Hawaii Contacts
SNAP Info & Contacts
Program Name/EBT Card Name: Hawaii EBT Card
Current contractor: Fidelity Information Services, LLC (FIS)
The Hawaii Department of Social Services provides free wireless/wired EBT terminals to eligible farmers markets, and covers both wireless and transaction fees associated with managing the SNAP program.
For more information, contact:
Ginet U’ilani Hayes
Hawai`i EBT Manager
Department of Human Services
Benefits, Employment, and Support Services Division
Electronic Benefits Transfer Office
ghayes@dhs.hawaii.gov
(808) 586-5739
Hawaii Ag Department
Hawaii News/Case Studies
Standing Together Against Racism: Black Lives Matter
Stephanie Fenty June 3, 2020Over the past week, the United States has been shaken by the deep inequities rooted within our justice system that have continued to destroy the lives of Black Americans like George Floyd. In the past, the Farmers Market Coalition has largely remained silent on matters of race and injustice. We will do so no longer.… Read More
Big Island agriculture hit hard by volcano
Honesta Romberger June 8, 2018Via Hawaii Tribune-Herald KAILUA-KONA — A week and a half after the earth split open in Puna and the hazards of Kilauea began devouring and toxifying everything in their path, 67-year-old Garuda Johnson looked out his window. Seeing through the sulfur dioxide-laced haze of vog — which has measured quantities of SO2 as high as… Read More
USDA reopens application period for producers recovering from disasters
Honesta Romberger June 8, 2018MEDIA RELEASE – May 31, 2018 Signup Begins June 4 for Livestock Indemnity Program and Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-raised Fish The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin accepting disaster assistance program applications on June 4 from agricultural producers who suffered livestock, honeybees, farm-raised fish and other losses due to natural… Read More
Introduction to Recordkeeping and Farm Service Agency Programs – May 19, 2018
Honesta Romberger May 11, 2018Introduction to Farm Recordkeeping and Farm Service Agency Programs | Saturday, May 19 • 9 a.m.–noon Presented in collaboration with County of Hawai‘i and USDA Beginning Farmer-Rancher Development Program North Hawai‘i Education Research Center, 45-539 Plumeria St, Honoka‘a, Hawai‘i Island Agricultural producers are invited to participate in this free workshop to learn recordkeeping essentials and… Read More
UH Studies How People’s Connections With Land Affect Their Health
Honesta Romberger April 6, 2018Via: Civil Beat University of Hawaii researchers are teaming up with a farm on Oahu’s west side to study how people’s connection with the land affects their health. A key partner in the project is the local non-profit Ma’o Organic Farms, which the researchers say has a big impact on Waianae by producing organic foods for… Read More
2018 Kona Coffee & Small Farm Expo – April 6, 2018
Honesta Romberger March 30, 2018Click here for more info. Read More
Youth Farm In Hawaii Is Growing Food And Leaders
Honesta Romberger March 30, 2018[Article via NPR: https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2018/03/28/596073164/youth-farm-in-hawaii-is-growing-food-and-leaders] A tight circle of teenagers is deep in conversation — not about movies or apps, but about … vegetables. It’s 7 a.m. at MA’O Organic Farms, part of 24 acres nestled in an emerald mountain-ringed valley just two miles from Oahu’s west shore. Under a hot sun that bathes this idyllic breadbasket,… Read More
Bill would provide grants to study, grow disease-tolerant tropical flora
Honesta Romberger March 16, 2018The State Assistance for Tropical Floriculture Research Act of 2018 would allow states to seek grants of at least $250,000 per year to research and develop disease-resistant varieties of tropical flowers. The bill was introduced Feb.16 and referred to the Committee on Agriculture. Keep reading: http://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/2018/03/01/hawaii-news/bill-would-provide-grants-to-study-grow-disease-tolerant-tropical-flora/ Read More
Hilo Cacao & Chocolate Festival – April 14, 2018
