Honolulu Voters Approve Food Security Fund
Oʻahu voters approved a charter amendment creating a fund to support locally grown food programs for residents.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Organic Food
Live Poll
Should your city dedicate a share of property tax revenue to local food programs?
Oʻahu voters approved a charter amendment creating a Food Security Fund for the City and County of Honolulu. The fund receives 0.5% of annual real property tax revenues and does not create a new tax.
Why it matters
The fund supports programs and grants providing locally grown and produced food to Oʻahu residents, and allocates money for non-local products only during declared emergencies. Advocates cited statewide food insecurity, which affects roughly 1 in 3 households, as reason for the new fund.
The fund receives 0.5% of annual real property tax revenues and joins five existing special funds, including the Clean Water and Natural Lands Fund, the Affordable Housing Fund, the Climate Resiliency Fund, the Honolulu Zoo Fund, and the Grants in Aid Fund.
The players
Hawaiʻi Foodbank
A nonprofit food bank serving Hawaiʻi that is a source of the statewide food insecurity figure cited in the story.
The details
The measure passed as a charter amendment, and the fund will support programs and grants that provide locally grown and produced food to Oʻahu residents. Non-local products may be purchased only during declared emergencies.
Timeline
• November 3, 2026: Oʻahu voters approved the Food Security Fund charter amendment.
Health Landscape
Statewide food insecurity affecting roughly 1 in 3 households, as cited by the Hawaiʻi Foodbank, frames the Oʻahu measure as a local policy response to a documented regional trend. The fund extends that response into a dedicated, tax-supported stream for locally grown food.
Residents may see more locally grown and produced food supported through city-funded programs and grants. The fund's allocation for non-local products applies only during declared emergencies.
The takeaway
Oʻahu residents can look for locally grown food programs supported by the new fund as its grants and programs begin to take shape.
Further reading
Explore more on Organic Food for background on locally grown and produced food.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Hawai'i Public Radio.
Live Poll
Should your city dedicate a share of property tax revenue to local food programs?
