HI SB894

Appropriates funds to the Department of Education for regional kitchen expansion to help meet the statutory mandate of serving school meals with at least 30% locally sourced products by 2030 (currently at 6.14%).

Fiscal year 2025-2026 funding directed to: design and construction for Whitmore regional kitchen expansion in Honolulu, and feasibility analyses for additional sites on Oahu, Hawaii Island (two sites), Maui, and Kauai with specified daily meal production minimums.

Fiscal year 2026-2027 funding directed to further due diligence, planning, design, land acquisition, and assessment of school kitchens for the proposed regional kitchen sites across all islands.

Recognizes challenges to increasing local sourcing including invasive species, agricultural theft, labor shortages, inadequate capital, and climate change; identifies regional kitchens as a market stimulus for local agricultural producers.

Takes effect July 1, 3000 (note: effective date appears to contain a typographical error).