHOOL IMPLEMENTATION, LOCAL FOOD PROCUREMENT, REGIONAL KITCHEN ALIGNMENT, AND FEDERAL FARM-TO-SCHOOL GRANT PARTICIPATION.

HCR108

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

108

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

Requesting the Department of Education to submit a report
to the Legislature detailing farm-to-school implementation, local food
procurement, regional kitchen alignment, and federal farm-to-school grant
participation
.

����
WHEREAS, Hawaii's
regional kitchen investments, institutional procurement goals, and ongoing
regional agricultural feasibility studies represent a significant public
investment intended to expand local food production and reduce the State's
dependence on imported food; and

����
WHEREAS, the
success of these efforts requires alignment between institutional buyers and
upstream producers so that procurement-driven demand is matched by production
capacity, acreage expansion, processing readiness, and participation by local
farmers; and

����
WHEREAS, the
Department of Education is the State's largest institutional food purchaser and
plays a central role in advancing farm-to-school programs, local procurement
targets, and the effective use of regional kitchen infrastructure; and

����
WHEREAS, modular
and distributed regional kitchen infrastructure--including mobile units,
small-scale processing hubs, and shared-use facilities--combined with
transparent procurement reporting and multi-year purchasing frameworks can help
address neighbor island realities, reduce risks for farmers, and strengthen
local supply chains; and

����
WHEREAS, a
report by the Department of Education documenting current procurement
conditions and operational constraints, and providing an actionable
implementation plan would help support coordinated statewide efforts,
strengthen local food security, and expand participation by small- and mid‑sized
farms in institutional markets; now, therefore,

����
BE IT
RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the
State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, the Senate concurring, that the
Department of Education is requested to submit a report to the Legislature
detailing the Department's implementation of the farm-to-school education and
food procurement program, local food procurement, and alignment with Hawaii's
regional kitchen investments and regional agricultural feasibility efforts; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to include in the report
the following information:

����
(1)
�
Baseline local procurement and progress
metrics, including:

���������
(A)
�
A summary of the
Department of Education's current local food procurement levels, including
available baseline data and trends over time; and

���������
(B)
�
Where feasible, a
breakdown by complex area, island, or region, and by major product categories
(e.g., produce, protein, value-added items);

����
(2)
�
An assessment of regional kitchen alignment
and operational readiness, including:

���������
(A)
�
How the
Department's procurement operations and meal service plans align with the
State's regional kitchen model, including any anticipated use of modular or
distributed infrastructure such as mobile units, shared-use processing hubs, or
aggregation points; and

���������
(B)
�
Key operational
requirements necessary for utilizing regional kitchens, such as product
specifications, packaging, minimum volumes, delivery frequency, food safety,
and processing standards;

����
(3)
�
The recommended procurement and contracting
structure, including:

���������
(A)
�
A description of
current contracting methods, vendor arrangements, and procurement policies that
affect local purchasing; and

���������
(B)
�
The identification
of barriers and recommended administrative or statutory changes that would
enable expanded participation by local producers, including small- and
mid-sized farms;

����
(4)
�
The status of the farm-to-school education and
food procurement program implementation, including:

���������
(A)
�
A summary of
existing farm-to-school activities and partnerships; and

���������
(B)
�
A discussion of
any current constraints affecting expansion--for example, staffing, procurement
processes, supply reliability, food safety compliance, processing or
aggregation limitations, or transportation;

����
(5)
�
An assessment of federal funding participation
and United States Department of Agriculture farm-to-school grant planning,
including:

���������
(A)
�
A description of
the Department of Education's participation in the United States Department of
Agriculture farm-to-school grant program during the prior grant cycle,
including whether the Department of Education applied or served as a partner;

���������
(B)
�
If the Department
of Education did not participate, an explanation any barriers to participation
and what would be required for the Department of Education to participate in
the next cycle; and

���������
(C)
�
A forward plan
describing the Department of Education's intended approach for future grant
participation and the internal processes and timeline for approval, including
coordination with partner agencies or applicants; and

����
(6)
�
An action plan, timeline, and list of resource
needs, including:

���������
(A)
�
A near-term (up
to one year) and mid-term (one to three years) plan for increasing local
procurement and strengthening farm-to-school implementation in coordination
with regional kitchen investments; and

���������
(B)
�
A list of any
staffing, technical assistance, systems modernization, or funding needed to
execute the plan, including recommendations for coordination among state
agencies, including the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Agribusiness
Development Corporation; and Department of Business, Economic Development, and
Tourism; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the Legislature encourages the Department of Education, in
preparing the report, to consult with relevant state agencies and stakeholders
involved in institutional procurement, regional kitchen planning, and regional
agricultural feasibility efforts to ensure that the report reflects
island-specific realities and offers flexibility rather than a one-size-fits-all
approach; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the Legislature believes that a clear report and implementation
plan from the Department of Education will help strengthen alignment between
institutional demand and upstream production readiness, maximize the impact of
public investment in regional kitchens, support equitable participation by
small- and mid-sized farms, and accelerate progress toward improved food
security and resilient neighbor island economies; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to submit its report,
including any findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation, to the
Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session
of 2027; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the
Governor; Chairperson of the Board of Education; Superintendent of Education;
Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Director of Business,
Economic Development, and Tourism; and Executive Director of the Agribusiness
Development Corporation.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:
�

DOE;
DAB; ADC; USDA; Farm-To-School; Regional Kitchens; Local Food Procurement;
Alignment; Federal Grants; Report