food and nutrition

Ensuring that low-income families and children have access to healthy food choices and resources to purchase adequate food supports long-term health and well-being. LEJ is committed to advocating for low income individuals and families to continue access to food stamps as important way to support needy families.

Food Stamp Timeliness Litigation: Bohn v. Koller

LEJ advocates for the improvement of the DHS systems used to process applications ensure the provision of benefits within the timeframes required by the federal regulations that govern the program. When DHS timeliness reached an all-time low, with some state offices processing more than 40% of the applications untimely (below the Federal Standards of 5%), and with needy families facing delays of more than three months, LEJ partnered with the National Center for Law and Economic Justice (NCLEJ) and the private firm of Alston Hunt Floyd & Ing to file a federal court class action lawsuit aimed at requiring the DHS to comply with federal requirements on processing SNAP applications.

Click here to read more on the litigation.

Click here to view a chart depicting the application timeliness across Hawai`i

Food Stamp Benefits (SNAP) eligibility resources

Updated information regarding gross income and net income limits for households in Hawai`i can be difficult to locate online. LEJ has developed information for individuals, families, and caseworkers to assist in understanding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility with Hawai`i standards.

Click here to view food stamp eligibility.

Click here to read answers to commonly asked questions regarding SNAP benefits.

Click here to visit the Benefit, Employment and Support Services Division at the Department of Human Services website.

School Meals

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (DOA) operates a national program that provides full reimbursement for public and charter schools that provide breakfast, lunch or after school meals to low income children. While providing critical nourishment to hungry children, the federal funding also brings helps our local economy. Currently, federal funding for Hawaii's school meal program is $42,464,553 for the 2009-2010 school year. LEJ has conducted research on mainland models that have successfully increased the size of the food meals program, served more meals to eligible children and increased federal revenues that support the increased use of the program by children. Click here to read more.