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Consider $1,426.50 — that’s the average amount Hawaii residents reported spending on groceries per month, according to a recent report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Thrifty Food Plan. Not surprisingly, Hawaii’s residents spend well above the national average of $969.10 per month.

To help struggling residents afford food, the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits approximately 160,000 individuals in need statewide.

What’s more, the Hawaii Healthy Food Incentive Program, commonly known as the “DA BUX” Double Up program, extends those SNAP benefits to encourage the purchase of healthy, locally sourced fruits and vegetables.

stands out as a beacon of hope, offering a triple-fold solution to the challenges faced by households across the state.

First, the program offers each SNAP participant a DA BUX Access Card or voucher to be used at participating locations to double their purchasing power when they buy local fruits and vegetables. Meaning, $10 of SNAP benefits becomes $20 of Hawaii-grown produce. Thus, each $1 funded into the program provides $2 worth of local food purchases.

Secondly, this extended purchasing power for produce also benefits local farmers. On the island of Maui, for example, DA BUX has supported 72 farmers and food producers. Ryan Earehart of Oko‘a Farms on Maui said, “This program helps to support local agriculture so we can easily compete with imported food and gives us farmers a big incentive to produce more fruits and vegetables to satisfy the increased demand for our goods.”

The third benefit is the positive impacts on our local economy. DA BUX has increased the sales of local food from approximately $220,000 in 2019 to nearly $5 million in 2023. Toby Taniguchi, president of KTA Super Stores on Hawaii Island, noted that, “We have seen transactions associated with DA BUX program more than quadruple at our seven store locations.”

Grow Local

The significance of DA BUX cannot be overstated, especially in a state where the high cost of living contributes to high food prices for our communities. By incentivizing the consumption of healthy, locally-grown foods, the program not only addresses immediate nutritional needs but also promotes long-term health outcomes for vulnerable populations.

However, the success of DA BUX, much like similar programs across the country, hinges on consistent and adequate state funding.

Since its inception, Hawaii’s DA BUX Double Up program has received the majority of its funding from federal grants and philanthropic/private funding — $13.7 million in total. While this year’s state budget is focused on Maui wildfire recovery efforts, there is opportunity to provide state funding to support DA BUX in order to maximize the program’s matching benefits.

It’s important to make this relatively small investment for huge long-term, impact on the community.

The good news is a federal match is available if the state is able to appropriate recurring funds for DA BUX this legislative session. For instance, $2 million can be leveraged to secure $2 million in matching federal funding.

With the “doubling up” impact of the program to local food producers, the state’s $2 million would incentivize approximately $8 million in local food sales.

In my role as a legislator, I can see the multiplier effect of investing in programs that simultaneously support low-income households and local agriculture. Sustained financial support for DA BUX represents an ongoing commitment to the well-being of Hawaii’s residents and the enduring strength of our homegrown food systems.

This initiative, with a proven track record of success, actively cultivates a more resilient and thriving community. Notably, the program also aligns with broader objectives to diminish Hawaii’s over-dependence on imported goods, enhancing both food security and economic stability within the state.

DA BUX is truly a triple-win opportunity we cannot pass up.