Hawaii Food Hub Grant Program

The Food Hub Grant Program is authorized by Act 313 of 2022. The purpose of the food hub grant program is to provide funds to support the establishment of food hubs. Food hubs provide wider access to institutional and retail markets for small producers and increase consumer access to fresh healthy food.

The program is not open yet, and the eligibility rules below are still in draft. Chapter 4-61, Hawai'i Administrative Rules — which sets eligibility — went to a public hearing on March 9, 2026 and is published only as a DRAFT. Treat everything here as the proposed standard and confirm with the Agricultural Loan Division before relying on it.

Who may apply, per proposed §4-61-5: "Qualifying applicants shall include corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, sole proprietorships, non-profit organizations, and agricultural cooperatives." Sole proprietorships are on that list, so an individual operator is not shut out — but note what is being funded is a food hub, not a farm. A "Food hub" is defined as "the United States Department of Agriculture's working definition of food hub, which means a centrally located facility with a business management structure facilitating the aggregation, storage, processing, distribution, and/or marketing of locally/regionally produced food products."

Every applicant "shall meet all of the following qualifications" (proposed §4-61-5, condensed from the rule text):

• Meet state insurance requirements, "including commercial general liability insurance and automobile liability insurance at specified levels," and provide "a certificate of vendor compliance with Hawaii Compliance Express (HCE)"

• "Agree that if selected as a recipient, it will maintain its principal place of business and conduct a majority portion of its operations in the State"

• "Either be incorporated under the laws of the State, or be registered to do business in the State, if applicable"

• "Have bylaws or policies that describe the manner in which the activities or services for which the grant is awarded shall be conducted or provided"

• "Be licensed or accredited, in accordance with federal, state, or county statutes, rules, or ordinances, to conduct the activities or provide the services for which the grant is awarded"

• If establishing a new food hub "where none currently exist, shall first secure a physical location for the food hub and draft a detailed plan for the food hub's operation"

• "Explain the applicant's intended actions to increase access to locally produced food"

• Comply with all applicable laws "including the USFDA Food Safety Modernization Act, P.L. 111-353, and the Act's provisions on supplier verification, and any applicable tax laws," and with anti-discrimination law

• "Allow the division, department and the auditor full access to its records, reports, files"

Priorities, not requirements (proposed §4-61-8): preference goes to "Organizations having demonstrated experience in aggregation, washing, minimal processing, packaging, cold storage, and other value-additions for delivering local produce to local markets," and to "Qualified applicants receiving their first award from the department, over multiple award grantees." No more than one award per applicant per fiscal year unless funding remains in the last quarter.

Who the program is meant to serve — useful context even though it is not an applicant test: the food hub must widen market access "for small- to very small-sized producers," defined in the rules as "producers with less than $500,000 and $250,000 respectively in annual farm sales."

No application window, deadline, or Request for Proposal has been published. Administered by the DAB Agricultural Loan Division; proposed rules at https://dab.hawaii.gov/blog/main/proposed-administrative-rules/

Chapter 4-61, Hawai'i Administrative Rules, establishes rules governing the food hub grant program including eligibility, application and grant review process, and a maximum grant amount of $100,000.

As of the January 29, 2026 Notice of Public Hearing (hearing held March 9, 2026), the implementing rules (HAR Chapter 4-61) were undergoing adoption and the program was not yet open for applications. Administered by the DAB Agricultural Loan Division. Proposed rules: https://dab.hawaii.gov/blog/main/proposed-administrative-rules/