New law streamlines local food procurement for Hawai‘i schools

Jun 27, 2025

Hawai‘i lawmakers passed legislation that will make it easier for the Hawai‘i Department of Education (HIDOE) to purchase locally grown food for public schools. House Bill 1293, which Ulupono Initiative supported alongside other advocates, was signed into law by Gov. Josh Green on May 30 as Act 134.

The new law exempts HIDOE purchases of local edible produce and packaged food products under $250,000 from electronic procurement system requirements, instead requiring only written quotes from vendors. This change will provide schools with an additional tool to procure fresh products from local farmers and ranchers while the state works toward its goal of sourcing 30% of school food locally by 2030.

The department has “the potential to leverage its significant buying power to become one of the state’s largest purchasers of local food while also shaping the tastes, attitudes and eating habits of Hawaii's keiki for healthy outcomes,” Ulupono said in its testimony.

HIDOE also supported the legislation. “The process proposed in this bill will allow us to purchase locally produced foods that currently are unavailable from our distributors,” said Superintendent Keith Hayashi in testimony.

Act 134 addresses a barrier in the procurement process that limited HIDOE’s ability to work directly with local producers. Ulupono Initiative joined other supporters of the measure because it furthers its broader mission to help Hawai‘i communities become more resilient and self-sufficient through locally produced food.

“The department should seize current opportunities to strengthen relationships with local food producers,” Ulupono further noted. By engaging farmers now, the department has an opportunity to align food requirements with local agricultural production and build supply chain capacity. This proactive approach serves students in the near term while setting up long-term strategies for success by growing a robust supply chain.

The bill represents part of the state’s broader farm-to-institution efforts, which have the potential to significantly impact Hawai‘i’s local food system. HDOE’s Farm to School Program could become a major driver for local agriculture while providing students with fresher, more nutritious meals that connect them to Hawai‘i’s agricultural heritage.

The legislation includes a sunset clause, expiring on June 30, 2028, making it a temporary measure designed to bridge the gap at least until HIDOE’s proposed regional kitchen infrastructure is fully operational.