End Hunger
Together.
A Transformative Capital Project
Join us in building a safer, stronger, and more resilient food system for Hawaiʻi
A New Center
to Meet Growing Needs
At Hawaiʻi Foodbank, our mission is to nourish our ʻohana today while we work to end hunger tomorrow.
For more than 40 years, Hawaiʻi Foodbank has worked to ensure that no one in our islands goes hungry. However, with growing levels of food insecurity, the limitations of our current facility pose serious risks to our mission.
A Transformative Capital Project
The construction of a new, purposefully designed food bank center in Waipahu will empower us to expand our capacity and meet the projected food security needs of our communities, significantly enhance our disaster response capabilities, and create a hub of opportunity for those we serve.
Our Vision
We envision a future where everyone in Hawaiʻi has access to fresh, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.
What’s currently holding us back
Vulnerability to Natural Disasters and Rising Sea Levels
The Foodbank’s current, aging facility is at significant risk from flooding and rising sea levels, which grow more severe each year. These environmental risks not only jeopardize daily operations but would also make it difficult — if not impossible — to mount an effective response in the event of a major disaster.
Inadequate Size and Capacity
Food banking metrics suggest that the current facility is only half the size necessary for efficiently managing the community’s food security needs. With cramped warehouse space, limited dock access, and inadequate sorting and packing areas, we are sometimes forced to turn down food donations — particularly those requiring refrigeration — simply because we lack the space to store them.
In 34% of households with children, one or more keiki are food insecure.
Every day, thousands of our neighbors — including keiki, kūpuna, and working families — face food insecurity. The need for fresh, healthy food and supportive services has never been greater.
Creating Solutions
to Maximize Impact
A New, Purpose-Built Facility
Ideally situated near the H1-H2 interchange and within walking distance of the Skyline Rail, the facility offers convenient access for donors, volunteers, and delivery trucks alike. Most critically, its location outside flood and tsunami zones means Hawaiʻi Foodbank can remain operational during natural disasters, providing a safer, more centralized hub to serve Oʻahu and our neighbor islands when help is needed most.
INCREASED STORAGE CAPACITY
A larger facility will double our dry food storage and increase our cold storage capacity by 3.5 times. This will enhance our ability to receive and store food, produce meals, and distribute healthy food to agency partners. With more space, we can better address hunger at scale — serving more people and families in need.
ENHANCED DISASTER PREPAREDNESS & RESPONSE
The new disaster-resilient Waipahu facility will store enough food for 3.8 million meals — matching FEMA's capacity and significantly increasing statewide resilience. Built to withstand high winds and seismic activity, it features enhanced storage and distribution capabilities that ensure rapid response when our community needs us most.
Advancing Nutrition & Health
The new facility will more than triple our cold storage capacity, allowing us to safely handle and distribute significantly more fresh produce, dairy and proteins. Climate-controlled sorting areas will preserve nutritional value while enabling us to increase fresh food distribution beyond the current quarter of all food we provide.
EXPANDED FOOD RESCUE
The climate-controlled volunteer sorting and packing rooms will provide a safe, comfortable space for volunteers to process both dry and perishable foods. These spacious rooms are essential for repacking bulk donations into smaller, household-ready quantities — enabling us to rescue more food and reduce waste.
A HUB OF OPPORTUNITY
A new facility will provide greater potential for outreach — allowing us to empower not only our agency partners but also the communities we serve. With more multi-purpose space and a demonstration kitchen, we can provide multiple educational and outreach resources in one, convenient location.
Cultivating Strong Partnerships
The Waipahu facility will provide multi-purpose spaces for meetings, trainings and educational programs for neighbors, partners, and volunteers. These dedicated areas will foster stronger connections between Hawaiʻi Foodbank and our communities, creating lasting partnerships that extend far beyond food distribution.
Empowering Our Volunteers
The new facility features a bright, welcoming lobby with lockers, restrooms, and comfortable gathering areas designed specifically for our essential volunteers. This warm, efficient environment will enhance the volunteer experience while providing clear views into our operations, inspiring continued commitment to feeding our community.
Reimagining Our Honolulu Footprint
Our repurposed Māpunapuna facility will house a flagship choice pantry where families can select foods that meet their specific needs, promoting dignity and self-sufficiency. The space will also provide dedicated areas for kūpuna and keiki programs, plus wrap-around services through local partnerships, creating comprehensive community support.
At the heart of every one of these solutions is the intent to eliminate hunger on our islands — and that involves all of us.
Committee Chairs
Governor Josh Green
First Lady Jaime Kanani Green
Committee Co-Chairs
Bob & Lori Harrison
Peter & Michelle Ho
Arnold Martines & Thuy Nguyen-Martines
Ann Teranishi & Eric Kunisaki
Leadership Committee
Mayor Rick Blangiardi & Mrs. Karen Chang
Jason Chang & Losa Jang
Terry & Julie George
Mark Mugiishi
Larry & Patricia Rodriguez
Mike & Karla Rompel
Jack & Frances Tsui
Ray & Tiffany Vara
Denise & Roy Yamaguchi
Jodi & Dean Yamamoto
Join us in our work
We’d love to hear from you! Whether you have questions about our capital campaign, want to explore giving opportunities, or simply wish to learn more about how you can make a difference, our team is here to help. Reach out using the form below, and a member of the Hawaiʻi Foodbank campaign team will connect with you soon. Together, we can nourish our community and build a stronger future for Hawaiʻi. Naming opportunities are still available starting at $10,000.
