Hawaiʻi Good Food Alliance

What Hawaiʻi Good Food Alliance does

Hawaiʻi Good Food Alliance (HGFA) is a Hawaiʻi-based non-profit alliance, founded circa 2019 and headquartered in Honolulu, that operates as a hui (collective) coordinating the production, aggregation, and distribution of locally produced food across the Hawaiian Islands. The organization functions as a "network of networks" linking local farmers, fishermen, food hubs (through the Food Hub Hui), community organizations, retailers, and government agencies, and it delivers its work through an integrated suite of programs: Da Bux Double Up Food Bucks (SNAP matching for local produce at participating retailers), Food is Medicine (including the ʻAiaola program), Kuina ʻAi (food hub coordination), WIC at Farmers Markets, and the Hawaiʻi Good Food Fund and Growing Hawaiʻi Together grant programs. Grantmaking is a core operating function; the Growing Hawaiʻi Together program alone disbursed $600,000 across 31 grantees in 2026 via two pathways (Noi Kōkua Business Builder grants up to $15,000 and ʻUmeke ʻAi Pono Community Feeding grants up to $30,000), and the ʻUmeke ʻAi Pono program was awarded $3.2 million by the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Education in 2025.

HGFA's revenue model is grant-funded rather than commercial: it receives pass-through and program funding from government agencies (Hawaiʻi DOE, Office of Community Services within DLIR, formerly USDA Regional Food Business Center) and major foundations (Rockefeller Foundation, Stupski Foundation, Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, Bloomberg American Health Initiative), and it also accepts PayPal donations. Its go-to-market is community-led rather than sales-driven, relying on partnerships, webinars (e.g., with Feed the Hunger Fund on SNAP authorization), the Brown Bag Speaker Series, and Instagram/email/web content for outreach. HGFA has historically extended its coordination role beyond Hawaiʻi — it served as Lead Entity for the USDA Islands and Remote Areas Program from 2023 to July 2025, covering Pacific Islands, Alaska, and US Caribbean territories, before that federal program was terminated. Leadership includes Founder and Board Member Tina Tamai and Executive Director Kaʻiulani Odom, supported by a small staff (1–10 employees) including named program managers for Kuina ʻAi, ʻAiaola Food is Medicine, and media/communications.

Name

Hawaiʻi Good Food Alliance

Legal name

Hawaiʻi Good Food Alliance

Website

https://www.hawaiigoodfoodalliance.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hawaiʻi Good Food Alliance is a Hawaiʻi-based non-profit hui that coordinates local food production, aggregation, and distribution through grant programs (Noi Kōkua, ʻUmeke ʻAi Pono), SNAP matching (Da Bux), food hub coordination (Kuina ʻAi, Food Hub Hui), and Food is Medicine initiatives serving farmers, community organizations, and underserved residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Food Systems Coordination Services

NAICS

Community Food Services (624210)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (Fair Trade, Food Access, Regenerative) (BPAGALAD)

Keywords

• Food systems coordination
• Nonprofit food alliance
• Local food grants
• Farmers market programs
• Community food access

Headquarters

HQ city

Kaunakakai

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: HGFA receives grant funding from government agencies and foundations to support food system programs. The organization distributes subawards to farmers, food hubs, and community organizations through its Growing Hawaiʻi Together grant program, funded by the Office of Community Services within the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.
2. Donations: The organization accepts donations through PayPal to support its work in growing Hawaiʻi's local food networks and community food systems.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Hawaiʻi Good Food Alliance (HGFA) is a Hawaiʻi-based nonprofit that coordinates a portfolio of food systems programs, grants, and partnerships supporting local food production, distribution, and access. It operates initiatives such as Da Bux Double Up Food Bucks, Food is Medicine (ʻAiaola), Kuina ʻAi, WIC at Farmers Markets, the Hawaiʻi Good Food Fund, and the Growing Hawaiʻi Together grant program, channeling philanthropic and government funding to farmers, food hubs, and community organizations across the state.

