When disaster strikes, who feeds us? — Hawaiʻi Appleseed Only 15 percent of our food is grown locally; 30 percent of families remain food insecure; less than 12 percent of households are prepared for a disaster. This is not a collection of separate problems...

Programs like Farm to Families offer a solution. They connect local #farmers directly to families who need food, creating a reliable market for producers while ensuring communities have access to fresh, local products.

#foodsecurity #hunger #hawaii #politics #policy

hiappleseed.org/blog/when-di...

With New Federal Cuts Looming, Legislature Must Fulfill 100-Year Promise To Hawaiians Senate Bill 3028 would give DHHL a permanent, dedicated revenue stream funded by restructuring the state’s conveyance tax.

Here is the question for Hawai‘i’s Democratic supermajority: with Trump moving to gut Native #housing block grants, will you lead a Legislature that finally stops asking Native Hawaiians to wait another generation for what they are owed?

#hawaii #politics #policy

www.civilbeat.org/2026/04/with...

Moving toward a future where transit works for everyone — Hawaiʻi Appleseed While measures in Hawaiʻi may not have advanced this session, the conversation around transit equity is far from over.

The momentum built during the 2026 session has shown that there is a deep community desire for a more accessible and affordable #transportation system.

#KeikiRideFree #FareFreeTransit #Mobility #Hawaii #YouthRideFree #TransportationEquity

hiappleseed.org/blog/moving-...

Don't Undermine Hawaiʻi's Safe Routes To School Program A bill under consideration would give the transportation department broad authority to direct program funds for its existing projects, without going through the legislatively mandated evaluation proce...

A bill under consideration in #Hawaii would give the #transportation department broad authority to direct program funds for its existing projects, without going through the legislatively mandated evaluation process of the other proposals.

#SafeRoutesToSchool

www.civilbeat.org/2026/03/dont...

Creating a Hawaiʻi We Can Afford | KĀKOU: Hawaiʻi’s Town Hall YouTube video by PBS Hawaiʻi

““We have lots of local farmers here, and that is our wealth. Food is wealth.” — Genevieve Mumma, Hawai‘i Appleseed Food Equity Policy Analyst

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🗣️🎤

www.youtube.com/live/D_pOiIf...

A fair share for Hawaii's future: Why we need to modernize the conveyance tax — Hawaiʻi Appleseed As housing costs soar and the gap between the very wealthy and everyone else widens, we must ask ourselves: who benefits from Hawaii's economy, and who is asked to contribute?

As #housing costs soar and the gap between the very wealthy and everyone else widens, we must ask ourselves: who benefits from Hawaiʻi's economy, and who is asked to contribute?

#FundOurFuture #TaxFairness #EconomicJustice #CostOfLiving #Hawaii #ConveyanceTax

hiappleseed.org/blog/fair-sh...

Fair Taxes Build A Stronger Hawai‘i For Local Families For far too long the state has relied too much on tax revenue from common goods and services.

“This is not about raising taxes on everyday residents. It is about fairness—ensuring the rules apply equally whether you are a family buying your first home or a multinational investment firm purchasing an entire block.”

www.civilbeat.org/2026/03/fair...

Pilina builders are ready to lead their community — Hawaiʻi Appleseed Guided by the ʻōlelo noʻeau, Ma ka hana ka ʻike (in working one learns), the Pilina Builders are a diverse, bright, and community-grounded group of women from ʻEwa and Waipahu.

Guided by the ʻōlelo noʻeau, Ma ka hana ka ʻike (in working one learns), the Pilina Builders are a diverse, bright, and community-grounded group of women from ʻEwa and Waipahu.

#Hawaii #PeopleFirst #CommunityOrganizing #Transportation #Mobility #Access

hiappleseed.org/blog/pilina-...

Transportation: A Cost-Of-Living Burden But Also An Opportunity Reframe the conversation by investing in multimodal services and infrastructure.

Investments in multimodal services and infrastructure are not just climate strategies; they are meaningful ways to reduce island residents’ cost of living.

