{"id":17647,"date":"2025-12-11T12:11:43","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T22:11:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hawaiipublicschools.org\/?p=17647"},"modified":"2026-01-26T10:11:06","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T20:11:06","slug":"2025-hawaii-public-schools-get-a-special-taste-of-local-uala-on-this-months-breakfast-menu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hawaiipublicschools.org\/zh\/2025-hawaii-public-schools-get-a-special-taste-of-local-uala-on-this-months-breakfast-menu\/","title":{"rendered":"Hawai\u2018i public schools get a special taste of local \u2018uala on this month\u2019s breakfast menu"},"content":{"rendered":"

PEARL CITY \u2014  This December, Hawai\u02bbi public school cafeterias statewide were offered the opportunity to serve local \u02bbuala (sweet potato) bread for breakfast using locally sourced Okinawan sweet potato. Nearly 1,700 pounds of Okinawan sweet potato were distributed to 127 participating schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the recipe was new to school menus, the flavor sparked a sense of familiarity for many students at Pearl City High School and Momilani Elementary School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSome of the bread tastes like my grandma’s banana bread,\u201d Momilani Elementary fourth grader Noel Belmodis said. \u201cIt tastes good\u2026 I never actually had it with sweet potatoes inside.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Momilani third grader Aubrie Nakamoto thought it had a festive taste. \u201cIt tastes pretty good \u2014 it kind of tastes like gingerbread,\u201d she said. \u201cI like that it\u2019s healthy and tastes sweet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Students at Pearl City High School agreed. \u201cI actually really liked it because it’s really sweet,\u201d said sophomore Liam Menor. \u201cThe crust is really crunchy too, kind of like bread pudding\u2026 so I just gobbled it all up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The effort to incorporate more locally sourced ingredients in school meals is part of the Department\u2019s farm-to-school initiative, which aims to enhance food sustainability in Hawai\u2018i and aligns with the goals of \u7b2c175\u53f7\u6cd5\u6848<\/a> to improve student health while supporting local farmers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJust as excited as we get about using local ingredients, the kids do also,\u201d said Pearl City High School cafeteria helper Senerity McGregor. \u201cIt’s fresher, and we’re able to help our local farmers, which we like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parents also recognize the value of serving locally sourced foods. \u201cI think it’s really great that they’re having locally sourced ingredients,\u201d added Momilani Elementary parent Chad Nakamoto. \u201cIt brings a lot of peace of mind knowing that I can drop my kids off and they’re eating a nutritious, fresh breakfast. Being that it’s locally sourced just adds to the freshness, I’m sure \u2014 and they enjoy eating it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hawai\u02bbi public schools are among the state\u2019s largest institutional consumers of food, serving more than 100,000 student meals daily. The Department continues to collaborate with local vendors statewide to expand the use of fresh, local produce in school cafeterias on a regular basis. <\/p>\n\n\n