HI HCR94

Urges the Department of Education and Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to jointly develop a Farmer-to-Institution Coordination Plan aligned with the phased rollout of the AINA Kitchen Network, a seven-facility statewide regional kitchen system with the first facility in Whitmore Village expected to begin serving schools in fall 2027.

Addresses the Department of Education's failure to meet local food procurement goals, achieving only 5.43% local sourcing in 2023-2024 against a 30% target mandated by 2030 under Act 175 (2021), with nearly $2 million in federal Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program funds left unspent over two school years.

Requires the coordination plan to identify specific crops and products needed at each construction phase, assess gaps between current local supply and institutional demand, and develop a farmer capacity-building strategy addressing land, infrastructure, and workforce needs.

Notes that 80% of Hawaii's 7,300+ farms earn less than $25,000 annually and the state lost 82,000 acres of farmland and over 700 farms between 2017 and 2022, underscoring the need for multi-year contract certainty to help farmers scale operations.

Requests both departments submit the coordination plan to the Legislature no later than twenty days before the 2027 Regular Session, including a proposal for centralized digital tracking of local food procurement to replace current handwritten records.