A state audit has identified several deficiencies in the Hawaiʻi Department of Education’s efforts to increase local food purchasing, highlighting issues like the reliance on handwritten records and unclear definitions of local products. According to the audit, the department has been inconsistent in its strategy to boost local food procurement, and its self-reported progress lacks reliability. A major misstep was the assumption that purchasing milk alone would meet the 10% local food budget goal by 2025, an approach found unviable when local milk accounted for only 0.5% of the meal budgets.
The report suggests that the DOE’s plans to construct multimillion-dollar regional kitchens may not be sufficient to achieve the 30% local food spending goal by 2030, as set by the Legislature in 2021. The state auditor noted that these plans lack a detailed strategy for collaboration with local farmers. Additionally, the audit questioned the department’s day-to-day operations and data accuracy, such as a lack of standardized budget for cafeteria managers and utilizing handwritten ledgers for food purchases.
The audit also revealed irregularities in tracking and categorizing local food products, citing the case of mainland lettuce being labeled as local because it was washed in Maui. The DOE has faced criticism for including items like local bottled water in its progress reports.
School Food Program Administrator Anneliese Tanner, appointed less than a year ago, stated that the department plans to implement the audit’s recommendations, such as better procurement practices that allow farmers to supply in smaller quantities. The DOE aims to improve its tracking for federal produce funding and recently awarded a new software contract for managerial use.
Lawmakers and advocates are calling for improved coordination between agencies to meet local food goals. DOE officials express hope for progress under new leadership despite the recent denial of budget requests for additional staffing and funding to address rising food costs.