Product overview

Hawaiʻi Good Food Alliance is a non-profit organization that operates as a coordination and grant-making hui connecting food producers, aggregators, and distributors across Hawaiʻi. The organization functions as a platform of interconnected programs rather than a single product: core programs include Da Bux (SNAP matching for local produce), Food is Medicine, Kuina ʻAi (food hub coordination), WIC at Farmers Markets, and the Hawaiʻi Good Food Fund. The flagship Growing Hawaiʻi Together grant program offers two pathways—Noi Kōkua Business Builder grants (up to $15,000) and ʻUmeke ʻAi Pono Community Feeding grants (up to $30,000)—to support farmers, food businesses, and community organizations. Supporting resources include the Hawaiʻi CSA Resource Webtool, 808 Planner (agriculture mapping tool), HGFA Evaluation Rubric, and the Hawaiʻi Farmers Markets and Food Hubs Map. The ʻAha ʻAi Pono program provides culturally-grounded community gatherings on food systems. A former program, the Regional Food Business Center, was terminated by USDA in July 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Da Bux Double Up Food Bucks SNAP/EBT doubling program that provides SNAP recipients with matching funds to purchase fresh local produce at participating retailers and farmers markets across Hawaiʻi.
• Food is Medicine (ʻAiaola) Program that integrates locally grown produce into health care settings to address food insecurity and diet-related disease among patients in Hawaiʻi.
• Kuina ʻAi Program supporting local food producers and food hubs in Hawaiʻi through capacity building, technical assistance, and coordination services.
• WIC at Farmers Markets Program enabling WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) participants to use their benefits at participating Hawaiʻi farmers markets to purchase fresh local food.
• Hawaiʻi Good Food Fund Funding vehicle that pools and redistributes philanthropic and government resources to strengthen Hawaiʻi's local food system.
• Growing Hawaiʻi Together Grant Program Grantmaking program providing financial support to Hawaiʻi-based farmers, food hubs, and community organizations working on local food production and access.
• ʻAha ʻAi Pono Community Gatherings Community convenings organized by HGFA to bring together stakeholders across Hawaiʻi's local food system for networking, learning, and collaboration.

Quantifiable outcome

• 31 grantees awarded $600,000 in 2026 to strengthen and grow Hawaiʻi's food systems
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• USDA Regional Food Business Center (Islands and Remote Areas Program)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025HGFA served as Lead Entity for the Islands and Remote Areas Program of the USDA Regional Food Business Center since 2023, providing coordination, technical assistance, and capacity building for food systems in Pacific Islands, Alaska, and US Caribbean territories. Program was terminated by USDA in July 2025.
• Feed the Hunger FundcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2025HGFA partnered with Feed the Hunger Fund on a webinar to support farmers interested in becoming SNAP authorized, enabling them to accept SNAP payments for produce and eligible goods.
• Guåhan Sustainable CultureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner for the USDA Regional Food Business Center serving the Pacific Islands region (Guam). GSC cultivates ideas and strategies of environmental sustainability through education, social engagement, and collaborative partnerships.
• Virgin Islands Good Food CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner for the USDA Regional Food Business Center serving the US Caribbean territories. Dedicated to promoting local food systems by connecting food producers, distributors, and consumers.
• Alaska Food Policy CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partner for the USDA Regional Food Business Center serving Alaska. AFPC connects, advocates, and informs to strengthen food systems for all Alaskans.
• Food Hub HuicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of food hubs partnering with HGFA's programs including the ʻUmeke ʻAi Pono program. Food hubs aggregate and distribute local food, providing infrastructure for regional food distribution across Hawaiʻi.
• The Food BasketcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Food Basket administers the DA BUX Double Up Food Bucks program for HGFA, reimbursing participating food retailers for local produce discounts issued to SNAP shoppers. They serve as Hawaii Island's food bank.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ecotrust (Food & Farms program): Regional nonprofit that integrates food systems, forestry, and economy work in the Pacific Northwest with multi-program coordination. Comparable in blending grant-making, network coordination, and place-based cultural grounding.
• Fair Food Network: National nonprofit that pioneered the Double Up Food Bucks SNAP-incentive model — the same architecture HGFA's Da Bux program replicates in Hawaiʻi. Highly comparable mission, program design, and target population of low-income families seeking local produce.
• Wholesome Wave: Nonprofit that builds and funds SNAP produce-incentive programs and food-as-medicine pilots nationwide. Directly comparable to HGFA's Da Bux and Food is Medicine tracks, with similar grant-making and coalition-building approach.
• Center for Good Food Purchasing: Nonprofit that uses institutional procurement standards (food is medicine, equity, sustainability) to drive food system change. Closely parallels HGFA's pillar-based framework for systems-level reform.
• Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund / Farm to Plate: Statewide food system network plan that coordinates producers, distributors, and policymakers to grow local food economies. Closely mirrors HGFA's 'network of networks' strategy and statewide coordination role in a single geography.

Emerging players

• Real Food Challenge: Student and community network driving institutional procurement of 'real food' with equity and sustainability pillars. Comparable in coalition-driven, values-led approach to food system change, though focused on campus and youth channels.
• Community Food Advocates: Nonprofit that runs SNAP-Ed and food access programs in partnership with city agencies and food banks. Closely comparable in grant-funded, community-based food access work for low-income populations.

Broad incumbents

• Grow NYC: Long-running NYC-based nonprofit operating farmers markets, SNAP incentives, food hubs, and education programs. Comparable multi-program, coalition-driven food systems model at much larger scale.

Regional players

• Aloha Harvest: Hawaiʻi-based food rescue nonprofit that recovers and redistributes surplus food to feed hungry communities. Operates alongside HGFA in the same state with overlapping grantees like The Food Basket.
• Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy: Hawaiʻi-based food policy advocacy nonprofit focused on building a healthier, more sustainable food system through research and legislative action. Operates in the same state with overlapping policy and access agenda.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/hawaiigoodfoodalliance
• Facebookfacebook.com/hawaiigoodfoodalliance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hawaiʻi Good Food Alliance