HI SCR48

Department of Health's Healthy Hawaii Initiative requested to convene a School Gardens Task Force to determine how to expand school garden programs statewide.

Task force shall include representatives from Department of Health, Department of Agriculture, Department of Education, University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii community colleges culinary arts programs, Kokua Hawai'i Foundation, The Kohala Center, Ulupono Initiative LLC, MA'O Farms, and Hawaii Association of Independent Schools.

Task force must report to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2013 Regular Session with findings, recommendations, and any recommendations for legislation and funding.

Resolution cites that 28 percent of school-aged children in Hawaii are overweight or obese and over 19 percent of Hawaii residents live in food insecure households.

Farm-to-school programs including school gardens have proven successful in providing quality food and cultivating long-term healthy eating habits in students.