What do we eat? Where does it come from? Do we have enough?
There is a lot to think about when we think of food systems in Hawai‘i, and what healthy eating means. We know what foods are healthy and which foods aren’t, but healthier foods often cost more than bad food, or fast food. Even if we want to choose healthy foods, we are sometimes limited by how much money we have, or what food we have access to. Think about the neighborhood where you live. How many stores sell things like fresh, local, or organic produce? Are there more stores that sell fresh fruits and vegetables than there are fast food and regular restaurants?
Let’s start with learning some terms.
Food Security1
Food security means how hard or easy it is for you/your family to find and buy the food that they want to eat, food that is nutritious, or having enough food to eat every day. Many people do not have food security. It is a global problem, and one that we can work on solving together.
Food Desert2
A food desert means “areas in the United States where people have limited access to a variety of
healthy and affordable food,” according to the USDA. Food deserts are often common in low income areas, or rural areas where there are not many grocery stores.
1. What is your favorite thing to eat?
2. Do you know how to make it?
3. Can you make it without using any imported products?
How many of Hawai‘i’s indigenous foods1,2 can you name? How many have you tried before?
Kalo (taro)
Poi
Fish
‘Ulu (breadfruit)
Sweet potatoes
Seaweed
Banana
Coconut
Pork
Sugarcane
..notice anything missing?
A lot of local favorites are made with ingredients that did not originate1 in Hawai‘i. Let’s list some:
Rice!
Modern-day chicken
Eggs
Oranges
Beef
Coffee
Pineapple
Mangoes
Onions
Pumpkins
Dairy
Macadamia nuts
Corn
1. How much food do you think Hawai‘i imports?
2. Is it important for us to be able to grow our own food?
3. Can you name a crop that is not native to Hawai‘i, but Hawai‘i is currently the only state in the U.S. where the crop can thrive?
Video Break!
Now that we know more about how much we rely on imports for food, and the value of crops grown in Hawai‘i, what can we do to address things like food security and food deserts? How can we help Hawai‘i grow enough healthy foods so that everyone has equal access to nutrition?
If you want to change some of the systems we’ve talked about, or if you want to explore the career opportunities that exist that are related to this discussion, use the tabs below to find career pathways, worksheets, and other information.
If you want to change the systems we’ve talked about, you should consider:
- Politics (city council, state, or federal government legislature jobs)
- Working for places like the Department of Land and Natural Resources or Department of Health
- Agriculture
- Science (yes, you can become a food scientist!)
- Marine science
- Farming/ranching
- Fisheries
- Culinary arts