Schatz Secures $2 Million Earmark For Hawai‘i Island Food Bank

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) secured $2 million in congressionally directed spending, also known as an earmark, in this year's appropriations deal for The Food Basket, Inc. on Hawai'i Island. The funding will be used to build a new steel farmers market pavilion for local farmers, food vendors, and small businesses to sell produce.

"This new earmark funding will help more people on Hawai'i Island put healthy, locally grown food on their tables, benefiting both local farmers and families in need," said Senator Schatz, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The new pavilion will be part of the Food Basket's Ho?olako Agriculture Innovation Park, which is projected to create or sustain nearly 190 agricultural jobs and significantly expand the processing capacity for local staple crops. By integrating traditional agricultural wisdom with modern innovation, the park will reduce the island's 90 percent dependency on imported food and create a more stabilized supply chain.

"The inclusion of $2,000,000 for the Ho?olako Farmers Market Pavilion in the 2026 federal budget is a transformative victory for food security on Hawai'i Island. This investment allows us to build a permanent, community-centered space that bridges the gap between our hardworking local farmers and the families who rely on fresh, nutritious food. We are deeply grateful for this support, which strengthens our local food system and paves the way for a more self-reliant and resilient Hawai'i," said Kristin Frost Albrecht, Executive Director of the Food Basket.

Recent data found that 43 percent of households, approximately 90,000 individuals on Hawai'i Island, struggle to access consistent, nutritious meals. As the island's food bank, the Food Basket serves as a vital lifeline, distributing over 3.5 million pounds of food annually through a network of more than 100 partner agencies.

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