The Department is continuing its efforts to ensure every student participates in agriculture or nutrition education, and provide every public school with a garden to strengthen food security, student learning, and local economies statewide.
Hawaiʻi Farm to School Plan
Under Superintendent Keith Hayashi’s leadership, the Department is refocusing its efforts, strengthening partnerships, and taking action to reach the statewide goal of 30% locally sourced food by 2030. The Hawaiʻi Farm to School Plan (PDF) outlines these efforts.
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Goal 1: 30% of food served in public school meals will be locally sourced.
Locally sourced food means products that are grown, raised and harvested in Hawai‘i, including both fresh and value-added items.
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Goal 2: All students will participate in agriculture or nutrition education.
This includes hands-on, standards-aligned instruction in science, health, Career & Technical Education, and Hawaiian Studies.
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Goal 3: Every public school in Hawaiʻi will have a garden.
Gardens support social-emotional learning, reinforce core subjects, and offer a powerful connection to land, food and culture.
Reports and Policies
- Hawaiʻi Farm to School Plan (PDF)
- HRS §302A-405.5: Hawaii farm to school program; farm to school coordinator
- HRS §302A-405.6: Farm to school meals
- Act 175 (2021) moved the Hawaii farm to school program from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Education.
- View the legislative reports page on Department Farm to School reporting.
In the News
Read about Hawaiʻi public schools efforts to incorporate fresh, locally grown produce in their school meals:
- Filipino chicken papaya soup brings homestyle comfort and local flair to student lunches (Sept. 23, 2025)
- Local ʻuala returns to school lunch menus across the state (May 19, 2025)
- Hawaiʻi public schools pilot new banana bread recipe featuring local ‘ulu flour (April 29, 2025)
- Hawaiʻi public school students served green eggs and ham fried rice breakfast featuring local green onions (March 17, 2025)
- Local apple bananas featured on Hawaiʻi public school breakfast menus (Feb. 24, 2025)
- Poi served at 36 Hawaiʻi public schools as part of effort to boost local menu items (May 13, 2024)
- Nearly 60 Hawaiʻi public schools offer local ʻuala for National Farm to School Month (Nov. 9, 2023)
- Over 70 Oʻahu public schools offer fresh local poi to students and staff (May 12, 2023)
