GROWING HAWAIʻI TOGETHER

Grants for Food Hubs and Food Businesses

Applications are closed and those received are currently being reviewed.

Apply for up to $15,000 (Noi Kōkua) or up to $30,000 (ʻUmeke ʻAi Pono). Applications open March 3, 2026 (9:00am HST) and close April 10, 2026 (11:59pm HST).

Deadline was extended from April 1, 2026 to April 10, 2026 to accommodate those impacted by the recent Kona Low flood events throughout the Hawaiian Islands.

Rebuilding thriving community food systems — together.

Growing Hawaiʻi Together is a Hawaiʻi Good Food Alliance (HGFA) grant program supporting local farm and food value chain businesses and community distribution efforts—grounded in Mālama ʻĀina, community-based work, cultural grounding, equity, and Food is Medicine.

Application window: March 3, 2026 (9:00am HST) – April 10, 2026 (11:59pm HST).
Choose 1 pathway: Noi Kōkua or ʻUmeke ʻAi Pono (cannot apply for both).

Resources

Complete RFP

Please note: Application deadline has been extended to April 10, 2026 (11:59pm HST)

Application Questions
Sample Budget Template

To use the budget template, make a copy then edit.

Hawaiʻi Compliance Express

All awarded applicants will be required to submit a certificate from Hawaii Compliance Express (HCE) prior to executing contracts (June 1, 2026 at latest). A certificate is not required to submit an application.

2 Grant Pathways

Noi Kōkua Business Builder

What it funds: Production, small equipment, value-added processing, and infrastructure/process improvements to strengthen regional distribution of local food.

Award size: Up to $15,000 (HGFA total $300,000; 20+ awards).

Key notes: No match; one application per business; fiscal sponsorship not allowed; spending completed by Nov 1, 2026; reimbursement-based (receipts required; advances case-by-case)

Examples of eligible costs: Staff time, production activities, consultants/TA, software implementation, supply chain coordination, food safety certification, marketing, farm inputs, irrigation, fencing; equipment ≥ $1,000; rentals; project-related travel must follow federal per diem rules.

Not allowed (highlights): Indirect costs; major construction/renovation; pre-award costs; finance capital; duplicative activities already sufficiently funded.

Apply: Noi Kōkua Business Builder

IMPORTANT NOTE: You CANNOT save your progress in the application portal. We recommend drafting your answers in a separate document first.

ʻUmeke ʻAi Pono Community Feeding

What it funds: Local food procurement plus gathering packing, and distribution for communities with limited access, paired with nutrition education (recipe sharing) and community story gathering.

Award size: Up to $30,000 (HGFA total $300,000; 10 awards).

Budget rule: 70% direct food costs, 30% staffing/supplies.

Key notes: No match; one application per business; fiscal sponsorship not allowed; spending completed by Nov 1, 2026; reimbursement-based (advances case-by-case).

Eligible costs (highlights): Purchase of locally grown or sourced foods (average $2–$5/lb), staff time, transportation, packaging, and printed educational materials (recipes).

Not allowed (highlights): Imported foods, indirect costs, travel, personnel fringe, pre-award costs.

Apply: ʻUmeke ʻAi Pono Community Feeding

IMPORTANT NOTE: You CANNOT save your progress in the application portal. We recommend drafting your answers in a separate document first.

Eligibility Snapshot

  • Applicants must be located in Hawaiʻi and domestically owned for both pathways.

  • Applicants must submit a Hawaiʻi Compliance Express certificate of vendor compliance (applications without it are ineligible).

  • Government bodies and public institutions are ineligible for both pathways.

Timeline

  • Opens: March 3, 2026 — 9:00am HST

  • Closes: April 10, 2026 — 11:59pm HST

  • Award announcements: no later than May 8, 2026

  • Grant period: May 1 – Nov 15, 2026; all sub-awardee spending completed must be completed by Nov 1, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Applications open March 3, 2026 at 9:00am HST and close April 10, 2026 at 11:59pm HST.

  • No—applicants must choose one pathway (Noi Kōkua or ʻUmeke ʻAi Pono).

  • Noi Kōkua: up to $15,000 per award.
    ʻUmeke ʻAi Pono: up to $30,000 per award.

  • No—there is no match requirement for either pathway.

  • No—fiscal sponsorship is not allowed.

  • You must be Hawaiʻi-based and domestically owned, and you must submit a Hawaiʻi Compliance Express certificate of vendor compliance with your application.

  • Awards are generally reimbursed based on receipts/proof of expenses. Advance payments may be available case-by-case.

  • Business-building activities across production, harvest, and post-harvest—including staff time, consultants/TA, software, value chain coordination, certifications, product development/marketing, inputs, irrigation/fencing, rentals, and eligible equipment (≥ $1,000).

  • Purchasing locally grown/sourced foods for community distribution, plus staff time, transportation, packaging, and printing recipes/educational materials.

  • No indirect costs (both).
    No major construction/renovation (Noi Kōkua).
    No imported foods, ready-made meals, travel, or fringe (ʻUmeke ʻAi Pono).

    For a complete list of exclusions, please review the full RFP.

  • All sub-awardee spending must be completed by November 1, 2026.

  • Yes—email info@hawaiigoodfood.site by March 23, 2026, to request an alternative format or translation services.

  • Email info@hawaiigoodfood.site.

  • Delays have been experienced in obtaining Hawaii Compliance Express (HCE) certificates. If you are interested in applying but have not received your clearance certificate from HCE, please continue to apply. We will require that all awarded applicants submit a certificate from HCE prior to executing contracts (June 1, 2026 at the latest).