{"id":137880,"date":"2021-03-25T14:00:14","date_gmt":"2021-03-26T00:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=137880"},"modified":"2021-03-25T13:43:26","modified_gmt":"2021-03-25T23:43:26","slug":"growing-food-insecurity-in-hawaii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2021\/03\/25\/growing-food-insecurity-in-hawaii\/","title":{"rendered":"How to address the growing food insecurity issue in Hawai\u02bbi?"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 3<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

\"volunteers\"<\/p>\n

Recent developments, trends and how to address food insecurity for Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> families with children is the subject of a recent study<\/a> led by a team of researchers at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at M\u0101noa\u2019s College of Social Sciences<\/a> as part of its Health Policy Initiative<\/a>. According to the “Addressing Hunger and Food Insecurity among Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s Families” report, sustained intervention and system-level changes will be key.<\/p>\n

Food insecure households are defined as those lacking enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members. The UH<\/abbr> study finds that 48% of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> families with children are experiencing food insecurity, with 15% reporting that they did not have enough food in the past week.<\/p>\n

\"Donated<\/p>\n

These impacts have been greater for low-income families, those with less formal education, certain racial\/ethnic groups, and families who live in rural areas. About 76% of families who had reported very low food security had lost employment income due to COVID-19.<\/p>\n

UH<\/abbr>‘s “Addressing Hunger and Food Insecurity among Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s Families,” analyzed Pulse surveys<\/a> by the U.S. Census Bureau, with a sample of 700-900 people in the state every two weeks; interviews with local stakeholders; and archival data from the Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Department of Human Services.<\/p>\n

Six primary barriers to accessing services and food security were identified. They are:<\/p>\n