Hawai‘i Foodbank Raises 573,000 Meals Across O‘ahu, Maui Food Drives Address Rising Hunger

The Hawai‘i Foodbank and Maui Food Bank organized their largest annual fundraising event, Food Drive Day, on August 2, 2025, to combat growing food insecurity in Hawaii. The Food Drive Day included multiple collection sites across Oahu and Maui, involving volunteers from community groups such as the Mana Loa Nimitz Lions Club, and received financial support from First Hawaiian Bank, which matched donations up to $50,000. The event raised enough donations to provide over 573,000 meals statewide, addressing the needs of the many families struggling due to economic uncertainty, federal funding cuts, and the lingering impacts of the 2023 Lahaina wildfires. Hawai‘i Foodbank CEO Amy Miller emphasized the critical timing of the drive amid funding cuts and rising demand, with the foodbanks serving over 170,000 people monthly, nearly double pre-pandemic numbers. Maui Food Bank leaders highlighted the shift in those seeking aid—from primarily houseless individuals to working families barely making ends meet—and described unique ways donors could support, such as shopping with a curated list at Safeway locations. Both organizations stressed the importance of community solidarity and ongoing support to meet the increasing need for food assistance across the islands.