Ka Puna O Kaloʻi –
By Zenaida Serrano Arvman –
The University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu Sustainable Community Food Systems program is among the organizers of the Food+ Policy Landscape Update 2021, an online forum the public is welcome to attend from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 7.
The objective of the event is to enhance community awareness of and participation in public policy decision-making in Hawaiʻi that impacts food, agriculture, and public health.
Leaders on agriculture and food policy innovation will provide an assessment of the Hawaiʻi public policy landscape and updated information about key policy initiatives active this legislative session.
“There is growing popular awareness of food systems as key determinants of environmental quality, human health, and resilience,” said Albie Miles, Assistant Professor of Sustainable Community Food Systems at UH West Oʻahu. “At the same time, there are increased calls from the public and private sector for transforming elements of the food system of Hawaiʻi to achieve a new set of economic recovery, food security, natural resource management, and public health outcomes.”
The Food+ Policy Landscape Update 2021 is a convening of community and state leaders working on agriculture and food policy innovation at the state and county level, Miles said.
Forum participants include:
- Claire Sullivan and Michelle Galimba, AgHui (Agriculture Response and Recovery Working Group)
- Dexter Kishida, City and County of Honolulu Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resilience
- Miwa Tamanaha, Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo (KUA)
- Daniela Spoto, Hawaiʻi Appleseed
- Amy Perruso, Hawaiʻi State Representative
- David Lopez, Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency
- Micah Munetaka, Ulupono Initiative
- Hunter Heaivilin (Moderator), Food System Planner, Supersistence
- In addition to UH West Oʻahu, event organizers include Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action and Purple Maiʻa.
Those interested in attending the public forum may register at: https://bit.ly/FoodPolicyUpdate.
