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.
1
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.
2
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.
3
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
- Màn 175 (2021) moved the Hawaii farm to school program from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Education.
- Xem 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)
- ʻuala địa phương trở lại thực đơn bữa trưa tại trường học trên toàn tiểu bang (May 19, 2025)
- Các trường công lập Hawaiʻi thử nghiệm công thức bánh mì chuối mới có sử dụng bột 'ulu địa phương (April 29, 2025)
- Học sinh trường công lập Hawaiʻi được phục vụ bữa sáng với trứng xanh và cơm chiên giăm bông có hành lá địa phương (March 17, 2025)
- Chuối táo địa phương có trong thực đơn bữa sáng của trường công lập Hawaiʻi (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)