Honesta Romberger March 16, 2018Hilo Cacao & Chocolate Festival Presented by East Hawai‘i Cacao Association Saturday, April 14, 2018 • 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, 71 Banyan Dr, Hilo, Hawai‘i Island This event will showcase Hawai‘i’s cacao and chocolate industry. Activities include a chocolate tasting passport, chocolate-making demonstrations, cacao sapling giveaways, silent auction, vendors, educational booths,… Read More
Taro Field Day – March 17, 2018
Honesta Romberger March 2, 2018Taro Field Day | Presented by UH CTAHR College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources at UH-Manoa Saturday, March 17 • 9 a.m.–noon Waimānalo Research Station, 41‐698 Ahiki St, Waimānalo, O’ahu Learn about the history of University of Hawai‘i’s taro collection, conventional and organic production practices, and management of new and re-occurring pests. Various agricultural… Read More
Hawaii Farming’s Uncertain Future
Honesta Romberger January 26, 2018Source: Hawaiibusiness.com Hawaii’s farmers can’t catch a break. Rat lungworm has accelerated difficult changes in local farming. One local leader predicts a quarter of Hawaii’s produce farms will be out of business in a few years. They are already battered by high land and energy costs, intense competition from Mainland imports and their own… Read More
Hawaii’s First Agriculture Tech Hackathon Provides Solutions to Challenges Facing Hawaii Agriculture
Honesta Romberger January 26, 2018SOURCE: Coffeetalk.com Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism issued the following news release: The AGathon, Hawaii’s first agriculture-tech hackathon, wrapped up over the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend with 10 teams participating. Four teams were recognized for outstanding solutions to problems currently facing Hawaii agriculture. In first place, the Harvest Vision… Read More
Hawaii Legislature (SB2398) Farmers Market dollar-for-dollar matching program for SNAP recipients
Honesta Romberger January 23, 2018CLICK HERE to view source. SB 2398 A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII: SECTION 1. The legislature finds that consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables is an integral part of a healthy diet and central to the… Read More
USDA Survey Reports Latest Hawaii Agriculture Statistics
Honesta Romberger January 3, 2018Via Big Island Now: The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) has released survey findings for Hawai‘i’s agriculture industry production and sales during the 2016 and 2017 season. [Keep reading] Read More
Local seeds for local needs: farmers launch sales of seeds grown in Hawaii
Honesta Romberger January 3, 2018Hawai‘i Seed Growers Network has launched an online store to sell locally produced seeds cultivated by the network’s experienced growers. Customers can choose from artisanal varieties of peppers, beans, herbs, and flowers which are well adapted to Hawai‘i’s growing conditions. This project was funded in part by Hawaii Department of Agriculture under the USDA Specialty… Read More
GoFarm Hawaiʻi receives funding to continue training future farmers
Honesta Romberger January 3, 2018Via University of Hawai’i News: The University of Hawaiʻi’s successful farmer-training program GoFarm Hawaiʻi has received $600,000 from the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program. The additional funding will allow GoFarm Hawaiʻi to continue training aspiring farmers to increase local agricultural production. GoFarm Hawaiʻi… Read More
Where’s the beef (from)? Hawaii public school lunches go local
Honesta Romberger January 3, 2018Via Hawaii News Now: HONOLULU – Hawaii’s effort to grow its own food is taking a step forward as public school students are being served locally-grown beef for the first time in decades. It’s part of “Farm to School” initiative in which local, grass-fed ground beef will be served during the month of December. Elementary… Read More
With pineapple and sugar production gone, Hawaii weighs its agricultural future
Honesta Romberger January 3, 2018Via the Washington Post: KAHULUI, Maui — Tens of thousands of abandoned acres of farmland lie fallow on this island, cemeteries of Hawaii’s defunct plantation era, which met its end last year when the state’s last remaining sugar grower shut down an operation that had run for 146 years. Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co.’s sprawling… Read More
