HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – As inflation pushes grocery prices higher, paychecks aren’t keeping up. As a result, more people are going without food on a regular basis, a new report finds.
The Hawaii Foodbank commissioned a first-of-its-kind study last year to get statistics specific to Hawaii’s diverse communities.
Advocates say they found a public health crisis that’s worse than they thought.
“It’s more than twice the national average. So it is quite high,” said Amy Miller. president and CEO of Hawaii Foodbank, referring to the number of people considered “food insecure.”
“Almost a third of Hawaii households don’t have regular access to safe and healthy foods. We have 1 in 10 households right here in Hawaii where people are going a whole day without eating.”
Other key findings from the report:
- 1 in 3 children experience food insecurity, with 6% going an entire day without food
- Nearly half of adults aged 18-29 were the most affected by food insecurity
- 44% of college students don’t have enough to eat
- More than 40% of native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders and Filipinos are food insecure
- Food insecurity was highest on Hawaiʻi Island, followed by Maui, then Oʻahu, and Kauaʻi.
“Grocery prices have gone up 25% since COVID. So for so many families it’s already hard to make ends meet and price food prices going up that high is just too much,” Miller said.
“We’re seeing families coming to distributions for the first time, they’ve never needed to ask for help before. But they work. Sometimes they work two jobs, even three jobs.”
And while there are goverment hunger relief programs, many working families aren’t eligible for SNAP and other aid, so they turn to churches and nonprofits for help.
“There’s more needs of food. And they are people who are employed. But in addition they need food. After bills and stuff, they don’t have enough,” said Brenda Libby, of Windward Baptist Church, which distributes Foodbank food to those who need it.
To save money, families are also foregoing medicine and health care.
Advocates hope the report should prompt swift action, whether it’s through private donations or government funding.
“More aid for people, especially families., working families and are homelessness,” Libby said.
The Foodbank plans to host distributions and hot meal sites this summer, especially with families not able to access school meals.
Its Kauai 4 Keiki program, for example, is giving away free meals this summer to eligible children ages 18 and younger (or up to 22 years of age with a disability and enrolled in a HIDOE school) who reside in a rural areas or these specific area codes: 96707, 96717, 96730, 96731, 96744, 96762, 96786, 96795.
The Foodbank will provide meal boxes at five Kaukau 4 Keiki food distribution sites from June 3 through July 26, 2024. Each box will contain groceries to prepare seven days of breakfast and lunch for one child.
Registration is on a first come, first served basis at HawaiiFoodbank.org/kaukau.
If you or someone you know needs help, or if you’d like to donate, visit hawaiifoodbank.org.
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