#transportation #climatejustice #sustainability #pollution #costofliving #workingfamilies #hawaii

www.civilbeat.org/2026/03/tran...

Pedestrian Head Start — Hawaiʻi Appleseed Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) and Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPIs) give people a safer head start and make crossings more inclusive for those with disabilities.

New #Policy Brief: Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) and Leading Pedestrian Intervals (LPIs) give people a safer head start and make crossings more inclusive for those with disabilities.

#PedestrianSafety #TransportationEquity #PeopleFirst

hiappleseed.org/publications...

What Pushes Locals Out Of Hawaiʻi? Low Wages The Honolulu Charter Commission has a once-in-a-decade opportunity to address the county’s crisis.

Voters in the City & County of Honolulu may have a once-in-a-decade opportunity to make their voices heard on whether the county should pursue a #LivingWage policy.

#Hawaii #MinimumWage #EconomicJustice #WorkingFamilies #HonoluluCharter #PeopleFirst

www.civilbeat.org/2026/03/what...

One step forward, a few meals short — Hawaiʻi Appleseed While the passage of Act 139 was a meaningful step toward free school meals, it was just that—a step. The work is not finished.

While the passing of Act 139 (2025) was a meaningful step toward free school meals, it was just that—a step. The advocates, educators and community members who showed up and fought for universal meals know the work is not finished.

#FoodSecurity #SchoolMeals #Hawaii

hiappleseed.org/blog/one-ste...

When young people can move freely, they gain confidence, independence, and access to the full range of opportunities the islands offer.

Transit connects keiki to after-school programs, internships, health care, recreation and friends, while also building lifelong habits that favor walking, biking and public transportation over driving alone.

Public transit is more than a way to get from place to place—it’s a tool for growth, opportunity and community connection. Transit is particularly important for young people, the largest demographic of residents who do not drive.

Keiki Ride Free — Hawaiʻi Appleseed Adopting a statewide fare-free transit model.

Our new report makes the case for a statewide “Keiki Ride Free” transit program, which would improve access, equity, and opportunity for Hawaiʻi’s youth.

#KeikiRideFree #YouthRideFree #PublicTransit #TransportationEquity #Mobility #CostOfLiving #ClimateAction

hiappleseed.org/publications...

Giving pedestrians a head start in 2026 — Hawaiʻi Appleseed As pedestrian fatalities and injuries are on the rise in Hawaii, the state must invest in improvements to make it easier and safer for people to walk.

As pedestrian fatalities and injuries are on the rise in Hawaiʻi, the state must invest in improvements to make it easier and safer for people to walk.

#hawaii #transportationequity #pedestriansafety #trafficsafety #accessibility #mobility #peoplefirst

hiappleseed.org/blog/giving-...

The great Skyline adventure: Hawaii Appleseed tests the walkability of areas around rail stops — Hawaiʻi Appleseed Success will require partnership across state and county lines, but the goal is shared: turning rail and high capacity bus routes into places where people can live, work and meet daily needs without t...

Success will require partnership across state and county lines, but the goal is shared: turning the areas around rail lines and high capacity bus routes into places where people can live, work and meet daily needs without the necessity of getting back into a car.

hiappleseed.org/blog/skyline...

Our ultimate goal is everyone should be free 💯

Honolulu Council votes to increase transit fares; Hawaii Appleseed urges support for Keiki Ride Free at the State Legislature — Hawaiʻi Appleseed Hawaii Appleseed supports a simple, pass-free boarding system for keiki, funded through a state-level reimbursement mechanism.

Our statement on the Honolulu City Council vote to increase transit fares, and our vision for an alternative transit system that supports working families, community, and economic prosperity.

That vision begins with #KeikiRideFree, zero-fare transit for youth.

hiappleseed.org/press-releas...

A Fairer Tax Code for a Thriving Hawaii — Hawaiʻi Appleseed Progressive Revenue Options to Protect and Invest in Our Future.

