KAPOLEI, HI – The Hawai‘i Public Health Institute (HIPHI) and the Transforming Hawai‘i’s Food System Together Initiative recently concluded the Hawai‘i Food System Summit 2023 at the University of Hawai‘i – West O‘ahu on January 11-12, 2023. The summit brought together community leaders and advocates from across our food system.
The two-day event allowed for networking and discussion focused around the role that public policy in supporting meaningful food system transformation to promote health, equity, resilience and sustainability in Hawai‘i.
Attendees were able to engage with panelists, hear from elected officials including Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and Sen. Mazie Hirono, collaborate on the first draft of a proposed Statewide Food Policy Network/Coalition, and identify key next steps in this movement.
The summit was the first in a planned series of yearly educational gatherings of stakeholders as part of a collaborative and multi-sectoral food system change initiative. A series of preliminary “listening sessions” were held back in November and December of 2022 in preparation for the Summit.
To learn more about the Hawai‘i Food System Summit 2023, or to get involved in future Food Systems work, please email our Director of Food Systems and Resiliency, Dr. Susan Mercado at susan@hiphi.org or visit www.hiphi.org/food-systems.
