Spring 2025 Update from Our CEO

This year has been off to a challenging start. Since our last update, we’ve had several setbacks, reinforcing the need for collective action. Like many organizations, we are navigating uncertainty—60% of our budget comes from federal funds, which are at risk. Despite these challenges, we’re committed to providing evidence-based information, prioritizing public health and community well-being, and offering clear, actionable steps whenever possible. Your support—through advocacy and monetary donations—helps us continue this critical work even in uncertain times.

Here’s where things stand:

• The Hawai‘i State Legislature is considering a budget that aims to fill gaps left by reductions in federal funding. However, state funding cannot fully offset federal funding losses, and tough choices will need to be made.
• In response to federal job cuts, state and county hiring initiatives—such as Operation Hire Hawai‘i—are working to fill state vacancies with laid-off federal workers.
• The EPA has begun planning to cut hundreds of environmental grants. In addition, the Trump administration is planning to eliminate, or significantly cut the EPA’s Office of Research and Development, a key office in helping to advance protections for human health and ecosystems.
• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, including the CDC, FDA, and NIH, is making significant reductions in staff and funding.

Even as we navigate these uncertainties, we are seeing important progress at the state level. Several public health policies we’ve been advocating for continue to move forward—we recently sent out a mid-session update, but check out our bill tracker for the most up-to-date information. In February, SNAP eligibility expanded, allowing more Hawai‘i residents with incomes below 200% of the federal poverty level to qualify for assistance. With this change, an estimated 50,000 additional families in Hawai‘i will now qualify for assistance.

We’ve also been busy with several events that highlight the power of advocacy and community engagement. We Grow Hawai‘i: A Youth Food Summit brought together young leaders on Maui and at the Capitol to discuss food systems and sustainability. Take Down Tobacco Day was another incredible moment, as youth stood up against the influence of the tobacco industry. We also partnered with Hawai‘i Appleseed and HSTA to host a Free School Meals 4 All Community Forum, where over 100 parents, students, teachers, and community members came together to discuss expanding food access in our schools.

And a few more bright spots: this quarter, we welcomed three new team members —Kris, James, and Katie. We’re also honored that Hawaii Business Magazine has recognized HIPHI as one of the best places to work in Hawai‘i in 2025! If you’re interested in joining our team, visit hiphi.org/employment to explore our current openings. Looking ahead, we hope you’ll join us for our annual Summer Social on Thursday, June 26, 2025—stay tuned for more details! Your continued support and advocacy make all the difference, and together, we will keep pushing forward to protect and advance public health in Hawai‘i.

With Aloha,

Jessica Yamauchi, MA
Chief Executive Officer