Our Mission

“The people of Hawaii are one ohana. The Hawaii Foodbank provides food so that no one in our family goes hungry. We work to gather food and support from our communities. We then distribute food through charitable agencies to those in need. Our mission is from the heart, and we will fulfill our mission with integrity, humanity and aloha.” 

Who We Are

The Hawaii Foodbank is the only nonprofit 501(c)(3) agency on Oahu that collects, warehouses and distributes mass quantities of perishable and nonperishable food to 250 charitable agencies on Oahu and Kauai.

We partner with food donors and charitable agencies to help feed the hungry in Hawaii by collecting, inspecting, distributing and storing donated and purchased food. Last year, the Hawaii Foodbank distributed 11.3 million pounds of food, including 2.6 million pounds of fresh produce to help feed 183,500 unduplicated individuals in need statewide.

The Hawaii Foodbank is able to fulfill its mission each year because of generous food and monetary donations from the community. Last year, we received 12.6 million pounds of food from food retailers and manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors, local farmers and the community. Your monetary donations helped us purchase 1.8 million pounds of rice, potatoes, apples, pears, carrots, tangerines, yams, assorted meats, cereals and canned goods like tuna, fruits, vegetables, corned beef, beef stew and chicken noodle soup.

The Hawaii Foodbank is honored to have served the people of Hawaii for 27 years. We are here to provide food to those who are working to make ends meet each month, are homeless, live on fixed incomes, are disabled, are victims of abuse or are currently unemployed.

The Hawaii Foodbank is a certified member of Feeding America, the Nation's Food Bank Network and a partner agency of Aloha United Way.

Who You Help Feed

According to "Hunger in Hawaii 2010,” by Feeding America and the Hawaii Foodbank, your donations help feed 183,500 people statewide or over 14 percent of the state population including:

55,050 children 

11,010 elderly, many living on fixed incomes

The homeless

Low-income families with an average monthly income of $850

The disabled

The unemployed 

Since we reported results from the last study in 2006, hunger in Hawaii increased by over 39 percent. That means one in seven people in Hawaii need emergency food assistance.

Facing Tough Choices

Here are some of the tough choices our co-workers, neighbors, friends and family face each month:

32 percent of client households must choose between transportation to work or food

28 percent of client households choose between paying for rent/mortgage or food

21 percent of client households must choose between paying for utilities or food

19 percent of client households must choose between paying for medical bills or food

Your donations throughout the year ensure that the food continues to flow into our warehouse and out to the people who need it.

Mahalo for your generous and continued support.