Frequently Asked Questions: 

The Hawaiian Acres Community Food Hub

 

Why are we switching to "Plan B" (The Food Hub)?
The $534,000 ARPA grant comes with strict federal deadlines. Traditional construction ("Plan A") involves a lengthy permitting and labor process that could not be completed within this window. Plan B ensures we obligate and spend the funds on time so the money stays in our community to build a functional kitchen right away.

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Is "Plan A" (The Multi-Use Center) being cancelled?
No. We are completing the architectural and engineering plans and submitting them for a building permit. This makes the project "shovels-ready" for the future. By securing the permits now, we preserve the option to build the full center when additional funding becomes available.

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What exactly is a "Food Hub"?
Under Hawai‘i law, a Food Hub is a facility that provides for the storage, processing, and distribution of local agricultural products. It often includes a certified commercial kitchen where residents can prepare value-added products like jams, sauces, or grab-and-go meals.

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How can we build a kitchen without a building permit?
Plan B utilizes pre-engineered shipping containers that are outfitted as commercial kitchens off-site. Under HRS 46-88, certain non-residential agricultural structures and single stand-alone containers are exempt from standard building permits, provided they are used for processing or storage and meet specific size and anchoring requirements.

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What will the new site look like?
The Food Hub Site Plan features a "plug-and-play" commercial kitchen and bathrooms housed in secure shipping containers. A large, permanent roof will be constructed between the containers to create a covered outdoor pavilion for seating, workshops, and community events.

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Who can use the kitchen once it’s finished?
The kitchen will be available for rent to members who obtain a food safety permit. It will support local farmers, entrepreneurs, and residents looking to process local produce. It is also a key part of our status as a Vibrant Hawai‘i Resilience Hub, providing a reliable food preparation site during emergencies.

 

How are we paying for other upgrades like the playground and fencing?
While the ARPA grant is dedicated to the kitchen, HACA—with the support of Puna Makaukau—is applying for supplemental grants to cover items not in the original budget, such as new playground equipment, security fencing, and a solar voltaic system to lower our operating costs.