The second is our newly released policy brief focused on #TaxFairness and equitable ways to raise enough revenue to not just fill the gaps left by federal cuts, but to actually invest adequately in the future of our communities.

hiappleseed.org/publications...

The first is our #EconomicJustice Data Dashboard. Unlike single-issue tools, this dashboard integrates key indicators across food security, housing, transportation, and economic security to show how these issues are related.

hiappleseed.org/data-dashboard

The #Hawaii State Legislative session has begun, and we’ve developed two new resources for lawmakers, advocates and the public to help develop data-driven #publicpolicy that puts working families first and adequately funds solutions to our biggest challenges. ⬇️

How City Council could improve food security for Oʻahu residents Hawaiʻi Appleseed recommended that the Honolulu City Council work on four areas to improve food security on Oʻahu: disaster planning, summer feeding programs for children, kūpuna programs, and direct ...

The Honolulu City Council should work on disaster planning, summer feeding programs for children, kūpuna programs, and direct funding for food banks.

#FoodSecurity #EmergencyManagement

www.hawaiipublicradio.org/local-news/2...

New Report: More Hawaiʻi Residents Going Hungry The report was produced at a time when food security was bad in Hawaiʻi. But now, advocates say, it's even worse.

Schools in low-income areas can automatically provide all students with free school meals under a federal program. Some 46,000 Hawaii students attend schools that may stop participating in that program, according to an analysis from @urbaninstitute.bsky.social

www.civilbeat.org/2025/11/more...

Hawaii’s two-tier tax system: How the rich use a glaring loophole to pay less — Hawaiʻi Appleseed While teachers, nurses and service workers pay income tax on every dollar they earn, the wealthy can shield a large portion of their profits thanks to a special tax break on capital gains.

While teachers, nurses and service workers pay income tax on every dollar they earn, the wealthy can shield a large portion of their profits thanks to a special tax break on capital gains.

#fundourfuture #taxtherich #taxfairness #taxreform #workingfamilies #hawaii

hiappleseed.org/blog/hawaii-...

Families are making impossible trade-offs 51% of respondents have already skipped meals 40% say they have had to buy cheaper or lower-quality food Nearly 40% are delaying bills to put food on the table, while 42% are relying on help from family and friends 80% say they have not been able to prepare for the possibility of another delayed deposit 49% expect to visit a food pantry next week – up seven percentage points from those who planned to visit in the first days of November

SNAP surveys SNAP users. Already half of them are saying they are skipping meals.

Youth Ride Free: Building a more connected Hawaii — Hawaiʻi Appleseed By removing financial barriers to public transit, Hawaii can empower young people to participate fully in their communities, while easing family costs and supporting climate goals.

By removing financial barriers to public transit, Hawaiʻi can empower young people to participate fully in their communities, while easing family costs and supporting climate goals.

#YouthRideFree #Mobility #PublicTransit #PublicHealth #ClimateJustice #Hawaii

hiappleseed.org/blog/youth-r...

Mom-and-pop stores losing EBT customers struggle to survive The partial government shutdown is not just affecting people trying to put food on the table, but food retailers that could lose $60 million in monthly revenue.

Small businesses in low-income, high-poverty neighborhoods often get 50% or more of their monthly revenue from #SNAP. Staff are now at risk of losing their jobs. Stores are unable to restock. In worst case scenarios, they risk closing their doors forever.

#GovShutdown

www.kitv.com/news/busines...

Hawaii Appleseed selected for national Mobility, Access, and Transportation Insecurity (MATI) program — Hawaiʻi Appleseed Hawaii Appleseed’s selected project will improve pedestrian safety and transit lighting for women and families in Waipahu and Ewa.

Hawaiʻi Appleseed’s selected project will improve pedestrian safety and transit lighting for women and families in Waipahu and ʻEwa.

#transportation #transit #mobility #publicsafety #infrastructure #publictransit #community #hawaii #oahu

hiappleseed.org/press-releas...